Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)* are increasing in popularity in several industry sectors and becoming available in everyday consumer services, and public safety is no different. They are slowly but surely being available to PSAPs. EENA published a call for interest in the context of an upcoming EENA special project. Interest was high among public authorities, private companies, and researchers. Several priorities for the use of AI and ML were listed, such as language detection and translation, and supporting triage.
After studying the input received in the survey responses, EENA is now launching a call for applications and invites all those interested to apply to describe their project idea in the form at the bottom of this page.
*In the context of this activity, AI is considered the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines and computer systems and ML is considered a branch of AI, which focuses on the use of data and algorithms to continuously improve its accuracy from the experience it gathers from analysing large amounts of data, learning from the insights, and making informed decisions.
Objective
The objective of the planned project is to explore the use of AI tools in PSAPs and demonstrate their impact, publish lessons learned and recommendations, ensure compliance with EU law, in particular the draft AI Act. The project aims to show how AI tools can be effectively implemented into PSAPs and how they can contribute to increased efficiency and, as a result, a better emergency service for citizens across Europe.
The project intends to gather PSAPs in Europe and private companies offering AI & ML tools for PSAPs, and research organisations working in the field. In this context, applications are welcome from:
- Companies that would like to provide a service or product to PSAPs for trialling during the project. This must be provided at no cost to the PSAPs.
- PSAPs based in Europe that would like to trial specific tools.
- Research organisations providing a service, product, or other type of support at no cost.
- Teams of companies & PSAPs (and research organisations) that would like to participate in the project and have already established, or are in the process of establishing, a working agreement to trial a service or product in the content of this project. Please note, only one application is needed if you fall under this category.
Please note, the project will only take place if we have sufficient applicants.
Applications should describe the ideas that can be trialled during the project and should focus on the following list of interests that have been indicated as priorities from our previous call for interest:
- Language detection, transcription, and near real-time emergency communications translation (voice to text, text to text and possibly text to voice) – applications demonstrating software or services that are planned for use in real emergency calls will be preferred over generic language detection software.
- Triage of emergency calls and other forms of emergency communications.
- Recording and analytics (including compliance to call-taking protocols).
- Background noise cancellation during emergency calls – applications demonstrating software or services that are planned for use in real emergency calls will be preferred.
- Proactive employee mental health management and supporting positive mental health in the PSAP environment, by detecting increasing risk that can lead to worsened employee mental health.
- Improvement of staffing in the PSAPs, including indicative tools for recruitment and reducing staff turnover.
- Chatbots that aim to reduce the load on emergency and non-emergency numbers when these queries can be replaced by a conversation with a chatbot.
- Open category: In addition to the above use cases gathered in the responses to the call for interest, use cases not listed above are welcome in the open category and may include: medical detection, vehicle routing, predictive analytics / navigation, etc. More ideas are welcome.
Some of the above use cases may be selected in more than one project trial, utilising services and products provided by different companies and tested by different PSAPs.
Time Frame
20 December 2023: Deadline for applications
January 2024: Application selection, matchmaking between companies and PSAPs, and follow-up calls with selected applicants to confirm and reconfirm project feasibility in the timeframe of the project. Only selected applicants will be contacted.
February – March 2024: Kick-off meetings. One or more kick off meetings will take place online. A special note on the AI act / Data protection and ethics will be provided by EENA and will be monitored during the project course and the project report.
April 2024 (EENA Conference): Official kick-off and press announcement with large press coverage
May – September 2024: Deployments and tests. Short monthly reports by each partner will be requested. One or two web meetings with all partners.
September 2024: Final web meeting
October 2024: Final reporting by each partner, including statistics and feedback on the tools and cooperation, what went well, what went wrong, and lessons learned.
October 2024: Final report on the tests, lessons learned and recommendations. Special note on AI, ethics and data protection.
November 2024: Final public event of the project with 100 – 200 attendees.
Please note, this time frame may evolve or change as required.
Application Evaluation
Applications will be evaluated by EENA on their feasibility to be trialled within the planned timeframe, their capacity to carry out the trials in a real PSAP environment to handle real emergency calls (when applicable according to the use case) and for their potential to change or improve responses to emergency communications. Priority will be given to applications that accurately describe feasible plans to trial services and products with real data, including emergency calls and other types of emergency communications.
Participation Prerequisites
- All service or product offerings should be based on AI, ML or other subsets of AI to a significant extent.
- Companies should provide their offerings free of charge for the participating PSAPs for the duration of the project.
- Companies must have a functioning tool, that they can deploy during the timeframe of the project.
- Only companies who are members of EENA can apply. If you wish to apply and are not yet a member of EENA, please contact us to get more information on how to become a member.
- Participating PSAPs must be located in Europe.
- Participating PSAPs must confirm their interest and availability to work with private companies and their capability to trial the tools between May and September 2024.
- Learning from previous projects, EENA has decided that Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) will not be used in this project. In other words, companies requiring NDAs to be signed will be asked not to participate in this project.
Participation Fee
Participation is free of charge for PSAPs and research organisations. The participation fee for companies depends on the size of the company based on the EENA membership:
- 3,000 EUR for small companies
- 7,000 EUR for medium companies
- 10,000 EUR for large companies
You may reach out to EENA at any time before the end of the call for applications to establish which category your company falls under.
Benefits
Press coverage
By joining this project, you will participate in a cutting-edge project demonstrating how AI tools can be used to improve emergency communication management. EENA’s previous special projects have gathered news coverage from globally known sources such as Wired, the New York Times, Bloomberg, the Next Web and more. We aim to achieve similar targets with this project, meaning your product and capabilities will be showcased to a worldwide audience. For PSAPs, you will have the opportunity to highlight your focus on innovation and proactive solutions for your citizens.
Direct contact with the PSAPs involved
EENA will act as a platform for PSAPs and companies to directly investigate how AI can be implemented. This benefits both sides: PSAPs will have the opportunity to test innovative products free of charge, while private companies will have the opportunity to showcase their products in real environments in PSAPs across Europe.
Project management and assistance
EENA’s team of experts will be on hand at all times, guiding the project and ensuring the most positive outcomes.
Project report
Concrete results and achievements will be well documented in a landmark project report, to be published October 2024.
Logo on the EENA website page and other possible presentations of the project by EENA
You will benefit from increased visibility across EENA’s website and more. Free entrance to and one free presentation at the final public event of the project (November 2024 – 100 to 200 Attendees).
Application Form
Submit your responses ONLY via the form below by 20 December. If you have any issues, please contact Amy Leete at [email protected].