22–24 June 2026 | Milan & Ispra, Italy
From 22 to 24 June 2026, partners of the AHEAD project (Advanced disaster damage and loss data information system for enHancEd impAct-baseD knowledge) gathered in Milan and Ispra for a three-day consortium meeting to assess progress, strengthen collaboration, and prepare the final phase of the project.
Hosted by Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, the meeting brought together representatives from all project partners to review achievements across the Information System (IS), Stakeholder Hub, and Testbeds.
The first day at POLIMI focused on the current status of the project and ongoing developments of the AHEAD Information System. Partners exchanged updates on stakeholder engagement activities, testbed implementation, and upcoming project milestones. The discussions highlighted the substantial progress achieved in developing a harmonised system for the collection, management, and analysis of disaster damage and loss data across Europe.
A key highlight of the meeting was the visit to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra on 23 June. The consortium met with experts from JRC to explore synergies between the AHEAD Information System and the Risk Data Hub (RDH). Interactive sessions focused on comparing functionalities, testing procedures, and possibilities for future integration. The programme also included a visit to the European Crisis Management Laboratory, providing valuable insights into European capacities for crisis preparedness and disaster risk management.
The final day concentrated on the project’s testbeds and future developments. Partners presented progress from the Regione Lombardia, Modigliana Municipality, Portuguese, German, and French testbeds, discussing lessons learned and opportunities for strengthening disaster loss data collection and reporting. Particular attention was given to the long-term usability of the developed tools and their contribution to European disaster resilience.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the remaining steps required to finalise the AHEAD project, further enhancements of the Information System, and preparations for the final workshop, which will be hosted in Porto at the end of the year 2026.
The Milan and Ispra meeting marked an important milestone for AHEAD, reinforcing cooperation among project partners while moving closer to the project’s goal of providing a comprehensive, user-oriented information system for disaster damage and loss data in Europe.