The CANTIC experiment - Benefits of integrated space technologies in crisis management

Stéphane Pierotti, Thales Alenia Space France, 100 bd du Midi 06156 Cannes-la-Bocca cedex , +33(0)492927886, +33(0)492927660,

stephane.pierotti@thalesaleniaspace.com Roberto Aloisi, Thales Alenia Space France,

100 bd du Midi 06156 Cannes-la-Bocca cedex +33(0)492927812, +33(0)492927660, roberto.aloisi@thalesaleniaspace.com

Abstract

On the 25th of April 2007, a real size experiment has jointly been performed by Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the French Civil Protection in the department of “Alpes Maritimes” near the Nice Côte d’Azur airport. The objective was to experiment and evaluate solutions developed by TAS for crisis management in case of environmental hazard. The proposed solution is a state of the art integration of Satellite Observation, Telecommunications and Navigation techniques. R&D results from the FP6-WIN project and more mature solutions like the transportable Emergesat container, Assisted GPS, Location Based Services, SCORE-112 have been used. The realistic scenario played during the experiment was inspired by the dramatic flooding event that happened in 1994 when the water from the river Var caused important damages to local roads, highways and infrastructures. The CANTIC experiment demonstrated the interest of the proposed solution to set up and operate an end-to-end service chain while preserving the strategic communication links between fixed command entities and operational means deployed on the field.

1. Objectives of the Flood CANTIC experiment

The Flood CANTIC test case objectives are to test the interoperability of the WIN platform with operational applications that will be deployed by the Civil protection in real conditions, and to evaluate advanced telecommunication solutions capable to ensure strategic links when public telecommunication networks are impacted. The following capabilities will be tested: Ø To activate a rapid mapping service from the field and through secure alternative

telecommunication means (Emergesat), in order to order and receive valued added products derived from satellite images;

Ø To test the validation workflow procedure applicable to the product order, according the activation of the inter charter S&MD, and involving fixed and mobile headquarter at local, regional and national level;

Ø To test advanced telecommunication capabilities using satellite and local terrestrial networks (DVB-RCS, Wifi, VHF, VoIP) to ensure on field and remote operational exchanges and explore new ways to exchange digital data (tactical maps, situation maps…), including videoconferencing between all partners involved in the crisis management;

Ø To test localisation and tracking solutions to detect emergency calls received from mobile phones, using assisted GPS Localisation Based Services (LBS) developed by TAS.

2. Experimentation Deployment

After several dry-runs to prepare the exercise and one in-situ preparation day, the final experimentation took place on the October 25

th 2007 at Nice St Isidore fire station premises with the

participation of about 30 operational actors composed of the COZ operators, PôNT partner, departmental SDIS06 fire brigade command centre, crisis centres of Nice Prefecture, municipalities of Saint-Laurent du Var and Nice, Nice Côte-d’Azur international airport representatives, ESCOTA (local motorway operator) and TAS as coordinator. Flood CANTIC was tested on a realistic flood scenario inspired from events that occurred in November 1994, when strategic infrastructures located close to Var river (Alpes-Maritimes administrative centre, Nice Côte-d’Azur international airport, commercial centres, roads, …). Were seriously damaged or destroyed. Flood CANTIC was the opportunity to test the pre-operational platform developed in the FP6/DG Infso WIN project within a complete operational environment deployed by SDIS06 (local Civil Protection authority in charge of the crisis management) and TAS for advanced telecommunication means. SDIS06 deployed a command & control organization composed of 3 mobile headquarters and officers (1 lorry and 2 van equipped with telecommunication and computer means). TAS deployed an Emergesat communication container that allowed access to a wide range of telecommunication vectors (DVB-RCS satcom, Wifi, VHF, VoIP) from either fixed and on-field headquarters. These various telecommunication capabilities were to support applications like notification of actors, dynamic follow-up of events using the WIN/Daybook service, access to available data through the WIN/Catalog service, activation of satellite image acquisition or added value processing through a the WIN/Workflow Management service, support decision making with WIN/Collaborative Working service and integration of information products in operational applications used by Civil protection actors (EMZ-COZ).

Nice Prefecture

SDIS06 Nice town hall

COZI-CARE platform

EmergesatCANTIC

container

InternetInternet

Nice fire station

St-Laurent town hall

Isolated means

PC tablet, PDA

smart phone

Nice Airport

WIN Integration & experimentation

Platforms

TAS Toulouse

Collaborative working platform

TAS Cannes Hub DVB-RCS Hub DVB-RCS

Figure 1: Flood CANTIC experiment architecture

In complement to the WIN experimentation platform, the following means have been used:

• DSL Web Access for all actors: high speed access excepted COZ link; • Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox applications;

• Access to Google Gmail service used to create user’s accounts for the experimentation; • Fixed and mobile phones; • Web cams and Micro-head phones; • Emergesat container to provide satellite, Wifi, Voice on IP and VHF telecommunications

