Frauhofer Project ‘Monica’ Guardian angel to support large events in the region
Bonn/Sankt Augustin · Noise complaints, large crowds, mass panic and the threat of terrorism – there is a long list of issues and real dangers connected with large events in Bonn and the region.
The international research project ‘Monica’ will help to support large public events. Through a variety of innovative methods, the project aims to improve security and comfort for all those directly or indirectly involved in large events.
The city of Bonn is taking part in the project along with partners in Leeds, Turin, Copenhagen, Lyon and Hamburg. The project, which will run for three years, is being coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Technology (FIT) in Sankt Augustin and financed by the EU with 15 million Euros. 28 participants from cities and businesses were involved in the first week of the project, which resulted yesterday in a presentation of the first possible areas of its application.
The name ‘Monica’ stands for ‘Management of Networked IoT Wearables – Very Large Scale Demonstration of Cultural & Security Applications’. Despite its complex sounding name, the concept is quite simple: Monica aims to be a customised ‘guardian angel’, adapted to suit the individual conditions of a variety of outdoor events.
Well-known technologies used
Well-known technologies will be used in different combinations to create a new system. One function could be to issue all visitors with electronic armbands (‘wearables’) which can send out signals and allow new information to be collected about the flow of visitors, danger zones and even terror suspects (based on their abnormal movement profiles). Security forces and event organisers will be able to react to critical situations using camera and drone recordings in real time. “We want to find out how we can make different machines and sensors communicate effectively with each other” says Markus Eisenhauser, FIT Project Coordinator.
Eisenhauer acknowledges that not all visitors to public events like the Bonn Christmas markets or the Pützchens fairground would agree to wearing such an armband. “We must find a concept which is fun for all, we want to involve everyone so that we can constantly improve the system. If the idea of armbands does not go down well with visitors, then we will have to be creative and find another solution.” Data protection must also be considered.
First test on 6th May
The first test for ‘Monica’ will be the Rhine in Flames event in Bonn on 6th May. This test will focus on noise protection which is also part of the concept. Model calculations will be used to lower the sound in certain areas through counter-noise. Base tones can be lowered to reduce the disturbance to nearby residents. In addition, technology will be used to create quiet islands for treating injured people, for example.
“We want to improve audience experience and reduce the disruption for local residents” says Hans Jürgen Hartmann, Advisor for City Development in Bonn. He sees great potential for the project, for which Bonn has received an EU grant of 450,000 Euro.
(Original text: Moritz Rosenkranz. Translation: Caroline Payne)
