Project description
A versatile system that manages multiple threats
Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks are a growing threat. Take for instance the spread of pandemic viruses. It is crucial to develop the capability to protect society from such future scenarios. The EU-funded NEST project will design and implement a novel and unique standoff system that can detect multiple threats including CBRN threats and pandemic viruses. Specifically, the project will develop systems to provide threat indications and warnings, as well as guidance for facility security through appropriate information-sharing and analysis mechanisms using low-cost CBRN detectors. This new technology will be validated in different scenarios that include a range of crowded public sites.
Objective
NEST will design and implement a novel and unique standoff system with the capability to detect multiple threats amongst which CBRN threats or pandemic viruses. As the day-to-day protection of commercial and transport facilities is the responsibility of the owners and operators, in close cooperation with local law enforcement, NEST will support owners, operators, and security staff by providing (i) threat indications and warnings, and (ii) guidance for facility security by developing appropriate information-sharing and analysis mechanisms. The system will rely on the simultaneous use of low-cost CBRN detectors embedded in one unique detection equipment, which can be located into different sites inside the building or carried by security staff. The use of low-cost sensors will enable to cover a wide space inside. NEST will help in the early detection of CBRN threats in real time, and also provide complementary information—such as such location of threats, temperature, humidity, time, operators involved, etc.—useful for auditing or investigation purposes. These functionalities will be achieved by using an IoT platform capable of acquiring, processing, and merging data from internal and third-party services. Artificial intelligence will be applied to support decision process for securing facilities and for generating automatic alerts. Furthermore, augmented reality will be used to display threats and hazards in a manner that minimise distraction and cognitive failures.
NEST will be validated in three different scenarios within the transport and commercial sectors. These scenarios include a diverse range of sites that draw large crowds of people. NEST will share information with the command centers of a stadium, a transport system, and a hotel to assess the risk situation. As a result of this action, owners, operators, and security staff will benefit from a universal system that will lay the foundations for creating a standardisation framework.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligence
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- social scienceslawlaw enforcement
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
08700 Igualada
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.