Written by Scorpion Networks

The first 3 months of the GroundUp Project have shown considerable interest in moving academic R&D to higher TRL levels among the CEE countries. Foremost in this process are the R&N solutions that are SOTA, not just for Europe but global. The other technologies in CBRNE show great promise and are more complex. However, by the end of the project in June 2027, the GroundUp Team will have matured several Applications to cover a wide range of civil security issues.

Within this process, some 52 Technology Providers in the CEE Region have been engaged with and actively encouraged to join our efforts to have products that are marketable. A User (customer) list is being developed covering the CEE countries initially, but is designed to go pan-EU and global later. A project internal Database (DB) has been constructed by partner Scorpion Networks Ltd. to manage all technology participants, applications, and design options. The consortium will have full access to this DB. Access Management rules are being formulated to protect confidential data owned by the users of the DB. A public-facing App with access management is being tested to enable the Technology Providers and Users to interface with the GroundUp team, the various application solutions, and each other, in conjunction with a public-facing GroundUp website developed by the project partner Privanova.

The Application Packages, as listed in the banner above, are detailed as follows:

  • OMNISCAN for locations such as airports. This solution is based on distributed CBRNE sensor boxes with combinations of sensors developed or being developed by the Technology Providers. Each box is suited to its specific siting, but has a common solution in wireless meshing, PoE, or mains power and battery standby. The sensor list is not confined to CBRNE but is enhanced with advanced and innovative solutions that will make the OMNISCAN product a market leader when the project moves on to commercialisation.
  • CROWDSCAN for locations such as football stadia, concert halls, etc. The boxes integrated for this application resemble those in OMNISCAN and other Application Packages, but are aimed at complementing other technologies in monitoring crowds and controlled entrances.
  • TRANSCAN for transport hubs. The CBRNE boxes proposed here differ slightly from the other Application Packages. The extra dimension of carriages and buses on the move adds an extra complexity, which will be resolved with variations in the wireless meshing and responses.
  • FARSCAN is designed for First Responders. Our GroundUp solutions are designed to alert the authorities as quickly as the CBRNE sensors can react, but First Responders take time to arrive on site. The GroundUp solutions enable local site management to react appropriately while awaiting the First Responder specialists. The sensor detections educate the First Responders on the use of protective clothing and decontamination equipment.
  • INNENSCAN is designed specifically for Customs and Port Authorities. This will be designed to cater to high-rise container yards, mail sorting, and other logistics variations. There will be additional sampling features in this case.

It is planned to incorporate new and advanced features in all the above applications, which enhance the speed of detection and remedial actions. Some detections, such as Bio and R&N, are not evident immediately, nor do they quickly produce symptoms of infection or contamination. These new features alert the local authorities, building management, etc., to immediate dangers and support selective remedial actions to protect those exposed and those remaining outside of the exposure area. The technologies to be used are drawn from the CEE Region, the packaged solutions will be integrated within the CEE Region, but the market initially covers the EU and Associated Countries, and subsequently the global market. The post GroundUp project period, starting June 2027, will see the commercialisation of the above.