Indra leads the European project SMAUG
With the aim of improving and reinforcing the security of ports and their entry routes, Indra has launched the European R&D&I project SMAUG (Smart Maritime and Underwater Guardian), within the framework of the European Union programme, Horizon Europe.
The company is leading the consortium made up of organisations from seven European countries that will work together to improve underwater detection of threats and illicit trafficking.
More than 80% of world trade is carried out by sea and the continuous movement of vessels requires robust and effective port security processes, especially for monitoring and detecting legal and illegal activities in ports, coastal areas and at borders. Geopolitical tensions are also turning the ocean floor into a sensitive area that needs to be protected.
In this context, the SMAUG project aims to detect, track and monitor potentially illegal and harmful movements and products entering EU ports and coasts, through an integrated system based on Indra's iSIM solution, which combines security management, advanced underwater detection systems and surveillance vessels.
Specifically, the underwater detection and localisation of threats is carried out using four main methods. The first method used is acoustic detection, in which a series of hydrophones listen to the sounds emitted by small autonomous underwater vehicles. Secondly, a quick scan of the hull and the harbour floor is carried out using sonar. The third method of underwater detection is high-resolution sonar inspection, which is used to inspect objects in waters with poor visibility. And finally, collective autonomous localisation is used, where a coordinated set of autonomous underwater vehicles act cooperatively.
These systems, backed by Artificial Intelligence, enable more effective detection of illicit and dangerous goods and/or threats hidden beneath the surface of the water. In this way, SMAUG will contribute significantly to maritime security by improving the protection of infrastructure and vessels, as well as the detection of ships suspected of carrying out illegal or potentially dangerous activities, such as narcosubmarines.
As leader of the SMAUG project, Indra contributes its experience in the development of advanced algorithms for the processing of underwater sound and images, applying Artificial Intelligence for the early detection of objects and threats. In addition, it contributes its expertise in the field of port infrastructure and maritime transport security, providing solutions that reinforce protection in complex maritime environments.
Its iSIM solution acts as an integration and analysis hub, unifying and processing data from physical security systems such as hydrophones, underwater scanners, drone swarms and autonomous vehicles, together with satellite surveillance systems. It also ingests information from port management systems, enabling a global and interoperable vision that optimises security, operational efficiency and real-time decision-making.
International cooperation
Juan Román Martínez, head of Indra's SMAUG project, emphasises that ‘this project represents a significant advance in maritime security because it not only strengthens security, but also promotes international cooperation in the fight against illicit activities in the maritime environment’.
With a budget of around six million euros, the SMAUG R&D&I project involves a highly experienced consortium of 22 partners, including universities, research centres, SMEs, law enforcement agencies, public authorities, coast/border guards and private organisations from seven EU countries, namely Spain, Estonia, France, Italy, Germany, Greece and Norway.
Within its different capacities, SMAUG is being prepared to achieve interoperability with the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), with the aim of helping to create a political, cultural, legal and technical environment that allows for the exchange of information between the surveillance systems of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). This will enable all the authorities from different sectors involved in the port and maritime environment to have access to additional classified and unclassified information necessary to carry out missions at sea.
With this project, Indra continues to promote a more secure, connected and sustainable future, putting technology at the service of the security and well-being of citizens, in line with its motto ‘Tech for trust’. With innovation as the basis of its business and a unique experience of more than 30 years, the company has a complete portfolio of pioneering solutions designed ad hoc to deal with all kinds of threats to public safety that it has implemented in countries all over the world.