In Brussels, crisis management is becoming smarter thanks to innovative apps
Storms, floods, health emergencies and technological incidents: local crises are on the rise. To better anticipate and respond to them, public authorities are increasingly relying on innovative digital tools.
The Opens in new windowSIAMU (Fire Brigade and Emergency Medical Services) already uses powerful tools to facilitate decision-making in the field. One example is INA, a tablet-based application developed by External linkGemsotec. It is fed in real time by web services developed by the "Paradigm – SIAMU" IT team, with the following information:
- maps of the Brussels-Capital Region and surrounding area,
- geolocated positions of emergency vehicles,
- ongoing or past interventions,
- preferred routes from fire stations to each street (CARDEX routes),
- intervention plans (IPI), structured to guide teams to hazardous locations,
- information on transport networks and critical infrastructure (hydrants, gas columns, etc.),
- and more.
Another key tool is External linkOSCAR (GIS Tool for Risk Mapping and Analysis), developed by the University of Liège in collaboration with the SIAMU IT team. This spatial analysis tool provides a better understanding of the distribution of fire and medical emergencies across the Brussels region, correlating it with the accessibility of emergency stations. It is based on an original data model, designed for a smooth and fast experience, combining:
- raster layers (grid images, useful for continuous data such as population density),
- and vector layers (for locating tunnels, schools or hospitals, for example).
The integration of these innovative solutions marks a turning point in emergency management in Brussels and illustrates the potential of digital technology to make our cities safer and more resilient.