Fibre Optic Sensing Security Architecture - A SUBMERSE White Paper

The SUBMERSE1 project explores Fiber Optic Sensing (FOS) as a tool for diverse research fields, applying the technology's ability to detect subtle acoustics, strain as well as slight pressure and temperature changes along underwater fibre optic cables. Data products can be derived by applying AI assisted signal-fingerprinting, within e.g. earthquake, tsunami, critical infrastructure, global environment, marine health related events. This intelligence gathering is of significant value to research and various governmental agencies alike and has a high societal impact. However, due to the overwhelming volumes of real-time data generated, and its national security sensitivity, this application raises substantial challenges, especially regarding monitoring of ocean vessels, and sensitive infrastructures. Seemingly, there are conflicting interests between science and securityconcerned agencies (Henceforth "Agencies"). However, at the SUBMERSE consortium meeting 2024-09-04, it was concluded there is an opportunity for synergy, and that a SUBMERSE White Paper (presented here) should suggest a collaboration-framework between science and Agencies, based on an Agency regulated "Trusted Research Environment (TRE)" approach.