SAVE ME 2nd Project Workshop

This workshop is intended to disseminate the key findings from the EU FP7 SAVE ME project and provide an open environment for a wider discussion about the major safety and security issues facing transportation today.

In addition to sessions presenting the key findings and outputs from the SAVE ME project, we have invited a number of key speakers working in the safety and security arena and from other research projects to create a diverse and exciting agenda for the day.

The event is being held at the stunning Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (http://www.balticmill.com/) on NewcastleGateshead Quayside. There are plenty of hotels nearby and in Newcastle City Centre itself, please see this link for more details.

CONFIRMED EXTERNAL SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Ivan Sorensen, European Commission DG MOVE (Unit A4: Land and Maritime Transport Security)

Emily Landis Walker, International Security Expert, CEO and Consultant of Landis & Co. (http://www.emilylwalker.com/)

Chief Inspector Rae Jiggins/Inspector Ed Purchase, Counter Terrorism Support Unit, British Transport Police

Conor O'Neill, Project Co-ordinator for EU FP7 SECUREMETRO project (http://securemetro.inrets.fr/), NewRail, Newcastle University

Plus a series of presentations showcasing the work and results of the SAVE ME project from individual project members.

The final agenda will be circulated in due course.

About the SAVE ME Project

http://www.save-me.eu/

Natural disasters are becoming all the more frequent and these events can have significant impacts on our transportation systems and their operation. Fires with the most serious consequences (involving injuries, fatalities or extensive infrastructure damage) have primarily been the result of tunnel accidents whilst another great menace of our time is terrorism, where transportation infrastructures, hubs and stations are all potential targets of terrorist attacks.

The SAVE ME project has developed an intelligent sensor-based system which detects both natural and man-made (i.e. terrorist attacks) disaster events in public transport terminals, vehicles and critical infrastructures to support quick and optimal mass evacuation. The ultimate aim of SAVE ME is to provide support in emergency situations to help save the lives of the general public and the rescuers, giving particular emphasis to the most vulnerable travellers (i.e. children, older people and the mobility impaired).

The underlying concept behind SAVE ME and the technological developments have been tested at two pilot sites, Monument Metro Station (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) and the Colle Capretto Road Tunnel (San Gemini, Italy).

The project is funded by the EU under the FP7 Sustainable Surface Transport programme, commencing in October 2009 and will finish in September 2012.