Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CHIMERA (Comprehensive Hazard Identification, and Monitoring systEm for uRban Areas)
Período documentado: 2023-09-01 hasta 2025-02-28
Strengthening resilience of the European countries have long been an emerging need, driving the establishment of various local, national and international policies, including the EU CBRN Agenda, Counter-Terrorism Agenda or EU Security Union Strategy. Following the Russian aggression on Ukraine, the threat of CBRN risk have become a public concern, touching not only the cross-border organizations, but also citizens in many countries, as the risk of CBRN weapons being used on societies tackled whole-world political decisions.
The CHIMERA project (Comprehensive Hazard Identification, and Monitoring systEm for uRban Areas) addresses the growing need for enhanced public safety and societal resilience by introducing innovative technologies to the market. These technologies are designed to enable the early detection of potential threats, support accurate and reliable risk identification, and provide user-friendly, accessible tools that assist first responders in making critical decisions under extreme, life-threatening conditions. To achieve this, CHIMERA offers a comprehensive system of interconnected features, including:
- Command&Control front-end Application enabling first responders with quick and reliable visual tool for setting hot-warm-cold zones given an CBRN incident;
- Multipurpose heterogenous sensor node, equipped with data collection and processing software, enabling immediate overview of the source of threat as well as its possible distribution in urban environments;
- Unified data format and workflow, enabling to connect commercially available detection instruments to the CHIMERA system.
The CHIMERA project (Comprehensive Hazard Identification, and Monitoring systEm for uRban Areas) addresses the growing need for enhanced public safety and societal resilience by introducing innovative technologies to the market. These technologies are designed to enable the early detection of potential threats, support accurate and reliable risk identification, and provide user-friendly, accessible tools that assist first responders in making critical decisions under extreme, life-threatening conditions. To achieve this, CHIMERA offers a comprehensive system of interconnected features, including:
- Command&Control front-end Application enabling first responders with quick and reliable visual tool for setting hot-warm-cold zones given an CBRN incident;
- Multipurpose heterogenous sensor node, equipped with data collection and processing software, enabling immediate overview of the source of threat as well as its possible distribution in urban environments;
- Unified data format and workflow, enabling to connect commercially available detection instruments to the CHIMERA system.
A comprehensive analysis of first responders' needs was performed at the early stage of the project. This resulted in better understanding of the capability gaps of end users and led to formulation of the formal User Requirements Specification which lay ground for the design of the whole CHIMERA system architecture, including its components. Commercially available detection instruments (off-the-shelf detectors) were evaluated and adapted to meet the technical requirements of the system architecture. Simultaneously, six sensor nodes were developed to enable integration with the system. These sensor nodes enable data capture from the off-the-shelf solutions. A prototype of a front-end application (Command&Control Application) was developed. This application serves as a gateway for the first responders, it has been equipped with data fusion algorithms that analyse the threat in near-real time to provide a visual overview of the CBRN incident area. The Command&Control Application utilizes advanced source estimation and dispersion modelling algorithms, thus providing rapid information on potential source and spread of the danger.
All of these CHIMERA components were developed and are entering integration phase, which will lay ground for a full-scale real-world testing and demonstration phase foreseen for the second part of the project.
All of these CHIMERA components were developed and are entering integration phase, which will lay ground for a full-scale real-world testing and demonstration phase foreseen for the second part of the project.
The CHIMERA project delivers a set of integrated innovations that significantly go beyond the current state of the art in the field of CBRN detection, response coordination, and decision support:
• Heterogeneous Chemical Detection (I1): CHIMERA introduces a combination of IMS and FPD technologies within a single detection platform, enabling broader detection coverage, and reduced false alarms through advanced data fusion and machine learning techniques.
• Advanced Radiological Detection (I2): CHIMERA develops a compact TRL8-ready device combining a Geiger counter and a CZT spectrometer, allowing not only for dose rate measurement but also on-site nuclide identification—an important step forward in field usability.
• Near-Real-Time Dispersion Modelling (I3): The project optimizes urban dispersion models by integrating precomputed wind field libraries, balancing accuracy and speed to support near-real-time threat prediction and operational decision-making.
• CBRN Data Fusion (I4): CHIMERA develops a dedicated two-step fusion and identification algorithm to consolidate sensor inputs across multiple detection domains, improving alarm reliability and supporting intelligent prioritization of incident response.
All of these innovations are currently under active development, as the project has reached its halfway point (M18). They are planned to reach full maturity and integration by the end of the project, aligning with the goal of delivering a TRL8-ready system suitable for operational use and commercialization.
• Heterogeneous Chemical Detection (I1): CHIMERA introduces a combination of IMS and FPD technologies within a single detection platform, enabling broader detection coverage, and reduced false alarms through advanced data fusion and machine learning techniques.
• Advanced Radiological Detection (I2): CHIMERA develops a compact TRL8-ready device combining a Geiger counter and a CZT spectrometer, allowing not only for dose rate measurement but also on-site nuclide identification—an important step forward in field usability.
• Near-Real-Time Dispersion Modelling (I3): The project optimizes urban dispersion models by integrating precomputed wind field libraries, balancing accuracy and speed to support near-real-time threat prediction and operational decision-making.
• CBRN Data Fusion (I4): CHIMERA develops a dedicated two-step fusion and identification algorithm to consolidate sensor inputs across multiple detection domains, improving alarm reliability and supporting intelligent prioritization of incident response.
All of these innovations are currently under active development, as the project has reached its halfway point (M18). They are planned to reach full maturity and integration by the end of the project, aligning with the goal of delivering a TRL8-ready system suitable for operational use and commercialization.