Dr Raul Savimaa is a researcher and consultant focusing on community resilience, environmental security, and crisis preparedness. His work combines systems thinking, environmental studies, and security analysis to provide evidence-based solutions for both international research projects and practical community applications. He welcomes collaboration with universities, local governments, public institutions, and private sector partners to strengthen sustainability and resilience in times of polycrisis.
Research Areas
Community and Environmental Resilience
Dr Raul Savimaa’s research focuses on the resilience of communities and environments in times of complex and interconnected crises. His work integrates security, sustainability, and systems analysis to deliver evidence-based insights. Within this overarching theme, he addresses three interconnected areas:
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Crisis Preparedness and Civil Protection – analysing multimodal crises, advancing civil protection education, and improving risk governance.
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Environmental Sustainability and Nature-based Solutions – studying carbon removal, ecosystem resilience, and the role of environmental systems in societal stability.
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Security and Risk Governance – assessing hybrid threats, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and resilience-building strategies across multiple sectors.
He applies systems thinking and modelling – scenario development, simulation, and integrated assessment – to connect research with practical applications for policy, governance, and community development.
Why resilient communities are important?
Resilient communities are at the heart of security and sustainability – by acting together, people can protect their environment, safeguard well-being, and adapt to uncertainty. Communities, security, environment, and resilience are deeply interconnected: when empowered, they become a driving force for sustainability, environmental stewardship, and preparedness for complex crises.
Read more on Vision page.
Projects and Collaboration
Dr Savimaa contributes to national and international research initiatives, including some most recent projects:
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Increasing people’s crisis preparedness (2025-2027) – examine and improve crisis preparedness among Estonian population, with a focus on population groups with lower levels of readiness.
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EUMA Master Programme on Civil Protection (2024-2025) – advancing crisis preparedness education at the European level.
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Horizon Europe C-SINK Project (2023-2027) – integrative analysis to support establishing the foundations for a standardized and transparent European Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) market.
- The Competence Centre of Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (2023-2029) – to increase the competence of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences so it can more comprehensively assess threats affecting internal security and the external environment.
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Community Crisis Preparedness in Estonia (since 2022) – applied research supporting different municipalities and local organizations.
He collaborates with universities, municipalities, public authorities, and private sector partners, offering academically rigorous and practice-oriented expertise.
Selected Publications
- Muuga, E., Loik, R., Kaup, G.-H., Savimaa, R., Koort, E., 2025. Security Threats to the Undersea Connections Related Critical Infrastructure of the Baltic States: Baltic Sea in the Focus of Hybrid Warfare. Research Report. Tallinn: Sisekaitseakadeemia (Estonian Academy of Security Sciences). https://doi.org/10.15158/nv7t-kg46. Full text is available also here: 2025 Threats to Baltic undersea connections.
- Savimaa, R., 2024. Harku valla elanike kriisivalmidus. Uuringuraport. (Crisis Preparedness of the Residents of Harku Municipality. Research Report). Tallinn: CESERE. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12742427.
- Savimaa, R., 2024. Muuga elanike kriisivalmidus. Uuringuraport. (Crisis Preparedness of the Residents of Muuga. Research Report). Tallinn: CESERE. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13341130.
- Savimaa, R., Puusalu, J., Loik, R., Ringvee, R., Läänemets, M., Tammel, K., Kont, K.-R., Saar, J., 2024. Sisejulgeoleku väliskeskkonna trendid ja prognoos. (Trends and forecast of the external environment of internal security). Tallinn: Sisekaitseakadeemia (Estonian Academy of Security Sciences). DOI: 10.15158/kkn4-nd47. Full text is available also here: 2024 Sisejulgeoleku väliskeskkonna trendid
- Juurvee, I., Moora, H., Savimaa, R., Martin, K., Petereson, K., Nõges, K., Kuldna, P., Kriiska, K., Poltimäe, H., Loik, R., 2021. Kaitse- ja julgeolekusektori keskkonnajalajälje ja selle vähendamise võimaluste uuring: Riigihanke 225330 lõpparuanne. (Study of the environmental footprint of the defense and security sector and its reduction options: Final report of public procurement 225330.)
Full list of publications is presented on Publications page.