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.”

Today's concept of workplace safety is built on rapid industrialisation, technological advancement and regulatory transitions across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region 

The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) MENA 2026 forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will be drawing industry leaders, policymakers and innovators from 17–18 November, reflecting on the evolution of workplace safety and where it stands today. 

Participants will be convening at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown, with the common cause of shaping the future of operational resilience and workforce protection.

Embracing digital transformation and smart solutions

The integration of cutting-edge technologies will remain a primary focus of HSE MENA 2026. As it is impractical to completely rule out traditional safety management, modern technologies need to be fed into existing systems gradually to ensure smooth transition. Standard compliance measures will no longer make sense in isolation as industries accross the region continue to scale operations. This is why the conference will be taking a closer look at digital innovation, social transformation, and smart Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Risk mitigation looks completely different with technology adaptation as artificial intelligence-driven analytics are identifying potential hazards before incidents occur. Smart wearables are monitoring worker vitals in extreme industrial environments. Experts at the forum explore how organisations can leverage these tools to future-proof their diverse workforces, minimise human error, and achieve higher standards of environmental care.

Cross-sector collaboration and regulatory excellence

While innovation is driving long-term safety and sustainability, it needs proper channelising to facilitate unified alignment between regulatory bodies and commercial operators. This will shape high-level dialogue during HSE MENA 2026, bringing together approximately 150 key decision-makers, industry experts, and prominent regional regulators.The speaker faculty features a stellar lineup of thought leaders and policy makers representing key entities such as the Ministry of Finance (KSA), the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Federal Committee for OSH-UAE and the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. By sharing real-world case studies, regulatory updates, and cross-sector strategies, these leaders provide attendees with actionable blueprints to strengthen compliance frameworks and cultivate a proactive safety culture within their respective organisations.

Comprehensive agenda for industry growth

With an objective to maximise engagement and practical learning, the two-day event features a dynamic format encompassing expert-led panel discussions, interactive workshops, targeted tech demos, and extensive networking functions. Attendees gain firsthand exposure to emerging trends, spanning from environmental risk management to organisational resilience and business continuity.As businesses navigate complex operational landscapes, events like HSE MENA 2026 play a significant role. By bridging the gap between emerging technologies and regulatory compliance, the forum equips professionals with the insights needed to protect their most valuable asset—their people—while driving sustainable operational excellence across the MENA region.

AIQ, the Abu Dhabi-based industrial AI company focused on the energy sector has teamed up with Quartermaster, a US-based maritime intelligence company, to jointly explore AI-enabled maritime safety and security solutions for the offshore energy industry

Together, the two companies will explore market opportunities and showcase integrated solutions addressing critical offshore challenges, including monitoring and protection of offshore platforms, pipelines, and subsea infrastructure; and detection of unauthorised vessels and suspicious maritime activity. They will also focus on maritime safety and incident detection to protect personnel and assets; and data-driven risk assessment that may support better insurance outcomes for offshore operators.

Complementary capabilities

The collaboration will leverage the complementary capabilities from both parties:

• Quartermaster’s SmartMast is a AI-enabled maritime sensor network already deployed across more than in 25 countries, delivering vessel detection, identification, and awareness independent of AIS data, GNSS, or satellite. It adds advanced visual and signal monitoring capabilities to any vessel. The onboard AI detects and categorises vessels, automatically tracking their movements and recognising patterns of activity, turning raw video into useful insights.
• AIQ meanwhile has deep domain expertise in offshore oil and gas operations, safety workflows, and energy-sector AI deployment. The company has already delivered SMARTi, its AI-enabled computer vision solution to a number of vessels operating in the UAE. This utilises AI algorithms to analyse video streams in real-time, enabling rapid detection and classification of safety behaviour, incidents, and hazardous situations. The solution can be seamlessly integrated into existing CCTV platforms to improve safety on vessels.

Dennis Jol, AIQ CEO commented, “As a leading AI for energy company, AIQ is committed to bringing transformative, field-ready AI solutions to the offshore sector. This collaboration with Quartermaster builds on our successful deployment of SMARTi to maritime vessels, and combines world-class maritime sensing technology with deep energy-sector expertise and advanced data analytics. This is a powerful combination for enhancing safety and security across offshore operations, and we were proud to bring this partnership to life at ADIPEC, reinforcing the digital transformation momentum on display in the regional energy sector."

Neil Sobin, CEO of Quartermaster added, “Our SmartMast already logged more than 3 million detections across 25 countries, giving operators real-time, independently verified awareness at sea. Partnering with AIQ allows us to bring that capability directly into the offshore energy workflows of the UAE and the broader GCC, where maritime safety and security are mission critical."

The collaboration has its sights on global markets, with an initial focus on the  UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.