Wearin’ has successfully concluded the final System Field Test (SFT) of SYNERGISE, an international research initiative involving 16 partners working together to develop an integrated technological toolkit for responding to natural and human-induced disasters.

The exercise was conducted from 12 to 16 October 2026 at the Fighting City police training and testing facility in Berlin, Germany. It brought together the technologies developed by all SYNERGISE technical partners to assess their combined performance in a demanding Search & Rescue (SAR) operation.

The exercise recreated a major disaster involving an explosion, several collapsed structures, fire and heavy smoke. The scenario enabled participating organisations to evaluate how connected technologies could support emergency teams operating in dangerous and rapidly changing conditions.

Information collected from robots, drones, wearable equipment and positioning technologies was integrated in real time. This provided first responders with an improved understanding of the incident, helping them identify potential hazards, make informed decisions and coordinate their activities more effectively.

The exercise involved 12 firefighters and emergency responders from Greece, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Kurdistan, all equipped with Wearin’ technology. Their participation allowed the consortium to assess personnel monitoring capabilities in realistic emergency-response conditions.

Wearable technology for monitoring first responder safety

Wearin’ played a central role in the integrated response system by bringing together physiological monitoring and environmental sensing capabilities.

Its solution incorporated several important safety features, including:

• Physiological Stress Index (PSI): Evaluates physical strain using heart-rate and core body temperature measurements.
• Gas detection: Monitors potentially dangerous atmospheric conditions.
• Radiation monitoring: Supports the identification of radiation-related hazards.
• Indoor positioning: Uses SYSNAV magneto-inertial tracking technology to locate responders inside buildings.
• Emergency alerts: Includes Man Down detection and SOS alarms to communicate distress situations.

By combining personnel location information with continuous monitoring of physiological conditions and surrounding environmental hazards, the platform provides incident commanders with a more complete picture of responder safety.

The system also incorporates information supplied by drones and other connected equipment, expanding the situational awareness available to emergency management teams.

All collected information was presented in real time through ASTRIAL’s ENGAGE Command & Control platform. This enabled operational commanders to supervise teams working across different areas and monitor evolving conditions throughout the complex, multi-stage emergency scenario.

Such integrated information can be particularly valuable when emergency personnel are exposed to dangerous conditions and commanders must make rapid decisions to protect their teams.

Converting Physiological Data into Practical Safety Information

One of the main objectives of SYNERGISE is to transform large volumes of technical data into clear information that emergency personnel can use during operations.

As part of this approach, Wearin’ developed its Physiological Strain Index (PSI), which converts multiple physiological measurements into a straightforward score ranging from Level 1 to Level 10. The score indicates the degree of heat-related physiological strain experienced by an individual responder.

To simplify the interpretation of these measurements, several indicators are also combined into an overall risk classification of Low, Medium or High, presented through an accessible dashboard.

This enables team leaders to quickly evaluate the physical condition of individual responders and identify those who might need assistance or should be removed from an operation.

The PSI algorithm has also undergone further refinement and can be customised for individual users. This personalisation helps emergency teams recognise excessive physical strain at an earlier stage and take appropriate preventive action.

Integrating Robotics, Drones and Connected Technologies

Interoperability between different equipment platforms is essential for coordinating emergency response activities. The SYNERGISE exercise therefore assessed the Wearin’ system alongside the technologies developed by the project's other partners.

The integrated setup included:

• ANYmal robotic platforms: Developed by ETH Zurich, these robotic systems supported operations in difficult-to-access environments.
• SNAKE robotic system: A telescopic robotic arm equipped with a camera, developed by Japanese partners, for inspecting and interacting with challenging environments.
• Remote-controlled robotic arm: Designed to manipulate objects and operate valves remotely.
• OWL drones: Equipped with LiDAR technology and developed by a Norwegian research laboratory to support indoor mapping and environmental assessment.

The combined deployment enabled partners to examine how information from different technological platforms could be exchanged and used within a common operational environment.

Commenting on the results, Mathilde Bensimhon, Project Manager and Integration Engineer at Wearin’, said:

“The Wearin’ solution performed reliably throughout the exercise and proved essential in the search and rescue operations in combination with the other technologies developed and tested within SYNERGISE,” said Mathilde Bensimhon, Project Manager and Integration Engineer at Wearin’. “We are very proud to see that Wearin’ proved its reliability and capacity to interface with existing sensors, aggregating data and integrating it into our ecosystem while ensuring reliable data transmission.”

The shortlist of finalists for the Intersec Global Awards 2027 has been announced, recognising the organisations and individuals whose work is raising standards across the global safety, security, and resilience industries

Now in its sixth edition, the prestigious awards programme features 17 categories spread across three specialist sections: Technology & Product Excellence, Project & Implementation, and People & Talent.

The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony taking place on 12 January 2027 in Dubai.

Among the most anticipated accolades of the evening is the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Emirati Rising Star Award, celebrating the next generation of UAE safety and security professionals who are contributing to the UAE’s vision for sustainable growth and innovation.

The shortlist comprises Sultan AlDahmani and Ali Al Blooshi from Dubai Municipality, Khalifa Almeer of Binghatti, Shamsa Alghaithi from the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre of Abu Dhabi, and Maryam Alharmoodi of the Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

Axis Communications and Dubai Municipality lead the 95 shortlisted finalists with four nominations each. Axis has three individual nominations within the Best Surveillance & Physical Security Solution category, while its AXIS D6310 Air Quality Sensor is up for Best Health & Safety Solution.

