Strategies for dissemination

Our dissemination strategy comes in play, allowing us to “spread the word” (both figuratively and literally) on the system, that one can easily change the way the crisis data, and the crisis situations are managed. The strategy relies on these pillars of information proliferation, and dissemination tools:

1.Establish and maintain the project’s website. The website is the main point of reference for external communication. Have it up, and running all the time during the development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires, and in the years to follow. The website contains deliverables produced as part of the development, testing and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires as well as other dissemination and communication items, such as press releases, a project brochure, conference presentations and links to news articles in which development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires has been mentioned. In order to assess how well the website is reaching stakeholders and acting as a source of information, the website will use standard web traffic analysis tools to track the number of visitors and similar metrics over the life of the project. The website continually updated throughout the course of the project, and thus acts as a dynamic and up-to-date source of information.

 

2.Personal communications - e-mail & telephone. One of the primary means of interested parties to get info on the development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires project, events and activities happens via e-mail. Coming from the fact that e-mail is a cheap and easy form of communication, we also use e-mail to distribute a newsletter to all interested parties that draws attention to development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires project highlights. The telephone remains a quick and easy means of contacting vital project personnel.

 

3. Flyer & poster. A short flyer and a poster will be prepared containing a brief description of development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires and its objectives and partners. It distributes events attended by partners during development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires in order to increase visibility, and expand our network of contacts.

 

4. Newsletter. The development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires consortium has decided to produce a newsletter every 6 months (in months 6, 12, 18 & 24). This highlights key results and activities. It can be easily distributed to our mailing list of interested parties and contacts, to be forwarded to others, who can then contact us for further information. All newsletters will be archived on the website.

 

5. Publications: Journal articles. Journal articles are a resilient and broad-based dissemination tool. The consortium partners cements the impact of their dissemination activities by preparing and publishing formal reports and scientific articles in open access, peer-reviewed journals. These ensures that development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires has a long-lasting impact beyond the project duration, particularly in relation to academic discourse in the area.

 

6. Publications: Policy papers. The consortium publish policy papers presenting the results from the research undertaken in a format tailored towards relevant European policy makers and open access practitioners. Key results and policy recommendations will also be targeted at the scholarly and professional associations related to particular case study domains. The policy papers are distributed in hard copy at various events and published in electronic form on the project website.

 

7. Media communications and press releases. As part of its dissemination strategy, the consortium prepares a project narrative and issue media communications and press releases for the communications department of the European Commission and possibly different EU Member States and a selection of national media such as radio, television, particularly 24-hour news channels. These aim to elicit participation and generate interest in development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires and related events, draw attention to published reports or drive interested parties to sources such as the project website and make them a useful tool in support of other engagement and dissemination strategies. In addition to English, press releases are prepared in major European languages for distribution to the media and other stakeholders on completion of specific project milestones and publication of deliverables.

 

8. Workshops. Workshops are essential knowledge dissemination means. Consortium partners use workshops to discuss, present and deliberate project related matters and findings. These workshops are used to solicit expert feedback on development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires, on deliverables and regulation guidelines, and to enable beneficiaries to interact with one another. Most of the workshops are planned for the second project year.

 

9. Presentations at external events & conferences. Conferences are a means of developing national and international connections with governmental, advocacy or academic opinion leaders, and engaging in a direct, face-to-face communications and discourse. The consortium partners are preparing and delivering papers, slide show presentations, videos and lectures at seminars, relevant events and selected international conferences.

 

10. Social media, including Twitter & blogs. Online social networks are another potentially useful dissemination tool and channel. Development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires project results may be disseminated through popular social networks such as LinkedIn or Twitter. The project will take advantage of the well-established social media channels of partners. Twitter is a particularly useful way at engaging participants at events and in increasing the impact and visibility of such events. Development, test and integration of advanced systems for prevention and early detection of forest fires workshops and events have their own Twitter hash tags. Blogs help to publicize project effort and results and may be particularly effective in reaching particular, younger audiences. Blogs are used to promote and facilitate a dialogue around the project activities.

 

11. Local legislation and international standardization bodies evolvement. One of the main results of the ASPires project is the preparation of the regulation guidelines and proposals for standard and local legislation adaptation towards the capability of the new technologies for forest fire prevention and information and communication technologies to be usefully applied at local, regional and European level.