Agreement between the Silesian University of Technology and GOPR (Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue) and the “Pogranicze Bez Barier” (Borderland Without Barriers) Foundation
The Silesian University of Technology has signed an agreement with the Beskidy GOPR Group and the Pogranicze Bez Barier Foundation for Supporting Social Initiatives. The cooperation will concern scientific and research activities, education and training of staff, as well as the implementation of joint ventures.
The scope of cooperation is wide. One of them is a project that will enable people with disabilities to use mountain trails. As part of this project, a special wheelchair for such people is being created, as well as software that will determine forest and mountain routes available to them in the Beskidy Mountains.
– Due to the complexity of this project, it can cover many faculties of the Silesian University of Technology. In the project we have information technology, vehicle-related technologies, as well as various types of system applications. It is also cooperation with research teams and students from research clubs with many enthusiasts. The subject of the project is extremely interesting - stressed the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk.
The design of a special wheelchair enabling the use of mountain trails for people with disabilities is being developed at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology.
- For over a year, together with GOPR and the Pogranicze Bez Barier Foundation, we have been implementing the project " Mountains without barriers" as part of the NCBR competition "Things are for people". As part of this project, a specialized wheelchair is being developed, as well as software that will enable the use of such a wheelchair on trails. At the moment, we are carrying out conceptual and testing work. We get to know the needs of people with physical disabilities so that the wheelchair meets their expectations. The IT issue is also very important. We want strollers to be available in the rental system, while people with disabilities can use them without assistance and use the application or voice messages to traverse trails in Beskidy Mountains - said dr hab. Eng. Piotr Folęga, prof. SUT, Dean of the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering at SUT.
The agreement of the Silesian University of Technology with GOPR and the Pogranicze Bez Barier Foundation also provides for the implementation of training. One of them is to train mountain rescuers in the field of drone operation. – Every field in which we operate, including those related to rescue, is constantly developing, new technologies are emerging that are used in rescue, such as drones. That is why we would like to cooperate in this area with scientists from the Silesian University of Technology - said Marcin Szczurek, head of the GOPR group in Beskidy.
Thanks to the agreement, the Silesian University of Technology will also be able to cooperate with the Silesian Centre for Mountain Accessibility and Sustainable Tourism, which is being built in Bielsko Biała. - In the Centre we anticipate a place for the Silesian University of Technology, especially in the field of joint research or training. We could test various types of electric vehicles, which sooner or later will appear in rescue services - said Bogumił Kanik, president of the board of the Pogranicze Bez Barier Foundation.
Signing the agreement of the Silesian University of Technology with GOPR and the Pogranicze Bez Barier Foundation for Supporting Social Initiatives is an opportunity to implement further projects related to mountain tourism, mainly for people with disabilities, at other faculties of the University.
