Europe develops wireless sensor and hydro network detection solutions

Introduction: Recently, the European Institute of Telecommunication Development and Strategy in Heidelberg, Germany, completed the research project WSAN4CIP in the EU Seventh Research Framework Program, and developed and tested wireless sensor-based power and water supply network monitoring solutions.

Critical infrastructure is facing increasing hacking and other risks. How to reduce these risks and make key infrastructure more secure is a major social challenge. A key factor in achieving this goal is the monitoring of infrastructure. . The European research project WSAN4CIP is aimed at implementing wireless sensor-based, cost-effective power and water supply monitoring solutions to improve the protection of critical infrastructure. Since February 2010, the solution has been successfully implemented and tested at EDP, the Portuguese energy company, and Water Supply and Sewerage Co., Ltd. in Frankfurt, Germany.

In Portugal's electricity network monitoring, researchers remotely control and actively monitor multiple safety-related parameters to quickly and reliably obtain information on the failure of the power supply network and its location. The relevant parameters include the condition of the circuit breaker trip coil and the oil temperature of the power transformer, as well as the activities at various stages of the medium and low voltage lines. All monitoring parameters are visualized via a special interface and graphical user interface of the SCADA (Monitoring and Data Acquisition) system.

In addition, the system can also detect the hot spot of the middle and low voltage transformers through the infrared camera to detect the faults in the development. The alarm is triggered if the sensor measures an excessive temperature in the technical equipment in the substation. If an intruder enters the substation, the camera will automatically turn on and the intruder's related videos and alerts will be sent to the control center.

In the application of the water supply system in Frankfurt am Main, the Wireless Sensors and Actuators Network (WSAN) monitors the physical conditions of the infrastructure, including discovering intruders through open connections and measuring water pressure and water flow. When the water pressure suddenly drops, for example, when the water pipe is accidentally damaged or maliciously attacked, the alarm data is immediately forwarded to the control center.

In order to improve the robustness and resistance of wireless network sensors and actuators, the WSAN4CIP project team has specifically developed a new and improved transmission protocol. Researchers say the evidence provided by the project shows that a high level of protection for critical infrastructure can be achieved through a wireless sensor and actuator solution that is easier, faster, and more economical to implement than a wired solution. .