The SYNERGISE Project Brings Technology Testing to Warsaw for Second Component Field Test

The second Component Field Test of the SYNERGISE project, hosten by our consortium partner CNBOP-PIB, held in Warsaw, Poland, from March 31 to April 4, 2025, was a critical step forward in testing and validating technologies developed to support first responders in disaster situations. This hands-on field test brought together first responder teams, technology developers, and project observers to assess how SYNERGISE solutions perform in realistic, high-pressure scenarios involving chemical hazards and urban disaster response.

As with all SYNERGISE field tests, CFT2 was based on master scenarios and use cases developed within the project. In this case, the scenario focused on a chemical explosion in a warehouse leading to a complex urban search and rescue situation, with a specific emphasis on hazardous material exposure, area mapping, and the search for trapped or injured victims.

This structured scenario enabled the SYNERGISE partners to test and evaluate their technologies in lifelike operational conditions. First responders carried out missions using the tools and systems in real time, providing feedback and data that are essential to the refinement and further development of the technologies.

The testing activities were overseen by Steve Gadsdon, Director for Field Testing from the Project Advisory Board, who ensured that all operations aligned with the project’s testing protocols and overarching goals. He was supported by the team from CNBOP, who played a key role in the successful organisation and execution of the field test.

Participating first responder organizations included:

• Centrum naukowo-badawcze ochrony przeciwpożarowej (CNBOP-PIB)

• Hellenic Rescue Team of Attica (HRTA)

• Södertörn Fire Brigade (SBFF)

• Gezamenlijke Brandweer (GB)

• German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)

Their active engagement was essential for evaluating the usability, functionality, and effectiveness of the systems under development. Testing technologies in this complex environment allowed first responders to experience how these tools would perform in the field, and their feedback continues to play a key role in shaping the final solutions.

Technologies evaluated during CFT2 included:

• Drone-based mapping and sensing (by NTNU): Used to assess damage, map hazardous zones, and support real-time situational awareness.

• Wearable health and safety sensors (by Wearin’): Designed to monitor first responder vitals and stress levels in high-risk environments.

• Localization devices (by SYSNAV): Advanced positioning systems for precise tracking of personnel operating in difficult or GPS-denied environments.

• Wireless satellite communication (by ASTRIAL): Ensuring connectivity even in disrupted areas for seamless coordination and communication across teams.

• Command and Control system (by ASTRIAL): Integrating input from field technologies to support decision-making and coordination from a central hub.

Observers from the SYNERGISE Project Advisory Board attended CFT2, providing critical expert input. A notable presence included representatives from the Iraqi Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) & Kurdistan Civil Defense, continuing the tradition of international collaboration established in CFT1.

The trials reinforced the potential of SYNERGISE to transform disaster response operations through technological integration. The field test outcomes have already begun informing refinements and upgrades to ensure the systems meet the real needs of end users.

CFT2 once again highlights SYNERGISE’s commitment to innovation, co-development with first responders, and international partnership in advancing disaster resilience. The success of the Warsaw test sets the stage for the next two Component Field Tests in Sweden and Switzerland.