Tartu Tests Automatic Opening of Public Shelters
/ The City of Tartu and the Estonian Rescue Board tested a technical solution during the ILVES 2026 exercise that would enable the automatic opening of public shelter doors in emergency situations.
The test took place at the Tartu Vocational College (VOCO), where a remotely controlled external door system is already in place. During the exercise, a shelter door was successfully opened remotely from the Southern Rescue Center. Similar solutions are already used in several public shelters in Ukraine and help ensure that shelter doors can be opened quickly and safely when needed.
“We are continuously working to improve our preparedness for crises. In emergency situations, every minute counts, which is why we are testing solutions together with the Rescue Board and the Emergency Response Centre to ensure that public shelters can be made quickly accessible to people regardless of the time of day,” said Urmas Klaas.
According to Maarja-Liis Laprik, Shelter Advisor at the Rescue Board’s Safety Supervision Bureau, this is an innovative approach, and wider implementation of remote door-opening systems would significantly speed up the process of opening public shelters.
“Today, the lack of a possibility to ensure 24/7 access is one of the main reasons why several potential buildings cannot yet be designated as public shelters,” said Laprik.
Public shelters, such as pedestrian tunnels, underground parking facilities, schools, and basements, are intended for people who happen to be nearby when an emergency occurs. The locations of public shelters in Tartu have been selected to cover different districts of the city, including areas where suitable sheltering options may not be available at home or at the workplace.
Note: This English translation was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
Last changed 12.06.2026
