Supported by ISACA and funded through the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, the large-scale exercise will bring together law enforcement agencies, emergency responders and technology leaders to test AI-enabled crisis coordination during a live, multi-agency simulated urban flooding scenario.
Spain—A large-scale European emergency-response exercise taking place in Valencia’s La Torre district on 17 June 2026 will test how artificial intelligence, drones, real-time operational mapping and integrated communication systems can assist emergency services during simulated urban flooding emergencies under realistic operational conditions.
The pilot forms part of LEAD-PRO, a Horizon Europe Innovation Action funded by the European Commission focused on strengthening disaster-management capabilities for law enforcement and emergency-response agencies through AI-supported technologies, real-time situational awareness and integrated coordination systems.
As part of the LEAD-PRO consortium, ISACA contributes expertise in digital trust, cybersecurity, governance and professional capability development to support trusted, secure and well-governed resilience and preparedness across critical-response sectors in Europe.
The Valencia exercise follows LEAD-PRO’s first large-scale pilot in Kaunas, Lithuania, where more than 300 officers from six countries participated in live cyber-physical security and emergency-response exercises validating the platform under real-world conditions.
The Valencia scenario will simulate escalating flood-risk conditions affecting critical infrastructure and public safety, including school evacuation and search-and-rescue procedures. The exercise will test coordination between police, fire brigades, civil protection teams and emergency-response services using AI-supported situational awareness and integrated response technologies.
The pilot will include:
- Drone and CCTV-enabled monitoring
- Real-time operational mapping
- School evacuation procedures
- Search-and-rescue simulations
- Advanced Command Post coordination and multi-agency decision-making
- AI-supported operational analysis and alerts
Alongside the pilot, Valencia Local Police Headquarters will host the International Summit on Emergency Management, Disaster Response & Urban Resilience on 18 June 2026. The summit will bring together representatives from the European Commission, emergency-response authorities, law enforcement agencies, researchers and technology organisations to discuss crisis coordination, operational resilience and the role of emerging technologies in emergency management.
“Effective emergency response depends on coordination, situational awareness and the ability to make rapid decisions under pressure. Initiatives such as LEAD-PRO allow emergency services and law enforcement agencies to test technologies, communication systems and operational procedures in realistic scenarios that strengthen preparedness and resilience,” said José Luis Diego, Head of the Innovation and Project Management Division, Valencia Local Police.
The agenda includes sessions on emergency coordination, interoperability, resilient communications and lessons identified from the October 2024 Valencia DANA floods relevant to future preparedness frameworks.
Expected participants include representatives from DG ECHO, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Valencia City Council, Thales, TNO and emergency-response coordination authorities from across Europe.
“Emergency management increasingly depends on trusted digital coordination, secure information-sharing and professionals capable of operating effectively in high-pressure environments where cyber, physical and operational risks converge,” said Chris Dimitriadis, Chief Global Strategy Officer at ISACA. “Through LEAD-PRO, ISACA is contributing its expertise in digital trust, cybersecurity, governance and professional capability development to support resilience and preparedness across critical-response sectors in Europe.”
About LEAD-PRO
LEAD-PRO is a Horizon Europe Grant Agreement No. 101168492 HORIZON-CL3-2023-SSRI-01 initiative focused on improving emergency management and public-safety operations through AI-supported situational awareness, interoperable communications and cyber-physical resilience technologies.
About ISACA
ISACA® (www.isaca.org) champions the global workforce advancing trust in technology. For more than 55 years, ISACA has empowered its community of 195,000+ members with the knowledge, credentials, training and network they need to thrive in fields like information security, governance, assurance, risk management, data privacy and emerging tech. With a presence in more than 190 countries and more than 230 chapters worldwide, ISACA offers resources tailored to every stage of members' careers. Through the ISACA Foundation, ISACA also expands IT education and career pathways for underrepresented populations.
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Contact
Esther Almendros, Regional Marketing & Communications Manager, ISACA Europe ealmendros@isaca.org
