Prometheus

Overview

Description

Prometheus – A Data Management System for USAR Operations

The project stems from operational needs from both real emergency as well as exercises carried out in the last years by urban search and rescue (USAR) Assessment teams and their coordination cells (UCC). During a USAR emergency operation (i.e. earthquakes, volcanic eruption) the UCC performs its work relying usually on data provided by the teams from the affected sites. The quality and quantity of these data, their sources and their destination may vary according to the type of: emergency, in-country disaster management system, deployed resources. It is of key relevance to manage and merge data timely and effectively to make them available for the support in rescue operations.

The project is lead by a consortium  composed of three end-users (CNVVF, National Fire and Rescue Service, Italy; ERICAM, Emergency and Immediate Response of Madrid Community, Spain; and EcASC, École d'Application de Sécurité Civile, France) and one Civil Protection Authority (ICPD, the Italian Civil Protection Department). Their active contribution leads to: implementing, testing and completing an innovative data management system, “Prometheus,” that has been developed from 0 to alpha version by the CNVVF own resources. It complements, integrates and improves some areas that remain uncovered by the currently used data management system so  becoming a more effective toolkit for USAR Assessment teams and UCC during the whole duration of the operations, especially for the first phase (the so-called “Golden day”) when the toll of victims can be reduced by a more rapid intervention and timely information flow between the UCC and the deployed teams.

By providing an ITC tool, “Prometheus” will complement two other projects co-financed by DG ECHO (EASeR for procedures, BELICE for training) and contributing to an improvement of the assessment phase. “Prometheus” is free in order to contribute to the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction also outside the EU, providing low income-countries with an instrument to mitigate emergencies through cooperation and collaboration (Priority 2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk).

“Prometheus system” will be available soon in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Italian.

Partner organisations