Resilient healthcare logistics during wildfires
A new research project involving the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Medical University of Lusatia – Carl Thiem and Airbus Helicopters is addressing this challenge.
Maintaining healthcare logistics and protecting vulnerable population groups during extreme environmental events in Lusatia are at the heart of the new “LifeSaver” pilot project. The BTU is undertaking key research into the development of digital twins, the simulation of crisis scenarios and the optimisation of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for healthcare logistics. With Airbus as an international industry partner and experience from comparable LifeSaver applications in Japan, the project combines regional challenges with global innovative strength.
At the ILA Berlin 2026 air show, Airbus Helicopters, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Medical University of Lusatia – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT) have now confirmed the project’s launch in September 2026.
Research for resilient healthcare systems in the age of climate change
Brandenburg is the German state with the highest risk of forest fires. The increasing impacts of climate change are presenting new challenges for emergency services, hospitals and civil protection. The LifeSaver project is therefore investigating how wildfires, road closures and evacuations affect the accessibility of healthcare facilities and the provision of care for vulnerable population groups.
“As the German federal state most severely affected by forest fires, Brandenburg must consider extreme scenarios, such as how the security of hospital supplies can be guaranteed in the event of acute influxes of patients despite blocked transport routes,” said Uwe Schüler, State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government of the State of Brandenburg.
Lusatia as a real-world laboratory for resilient healthcare systems
In the international LifeSaver project, the partners are developing digital twins for complex crisis scenarios involving large-scale forest fires. The simulation environment, developed primarily by the BTU, realistically models the effects of large-scale forest fires, evacuations, transport disruptions and rising patient numbers. Building on this scientific foundation, innovative concepts are being developed for the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure healthcare logistics and the provision of care for vulnerable population groups, even under extreme conditions. Lusatia is thus becoming a real-world laboratory for resilient healthcare systems and climate-adaptive infrastructures of the future.
Research with direct benefits for society
At the Centre for Hybrid Electric Systems Cottbus (chesco), the BTU plans to develop data-based models to optimise flight routes for unmanned aerial vehicles. These are intended to be used both for early forest fire detection and situation tracking, as well as to support medical logistics processes. The simulation will analyse the effects of various deployment strategies and create a scientific basis for robust decision-making in crisis situations.
Prof. Dr Michael Hübner, Vice-President for Research and Transfer at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, sees the project as a key building block for the strategic development of the university and the region: “With LifeSaver, we are combining excellent research with tangible societal benefits. The project enables us to bring together our scientific expertise in the fields of digital twins, intelligent mobility systems, aviation technologies and resilient infrastructure within a highly relevant future-oriented field. Together with our partners, we are developing solutions to challenges that are becoming increasingly significant due to climate change. At the same time, the project strengthens Lusatia as a model region for digital healthcare and as a location for application-oriented cutting-edge research with international appeal.”
Rethinking medical care
“This new project directly addresses pressing issues by investigating how wildfires, road closures and evacuations affect emergency access to vulnerable groups, and how critical medical supplies can be transported safely and quickly between hospitals in times of crisis. By utilising innovative technologies, we are taking a decisive step towards securing our healthcare provision and strengthening long-term regional resilience,” said Martin Peuker, Chief Digital Officer at the Medical University of Lusatia – Carl Thiem.
Airbus Helicopters also sees ideal conditions in the Lausitz region for developing innovative solutions. “With LifeSaver, we are moving beyond our traditional helicopter platforms. This project enables us to view the entire rescue chain at an ecosystem level in order to investigate and mitigate the impact of forest fires on healthcare logistics,” said Stefan Thomé, Manager of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “Lausitz offers an ideal environment for this. By combining the medical expertise of the Medical University of Lausitz with the cutting-edge research at the BTU, we have the perfect ecosystem to deliver innovations that protect vital supply chains.”
International experience for Lusatia
The project will launch in September 2026. Airbus is contributing experience from its international LifeSaver programme, which is already being successfully deployed in Japan to safeguard medical supply chains and healthcare provision in earthquake and tsunami scenarios.
The project follows on directly from the memorandum of understanding signed in February 2026 regarding the “LifeSaver Lausitz” innovation ecosystem. The long-term goal is to establish a digital platform for the Lausitz Health Model Region. It is intended to bring together health, mobility and environmental data, thereby enabling the development of new applications for safe, sustainable and resilient healthcare provision.
