Post by EUCENTRE

EXE Po 2026 is over. Three days of national civil protection exercise simulating an extraordinary flood across the Po river basin: a vast, dynamic scenario spanning four regions, coordinated by Italy's Department of Civil Protection. The Eucentre Foundation's drone unit operated as part of the DPC Competence Centres' UAS network, deployed by Regione Lombardia through the national Department on a subsidiary basis. Over two days, the team surveyed 15 bridges and 7 simulated flood areas between the provinces of Pavia and Mantova, tracking the progression of the simulated flood. Operations also covered structures associated with the large dam failure scenario at Salionze and Serafini. Field activities were conducted in close coordination with COAU, CNVF and the DPC Technical Function, testing activation procedures and decision-making flows in an applied context. Where flight restrictions applied - airport control zones, protected areas - table-top exercises allowed the team to develop and test procedures for operating in constrained environments. The Vega app, developed by CPC-UNIFI, was also trialled for squad coordination, flight management and data delivery. As Chiara Casarotti and Martina Mandirola noted, rapid assessment by drone is a competence Eucentre developed in earthquake engineering contexts, and EXE Po 2026 confirmed its operational value well beyond that domain. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dhph5p4d Dipartimento Protezione Civile CIMA Research Foundation Regione Emilia-Romagna Regione Lombardia Regione Piemonte Università degli Studi di Firenze #EXEpo2026 #CivilProtection #DroneOperations #RapidAssessment #UAS #DisasterResponse