Author: Luca Bianconi (STAM)
In today’s world, religious sites are not just places of worship but also symbols of cultural identity, making them potential targets for security threats. In the SPIRIT project, these challenges are addressed by developing an innovative simulation platform by STAM (www.stamtech.com). This platform is designed for religious leaders, municipalities, and security actors to collaboratively enhance security strategies through crowd dynamics engine, immersive training and realistic scenario simulations. The later one aims to deliver a simulation and multi-player serious gaming environment that enables detailed event planning, site creation, and threat scenario simulations.
Key Features of the Solutions
STAM’s modeling and simulation tool is an integral part of the SPIRIT project’s digital assets, serving as a scenario builder and simulator for training purposes. It supports multi-player serious gaming environments and facilitates plot planning, site creation, and threat scenario simulations across various roles and conditions. The platform empowers users to design and simulate a wide range of events and potential threats, allowing for meticulous pre-event planning and on-site decision-making.
One of the platform’s standout features is a tool (Virtual Reality software application) that allows security responsible officers to visualize virtual crowds overlaid onto models of real environments (e.g., Voula church in Greece). These crowds can be customized with varying densities and movement patterns, closely mimicking real-world scenarios. Additionally, simulated threat actors, such as potential attackers, can be strategically placed within these scenarios, enhancing officers’ training in threat identification and response protocols.
Trainers can craft and manage intricate event scenarios, adjusting crowd sizes, threat types, and event progression. Urban furniture and security-by-design elements can also be incorporated, offering officers a comprehensive experience of the challenges associated with security management.
Eventually, data collected on-site can be collected and become crucial for post-event analysis. The platform allows to repeat simulation executions and the iterative modifications of parameters and conditions, providing invaluable insights that help optimize future security strategies.
Impact and Future Directions
The ultimate goal of the SPIRIT project is to revolutionize the management of religious site security by providing powerful, accessible tools such as the virtual reality simulation software. This innovative approach is designed to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of public safety, offering invaluable resources for enhancing the security of religious sites across Europe and potentially worldwide. Through this project, STAM demonstrates its commitment to advancing public space security through cutting-edge simulation software design and innovation.
SPIRIT 