Jems
A workshop titled “Introduction to Drone Training” was held at the Firefighting Center in Vučevica as part of the SmartProtect project—an innovative initiative that connects Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro in a joint effort to combat increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters caused by climate change.
The workshop was carried out as part of Activity 1.1, “Specification, procurement, and deployment of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for preventive monitoring and real-time information gathering during and after disasters.” The training was organized by the project’s leading partner, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB), in cooperation with the Split-Dalmatia County and the Municipality of Posušje.
The goal of the workshop was to strengthen the capacities of firefighting organizations and promote cross-border cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Firefighters from the Canton of Hercegbosna, the West Herzegovina Canton, and the Firefighting Association of Split-Dalmatia County took part in the training. During the theoretical segment, project activities were presented, along with the possibilities of using drones for preventive monitoring and crisis management, and the 21 drones acquired through the project. Equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology, these systems enable risk monitoring, hotspot detection, assessment of burned areas, and real-time data collection, significantly improving the effectiveness of interventions.
Special emphasis was placed on the importance of interoperability, meaning the ability of different firefighting and rescue services to operate in a coordinated manner regardless of national borders. In this context, SmartProtect aims to develop common standards, procedures, and technical protocols that will allow for faster, safer, and more coordinated responses in crisis situations. This cooperation strengthens the civil protection system at the regional level and contributes to the development of a joint strategy for responding to the consequences of climate change.
In the practical part of the workshop, firefighters completed basic drone-operation training and became familiar with fundamental maneuvers, safe-flying procedures, and methods of collecting aerial data. The curriculum for basic firefighter training—remote pilots—was also presented, together with accompanying training materials that will be used in future training cycles within the project.
The workshop in Vučevica demonstrated the importance of investing in knowledge and technology as the foundation of resilience to climate and environmental risks. Drones, as part of a modern approach to disaster prevention and management, represent a bridge between innovation and safety—technology that enables interventions to begin more quickly, accurately, and safely, thus protecting what is most valuable: human life and the natural environment.
The SmartProtect project is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027, with the aim of developing a sustainable, connected, and secure cross-border area.
