Filenews 5 September 2024
The pilot operation of the HYPERION coordination system of the Bank of Cyprus SupportCY Volunteer Corps has been completed and has been fully operational since September 1st. The aim of the system is to coordinate the forces of the SupportCY Volunteer Corps for better and more effective support of the competent state bodies and services in the prevention, response and recovery of natural disasters, crises and other emergencies.
The HYPERION system in its full operation will include:
- Geolocation of all vehicles
- Geolocation of volunteers (hiking groups)
- Two-way communication with drivers
- Two-way communication with volunteers
- Send instructions and action planning (water abstraction points, response instructions, etc.)
- Briefing of the SupportCY Coordination Center on the water level in fire trucks
- Emergency Contact
It is centrally controlled by the Nicosia Preparedness Base, while if and when deemed necessary, the team that manages it, operates an advanced coordination center near the area of the incident.
The HYPERION system was created exclusively for the SupportCY Volunteer Corps by Frotcom Cyprus, through the intelligent fleet management system, Frotcom, as part of the company's participation in the SupportCY Network.
Michael Christodoulides, CEO of Frotcom Cyprus, said: "Our partnership with SupportCY has evolved into a strong strategic partnership aimed at enhancing community support and effective crisis management. As part of this cooperation, we equipped four vehicles for the YPERION system with the Frotcom fleet management system, which has been successfully tested in real emergency conditions. In addition, we delivered personal monitoring devices to support the Volunteer Corps. We are in constant communication with SupportCY for the continuous improvement and training of the system, and we are proud to support such important initiatives for the good of society. We are committed to leveraging the latest technologies to support important projects in cooperation with Bank of Cyprus' SupportCY", Christodoulides concluded.
At the same time, within the framework of SupportCY's broader policy for the use of environmentally friendly equipment, the advanced coordination center of the YPERION system operates. More specifically, BIONIC Electronics, a member of the SupportCY Network since its first days of creation in 2020, granted to the Volunteer Corps, a mobile power station that operates with photovoltaic systems for the continuous supply of electricity needs for the operation of the equipment.
Effectiveness and Safety for the members of the Volunteer Corps
Christos Theodoulou, Branch Manager Support Commander of the SupportCY Volunteer Corps, said that the very careful work done between SupportCY and Frotcom in designing the system on the basis of real needs, was also proven through the tests in the pilot phase of the program's implementation. More specifically, he mentioned that "The system was tested both in businesses (especially in matters of prevention and response to fires and missing persons) in Cyprus and Greece, with the best results. Certainly, the system will continue to be upgraded based on our needs in the field."
Andreas Leonidou, Operation Manager of the Coordination Center of the Volunteer Corps of SupportCY, underlined the necessity of such systems for the management of major crises and disasters. Specifically, he stated that "It is crucial, in an emergency, to know at all times where your people are. Especially in large-scale operations, it is crucial to know the forces you have in the field for effective management but also for security purposes. The operation of the system was recently tested in Greece, by the team's mission in the great fire of Attica"