(Figure 2); • Access to I-Care platform to share GIS data in real time and localize & track emergency calls

thanks to Location Based Services; • High reliable PC tablets connected by Wifi to Emergesat used to access to WIN and I-Care

platforms (Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata.);

• Enhanced Pocket PC including GPS-Assisted function to send emergency calls; • Asphodèle and DANUHBE software applications used by the Civil protection SDIS operators

to create tactical situation maps and to report on information collected on- field using GIS and GPS functions (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 2: Emergesat container before and after deployment

Figure 3: Asphodèle used by SDIS06 to create tactical situation maps on the field (courtesy of SDIS 06)

Figure 4: Samples of DANHUBE functions to collect on field information (courtesy of SDIS06)

3. Experiment operations sequence

The experiment takes place in context where the French Alpes-Maritimes department is affected by a long raining period. We are in October 2007 and meteorological previsions are not encouraging. Storms remain localised above the Mediterranean coast.

The emergency call centre (CODIS / CTA) receives numerous phone calls (E112) explaining that the Var river level is high, near the motorway A8 located in the Var valley. The following sequence of typical actions or operations is then played :

• CODIS alerts ESCOTA responsible of the motorway management and territorial authorities (South and Centre) to collect on field information.

The road located between the Var river and Nice airport is flooded and the water threaten the departmental Administrative Centre (CADAM) and other strategic places.

• SDIS06 alerts city council of Nice and St-Laurent du Var and deploys a command centre including the Flood CANTIC means (Emergesat telecommunication container and access to WIN platform).

• the crisis centre of the Prefecture (COD) is activated, and • civil protection contact officers join COD and ESCOTA crisis centres. • Var flood is confirmed and different sensitive areas are identified and listed. A contact officer

alerts all city council command centres in the area. • The various information received from on-field actors are processed and communicated

between all command centres concerned. • Flood CANTIC platform is used as a communication node to exchange information between

fixed and remote headquarters. • The situation requires satellite images to have a global view of the impacted area. Simulation

of value-added product ordering based on satellite data acquisition. • An emergency call is received from a vehicle engaged in the field and is localised thanks to its

GPS position.

4. Data Sets

A wide range of data sets provided by the end-users and external partners have been collected, registered in the WIN platform and dynamically exchanged during the experimentation:

• Reference data shared with Fire crisis test case, provided by several data providers and decision makers, used to locate AOI, actors and order products.

• Generic products defined with SERTIT for food thematic and ingested in the WIN catalogue to order value added products referenced in the Thematic service “GENERIC reference products for Flood thematic”. These products are spatial reference maps to locate the event and assess impact of the event;

• Historical data to simulate flood extent maps that are delivered by the service provider. Due to the lack of real Extent maps on Nice area, value added products have been created by TAS using Risk Prevention plans (PPRI) supplied by Nice town and airborne images supplied by PôNT (IGN source);

• Real Tactical situation maps (SITAC) that will be produced by Civil protection users during the exercise.

Figure 5: Samples of value added products created for Nice Var river area (raster, vector)

4. Users evaluation and recommendations

From the end-user point of view, the CANTIC experimentation is a success. Toward the evaluation and the global recommendation made with the service provider, WIN is considered today as really more powerful than a simple Order web service. At operational user’s level, WIN could become an operational tool The evaluation of the experiment was organised using questionnaires. As a typical example of user feedback, PôNT provided some evaluation statements that are presented here. This feedback is particularly precious as this entity has a particular mandate in exploring new technologies to respond to the evolution of operational requirements of the French Civil Protection. The exact words of users and quoted as they appear in reference deliverable documents of the WIN project.

• Concerning the satellite and value added product ordering, this was part of the initial baseline of WIN (building a web based information structure aiming at facilitating user access and service providers response in case of emergency situations), the CANTIC experiment demonstrates that ”WIN allows making the first stage of data acquisition faster and more easer than using the traditional process. Decision makers, data and service providers are really quickly informed and can received product orders from on field decision makers. The time saved on the data acquisition process allows a better fight and minimizes the crisis impact on population and environment”.

• The French Civil protection South Region Headquarters provided the following additional elements: “The ordering process demonstrated was considered as a good approach, very close to operational needs, taking into account the civil protection operational procedures. The data catalogue is a perfect example of a tool able to facilitate the work of civil protection during the product ordering operation in crisis phase, but also in

post crisis and prevention. The process order service is well described and user-friendly easy to use with clear instructions and adapted forms displayed. The validation process managed by the workflow is also well perceived and respects the operational environment and organization of civil protection”.

• Feedback on the use of WIN/Collaborative working tool: “Operational decisions cannot be made outside the civil protection environment procedures especially if information is accessible or visible by other State services without control of legal authorities. In operational situatiosn all actors exchange information about the crisis toward the Prefectoral authorities (COD) and exchanges must be controlled. However, this service is very adapted for real-time assistance to specify products before ordering, to display product during the production in order to exchange with the provider before final delivery for validation and dissemination operations”.