Dubai Municipality’s Security Systems Control Centre Development Project, meanwhile, is shortlisted in the Best Systems Integration & Installation Project category and Hamad Shaker, director of Public Beaches and Waterways at Dubai Municipality, is shortlisted for Pioneer of Tomorrow, a new category that celebrates individuals who demonstrate initiative, innovation, leadership potential and a commitment to shaping the future of their profession.

The Woman Changemaker recognises the exceptional female leaders driving transformation in their fields. Bonnie Butlin of Security Partners’ Forum and Christina Alexander Alexandropoulou of Philip Morris International join Naela Afifi from PwC Middle East, Lucy Macleod of London Fire Brigade, and Salma Al Ali from the General Command of Dubai Civil Defence on the five-woman shortlist.

Honouring visionary individuals whose contributions have elevated global standards of excellence, the Leader of the Year category includes Dr Nadeem Khan of Sharjah Maritime Academy, Ohanis Kaznijian of Binghatti, and Alex Rodriguez Aparicio of ANRACI.

Projects in specific sectors are also recognised. Emirates Flight Catering’s HDD Task Force is shortlisted in the Best Safety & Wellbeing Project category alongside Workers Welfare and Wellbeing from Red Sea Global and Neom’s Awlaqi Safety Culture Framework, while, in the Best Surveillance & Physical Security Project category, PETRONAS’s Project Guard joins WSP’s Zayed National Museum and Secutel Technologies’ NoKey Mobile Access Control Rollout.

Nathan Waugh, portfolio director, Security, Technology and Production, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said, “The Intersec Global Awards play an important role in recognising the progress being made across industries, while showcasing innovations that address complex challenges. This year’s finalists demonstrate how the safety, security and resilience sectors continue to evolve. As these industries adapt to changing risks and demands, recognising the organisations and individuals driving that progress is more important than ever.”

The Intersec Global Awards 2027 are part of the 28th edition of Intersec Global, the world’s platform for safety, security, and resilience, taking place from 12–14 January 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

EcoOnline, a global provider of software solutions for workforce and environmental protection, has partnered with ALL4, a consulting firm specialising in environmental, health and safety (EHS) challenges, to help organisations strengthen workplace safety, regulatory compliance and environmental management.

The collaboration brings together EcoOnline's connected EcoOne EHS platform, chemical safety solutions and risk management technology with ALL4's technical consulting, digital capabilities and regulatory expertise. The partnership aims to improve workplace risk visibility, strengthen compliance management and help businesses translate safety data into practical operational improvements.

Under the agreement, ALL4 will act as an implementation partner and technical advisor, integrating EcoOnline's digital solutions, including embedded artificial intelligence capabilities, into the regulatory and operational frameworks governing its clients' businesses.

ALL4 provides EHS expertise to highly regulated industries, including power generation, oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage. Its offices and network of remote specialists cover North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Latin America (LATAM).

Improving workplace safety and regulatory compliance

The partnership comes as organisations face increasing challenges in managing occupational risks, environmental obligations and fragmented safety management processes.

According to EcoOnline's 2026 Global Workplace Safety Report, 49% of workers have experienced a workplace accident or illness, while 74% believe that access to more digital tools would improve their sense of safety at work.

To address these challenges, the companies will focus on three areas: occupational health and safety management, chemical and environmental compliance, and digital transformation and sustainability.

For workplace safety, EcoOnline's EHS software and AI-assisted capabilities will complement ALL4's occupational health and safety expertise. The combined offering is intended to help businesses improve hazard identification, incident monitoring, employee engagement and risk prevention, while developing more proactive and data-driven safety programmes.

In chemical and environmental management, EcoOnline's chemical safety technology will be supported by ALL4's expertise in air quality, chemical reporting, waste management and water quality. This combination will help organisations manage complex regulatory requirements, improve information visibility and establish more consistent compliance procedures.

The partnership will also support digital transformation by connecting ALL4's sustainability and digital consulting services with EcoOnline's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Organisations will be able to modernise fragmented processes, improve reporting and gain a more comprehensive view of their environmental, health and safety performance.

Integrating AI and technical expertise into HSE operations

A central element of the collaboration is the integration of digital technology and specialist regulatory knowledge into everyday workplace safety management.

EcoOnline's platform includes embedded AI capabilities designed to support organisations in managing safety information and operational risks. Combined with ALL4's implementation experience, these tools aim to help businesses move from identifying workplace hazards to taking consistent corrective and preventive action.

The collaboration will serve industries where regulatory complexity and operational risks require coordinated management across multiple facilities, departments and geographical locations.

Kris McKenzie, Chief Revenue Officer at EcoOnline, said: “Organizations operating in highly regulated industries frequently struggle to turn complex regulatory requirements into consistent action across their operations. By pairing ALL4’s practical regulatory and implementation expertise with our EcoOne, connected technology platform and context-aware AI, customers can move faster from identifying risk to managing it consistently across their operations.”

Mike Myers, Digital Solutions Practice Director at ALL4, said: “Our clients need practical solutions to manage increasingly dynamic and complex EHS and sustainability demands. By combining ALL4’s strategic and technical expertise with EcoOnline’s comprehensive technology platform, we can help organizations turn regulatory requirements and data into actionable, sustainable programs that simplify compliance, empower frontline teams, and deliver measurable value.”

Expanding integrated HSE and sustainability solutions

The initial phase of the partnership will concentrate on opportunities where ALL4's consulting and digital capabilities align with EcoOnline's EHS management, chemical safety and sustainability solutions.

The companies will retain the flexibility to extend their collaboration into additional areas in response to evolving customer requirements.

By combining software, artificial intelligence, regulatory knowledge and technical consulting, EcoOnline and ALL4 aim to help organisations improve occupational safety, strengthen environmental compliance and establish more effective systems for managing workplace and operational risks.