Pilsen First Responders Simulate Traffic-Control Failure in a Table-Top Exercise

In February 2026, Pilsen's first responders and city representatives gathered for a table‑top exercise designed to test the city’s readiness for cascading digital and physical disruptions.

The exercise placed police, fire, and ambulance teams into a shared operational environment where they had to navigate simultaneous crises, prioritise under pressure, coordinate breakdowns, and improvise solutions.

Organised as part of the SPARROW project, the exercise aimed at strengthening Pilsen’s ability to withstand and recover from cyber‑physical breakdowns, and do it through realistic, multi‑agency collaboration.

No traffic lights. No data. No mobile network. No command systems

The main scenario focused on a traffic‑control failure triggered by a digital breakdown, affecting a busy Pilsen intersection around Klatovská and Borský Park. In the exercise, participants had to explore how to:

• Quickly traffic collapses when digital systems fail

• Prioritise first responders’ access routes

• Manage population movement

• Maintain emergency response capability

• Communicate when networks are down

To aid decision making, participants were given cards representing SPARROW technologies, and were asked to explain which ones they would use at different stages of crisis management. The following tools were selected:

• TraMod Emergency Traffic Re‑Routing: Simulating traffic flows and intervention impacts to support rapid re‑routing

• CITWIN Real‑Time Crisis Visualisation: Displaying the traffic node, its load, and evolving conditions during traffic-control failure

• CESER Scenario Builder: Simulating detection of traffic light outages and cascading effects

• VASE Vulnerability Assessment Engine: Mapping interdependencies and asset states to support incident‑command decisions

• DYCAMARE Optimal Resource Deployment: Locating, mapping, and activating available emergency units

• EMER5G Network Connectivity: Exploring communication resilience, drone‑based data transmission, and field‑test conditions.

• SED Drone Situational Awareness: Providing aerial visual feeds from the scene.

• ECOMAPP Public Warning System: Enabling targeted emergency messages and instructions to residents

SPARROW's table-top exercise collected valuable insights for delivering measurable improvements to Pilsen's crises preparedness goals, such as

• Minimising time to establish alternative traffic control (-25% reduction)

• Securing priority access for first responder (+50% effectiveness)

• Streamlining traffic flow management during breakdown (+40% capability)