The European project SPIRIT (Synergies to Protect Places of Worship and Religious Gatherings), funded by the European Union’s Internal Security Fund, concludes this month, marking two years of innovation in the field of security for religious sites and gatherings.
Coordinated by the Hellenic Police and implemented by a consortium of 12 organizations from 8 European countries, including Romania, SPIRIT has developed an advanced digital platform that combines virtual reality, crowd behaviour simulation, and artificial intelligence to support law enforcement, religious communities, and decision-makers in effectively managing risks and preparing for crisis scenarios.
Real Threats – The Project’s Motivation
In recent years, terrorist attacks targeting places of worship have increased alarmingly around the globe. From the attacks in Christchurch, Paris, and Halle to more recent incidents in Stockholm and Nice, houses of worship have become targets for acts of extremism.
These events have highlighted the urgent need for modern tools for prevention, training, and rapid response—precisely what the SPIRIT platform delivers.
Immersive Technology for Realistic Training
The SPIRIT platform includes a secure multiplayer VR simulator where response teams can train for complex scenarios such as emergency evacuations, crowd management, and real-time tactical coordination. The virtual environment allows for safe yet realistic testing and refinement of threat response strategies.
3D Models of European Religious Sites
SIMAVI (Software Imagination & Vision), the Romanian partner in the project, created highly detailed 3D models of emblematic places of worship, including:
- Panagia Faneromeni Orthodox Church in Athens
- Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor in Barcelona
- The Great Mosque of Rome
- Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels
These locations reflect Orthodox, Catholic, and Islamic traditions and were chosen for their architectural, cultural, and security complexity.
SIMAVI Team: Romanian Expertise in Security Technology
The development of the SPIRIT simulator and platform was made possible by SIMAVI’s multidisciplinary team, consisting of:
- 5 3D artists, responsible for detailed rendering of the religious sites in VR
- 2 Unity developers, who designed the interactive virtual environment
- 3 Java programmers, who built the platform’s architecture
- 1 Unity expert and 1 platform expert, leading the technical components
- 1 project manager, overseeing the administrative, financial, and logistical coordination of the project
Broader Utility for Public Administration
The technologies developed by SIMAVI for SPIRIT can also be successfully adapted for local public administration, especially for municipalities and regional councils seeking to simulate emergency scenarios (earthquakes, fires, floods), plan evacuations, optimize pedestrian traffic, or digitally test urban development strategies.
Virtual reality, crowd simulation, and 3D risk assessment can become essential tools for smart, safe cities.
European Collaboration for a Safer Future
SPIRIT was tested and validated in collaboration with local authorities and religious communities across Europe. Key initiatives included mass-casualty scenario simulations at the Basilica in Barcelona and vulnerability assessments at several places of worship, including the Great Mosque in Rome, in the presence of religious leaders and security experts.
The Legacy of SPIRIT
SPIRIT is more than just a project—it is a new European standard for the protection of places of worship. The platform and methodologies developed will continue to be used in the coming years for training, prevention, and rapid response to emerging threats.
For more information, visit:
🌐 https://spirit-isf.eu
