H2020Staff exchange2021–2025

eUMaP · Development of Utilities Management Platform for the case of Quarantine and Lockdown

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2021-01-01 → 2025-06-30
EU contribution
€961,400
Participants
9
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Development of Utilities Management Platform for the case of Quarantine and Lockdown

The eUMaP project, formally titled Development of Utilities Management Platform for the Case of Quarantine and Lockdown, focused on developing and validating a prototype digital platform to improve how public utilities are monitored and managed during crisis conditions. These include lockdowns, natural disasters, or other disruptions that place high pressure on energy, water, waste, and telecommunications systems. The aim was to create a modular platform that helps municipalities and utility providers maintain reliable and secure services in moments of uncertainty. The platform integrates technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT) sensor data, and forecasting tools to support real-time monitoring, data analysis, and decision-making. Over its 54-month duration, eUMaP brought together partners from multiple disciplines and sectors to co-design and implement the platform. The project documented utility demand and supply patterns using real data collected from different urban contexts. It developed a digital twin environment to simulate infrastructure systems and support predictive analysis. Forecasting tools were created to help anticipate utility stress and guide planning during emergencies. A risk management methodology was established to support decision-making in high-pressure scenarios. The project also delivered secondments, training workshops, and open lectures to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and build long-term capacity. Finally, the platform prototype was tested in four pilot cities—Rome, Thessaloniki, Kaunas, and Larnaca. The final version of the platform was validated in real-world conditions and includes features for visualising sensor data, forecasting consumption patterns, simulating emergency scenarios, and managing resource flows. It is designed to be flexible, user-friendly, and adaptable to different urban settings. Despite some delays caused by the pandemic, all major objectives were achieved. The results of the project provide a strong foundation for future research, innovation, and adoption in the field of smart cities and urban resilience.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

In 2020 Europe went through a very significant economic and social crisis, namely the response to the disease of Coronavirus. Over 200 million European citizens were obliged to observe restrictive measures, in some cases lock down measures, in order for governments and local authorities of the Member States of the European Union to address and limit the problem of the spread of the virus. Through this situation a number of problems emerged, one of which relates to the management of building utilities under such conditions. Specifically, in a very few days most of the activity of the European Economy shifted from the office environment to homes, leading to several problems in relation to with the completeness and integrity of utilities such as power outages, water shortage and insufficient internet connection. The initiative entitled Development of Utilities Management Platform for the case of Quarantine and Lockdown - eUMaP aims to implement all those activities that will lead to the development of an open platform through which local authorities will be able to plan and manage the demand and supply of building utilities in case of quarantine or lock down. The platform will be developed through a Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) program. eUMaP platform will be based on the rational of earth observation, and the recording of the required network information in open BIM platforms of five European capital cities (Rome, Berlin, Athens, Vilnius, Nicosia). The platform will be piloted in study areas with the aim of optimizing it and delivering it as an open platform upon completion of the program.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • ALMA SISTEMI SRL · GUIDONIA MONTECELIO RMCoordinatorItaly
  • ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS · THESSALONIKIGreece
  • CLEOPA GMBH · VeltenGermany
  • CONSORZIO NAZIONALE INTERUNIVERSITARIO PER I TRASPORTI E LA LOGISTICA · ROMAItaly
  • FREDERICK UNIVERSITY FU · PALLOURIOTISSA LEFKOSIACyprus
  • GEOSYSTEMS HELLAS IT KAI EFARMOGESGEOPLIROFORIAKON SYSTIMATON ANONIMIETAIREIA · ATHINAGreece
  • KAUNO TECHNOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS · KaunasLithuania
  • SPACE SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS (S3)LTD · NicosiaCyprus
  • UAB CAVERION LIETUVA · VILNIUSLithuania

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union