CoSky Final Conference - Thank You for Your Participation!
The event gathered over 80 representatives from the Polish State Fire Service (PSP), the Polsih Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA), Voivodeship Offices, the Government Centre for Security (RCB), the Territorial Defence Forces, the Internal Security Agency (ABW), the National Water Management Authority, and many other institutions involved in crisis management. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss the latest technologies and best practices in air operations coordination and UAV mapping, particularly in the context of flood response efforts in Poland in September 2024.
The conference was opened by representatives of the Operator of the "Internal Affairs" Program - Magdalena Zdrojewska, deputy director at the Department of European Funds of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration, and Norwegian Ambassador Øystein Bø, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in the area of civil protection.
Additionally, opportunities for future project funding under the Norway Grants were presented by representatives of the MSWiA Department for European Funds and the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB). They also highlighted the achievements of Polish-Norwegian bilateral cooperation to date.
Following this, Chief Commander of the Polish State Fire Service, Mariusz Feltynowski, discussed how drones enhance the efficiency of the State Fire Service, illustrating his presentation with practical operational examples. The discussion also covered challenges related to the integration of UAVs with manned aviation and PSP operational procedures.
Coordination of Drone Flights in Crisis Operations
One of the key topics of the conference was the safe and effective coordination of UAVs and manned aviation. During the panel, experts from Poland and Norway, including representatives from PANSA, PSP, and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Stavanger, discussed different models of air operations coordination and lessons learned from recent crisis situations.
A particularly engaging discussion focused on the flood response efforts in Poland in September 2024, emphasising interagency cooperation and the role of drones in supporting rescue operations.
Drone Mapping for Situational Awareness
The next session was dedicated to drone mapping as a tool for enhancing situational awareness in crisis scenarios. Panelists included representatives from regional administration and the PSP, who shared their experiences in managing the consequences of the 2024 flood. The discussion covered:
- The role of UAVs in providing critical information for emergency services,
- The flow of data between crisis management entities,
- Real-time information sharing capabilities,
- Challenges in data analysis and its operational application.
Additionally, Norwegian experts presented their country’s crisis management system and the organization of UAV operations during natural disasters, referencing the August 2023 flood in southern Norway.
Norwegian Grants and the Future of Polish-Norwegian Cooperation
The final segment of the conference focused on the future of Polish-Norwegian cooperation in using drones for crisis management. Jakub Ryzenko (CBK PAN) emphasized that a major challenge moving forward will be the further integration of UAV flight management systems and their coordination on both national and international levels.
We sincerely thank all participants, speakers, and panelists for insightful discussions and valuable contributions!
Conference materials are available for download below.
