5G-Seacurity: Innovative protection of offshore wind farms

Securitas, Citymesh, Phoenix AI, Dotocean and FOD Mobiliteit join forces to present 5G-Seacurity, an innovative approach to securing offshore infrastructures.

Offshore security stands high on the political agenda: last month, Belgium and five other countries bordering the North Sea concluded a security pact aimed at better protecting crucial offshore infrastructure. The risks of deliberate sabotage at sea can not only have an impact on our energy supply, but also threaten economic and social stability

Offshore wind farms, crucial to our energy supply, are often located in remote areas that are difficult to monitor. The 5G-Seacurity project addresses this challenge with a new sensor network using the latest 5G technology. Comprising a combination of stationary and mobile radars, cameras and AI-powered autonomous vehicles, this network will enable us to respond to threats from ships and drones in real time.

Central to the project is the implementation of a 5G network at the Nobelwind site, an upgrade of the current LTE network. This technological upgrade will enable optimal communication between different security technologies. The sensors connected via this 5G network can send enormous amounts of data with minimal delay, which is essential for immediate identification and response to threats.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into security

Next to implementing a 5G network, a key component of 5G-Seacurity is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the security system for the automatic detection of intruders. AI is often perceived as a "black box" provided by cloud services, which can pose security challenges. The most important added value of this project is that it solves these security challenges by using advanced "on-device" artificial intelligence that can be deployed on remote off-shore infrastructures, and is ideally suited for industrial use. In this way, Securitas pushes the boundaries of current technology thanks to the most advanced AI algorithms.

AI algorithms analyze the enormous data streams of the 5G sensor network, identifying potential threats at lightning speed. These are then forwarded to the Security Operations Centre (SOC), where specialized teams can assess the situation and take action. The SOC serves as the command centre of the entire security operation, where all data is meticulously analyzed and the control of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is coordinated. All this is done remotely, via the robust 5G network that ensures a rapid and effective response to any threat.

The ability to fly drones (UAVs) offshore and remotely control autonomous vessels (USVs) is a major step forward in how we deploy security technology to protect critical offshore infrastructure. In this way, Securitas and its project partners are contributing to the stability and security needed for a sustainable future.

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