The FloodSafe project, led by the Department of Tropical Medicine and Public Health at Goethe University Frankfurt and involving RWTH Aachen University, aims to develop a sustainable solution to support rescue workers during floods in Bangladesh. Due to global warming, floods are increasing in severity and impacting millions of lives, especially in remote areas where medical care is hindered by impaired infrastructure. The concentration of people and animals in confined spaces during floods has led to a rise in snake bites, causing around 6,000 deaths annually in Bangladesh.
The project seeks to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to provide emergency medical care during floods by delivering antivenom to snakebite victims. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is supporting the project as part of its efforts to improve worldwide disaster risk management. Collaboration with ministries and institutions in Bangladesh aims to strengthen Germanys contribution to this endeavor.
The recent ILA Berlin Air Show facilitated a meeting between representatives of the Embassy of Bangladesh and RWTH Aachen University, discussing innovative solutions for flood management and technology in the country. The biggest challenge is weather conditions, requiring robust UAS capable of operating in adverse conditions. RWTH Aachen Universitys Institute of Flight System Dynamics has chosen the Neo tilt-wing aircraft for the project, which can reach victims quickly and deliver emergency medications efficiently. The operation is fully automated and optimized for safety and efficiency
The FloodSafe project aims to demonstrate how emergency care can be effectively implemented on the ground in Bangladesh during floods, potentially serving as a model for future regular use. Transporting medicines through UAS is a critical component to ensure medical care during disasters. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports the projects developments and plans to discuss the experiences and knowledge gained with the Bangladesh Aviation Authority to establish safe regulations for drone operations.
