Research for Civil Security

2 INNOvatIONS FOR CIvIl SECuRItyInnovations for civil security: Protection systems for security and emergency servicesIn an emergency they are the first to arrive at theplace of operation and are often exposed to unknownhazards: rescue and relief personnel haveto deal with threats such as intense heat and smokegeneration, a pollution-laden atmosphere, contaminatedground conditions, poor visibility or placesof operation that are difficult to access. At the sametime they have to act quickly and precisely in orderto gain control over hazardous situations. Reliable,safe and user-friendly protection technologies aswell as communication and coordination toolsplay a decisive role during such operations – undercertain circumstances a life saving one – and arethus an indispensable part of the body of a modernrescue organization.In order to meet these requirements in an optimalway, one important objective in civil security researchis to promote the development of integratedtechnological approaches. This involves matchingdifferent systems to one another and embeddingthem in an overall solution: systems ranging fromtelecommunications systems to vital sign sensors,which, for example, can be integrated directly intothe protective equipment of emergency forces.and material solutions are tailored to the specificrequirements of rescue forces and ultimately integratedinto improved protection systems.The present brochure presents projects 1 , forwhich the funding totals about 23 million euros inall, together with the players involved. The FederalMinistry of Education and Research (BMBF) providesthis funding in order to promote the developmentof integrated protective systems and equipment aswell as the preparation of supporting organizationalmeasures for use in the event of a disaster.Protection systems for security and emergencyservices in the Research Programmefor Civil SecurityThe Security Research Programme that the federalgovernment adopted on 24 January 2007 as an elementof the high-tech strategy for Germany focuseson improving the protection of citizens. The aim isto counteract threats to society posed by terrorism,organized crime, natural disasters or major technicalaccidents. The programme is characterized bySignificance of the research topicIn recent years technological progress has produceda steady stream of increasingly robust and lightweightmaterials and textiles while contributing tothe miniaturisation of wireless information systemsand sensors. These new technological developmentscan help provide optimal protection forrescue forces during their deployment – and makeit possible to manage operations with greater safetyand efficiency.The protective equipment of any modern rescueforce starts with heat and chemical-resistantclothing. Breathable clothing plays a decisive rolein extending the length of time that rescue forcescan be deployed. State-of-the-art communicationand navigation aids also represent indispensabletools that permit rescue forces to get their bearingsduring an operation, for example in smoke-filledbuildings. And the systems must operate reliablyunder extreme conditions, too. For this reason,new and refined safety engineering developmentsare needed, in which the latest communications1 The AIRSHIELD, I-LOV, Landmarke, LUMITEX, SAFE andSensProCloth projects are assigned to the funding priority“Integrated Protection Systems” of the “Research for Civil Security”programme; the “FeuerWhere” project is funded within theframework of the ICT 2020 research programme.