Optical networks are subject to frequent faults, such as cable cuts, switching node malfunctions, etc, that may be unintended (e.g., human error) but can also be a result of malicious attacks on the network.

The project “Security-enHancement of optIcal nEtwork Logical Design” (SHIELD) deals with the security aspects of optical networks. Specifically, the main objective of this project is to design and evaluate novel algorithms for the planning and operational phases of future optical networks, able to support different data rates and node architectures that will focus on providing flexibility in the utilization of resources to minimize the CAPital EXpenditures (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditures (OPEX) costs, such as monetary cost and power consumption, while offering security capabilities against physical layer attacks.

For the implementation of the project concepts from a number of disciplines will be utilized, such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Statistics and Probability, Bioengineering, Intelligent Systems, etc