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Smart integrated extreme environment health monitor with sensory feedback for enhanced situation awareness

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Innovation for first responders’ safety

Natural disasters occurring in inaccessible rural areas are on the rise, leading to the multiplication of first responders’ missions. However, engagement in fighting wildfires or participating in rescue missions includes risks for the well-being of the engaged first responders. Consequently, a system that monitors their actions and provides real-time and actionable information without obstructing their operational capacity is needed. The EU-funded SIXTHSENSE project aims to improve the efficiency and safety of first responders’ engagement in difficult environments by optimising on-site team coordination and mission implementation. The project proposes an innovative wearable health monitoring system based on multimodal biosensor data that enables first responders to detect risk factors early on and allows real-time monitoring of all deployed responders.

Objective

SIXTHSENSE is a multidisciplinary innovation and research action with the overall aim to significantly improve efficacy and safety of first responders’ deployment in hazardous environments by optimising on-site team coordination and mission execution.
Between the booming EU economy and the climate change, the number and consequences of disasters occurring in inaccessible rural areas is on a constant rise. First responder deployments in extreme conditions such as fighting wildfires or alpine search and rescue missions have gone from exceptional to regular events in only a couple of decades. As this trend is likely to continue, the risks for wellbeing of the engaged first responders continue to grow. To avoid the loss of life or lasting consequences on the first responders’ health, it is important that the key physiological parameters of deployed operatives are monitored in a way that provides timely and actionable information, without hindering their operational capacity.
The SIXTHSENSE is a wearable health monitoring system with closed loop tactile biofeedback, that allows first responders in hazardous situations to sense their current health status. It allows early detection of risk factors that could lead to rapid deterioration of health or operation capabilities of first responders, by leveraging predictive models based on multimodal biosensor data. As a team management tool it enables real-time monitoring of all deployed operatives, helping increase team effectiveness and operational safety.
To help accelerate the pace of technological advancements aimed at first responders, beyond the scope of the project, SIXTHSENSE will establish a novel research methodology for sustainable inclusion of first responders in a co-development process. A comprehensive framework will allow practitioners to significantly contribute in all stages of the development process, without excessively burdening the first responders with activities outside the domain of their expertise.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-SU-SEC-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SU-SEC-2019

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Net EU contribution
€ 778 875,00
Address
Parque cientifico y tecnologico de gipuzkoa, paseo mikeletegi 2
20009 Donostia-san sebastian (gipuzkoa)
Spain

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Region
Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (22)

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EC signature date 21 April 2020
Last update: 20 October 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/883315

European Union, 2023