SysTem for SAFE Biological chEmical Radiological and Nuclear Assessment, Rescue and Decontamination

Project Information

STBERNARD

Grant agreement ID: 101121308

DOI

10.3030/101121308

EC signature date 2 August 2023

Start date 1 September 2023

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• Civil Security for Society

Total cost

€ 6 718 795,54

EU contribution

€ 5 997 970,75

Coordinated by

COUNTERFOG SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - STBERNARD (SysTem for SAFE Biological chEmical Radiological and Nuclear Assessment, Rescue and Decontamination)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Emerging technologies on fast aerosol&vapour sensors and fast and massive decontamination -previously developed up to TRL5 by participants of this proposal- have demonstrated to be ideal candidates to provide universal fast and portable protection against CBRN. This project will mature these safe technologies and develop operational procedures for detection, protection, decontamination and assessment itself, and will measure their effectiveness in experimental tests and practical demonstrations in operational environment (TRL7):
EX Intrinsically Safe CBRN-E aerial drone with sensors, semiautonomous navigation even in denied GNSS and automatic detection of victims.
Technology and operating procedures for sheltering responders (including vehicles) against CBRN-E toxic clouds and aerosols
Mass decontamination of infrastructures and vehicles tech & procedures based on aerosol dynamic aggregation.
Sensors and procedures for reliable assessment of cleanliness.
Mass decontamination of people (i.e. crowded arena…)
Decontaminator of Respiratory System of a victim or “Lung cleaner”.
Operating procedures for safe CBRN-E debris removal and excavation.
Additionally, after analysis of CBRN-E associated risks in rescue and recovery operations it will develop and validate an AI modular tool for generating operating procedures for first responders operating under a CBRN-E event.
These reliable useful tools and procedures at TRL7 will substantially increase safety for all first-responders (either CBRN specialized, non-specialized and even rescue-dogs) minimizing the need to enter in a contaminated area and exposure of first responder and providing smart advice and fused information. They haste a safe response and recovery reducing the number of victims and their severity as well as the environmental impact. Particularly, crowded events will be safer against CBRN episodes. Intrinsic Safety in Explosive atmospheres is key to prevent catastrophic explosions with a terrific impact.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work has progressed as planned as follows
Work Package 1. Analysis and assessment of operating requirements for First responders under CBRN-E conditions and procedures. Documentation about CBRNE procedures, technologies and historical data as well as analysis of risk of potential scenarios has been performed.
10 potential scenarios are proposed to explore the utility of the developed technologies and their impact. These scenarios have been revised and adapted listing possible natural and man-made cases -including accidental and terrorist-.
A specific auxiliary script was developed by SJT for the interpretation and processing of the eMARS data of chemical accidents.

Work Package 2. Development of EX-compatible Modular Aerial Drone -with EX motors and power system- is currently in progress. it includes the development of a CBRN-E detection module with UV laser-based detector of bio-aerosols, Chemical-Explosive detectors and Radiological-Nuclear detectors. A new detector is being developed to replace the Scintillation technology for GM (Geiger-Mueller) tube which is not suitable for EX application. The design of the detector (including its electronics and firmware) is currently in progress.
A semiautonomous navigation & positioning MODULE is also under development as well as a Recognition of the Environment & Continuous 3D Mapping MODULE. In spite of being originally based on LIDAR, as LIDAR would not be EX compatible then a new Ultrasound and Infrared approach has been explored and is being developed. Other modules include limited-vision AI key element detection MODULE and Telecommunications MODULE & User IF.

Work Package 3. Development of UV laser-based Bio-aerosol detection module is in progress.
Work Package 4. Development of Deep Lung Smoke & aerosol decontamination is as well in progress. Simulations and preliminary design have been undertaken.
Work Package 5. Development of CBRN-E shelters & mass decontamination curtains. Conceptual design, simulations and construction of prototype have been completed during the first RP.
Work Package 12. Demonstration in Operational Environment 1: Intermodal transport and Dust capturing system Excavator. It was demonstrated that just water was enough to capture the asbestos. A Counterfog® BIAFTS was provided to perform a tentative campaign to get a first glance of the container air-borne microbiome. The results are being processed by biologists from CF and UAH.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EX compatible motors and drone under development will open a world of potential aplications in Explosive Atmospheres environments (Oil and gas, chemical industries, transport).
A real time detector of bioaerosols enables a fast warning in case of biological agents episodes.
The design of a compact radiological detector for the measurement of dose rate is currently in progress. Despite of the standard dose rate detectors, this one is not going to base on the GM tube technology, with the advantage of being suitable to be exposed to EX environment.
A lung decontamination system will open new possibilities for the treatment of respiratory diseases -including silicosis and pneumoconiosis.
Dynamic fog curtains will enable a completely new way for protection against aerosols -including smoke, bioaerosols, particles, Electrical Vehicles fires etc. They are under tests in the 2RP.
Verified procedures for fast decontamination of people, vehicles and facilities will enhance protection against several potential CBRNE scenarios.

Fast decontamination of a rescue dog after duty. Demo in Civil Protection Forum 2024

Microphotography of Asbestos collapsed from air using Counterfog BIAFTS.