The SHIELD4CROWD project focuses on enhancing the protection of public spaces in European Union cities against a variety of security threats associated with crowd management. Public spaces are particularly vulnerable to numerous risks, including UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) attacks, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, attacks involving cold weapons or firearms, and urban riots. These gatherings are inherently potential targets for terrorist or criminal activities, which underscores the critical need for robust security measures.
From its beginning, the project has been driven by the involvement of key security practitioners, including three Ministries of Interior from different EU countries, one Public Transport Operator, and two security practitioners from Poland and Slovakia. This diverse collaboration is further strengthened by the User Observatory Group (UOG), which involves numerous end-users, many of whom have already expressed formal interest in the project’s objectives.
SHIELD4CROWD adopts a progressive and iterative approach to identify and address a common security challenge. This process includes the identification of potential technologies that could serve as the foundation for future Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP). The continuous involvement of the UOG is central to this process, starting with the definition of 10 Common Security Use Cases that highlight the gaps between available solutions, existing processes, and identified needs. Following this, a comprehensive technological analysis is conducted by experts, who also explore legal, societal, ethical, and environmental considerations. This analysis helps end-users narrow down to three specific use cases, which are then subjected to a State of the Art (SOTA) analysis and an Open Market Consultation. The outcomes of these activities ultimately contribute to the definition of the final use case leading to 2 common challenges to be tackled and the development of the initial set of Tender Documentation.
The project also includes a Security Advisory Board (SAB) responsible for managing the sensitive knowledge generated by its activities.