APRILE 2023 PAG. 42 - Nanotechnology to Protect Underwater Infrastructure

 

Analysing the current economic transnational and energy situation with complex questions of security and underwater protection one cannot ignore the gas pipe Nord Stream and the recent attacks brought to the attention of international economic and political debate. Preserving and protecting energy infrastructure is vital for our economic and social system Italy can become a major player as a result of innovative business realities such as 4WardAerospace a leader in research and development for improving aerospace and defence applications. In a recent interview Luciano Violante president of the Leonardo Foundation with Corriere della Sera declared “In the world’s communication systems you cannot exclude underwater cables which cover 95% of communications and over 1 million kilometres. Caring for the sea cares for land. Understanding the importance of that world means understanding the necessity of the marine world. Sea bottom has become the object of much monitoring and research because it contains “rare earth”. and its multi metal modules containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese in addition to hydrothermal springs which create sulphur deposits.

Our world situation today has greatly increased our industrial and infrastructure solutions increasingly innovative with higher performance in order to cope with our five terrestrial challenges – marine/underwater, sky, space and cybernetics. Nanotechnology represents a bridge between all of these and is becoming a sixth dominium linking them all together to create a new nonmetric dominium. 4wardAerospace has set up a techno/scientific committee called 4wardResearch using experts from all over the world to research new boundaries and at the same time ethically limiting the dangers of a nanotechnology war. One of the biggest challenges is protection of underwater cables. Over 97% of internet which is one of the bases of society uses underwater cabling.

These critical infrastructures are protected only by the depth of the sea where they are laid. This protection is no longer secure as technology advances and costs of accessing the sea bottom decrease. Proof is the Mediterranean, a commercial and cybernetic route linking up Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe with underwater cables. One side of the Mediterranean has the political instability of Libya and Egypt and the other the renewed role of Turkey with its growing fleet. Monitoring this situation in Libya and Egypt is crucial for Italy as they are the countries nearest to Sicily which is the main cable hub. In addition increased Russian activity in the Mediterranean and elsewhere is of concern to many European countries plus Greenland, UK and Island. They must protect themselves from spying and attacks to cables. In 2020 Jena Stoltenberg Secretary General of NATO confirmed that protection of cabling and their safety is an Alliance priority. He added that NATO command in Norfolk Virginia is studying new means and technologies to protect the Atlantic communication lines and is asking the Allies for further investment in anti-submarine cable protection. Additional concerns about protection of information and spying has caused Australia to cancel a Huawei project linking the Solomon Islands with Sydney. Innovators and Nano experts are working to face the challenges using the latest technology. In Italy 4wardAerospace under president Sabrina Zuccalà is planning new operative formulas for monitoring and recognising underwater cables. The Nanotechnology  is launching the solution worldwide by using Nano sensors which send data in real time to identify the vessels close to the cables so that action to prevent sabotage can be taken immediately.

Domenico Letizia