The Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) consortium has chosen Alcatel Space as the prime contractor for the European research and development project SCORE (Service of Coordinated Operational Emergency and Rescue using EGNOS). The project will run for 24 months, and is budgeted at €2 M, including €1.1 M financed by the GJU.
In the scope of the project, which integrates positioning data from EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) and Galileo — Europe’s planned satellite positioning system — Alcatel Space will lead a European consortium in setting up emergency call positioning (regulation E112) and rescue force guidance services during accidents or natural disasters.
This solution is made possible by two major factors. First, the use of EGNOS, which provides fast, accurate positioning data via an assistance data server operating through the GSM/GPRS networks. Secondly, an innovative algorithm embedded in the chips used in mobile phones and PDAs. The introduction of these technologies for emergency services will support the precise, automatic and fast positioning of people in danger, while more effectively guiding rescue teams.