User-Centric Innovation: The European Project SMAUG Launches Key Stakeholder Survey Campaign for Port Security

Ensuring the security of Europe’s critical infrastructures and ports against physical and cyber threats is one of the continent’s greatest logistical challenges. However, developing cutting-edge technology is not enough unless it aligns seamlessly with the day-to-day operational needs of those who use it. 

With this goal in mind, the Grupo de Aplicación de Telecomunicaciones Visuales (GATV) at UPM, through our researcher Alberto Belmonte Hernández, has coordinated the launch of the dissemination and distribution campaign for the Stakeholder Insights Surveys within the framework of the European project SMAUG. 

Why is this a fundamental step for the project? 

This campaign, launched in early June 2026, represents the definitive bridge between the laboratory and the actual market. Gathering direct feedback from key players and authorities within the port ecosystem allows us to: 

  • Validate operational requirements: Ensure that the monitoring technologies under development target critical, real-world issues. 
  • Minimize design risks: Avoid any gaps between the technical blueprint of our prototypes and the real demand of the industrial sector. 

Technology Transfer and Industrial Impact 

The data extracted from these surveys delivers essential strategic insights for the future commercial viability of the project’s results. At the Grupo de Aplicación de Telecomunicaciones Visuales (GATV), this knowledge enables us to precision-target the practical deployment of advanced solutions, including: 

  • Data capture algorithms tailored for complex environments. 
  • Early detection systems powered by advanced acoustic sensors. 

This initiative reinforces one of the core strategic lines of the Grupo de Aplicación de Telecomunicaciones Visuales (GATV): user- and society-centered technological innovation, fostering the transfer of advanced signal processing solutions from experimental validation straight into definitive applications for European infrastructure protection. 

Want to follow the progress of this initiative closely? * Visit the official project profile on SMAUG LinkedIn.