The eΚΛΗΣΗ project is now in the final stretch for creating an automatic warning system in case of a traffic accident
The first tests of the automatic emergency call system (eCall), within the frame of the pilot national research project eΚΛΗΣΗ (http://www.ecall-hellas.eu/), has been successfully concluded. The national project eΚΛΗΣΗ prepares Greece for the implementation of eCall service, which will be obligatory for all EU member-states from end 2014.
The eΚΛΗΣΗ project aims at implementing and demonstrating in Greece a national pilot application of eCall, in order to automatically notify the public authorities about a car accident via mobile telecommunication networks, utilizing the European pre-assigned emergency number (112), complying with the same technical standards and with the same Quality of Service, wherever across Europe.
The project is coordinated by the ERTICO partner, Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS), with the participation of COSMOTE Mobile Telecommunications S.A. (Mobile Network Operator) and SPACE HELLAS S.A. (SW and electronics SME) and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by national resources under the 2007-2013 NSRF and the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (OPC II) framework.
The tests were performed in a prototype system and concerned the rooting of the emergency calls from the In Vehicle System (IVS), which was implemented by ICCS, to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which was implemented by SPACE HELLAS, through the mobile telecommunication network of COSMOTE, which was properly adjusted for that purpose. During these tests the whole system was optimized (IVS, PSAP, mobile network), while the results obtained confirmed the correct operation of the system and the technological readiness of the mobile telecommunication network to serve eCall.
ICCS implemented the eCall unit (IVS) inside a research vehicle, which was properly equipped in order to allow in-vehicle emergency calls. The eCall system can be activated either automatically by a vehicle sensor, or manually by pressing a dedicated button.
COSMOTE is the first mobile telecommunication network operator in Greece and among the first in Europe that can support eCall emergency calls. As part of the eΚΛΗΣΗ research project, the under test software: «Feature 1886: eCall Handling in MSS», was installed and activated, through which the identification of the caller’s exact location is facilitated and accelerated. This can be achieved as the software enables the distinction of the eCall emergency calls (with the use of specific eCall flags), while providing enriched information on location, type of the vehicle and the method of the call (automatic or manual), compared with the common emergency calls.
The Public Service Answering Point (PSAP), entirely implemented by SPACE HELLAS is the first pilot developed and tested successfully in Greece. Specifically, the SPACE HELLAS software application supports basic functions as the PSAP operator warning for the arrival of a new eCall emergence call, visualisation of the incoming information (eg.MSD) in GIS digital maps, the ability to manage the eCall emergency call (eg. recall, terminate) in addition with a voice call with the vehicle passengers, etc. The particular PSAP application, with the appropriate extensions, can be integrated in the frame of a 112 system in order to enable responsible Civil Protection institutions to operate the eCall system for their prompt response to emergency incidents such as road deaths, serious injuries and traffic setting in Greek roads.
The eΚΛΗΣΗ project will have concluded its research work by the end of 2012. The project’s developments and results will be presented to the wide audience in November 2012 during the eΚΛΗΣΗ final event and demonstration that will take place at the National and Technical University of Athens.
For further information please contact:
Project coordinator: Dr. Angelos Amditis
Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS)
