Improving crisis response with a combined air picture and collaborative mission planning

Kurzfassung

Disaster events pose significant challenges for crisis management, including limited access to communication, inaccessible areas, possibly outdated data, and hazardous transportation. The RESITEK (Resiliente Technologien für den Katastrophenschutz; Resilient technologies for crisis management) project addresses these issues by integrating DLR’s capabilities into a comprehensive shared operational and situational picture system to support crisis response agencies in Germany. Based on end user interviews, the system addresses the lack of real‑time, shared situational awareness, and particularly the coordination of manned and unmanned aircraft. Leveraging the European U‑space framework, the system provides flight authorisation, geo‑awareness, and traffic information services, while a conflict detection and resolution module ensures safe operations. A collaborative mission planning module distributes heterogeneous resources using optimisation and coverage algorithms. The common operational and situational picture aggregates data from U‑space, ADS‑B/ADS‑L, radar, and other sensors and data sources, presenting a modal, scalable interface that highlights impending intrusions and other risks. The goal is to provide a robust and adaptable solution that can be scaled depending on the severity of the events, ultimately saving lives and reducing the impact of disasters. Effective communication and situational awareness are key components of this system.