VEIVI – Off-Grid Communication for Volunteer Rescue Services

Our society is dependent on electricity and the internet, and disruptions to these services leave us vulnerable. In the VEIVI project, we are building a fully autonomous and affordable radio network that operates without cellular or internet connectivity. The system is specifically designed for alerting and coordinating volunteer rescuers, such as contract fire departments and the Voluntary Rescue Service (Vapepa). Led by LUT University, the project combines technical research and practical field trials into a reliable backup communication model. The project is funded by the Fire Protection Fund and LUT University.

Goals

• Technical Development: To build and test a low-power, self-forming radio network capable of operating over large areas without fixed base stations or reliance on the power grid.
• Operational Reliability: To ensure that volunteers receive emergency alerts and can transmit messages and location data even when internet and cellular networks are unavailable.
• Usability: To develop a technically simple and reliable interface tailored for volunteer rescuers, designed for ease of use without specialized training.
• National Scalability: To produce clear guidelines and operational models based on field trials and piloting, enabling the system to be deployed across Finland as needed.

• City of Lappeenranta
• Finnish Red Cross
• Finnish Lifeboat Institution