INFROM: results of the scientific cooperation for monitoring the cross-border natural-technological systems

The Project "Integrated Intelligent Platform for Monitoring the Cross-Border Natural-Technological Systems" (INFROM) was officially finished in May 2014, therefore the main outcomes of the Project can be now summarized. During two years of scientific cooperation between project partners, namely Riga Technical University (Latvia) and St. Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia) scientific research resulted in the development and approbation of an integrated platform for monitoring natural-technological systems (NTS) based on processing and analysis of heterogeneous data received from space and ground-based facilities.

The novelty of the approach is cross functional application of combined methods and algorithms for supporting decision making in various monitoring problems, including forecasting and safety control of complex objects.

The main outcomes of the project are the following:

1. Intelligent technologic platform for synthesis of integrated real-time monitoring and control systems applicable, for example, for flood forecasting, oil pollution monitoring and prediction of forest fires;

2. Infrastructure of the integrated distribution network implementing a unified approach to monitoring and control of complex systems including natural, technological, economic and social elements and software prototype;

3. A variety of approbation studies showing the functionality of the developed platform for the following cases: operational flood forecasting and modelling in Latvia, evaluation of forest fire protection and state monitoring in Madona district in Latvia and Pskov Region in Russia, estimation of ecological states of water basins based on analysis of Lubana Lake’s overgrowing in Latvia and pollution of the Gulf of Finland in Russia, aerospace-ground monitoring of the nature use and tourism recreation objects.

Approbation studies raised a high interest among municipalities in both countries. The particular interest in Latvia was shown at a social action “Daugavpils against floods” in April 2013 which demonstrated benefits of the developed platform application for short term flood forecasting.

4. Development of international network of research and educational institutions and related training facilities. In total, 40 representatives of municipalities and academia were trained. Collaboration among project partners and target groups was established during trainings, seminars and social activities. Particular focus on capacity building ensures the sustainability of the project results.

The project results and approbations studies were demonstrated at a number of international scientific conferences. At the Final project conference in February 2014, the representatives of the target groups in Latvia and Russia Municipalities (Daugavpils, Madona, Riga and St.Petersburg) as well as project associated partners (Committee on IT and Communications of the Government of St. Petersburg, Russia; Latvian Transport Development and Education Association, Riga, Latvia; Diplomatic Economic Club, Riga, Latvia) highlighted the actuality of the project results for supporting decision making at municipalities and emergency services. High assessment of the project results by target groups is documented in reports with positive feedback. 

Successful cooperation between project participants towards achieving the project objectives gave the synergetic effect in exchanging the knowledge and information, as well as in expanding the level of expertise in the field of monitoring cross-boarder natural-technological systems.

Full text of the Project Final Press-release.

The website of the Project: www.infrom.eu