The GIS4BOS project, led by Carl Wrede of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), ran from 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2022 and was financed through federal civil‑security research funding. Its goal was to give the city of Bremerhaven’s security authorities and organizations a modern, data‑driven command and control system that could keep pace with the demands of a rapidly transforming urban environment. The project was carried out in close partnership with the city’s cadastre office, the local police and fire departments, and the DLR’s own GIS infrastructure team. Together they defined the technical requirements, selected suitable software, and tested the solution in realistic scenarios.

The technical work began with a comprehensive assessment of how police and fire services currently use geographic information systems (GIS) and IT infrastructure. Through expert interviews, on‑scene observations, and participation in staff exercises, the team mapped existing data sources, workflows, and gaps. In joint workshops with the cadastre office, a detailed requirement profile was produced, emphasizing the need for rapid, real‑time data fusion and dynamic visualization that could be accessed by all security units.

Based on this analysis, the project team chose to build the new platform on the city’s existing GIS foundation while adding a layer of advanced data processing. To avoid privacy and reliability issues that would arise from using the cadastre office’s system during exercises, the DLR’s own GIS environment was employed for development and testing. The core of the solution is a software stack from Dynamis that is fully compatible with the widely used Esri and Hexagon GIS interfaces. This application layer allows the integration of multiple data feeds—such as maritime traffic, event schedules, and emergency reports—into a single, real‑time map display.

For command and control, the team adopted Cobra, a commercial solution already tailored to security operations. Cobra’s built‑in tactical drawing tools and situation‑management features eliminated the need for custom development of operational detail layers. The combined Dynamis–Cobra stack was deployed on the DLR’s infrastructure and subjected to computer‑aided testing (CAX) during a large staff exercise that simulated maritime incidents and major public events. The tests confirmed that the system could ingest live data, perform rapid fusion, and render up‑to‑date situational maps without noticeable latency. While the report does not provide explicit numerical performance figures, the successful CAX validation demonstrates that the solution meets the operational speed and reliability requirements of the participating security units.

Parallel to the technical development, the project carried out a thorough legal and ethical review. The focus was on data‑protection regulations and state police law, ensuring that the new platform complies with all applicable privacy standards. The findings guided the creation of a communication strategy that includes a public portal titled “Security Technologies – Test Field Bremerhaven.” This portal, along with a podcast series and interactive workshops, aims to inform residents, foster dialogue with security authorities, and build trust in the new GIS‑based tools.

In summary, GIS4BOS delivered a fully integrated, real‑time GIS platform that extends the city’s existing infrastructure, incorporates advanced data fusion, and provides a user‑friendly command and control interface. The solution was validated through realistic exercises, meets legal requirements, and is supported by a robust communication plan that engages both security professionals and the public. The collaboration between DLR, Bremerhaven’s municipal agencies, and the cadastre office ensured that the system is both technically sound and operationally relevant, setting a foundation for future demonstrations and long‑term deployment.