On July 5th, 2024, the GOBEYOND project marked a significant milestone with the organization of its first Living Lab in the Attica region of Greece. This event, co-organized by the Civil Protection Office of the Region of Attica and DRAXIS Environmental, brought together a diverse group of 15 local stakeholders, including Civil Protection Authorities from Piraeus and other municipalities, representatives from the Fire Department, the Hellenic Rescue Team and the National Observatory of Athens.
The primary objective of the Living Lab was to engage these key stakeholders in identifying existing limitations, better understand the needs of end-users and align the GOBEYOND solutions to meet these needs effectively. The project places significant emphasis on co-creation, so the event prioritized an inclusive and participatory framework where participants actively contributed their expertise.
The session introduced participants to the project’s goals, initiatives, and pilot demonstrations and highlighted the Multi-Risk Impact-based Early Warning System (MR-IEWS) that is being developed for geohazards and weather/climate events.
The event sparked very interesting discussions about the daily challenges faced by Attica’s Civil Protection Authorities and the various hazards impacting the region, such as floods, fires and earthquakes. Participants expressed keen interest in the MR-IEWS being developed by GOBEYOND and discussed how it could enhance their current practices by providing timely and accurate information, allowing for better preparedness, resource allocation, and coordinated response to natural hazards, ultimately reducing the impact on communities and infrastructure. The exchange of ideas and experiences helped identify specific requirements that would make the tools more effective and user-friendly.
Overall, the first Living Lab was a successful step in fostering collaboration and innovation among key stakeholders. By aligning GOBEYOND’s solutions with the real-world needs of end-users, the project is well on its way to strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable practices for mitigating the impact of natural hazards and disasters globally.
More Living Labs are set to follow, both in Attica as well as Andalusia and Campania. These initiatives will continue to build on the collaborative spirit and innovative solutions, further enhancing the project’s results.
