BAE Systems Test Crisis Command Systems During ’Terrorist Attack’

VALENCIA, Spain — BAE Systems successfully tested a mobile ground station for use by emergency services at a simulated crisis exercise in Valencia, Spain. The ground station is a key element of MARIUS — the Mobile Autonomous Reactive Information System for Urgency Situations — a technology project funded by the European Commission.

The demonstration, conducted in coordination with Valencia firefighters, consisted of a simulated terrorist attack in an urban area. The portable ground station served as an information hub for emergency operations, linking inputs provided by other MARIUS partners. These inputs include data, video from ground-based cameras and an unmanned aerial vehicle, and a helicopter-based mobile phone detection system. The ground station’s sophisticated user interface is designed to support cooperation and decision-making among emergency services.

“BAE Systems is working to help ensure our nations stay safe and are as well equipped as possible to handle emergency situations,” said Richard Cross, MARIUS project manager for BAE Systems in Rochester, U.K. “Because it provides a single, integrated view of operations in the field, MARIUS increases the ability of emergency services teams to cooperate efficiently and save lives.”

BAE Systems is one of 12 industrial and academic partners from five countries that are developing the MARIUS system, which is coordinated by EADS. The University Politecncia de Valencia organized the event with support from authorities in the region of Valencia.

The system also can process mobile telecommunications information to track casualties and ground-based personnel, displaying their locations on a detailed map. Users can populate the map with additional details, such as severity of injuries, to help teams prioritize treatment and first-responder needs.