The Best City Awards, the awards that reward Innovation and Quality of Life in Greek cities, announced the winners on Monday, January 16, 2023. The Best awards were organized by Boussias, under the auspices of Central Union of Municipalities of Greece(KEDE) and the Region of Attica, and for the 6th year they highlighted the top practices and solutions of the past year.
Amongst the solutions that were distinguished and awarded was the “CIVIL PROTECTION INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF HERAKLION“, which has been developed by the association of the companies GET and JGC, for the Municipality of Heraklion.
The Municipality of Heraklion was distinguished by receiving the GOLD AWARD in the category “1.4.1 Information system for the early warning and response to risks & emergency situations”.
The specific system is an integrated solution, based on the combined use of appropriate software and UAV systems that provide a common operational picture and help to fully harmonize the Civil Protection Plan of Heraklion with the General Plan of Civil Protection, “Xenokratis” , which has as its main purpose the formation of a system of effective response to catastrophic phenomena to protect the life, health and property of citizens, as well as the protection of the natural environment.
The main components of the platform are:
- Crisis management platform
- Spatial Data Infrastructure
- Satellite Data Access Service
- Open Data Portal
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System
- Field Data Collection Software
The innovation of the system lies in the advanced implementation technologies that have been used, which were chosen both for quality and performance, but also with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the project through the possibility of scalability and updating.
The technologies used (FOSS and open/modular architecture) ensure the longevity of the project, providing the possibility of continuous improvements and adaptations with a rational cost-benefit ratio. Besides, if there is no continuous adaptation to changing conditions and needs, then chronic delays ultimately have financial as well as social costs when it comes to projects like this particular system.
The Municipality of Heraklion, as well as the suppliers of the system, GET & JGC, are proud to be included in those agencies that show the way for cities to be smart, sustainable and economically viable, with innovative practices and technologies for the benefit of citizens.
More information about the project is available here: https://www.getmap.eu/project/civilprogis-heraklion-project/