VECTOR is a NATO SPS funded research project that is developing an integrated solution for identifying, analysing, classifying and responding to explosive devices. By fusing 3D photogrammetry, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality technologies, we are developing a versatile toolkit that is deployable in a wide range of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) operational scenarios.
Explosive devices, such as unexploded ordnances (UXOs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are a critical threat to NATO Member and Partner States. Globally, thousands lose their lives or face grievous physical and psychological injury every year to IEDs constructed by terrorist and insurgency groups as well as UXO remnants from past conflicts. On the front line, EOD units are especially at risk and require new solutions to 1) rapidly identify explosive devices, 2) safely conduct remote analysis and 3) enhance real-time collaboration between first responders, EOD units and off-site experts.
To gather evidence of UXOs and IEDs
To identify the type of explosive device in question.
To process images into 3D Objects.
For remote analysis in VR environments and 2D interfaces
With an AR interface to guide users in using the system
To enhance EOD operations on the ground
Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research
View webpageCENTRIC is a multi-disciplinary and end-user focused centre of excellence, located within Sheffield Hallam University. The global reach of CENTRIC links both academic and professional expertise across a range of disciplines providing unique opportunities to progress ground-breaking research to pressing contemporary security challenges. To this end, CENTRIC provides a platform for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and the public to focus on applied research of avant-garde research and development within the security domain.
The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) is one of the largest research centres in Greece and participates in VECTOR through the Information Technologies Institute (ITI) and one of its research groups, namely the Multimedia Knowledge and Social Media Analytics laboratory (MKLab). MKLab has significant security research expertise on OSINT, object detection and activity recognition in multimedia data, and visual analytics. The group has coordinated and participated in more than 150 European and National research projects, exploiting their results through its spin-off companies Infalia and Carealia.
The University Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) was established in 2004, in Sarajevo, as the first private university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dedicated to providing high quality, internationally competitive education and up-to-date programs, SSST is currently positioned as one of the region’s leading universities, with unparalleled investments in infrastructure, research and scholarship opportunities.
The Faculty of Security - Skopje is a higher education institution in the field of security, providing three cycles of studies. Its research teams are working on national and international projects and have established close cooperation with other relevant institutions and universities in the country and abroad as well as security institutions within the Republic of North Macedonia, especially with the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate for Protection and Rescue. Most of the Faculty staff have practical work experience from the national security institutions, which contributes to the connection of theory and practice in the field of security, criminalistics and forensics.
