CREST

CREST

CREST‘s overall objective is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of LEAs intelligence, operation, and investigation capabilities, through the automated detection, identification, assessment, fusion, and correlation of evidence acquired from heterogeneous multimodal data streams. Such data streams include (but are not limited to) Surface/Deep/Dark Web and social media sources and interactions, IoT-enabled devices (including wearable sensors), surveillance cameras (static, wearable, or mounted on UxVs), and seized devices and hard disks.

How does it work

CREST will achieve this objective by developing an innovative prediction, prevention, operation, and investigation platform that will build upon the concept of multidimensional integration and correlation of heterogeneous multimodal data streams and delivery of pertinent information to different stakeholders in an interactive manner tailored to their needs. The developed platform will allow for (i) crime and terrorism prediction and prevention through the generation of automatic early warning alerts based on the assessment of threats detected using targeted monitoring, tracking, and analytics technologies; (ii) improved operational capabilities enabled by an IoT ecosystem that will facilitate adaptive and dynamic mission planning and navigation based on autonomous systems for better surveillance and distributed planning and management for supporting distributed operational command and control; (iii) improved situational awareness through advanced visual analytics, mobile applications, and projections in interactive augmented reality environments; and (iv) enhanced investigation capabilities by increasing the confidence and trustworthiness of information sharing and digital evidence exchange based on blockchain technologies.

The innovation

The key innovation of CREST is its ability to seamlessly integrate heterogeneous multimodal data streams and targeted tools and technologies towards delivering an advanced platform (TO2). Individually the core strengths of CREST will be:(i)Simultaneous access to and unified view of diverse multimodal data streams (e.g., online content and IoT sensor streams) and audit trail (RIO1, TO1),(ii)Real-time monitoring and tracking of visual content acquired from multimodal data streams using deep learning (RIO1),(iii)Dynamic mission planning and adaptive navigation based on swarm intelligence for improved surveillance (RIO2), (iv)Real-time multimodal data analytics for (cyber) threat detection and assessment towards providing early warnings (RIO3), (v)Novel distributed and decentralised operations management across organisational boundaries and jurisdictions (RIO4), (vi)Secure, transparent and trustworthy information sharing and evidence exchange based on blockchain technologies (RIO4), (vii)Improved situational awareness on the field and in the command centre through advanced visual analytics and AR (RIO5), (viii)Biometric monitoring of the physiological status of officers on the field (TO1).CREST solutions built upon proven concepts, methods, industry standard solutions, incorporating cutting-edge tools (TO2)Usability in all aspects of crime and terror activities (prediction, prevention, operational, and investigation); see PUC1-3 (HO1); End user training and innovative curricula (HO2); Compliance with applicable EU/national legislation (HO3); Human and societal factors comprehensively addressed (HO4).

Project Consortium

The CREST Consortium consists of 8 LEAs (SPP, PSNI, BayHFOD, SPPS, PJ, ELAS, PPA, BDI) from 8 countries, 7 academic/research (SHU, WAT, NUIM, UoA, UNIVIE, CERTH, KEMEA), 7 industry partners (MSIL, SIVECO, EVERIS, COPT, CLS, ROB, INMM) and 1 civil society (VSE) forming a team with the ideal profile