ESPRI - Vision

When the "unforeseen" happens, public security comes to its limits. Whether Elbe River Flood, hurricane Katrina or the Fukushima nuclear disaster - effective risk management must be a continuous process that recognizes new threats even before they occur. For this purpose, ESPRI analyzes, evaluates and develops new technologies and approaches.

In order to respond to public security challenges, ESPRI has its focal point on the human being. Unlike previous approaches using detection technology ("How do I identify risk?"), Information needs and Information logistics play the central role ("Who must know what and when in a dangerous situation in order to act properly"). Therefore, ESPRI aims at integrative approaches to security systems in the Smart City which combine public, private and industrial systems in an intelligent and effective way.

ESPRI-workshop at ISADS 2013

The Opti-Alert project coordinator, Fraunhofer FOKUS, organizes a workshop on "Safety and Security Systems for the Public and Industries". The workshop will be hosted by the 11th International Symposium on Autonomous Decentralized Systems (ISADS 2013), March 6-8, 2013, in Mexico City.

FOKUS researcher receives high honor

As a special decoration for their achievements in scientific research, Prof. Dr. Agnès Voisard on 14 February 2013 the French National Order of Merit - "National Order of Merit" - awarded the rank of Knight at the French Embassy in Berlin.

First distinct in North Rhine-Westphalia starts up the early warning system KATWARN

On February 1st, 2013, Herford started up Fraunhofer FOKUS-disaster warning system KATWARN as the first distinct in North Rhine-Westphalia. The system coordinated by local fire brigades and emergency management agencies provides warnings and location based instructions in case of crisis situations by SMS, email or via a smart phone app.

KATWARN premiere in the south of Hesse

On monday, the first county in the south of Hesse, Darmstadt-Dieburg, gets connected with the early warning system KATWARN developed by Fraunhofer FOKUS. District Administrator Klaus Peter Schellhaas activated the information system for the public in the control center of fire department and civil protection.

KATWARN App is currently No. 1 at the Apple Store

Shortly after the launch of the new channel of the KATWARN App, a free disaster alert system, the user numbers of the system at the Apple Store rise to No. 1 for the category "free news" and No. 56 of all the "top free apps". The severe weather warnings are from Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD – Germany's National Meteorological Service) and inform about "extreme severe weather", the highest warning level.

Fraunhofer FOKUS launches smartphone app for disaster warning

On October 23rd, the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS and the public insurance providers have activated the disaster alert system KATWARN as a smartphone app. The new KATWARN application informs about risks at the current location of the user, as well as two user-defined locations.

Free disaster alert system for Oldenburg citizens

More safety for Oldenburg: Today the city of Oldenburg launched the disaster alert system KATWARN. With KATWARN, all registered citizens receive detailed alerts via text message or email in case of emergencies. The registration to the system is voluntary and free of charge. The KATWARN system has been developed by Fraunhofer FOKUS in Berlin and is made available across Germany via public insurance providers since 2011.