Space integrated into civil protection toolbox. Identifying way forward

Paper number

IAC-11,B5,1,4,x11286

Author

Mr. Jakub Ryzenko, PIAP & Warsaw University, Poland

Year

2011

Abstract

Growing availability of space applications and recent cases of their successful utilisation have resulted in increased interest in space among civil protection and humanitarian communities. However, the benefits that are offered today by space are significantly lower than potentially available. Space solutions, to be utilised effectively, must be available as integrated tools, implanted into existing operational civil protection procedures and practices of humanitarian operations.

This paper presents a selected findings and initial recommendations developed during the analytical process initiated by the Polish Presidency of the European Union. Effective utilization of space applications has been selected as a major theme for the Presidency priority in the field of civil protection “Use of modern technologies for communication in crisis”.

The workshop “Space for Civil Protection” was organised by the European Space Policy Institute in May 2011 to aggregate input from space community on the matter. The EU Presidency Civil Protection Workshop in July was used to discuss results with representatives of civil protection authorities from majority of European countries.
Furthermore, the international civil protection exercise organized in Poland in September was used to experimentally implement several modern technologies into the coordination of emergency operation, in line with the existing procedures. The set of technologies included several of currently available space solutions as well as the Proteus system – the next generation civil C4I system currently developed in Poland. The purpose was to analyse the expected added value of use of existing modern technologies, but also to evaluate organizational and procedural limitations for their efficient utilisation. 

Findings and initial recommendations presented in the paper are divided into 3 categories: 
\begin{itemize}\item technical, including limitations of existing solutions, promising future applications, and potential added value of integrated approach in selected cases;
\item operational, focused on role of already available space applications in existing international mechanisms and procedures;
\item regulatory, with particular attention towards steps needed for international interoperability and standardisation.\end{itemize}

Abstract document

IAC-11,B5,1,4,x11286.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-11,B5,1,4,x11286.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.