AHEAD

The AHEAD project aims to develop a comprehensive and fully engineered information system (IS) for Europe, designed to collect and analyze post-disaster damage and loss data. Building on prior efforts, this advanced IS will enable the input of geolocated damage data across multiple sectors and facilitate querying for data reporting and visualization. This functionality will support various purposes, including accounting for Sendai indicators, requests to the Solidarity Fund, state or insurance compensation, risk analysis improvement, evidence-based early warning, and forensic investigation to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate adaptation measures.

AHEAD will focus on detailed data modeling and implementation for damage to cultural heritage, waste and water systems, structural defenses, and natural ecosystems. Stakeholders will play a crucial role in co-creating the relational data model and testing the IS. Development and testing will occur simultaneously, starting with sectors where database fields and input interfaces are already available, while new ones are being developed. Testing will involve stakeholders using their own data and project testbeds, providing data on recent events to complement stakeholder knowledge with empirical evidence from three real cases.

The project expects three main outcomes: the integration of the fully engineered AHEAD IS into the Risk Data Hub of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), a list of requirements for developers of existing IS used by member states and regions, and a training kit to support administrations in post-disaster damage data collection and reporting. Through these efforts, AHEAD aims to enhance disaster response and risk management across Europe, ensuring a more resilient and prepared society.