Objectives of the service
The INST project successfully demonstrated a system for managing mass casualty incidents (MCIs) through accurate digital representation of casualty location, condition, and priority. The Site Acceptance Test [SAT] milestone validated the system’s ability to provide secure, real-time communication via satellite-backed multi-bearer mesh networking across all tri-service responders – Police, Ambulance, and Fire and Rescue – ensuring improved command, coordination, and casualty outcomes.
Users and their needs
During the recent INST stakeholder demonstration at STFC Daresbury in February 2026, observers were able to see the core system operating live, including tag visibility, indoor positioning, and digital twin incident mapping. Initial feedback confirmed that the concept strongly aligns with the operational need for improved situational awareness, clearer triage coordination, and more structured information flow during high-pressure major incidents.
Stakeholders highlighted INST’s relevance for both terrorist-related and large-scale civilian events, supporting multi-agency interoperability in line with JESIP principles and emerging Martyn’s Law expectations. Local resilience and NHS-linked attendees noted the value of having a shared operational picture early in an incident, reducing confusion and supporting faster prioritisation of casualties and responder activity.
Further structured pilot engagement at the Manchester Velodrome remains planned as a follow-on activity after ESA SAT review, to broaden user validation and operational confidence.
Service/ system concept
The INST service integrates lightweight smart triage tags, ad-hoc mesh gateways, and a cloud-connected digital twin dashboard. During SAT, data was transmitted seamlessly between tags, gateways, and the Mvine Digital Twin dashboard using cellular, LoRa, and satellite links.
The system demonstrated reliable end-to-end communication, positional accuracy within 2 m, and data latency under 3 seconds. These results confirm readiness for pilot deployment in operational environments.
The digital twin interface enabled real-time visualisation of casualty locations, triage states, and responder movements. Satellite fallback-maintained communication when terrestrial networks were intentionally degraded during testing, validating robustness in high-stress emergency conditions.
Space Added Value
The SAT evidence phase has demonstrated the added value of space-enabled communications resilience within the INST concept. While the current SAT scope has focused on indoor positioning and core service function, the architecture has been validated to support satellite fallback as a critical component of future deployment.
In major incident environments, terrestrial networks may become congested, unavailable, or unreliable due to infrastructure failure, remote locations, or deliberate disruption. Satellite connectivity provides an essential alternative path to maintain situational awareness and continuity of triage and location reporting when ground-based coverage cannot be assumed.
INST therefore represents a practical ESA-backed demonstration of how hybrid terrestrial–space communications can strengthen emergency response capability, ensuring that life-saving information can still be shared across agencies even under degraded network conditions. Full operational satellite integration remains a follow-on refinement beyond the indoor SAT evidence baseline.
Current Status
As of February 2026, structured Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) evidence runs have now been completed at STFC Daresbury (Ground Floor CTH Open Area). SAT evidence capture included structured KPI validation, log extraction, screenshots, photos, and video evidence.
Key Capabilities Demonstrated During SAT
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Rapid device activation and dynamic mesh auto-formation (<60 seconds).
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Stable indoor UWB positioning within structured test environment.
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Dynamic node join/leave behaviour and mesh self-healing.
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Secure digital twin access (2FA) and live incident visualisation.
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Simulated satellite uplink validation in accordance with SAT scope.
The project will proceed with a structured pilot demonstration at the Manchester National Cycling Centre (Velodrome) to showcase operational capability to a wider responder audience.
The consortium is progressing commercialisation planning in parallel with SAT review. Work includes evaluation of future company structure, intellectual property consolidation, and funding pathways to support post-ESA commercial deployment.
INST continues engagement with emergency service stakeholders and NHS representatives to ensure alignment with operational needs and adoption pathways.
Subcontractor(s)
