In a study on the topic of 'Future technologies and scenarios in fire and disaster protection', the Karlsruhe University of Technology and Economics and the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb) want to examine how the latest technologies can support emergency services.
Furthermore, it should be found out how operational processes can be simplified and accelerated. The basis for the analysis is an online survey aimed at those responsible for fire departments, rescue services and civil protection. Participation in the survey is possible from now until January 15, 2021.
Opportunity to advance topics
“The study is another good opportunity to advance topics such as digitalization, robotics, and artificial intelligence,” says vfdb President, Dirk Aschenbrenner, adding “It was only in the summer that a study we initiated on digitalization in civil security showed what major deficits exist in this area.”
The creation of a competence center to bundle tasks that make sense to be solved
As a consequence, the vfdb has, among other things, called for the creation of a competence center to bundle tasks that make sense to be solved uniformly and centrally need to become.
“Digitalization can significantly help reduce personal injury and property damage. At the same time, efficiency can be improved through more targeted use of resources,” the vfdb wrote in an open letter to federal and state politicians and various committees.
Technologies in fire and disaster protection
The results of the study, which was published in September, are both an incentive and an obligation to get to the bottom of the problem further. Various technologies have already been discussed and evaluated with numerous experts in various workshops.
As part of the new study, the results of the survey will be discussed and evaluated. The participants are also asked for their opinions on the feasibility of the technologies in fire and disaster protection.
Future potential for fire and disaster protection
For example, it is about the question of where emergency services reach their limits and could use technical support or which technologies are seen as having the greatest future potential for fire and disaster protection.
The study is led by Alexia Wunsch and Professor Dr. Hendrik Rust from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. In addition to Dirk Aschenbrenner, the initiators also include Karsten Göwecke from Section 6 of the vfdb and Thomas Zawadke, board member of the aid organization @fire.
