Defence Science

Experiences and Outcomes of the Hungarian EU Presidency in Strengthening Flood Resilience at the European Level

2025-06-30T05:26:35+00:00

Floods are becoming increasingly frequent and intense across Europe, while the impacts of climate change pose mounting challenges. Since watercourses do not recognise national borders, the need to strengthen flood risk resilience at the EU level and to coordinate national measures has become ever more pressing. Flood events in recent years have highlighted that managing natural risks is gradually becoming a shared responsibility at the European level. The Hungarian EU Presidency in the second half of 2024 provided an opportunity to bring the issue of flood resilience to the forefront of European-level discussions. This article presents the professional forums and tasks that laid the groundwork for the effectiveness of the Presidency and substantially contributed to the formulation of the Council conclusions on “The comprehensive strengthening of the European Union’s resilience against flooding.” The practice of the Hungarian Presidency demonstrates that well-prepared, multi-level professional consultations can provide both substantive depth and practical applicability to a Council conclusion.

Milestones to increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure 2022-2025

2025-06-30T05:26:35+00:00

In Hungary, the regulation on the protection of the elements of the essential services has been establishing special rules for more than ten years in order to ensure the continuous operation of the designated organizations. The change in the security environment, the coronavirus pandemic along with technical and technological developments, and the emergence of threats in addition to risks have required increased measures on the allied, European and national levels.

As a result, NATO's basic requirements for civil preparedness, the EU Directive on the resilience of critical entities and, new legislation on critical entities in Hungary, have been published. In this article, the authors describe the most significant points of the change in the regulations and the milestones of the introduction of the international legal environment and of the Hungarian member state legislation.

Methods for collecting vaporous material residues and evidence from a fire investigation site

2025-06-30T05:26:35+00:00

This study aims to answer the question of how the collection of materials and residues containing relevant information from fire investigation sites can be improved. According to previous good practice, in addition to solid or liquid residues collected during fire investigation site inspections, can vapour/gas residues also be collected in such quantity and quality that they also have evidentiary value during the fire investigation or, where applicable, criminal proceedings of the associated authorities? A further aim was to ensure that the presented method integrates seamlessly into the currently available sampling kit system and that sampling efficiency also increases as a result of examining the new physical state. The presented methods are capable of collecting samples with evidentiary value in situations that were previously impossible. Sampling is also possible in cases where the exact location of the possibly present combustion accelerator cannot be determined.

Logistical support for helicopters involved in disaster management operations Part I.

2025-06-30T05:55:14+00:00

The aim of this study is to present the possible forms of logistical support for helicopters used in firefighting, technical rescue and other disaster management operations. It also aims to familiarize the staff with the main sources of danger of helicopters, the possible responses to them and to introduce all the actions that can help to carry out the operations more efficiently and safely. The study analyzes the written literature available on the subject in Hungary and abroad, the experiences of the fire and rescue personnel and, after evaluating them, formulates recommendations in the areas of education, training, as well as equipment development and procurement. In order to carry out interventions in the presence of helicopters more quickly, more efficiently and more safely, this knowledge will have to be applied more widely in the future, to which this study provides a basis.

Innovation in emergency education, the potential of VR technology

2025-06-30T05:26:36+00:00

The way of the future is the use of Information and Communication Technologies in emergency education, and it does not matter which software is used to convey the given knowledge. What is needed is an exercise, an extension of knowledge, a problem-solving exercise, a simulation exercise or a form of education involving games. More and more of these tools, software and programmes are appearing on the market, and the choice of which to use is a matter for the trainer. However, we cannot ignore the specificities of the generations and the results of learning theories. We also need to be prepared with appropriate responses to technological developments and new challenges in disaster management training.

Among the digital technologies that are becoming increasingly important in the field of education, VR, AR, MR and XR simulators should be highlighted. Virtual technologies facilitate experiential learning and provide immediate feedback through flexible situational exercises, offering faster and more sustained learning than traditional instruction. Modern technologies, including VR tools, are challenging for trainers. Still, they also provide a range of new education opportunities, allowing learners to have more profound and more interactive learning experiences and enabling teachers and trainers to feel a sense of achievement in the success of their work. By integrating these technologies, educational institutions can also create a more personalised and engaging learning environment for their students in emergency education.

Application possibilities of artificial intelligence in disaster management Part II.

2025-06-30T05:26:37+00:00

The aim of Part II of this study is to present the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) within the organizational system of disaster management, broken down into further specialized areas. It also aims to ensure that personnel become familiar with the opportunities offered by AI and how they can be used, focusing on the following areas:

Industrial Safety: Discusses the role of AI in managing risks associated with hazardous materials, including the use of drones for faster and broader identification of hazards, and improving inspections of industrial facilities.

Critical Infrastructure: Explores how AI can increase efficiency, improve security, and strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure against threats, while also addressing cybersecurity risks.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods: Examines how AI can improve the safety and efficiency of transporting dangerous goods by optimizing logistics, predicting equipment failures, and improving cybersecurity.

Perception of AI: Presents the results of surveys on attitudes towards AI in various sectors, including the public, medical professionals, and law enforcement.

Opportunities for raising awareness in light of new museum education approaches, with a view to reducing the number of fatal fires and protecting critical risk groups

2025-06-30T05:26:37+00:00

Reducing the number of fatal fires and protecting critical risk groups is of the outmost importance for all those involved – disaster management, social services, the living environment, and families. A fire threatens the living environment, and a fatality takes a psychological toll on people, even if they are not personally or only indirectly affected. The first three basic steps in identifying and protecting risk groups are raising awareness, shaping attitudes, and mobilizing the community. The potential of the new museum education and of constructivist pedagogy, when applied within the appropriate organizational framework, setting, and time, may serve as a bridge between disaster management and the social sector in this endeavor.