In 2020 Europe went through a significant economic and social crisis, as a response to the disease of the COVID-19. 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 systems, including energy, water, telecommunication and waste systems, which have been asked to act immediately in response to these unprecedented conditions, putting extreme pressure to the public utilities systems.
Most of the activity of the European Economy shifted from the office environment to homes, leading to problems related to the completeness and integrity of utilities such as power outages, water shortage and insufficient internet connection.
Defining the project goals
The aim of the project Development of a Utilities Management Platform for the case of Quarantine and Lockdown – eUMaP is to implement multi-disciplinary 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 a quarantine or a lock down, including energy, water, waste and telecommunication networks.
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, Nicosia, Tessaloniki, Kaunas).
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.
