An EU co-funded project revolutionises climate-related crisis management

ANYWHERE, an EU co-funded project, has made significant strides in improving the management of emergencies resulting from extreme weather events. Crises driven by weather conditions have a profound impact on our communities and lead to significant human losses and financial damage. In the past three decades, such events have become either more common or more severe worldwide due to climate change, escalating the risk of dire consequences for individuals and infrastructures.

Bolstering the capabilities of responder institutions and citizens faced with extreme weather and climate events, ANYWHERE reinforces public protection and disaster relief in the EU. Led by Professor Daniel Sempere-Torres of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the project has received EUR 11,973,367.76 in EU funds, under the Secure Societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens funding programme.

A pan-European platform for the identification of potential risks

At the heart of the project is the pan-European A4EU platform, a novel system designed to help operational authorities across Europe anticipate and respond to climate risks more effectively. A4EU's early warning systems enable the identification of potential high-risk situations that could result in human casualties or economic damage. The platform’s multi-hazard early warning system and customisable decision-support services are tailored to the specific needs of national, regional, and local authorities, as well as operators of critical infrastructures. As a result, emergency responders can concentrate on localised impacts improving protection measures, and, in the case of catastrophic events, enhance the coordination of rescue operations.

Successful implementation in six EU countries

The ANYWHERE team has successfully implemented and tested seven A4EU prototypes at civil protection command centres in six European countries. The prototypes, which have been operational for a year-long demonstration, highlight the adaptability of these tools for different climate scenarios and locations. The project has also developed four self-protection tools aimed at helping citizens and businesses prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. These include A4Campsite for flood-prone campsites in Catalonia, A4Snow for severe snowfall road impacts in Catalonia, A4Schools for school safety during floods in Genoa, and A4Grid for minimising storm impacts on Finland's electricity grids.

Following the project’s conclusion in 2019, a workshop was organised in Brussels where the innovative products and services developed by ANYWHERE were presented. The event featured hands-on demonstrations and real-time exhibits of the prototypes, emphasising their innovation and market potential. Additionally, service lines for Portuguese and Spanish municipalities and the A4Cities platform were launched to further support local authorities.

Striving for excellence in civil security

ANYWHERE has been honoured with the Resilience Award at the 2022 Security Innovation Award, in recognition of its contributions to boosting societal resilience. This award highlights the project's commitment to improving the ability to foresee and respond to severe weather events affecting civil protection across Europe through innovative technology. With its sophisticated Multi-Hazard Impact based Early Warning System (MH-IEWS), specifically designed to address climate-related emergencies, and its powerful decision-support system (DSS), ANYWHERE is part of a comprehensive decision-support platform that seamlessly incorporates local data, including vulnerability and risk assessments, and features advanced visualisation tools.

Professor Sempere-Torres confidently states that ANYWHERE is set to transform emergency management by shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach in enhancing the security and safety of our citizens and infrastructures in times of climate change.

Find out more

ANYWHERE - Horizon 2020