Finished projects (2013-2019)
EO4EP - Earth Observation for Eastern Partnership
Earth Observation for Eastern Partnership is an European Space Agency initiative which aims to achieve a step increase in the uptake of satellite-based environmental information in the development programs implemented by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank in the Eastern European Region (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Poland), in particular in order to support the technical collaboration and knowledge exchange among Eastern Partnership countries.
The activities are implemented in the 2016–2018 timeframe, with Phase I (2016-2017) dedicated to the stakeholders’ engagement and requirements consolidation, and the Phase II (2017–2018) focusing on EO information production, delivery and capacity building to ensure that the information brings operational benefits to the users. The project is focused on the following thematic areas: agriculture, land management and water resources management.
The project is led by the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science (CBK PAN), and the consortium consists of companies providing products and serivces based on satellite data - from Poland: Astri Polska, Geosystems Polska, GeoPulse and from Czech Republic: Gisat. The team is supported by the Polish Center for International Aid.
EDEN - End-user driven DEmo for cbrNe
The EDEN project was focused on scientific and technical issues related to enhancing CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive) safety. The main aim was the application of diverse toolsets (the Eden Store ‘Toolbox of Toolboxes’) that were integrated, tested and evaluated in thematic demonstrations during training and practical activities. The project was led by BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd in the United Kingdom and involved 37 organisations from 15 European countries.
The Crisis Information Centre was involved in 16 of the 39 workpackages. Its activity was focused on radiological and nuclear threats in a workpackage led by the Main School of the Fire Service in Poland. The Centre was responsible for the “Test-Service Period”, which provided users with free access to the EDEN Store tools, and the organisation of table top exercises.
Duration: 1 September 2013 – 31 December 2016
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 313077.
The EDEN project website
SimSpace – Training Simulation System for Crisis Management
The project was co-financed within PECS contract of European Space Agency. It was realised by Sigma Games Aleksander Sierżęga company and the Crisis Information Centre CBK PAN.
Main goal of the project was to create a simulation system which will demonstrate for crisis management, transport and logistics environments in Poland a wide spectrum of possible usage of different data that originates from satellite observation in training and simulating from the analysis point of view and as a support in decision making process.
Crisis Information Centre was responsible for demonstration phase, preparing simulation scenarios and maps based on satellite images processing.
GECCO - Space-Derived Geoinformation For Crisis Management and Coordination
The purpose of the project was to demonstrate to the Polish crisis management and rescue services a variety of possible uses for space-derived information, to evaluate its effectiveness, and to establish the best way to provide access to information products.
The project resulted in:
- the development of a set of analytical products, based on space-derived information that can provide strategic and situational information to crisis management authorities;
- the development of an integrated information environment that provides access to information products and supports information exchange for professional users (Professional Portal) and Professional Mobile Application) as well as providing crisis information and disseminating warnings to the general public (Public Portal and Mobile Application) and
- a set of recommendations for the implementation of a geoinformation environment for crisis management in Poland.
CIK was responsible for the demonstration phases of the project and the development of new geo-information products. These tasks included the presentation of GECCO to end users, testing, and gathering the necessary information to meet the users’ needs and expectations. The Centre also provided input in the form of EO products and geospatial analyses that could be used by crisis management organisations.
GECCO was funded by the Government of Poland through the European Space Agency Contract under the Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS).
Duration: 1 September 2013 – 29 February 2016
Study of hydraulic modeling for flood prevention - 2nd stage - support to the competence and readiness of Georgian institutions
The project was led by the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) and financed by the Polish development cooperation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in 2016.
One of the main goals was strengthening competencies of specialists from the National Environment Agency of Georgia (NEA) in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. The project was a continuation of PCPM's activities from the year 2015, when a group of employees from NEA learned the theoretical basics of modeling and main functions of software which is used for that purpose. This time, under the supervision of specialists from the Regional Water Management Authority in Kraków, the University of Agriculture in Kraków and CBK PAN, they independently modeled the Aragvi River and five smaller rivers in Alazani basin in eastern Georgia and got to know more advanced functions of software.
The Crisis Information Centre CBK PAN took part in consultations concerning preparation of geospatial data as input to hydrologic model and prepared visualisations of participants' work results, including maps of flood hazard zones.
Anti-flood early warning and prevention systems in Georgia: special focus on Kabali and Duruji rivers
Project was conducted by Polish Center for International Aid and financed by the Polish development cooperation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
The main aim of the project was to increase the efficiency of crisis management by local governments in responding to flash floods on selected rivers in Kakheti region of Georgia. To achieve this, a pilot alert system for early warning was developed. The project also aimed to improve crisis management planning processes through the introduction of GIS, EO and simulation tools.
Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of the Kabali and Duruji rivers was carried out during the first year of the project, followed by modelling of the Lagodekhi and Ninoskhevi rivers in the second year. Spatial data, including DEMs, longest flow paths, catchments, land cover and soil permeability maps, and other vector datasets were prepared by CIK CBK PAN. As a result of the modelling conducted by hydrologists from the Regional Water Management Board in Kraków, flood zones were delineated and presented on flood hazard maps. At the same time, local response plans were revised and improved by Polish experts.
CIK CBK PAN also developed a concept for a water gauge network and was responsible for supporting its their installation and evaluation of their work.
At the end of November 2014, workshops were held in two towns in Georgia threatened by rivers Kabali and Duruji. CIK CBK PAN prepared and led the exercises for municipal staff responsible for crisis management. During the simulations, local authorities received information based on a flood scenario and were required to develop response strategies and make decisions using response plans and flood hazard maps.
The simulation was repeated in 2015. This time, it was conducted by Georgian specialists from state institutions with support of Polish experts. CIK CBK PAN played a supporting role and prepared flood hazard maps. The exercise was preceded six months earlier by a test designed to assess the knowledge of local response plans among members of the crisis management teams of the Kvareli and Lagodekhi municipalities.
Duration: 1 April 2014 – 30 October 2015