University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Split, Croatia
Brief biography of partner
The University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB) at the University of Split is a leading Croatian institution for applied research in STEM. FESB conducts scientifically grounded assessments and technology analyses focused on the impact of new solutions on society, security, and innovation, connecting power systems, renewable energy, mechatronics, naval architecture, communications technologies, and computing.
Interdisciplinary teams develop and test prototypes and provide strategic support to public and private organizations in technology and innovation planning. A particular emphasis is placed on firefighting and wildfire risk management: from early-detection systems based on AI analytics of satellite, drone, and thermal data, through IoT sensor networks, terrain digital twins, and fire-spread simulations, to robots and autonomous aerial platforms for reconnaissance and decision-support and command tools. Through cooperation with fire services and civil protection, and participation in national and EU programs, FESB coordinates the transfer of knowledge and innovation into concrete, operationally deployable solutions.
Role in the project
The University of Split, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB), together with its associated partner VACETRAS – Firefighting Education and Technological Development Center Split–Vučevica, serves as the Croatian operational and educational hub within the DARE consortium. Through their combined scientific, technical, and field expertise, the partners bridge academic research with practical emergency response capacities, contributing to the development, testing, and implementation of interoperable solutions for disaster resilience. Within the framework of WP1 on Interoperability of Response Capabilities, they provide detailed insights into Croatia’s national disaster management and civil protection structures, supporting the comparative mapping of command, coordination, and resource deployment systems across Europe. In WP3 on the Harmonization of Procedures, they analyze and align national Standard Operating Procedures for wildfire and flood response with European frameworks, ensuring the inclusion of Mediterranean-specific operational contexts and real-world response experience.
In WP4, dedicated to Testing and Evaluation of Interoperability, FESB and VACETRAS participate in cross-border field trials and simulation exercises, using the VACETRAS training and demonstration facilities to test the DARE Dashboard, communication protocols, and harmonized SOPs in realistic operational conditions. Through their engagement in WP5 on Training and Knowledge Exchange, they co-design, develop, and pilot DARE training curricula and educational materials that integrate harmonized procedures into firefighter and civil protection training programmed, with VACETRAS serving as a demonstration and capacity-building site.
Finally, under WP6 and WP7, they contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations, stakeholder engagement activities, and dissemination of project results at national and regional levels, promoting the adoption and long-term integration of DARE outcomes within Croatia’s fire and civil protection system.