We launched the SAFE-CITIES project to help to protect public areas by providing a security and vulnerability assessment framework. This assumption can be achieved by an interactive platform. It will be developed to enable the simulation of complex scenarios, taking into account the behaviour of the crowd and various types of threats in any space in a realistic 3D virtual environment, allowing for comprehensive and dynamic risk and vulnerability assessments of the tested locations. The project is based on full participation and cooperation of public and private entities, including citizens, in developing a strategy to ensure the safety of public spaces while maintaining its open character.

SAFE-CITIES is based on the assessment and use of already existing technologies as well as their development in the context of changing forms of threats, drawing on the experience of practitioners dealing with public spaces protection in European countries. As a result a tool that will facilitate risk assessment and ways to prevent its increase will be provided. Among other things, the application of appropriate urban solutions, can be suggested as a way to prevent risk increase.

Methodologically, SAFE-CITIES is based on an agile approach and consists of three phases, in which a framework for analysing the security and vulnerability of public spaces will be identified. Then, a prototype of the platform will be created, which, thanks to further testing and improvement in the third phase, will be validated in real-life, cross-border operating conditions.

The project is created and coordinated by governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as technology companies, in close cooperation with executive and law enforcement authorities as well as multi-sectoral stakeholders.