Paper presentation on Rapid, AI-Powered Decontamination at Crisis Management Conference
On 4th June, the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), in collaboration with VANOS S.A. and the I-SENSE Group of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS), presented their joint paper titled “A Compact, AI-Powered System for Rapid Decontamination during CBRNE Incidents” at the 18th Crisis Management Days International Conference in Opatija, Croatia. The paper is scheduled for publication in September 2025.
The presentation focused on a compact, deployable solution designed to support decontamination efforts during Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) emergencies—situations where rapid response and operational adaptability are especially important.
Meeting the Challenges of Emergency Decontamination
Traditional decontamination procedures during CBRNE emergencies often suffer from critical limitations: they require substantial infrastructure, are slow to deploy, and demand highly trained personnel. They also frequently lack real-time guidance for affected individuals, which can lead to inconsistent decontamination results and pose risks of cross-contamination.
The work introduces two main components aimed at improving current decontamination practices:
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- Fast Deployable Mass Decontamination System (FDMD):
A modular tunnel system designed for quick assembly (under ten minutes), supporting both wet and dry decontamination. It is lightweight and compact enough to be transported in a suitcase-sized container, making it suitable for pre-positioning in emergency response settings.
- Fast Deployable Mass Decontamination System (FDMD):
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- Decontamination Body Pose Estimation Tool (DBPET):
A small, AI-powered, battery-operated unit that uses camera-based image analysis to guide individuals through the decontamination process. It provides real-time posture tracking and multilingual audio instructions to improve coverage and reduce reliance on manual guidance.
- Decontamination Body Pose Estimation Tool (DBPET):
Together, these systems offer a compact, portable, and cost-effective alternative to conventional large-scale decontamination infrastructures.
Innovation Through AI and Human-centred Design
The integration of AI not only increases operational efficiency but also improves compliance with international decontamination standards. By guiding users through visual pose estimation and clear instructions, the DBPET system accounts for language and cultural barriers—common hurdles in high-stress emergency environments.
Preliminary evaluations highlight promising performance in key areas such as:
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- Deployment speed
- User guidance and posture accuracy
- Adaptability to diverse scenarios
Looking Ahead
The paper also outlines next steps, including:
- Real-world field testing of the system in controlled and operational environments.
- Further automation of the FDMD through AI control of mechanical functions.
- Integration with other emergency response technologies such as triage tagging systems and real-time monitoring tools.
These efforts aim to advance the system’s readiness for deployment in scenarios ranging from large-scale CBRNE incidents to industrial and environmental emergencies.
By addressing longstanding challenges in decontamination logistics and execution, the FDMD and DBPET system represent a major leap forward in crisis preparedness and public safety.
