The following methodology will be used to implement the XENIOS project:
- The sites for the pilot implementation of the tools to be developed (platform, app) will be determined, so that the relevant bodies, in cooperation with the project partners, may contribute to identifying user needs and specifications. The apps to be developed will be tested at a site of tourist/environmental interest, such as the Samaria Gorge in Crete, and a site of cultural/archaeological interest, which will be selected in consultation with the Ministry of Culture.
- In regard to the platform content in terms of forecasting natural hazards, a short-term forecast of extreme weather events will take place at a regional/local level, as well as fire risk assessment and mapping in three temporal scales: short-term (3-7 days), medium-term (per week/month within the tourist or fire season) and long-term (climate change). For assessing short-term fire risk, the FWI index will be combined with the systematic assessment of the status of live fuel, using data received from land observation satellites. For short-term risk assessment at a local level, these will be combined with information related to morphological and other features of the areas of interest (fire risk zones). Moreover, by using the new Sentinel satellite images of the Copernicus programme, it will be possible to extract spatial information regarding the vegetation status (live fuel) at a local and regional level, with high spatial resolution (10m) and a five- to ten-day time step.
- Fire risk assessment on a medium-term basis will be carried out by the National Centre of Scientific Research (NCSR), assisted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and will be based on seasonal weather models. On a long-term basis, the impact of climate change on the behaviour and frequency of fires, as well as extreme meteorological data will be studied by using suitable databases and models.
- Potential fires and their behaviour, as well as the risk assessment for natural hazards to the relevant sites, will be predicted by the Hellenic Agricultural Organisation, the Centre for Security Studies and Creative People. The platform will be developed by Creative People and Realiscape Typorama, with the scientific guidance of research institutions.
- The number of visitors will be counted either through the issued e-tickets or through a smartphone app. The site dispersion assessment will take place via a wireless sensor network or a low UAV flight. The UAV flight may be combined with aerial observation capabilities for the management body/agency for security purposes (e.g. fire protection), pre-emptively, for specific purposes or in the event of an emergency (e.g. accident, injury, etc.).
- Via a mobile app, visitors will have access to route suggestions, personalised (multilingual) guided tours, three-dimensional representations of site elements and voice communication with the management centre (guards).
- To the extent required, Wi-Fi antennas will be installed to improve the telecommunications coverage at the pilot implementation sites.
- The data from each body/agency will be collected and homogenised in a single high-availability database, via a secure communication channel and with loosely-coupled architecture.
- Strong emphasis will be placed on the protection of personal data of visitors to the archaeological/tourist destinations, while taking into consideration the new legislation governing EU Member States.
- System access will be controlled using classification levels for accessing information, which will depend on the position of each operator/user.
