Thread by @SapperGeologist

It's been a few weeks and I've now had time to reflect upon my experiences visiting #Austria and @rnd_ironnike to attend the Urban Operations Expert Talks 2022 conference. It afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with #SbT colleagues and meet new contacts. A thread 🧵 1/12

The OUET22 event was coordinated by the Project NIKE team and ran in parallel with IRON NIKE, a major Austrian Armed Forced exercise, based in and around the mining centre of Eisenerz. It was significant that the Austrian Defence Minister visited this exercise. 2/12

Event was held at the "Zentrum am Berg" (ZaB) training facility within the Erzberg iron ore mine. A great example of industrial, academic and military cooperation towards a common goal. In this case, the ability to work collaboratively in the urban #subterranean environment. 3/12

The conference was well attended in person, and virtually, by an impressive range of #urban and #SbT specialists. Great to see and hear @RichemondBarak, @Stu_Lyle, @SpencerGuard, @OpPsychologist and many more on a range of topics inc geophysics, and emergency medicine. 4/12

The ZaB training facility is impressive with extensive #SbT zones. Many date back centuries and some are being actively developed as part of the ongoing programme of training available from @unileoben, Austria's university for mining, metallurgy and materials. 5/12

The Erzberg mine has been mined since the 7thC. It's the world's largest deposit of the iron mineral siderite. ~2 million tonnes of iron ore are shipped to Austrian blast furnaces and it's likely to support commercial mining for another 30-40 years. @GeolSoc @MilGeoscience 6/12

The mechanisation of the mine has led to a steady decline in the population of the adjacent town. The younger gen seeking to move away is another factor. But with public support it offers the enviable space to accommodate the AAF for realistic urban training. 7/12

The nearby Leoben-Donawitz steel works produces around 1.5 million ton per year. Products inc the longest railway tracks in the world at 120m, #calling @507stre. Being led around this site, it was easy to understand how complexity of the Azovstal plant served the Ukrainians 8/12

Event also hosted exhibitors and demo teams. Project NIKE itself is looking at range of systems and tech to improve C2 and planning in the urban/SbT (UGVs, SCBA, electric tools...@thinkdefence) @4gdTrg provided an impressive demo of their systems with a virtual Eisenerz. 9/12

The need to move around a range of locations made for some interesting transport choices: the Erzbergbahn is the steepest standard gauge railway in Europe and ran from 1891 to 1978; and the 860hp 'Hauly' is the world's most powerful and largest taxi!

Our hosts laid on a first class event. Definitely an advantage to use the Gösser brewery for yet further insight into where urban subterranean features might be found 🍻 Very evident on public, academic, industry and military buy-in to this - an example to us all! 11/12

So, a cracking event with an amazing group of committed and highly professional people. A hearty congratulation to Col P and his team and I hope that we might be able to repay the hospitality in the UK very soon! 12/12 @Proud_Sappers @ARRCECMI @UKinAustria @BritishArmy @ArmyDcfa

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