SAURON · Project

Combined Physical and Cyber Threat Detection System for Port Security

transportPilotedTRL 7

Imagine a port as a small city — ships coming in, trucks loading cargo, thousands of workers, and computer systems running everything from cranes to customs. Now imagine someone attacks both the physical site and the computer systems at the same time. SAURON built a single security command center that watches for both kinds of threats and shows port operators exactly how one attack could trigger a chain reaction across the entire facility. It also includes a public warning system so people in surrounding areas know what's happening and how to stay safe.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved

European countries represented

industry partners in consortium

60%

industry participation ratio

project deliverables completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Ports are among Europe's most critical infrastructure — and they face a growing threat that most security systems aren't designed to handle: coordinated attacks that hit both the physical facility and the computer systems controlling it at the same time. A cyber breach can disable cranes, surveillance, and access controls right when a physical intrusion is underway, and traditional security setups treat these as separate problems with separate teams watching separate screens.

The solution

What was built

The project built an integrated situation awareness platform combining physical security monitoring with cybersecurity threat detection, including 3D visualization and immersive interfaces for security operators. It also developed innovative population warning techniques tested across pilot sites, and a hybrid situation awareness application that maps how a threat in one domain can cascade into the other.

Audience

Who needs this

Port authorities and terminal operators managing large maritime facilitiesCritical infrastructure operators (energy plants, transport hubs, water utilities)National security agencies responsible for critical infrastructure protectionSecurity system integrators building combined physical-cyber solutionsInsurance companies assessing risk for critical infrastructure clients

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Port operations and maritime logistics

enterprise

Target: Port authorities and terminal operators

If you are a port authority dealing with the growing risk of coordinated physical and cyber attacks on your infrastructure — this project developed an integrated situation awareness platform that detects threats across both physical and digital domains simultaneously. It shows cascading effects so your security team can see how a breach in one system could spread to others. Tested across pilots in 8 European countries with 15 consortium partners.

Critical infrastructure protection

enterprise

Target: Energy plants, water treatment facilities, and transport hubs

If you are a critical infrastructure operator worried about combined physical-cyber attack scenarios — this project built a hybrid situation awareness system that merges physical sensor data with cybersecurity monitoring into a single operational picture. The system includes 3D visualization and immersive interfaces for security teams to understand threats in real time. The consortium included 9 industry partners who shaped the solution for real operational needs.

Security technology and consulting

mid-size

Target: Security system integrators and managed security service providers

If you are a security integrator looking to offer combined physical-cyber protection to clients running critical infrastructure — this project created a scalable, installation-specific platform that can be adapted to different port layouts and threat profiles. It includes population warning techniques for surrounding communities. With 60% industry participation in the consortium, the technology was designed for real-world deployment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this kind of system at our port or facility?

The project's EU contribution data is not available in the dataset, so no budget figures can be cited. As an Innovation Action with 15 partners across 8 countries, the development investment was substantial. Implementation costs would depend on facility size, existing security infrastructure, and the number of physical and cyber monitoring points needed.

Can this scale to ports of different sizes and configurations?

Yes — scalability was a core design goal. The project explicitly developed a 'scalable and yet installation-specific solution' meaning it adapts to each port's layout and threat profile. The system was designed to work across different EU port environments, as demonstrated by the multi-country consortium spanning 8 countries.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The project involved 15 partners including 9 industry organizations and 2 SMEs, so intellectual property is likely distributed across the consortium. The coordinator is the Valenciaport Foundation in Spain. Licensing arrangements would need to be discussed directly with relevant consortium members.

Does this comply with EU critical infrastructure protection regulations?

The project was funded under the CIP-01-2016-2017 topic, which directly addresses EU Critical Infrastructure Protection policy. It was designed to help EU ports meet their security obligations under European directives. The solution addresses both physical and cyber threat dimensions as increasingly required by EU regulation.

How mature is this technology — is it ready to deploy?

As an Innovation Action (IA), the project targeted higher technology readiness levels. The consortium developed and tested population warning techniques across pilots, selecting the most suitable technology for each site. The project ran for over 3 years and closed in September 2020, with 9 deliverables completed.

Can it integrate with our existing security and SCADA systems?

The system was designed to combine physical situation awareness with cyber-threat detection for automation and control systems already in place at ports. It includes visualization through immersive interfaces and cyber 3D models. Integration with existing infrastructure was a key requirement given the installation-specific approach.

Consortium

Who built it

The SAURON consortium is strongly industry-oriented with 9 out of 15 partners (60%) from industry, complemented by 3 universities and 2 research organizations across 8 European countries. This high industry ratio signals that the solution was shaped by organizations with real operational needs rather than being purely academic. The coordinator, Valenciaport Foundation in Spain, brings direct port domain expertise. The geographic spread across Austria, Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, and the UK ensures the system was tested against diverse port configurations and national security requirements. The presence of 2 SMEs suggests specialized niche technology was integrated alongside larger players.

FUNDACION DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA PARA LA INVESTIGACION, PROMOCION Y ESTUDIOS COMERCIALES DE VALENCIAPORTCoordinator · ES
IN SMART IDENTITY FRANCEparticipant · FR
AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBHparticipant · AT
AUTORITA DI SISTEMA PORTUALE DEL MAR TIRRENO SETTENTRIONALEparticipant · IT
LUKA KOPER, PORT AND LOGISTIC SYSTEM, D.D.participant · SI
UNIVERSITY OF PIRAEUS RESEARCH CENTERparticipant · EL
ETRA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIAparticipant · ES
THALESparticipant · FR
PIRAEUS PORT AUTHORITY SAparticipant · EL
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
S2 GRUPO SOLUCIONES DE SEGURIDAD SLparticipant · ES
CSP IBERIAN VALENCIA TERMINAL SAUparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Valenciaport Foundation (Spain) — use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to get the right contact

Order a report on this consortium See FUNDACION DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA PARA LA INVESTIGACION, PROMOCION Y ESTUDIOS COMERCIALES DE VALENCIAPORT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how SAURON's port security technology could protect your critical infrastructure? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partners and provide a detailed technology brief.

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