Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 2026)

Thought Leadership

FROM PORTS TO POWER PLANTSFROM PORTS TO POWER PLANTS

DECISION INTELLIGENCE TRANSFORMS

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

By Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Innovation Of? cer,Technology Innovation Institute (TII) ritical infrastructure has never been more con- Whether managing a busy port, overseeing an energy nected. Across ports, energy networks and network or monitoring geographically dispersed infra- industrial facilities, operators have access to structure, operators must bring together information from unprecedented volumes of operational data numerous sources before they can assess a situation and

C generated by sensors, surveillance systems, satellite imag- determine the appropriate course of action. Without that ery, connected equipment and digital monitoring plat- context, seemingly isolated operational signals can quickly forms. Every day, these technologies provide valuable develop into costly disruptions affecting supply chains, en- insights into the performance, condition and security of ergy delivery and essential services.

critical assets. Yet despite this growing visibility, one chal- This challenge is remarkably consistent across critical in- lenge continues to persist. frastructure sectors.

The problem is no longer collecting operational data. A modern port may simultaneously monitor vessel

It is understanding what matters quickly enough to an- movements, cargo operations, weather conditions, perim- ticipate emerging risks, minimize disruption and make in- eter security and logistics activity. Likewise, energy opera- formed operational decisions. tors oversee extensive networks of pipelines, substations,

For years, investment in critical infrastructure has fo- generation assets and transmission infrastructure while cused on expanding monitoring capabilities. More sen- monitoring environmental conditions, equipment perfor- sors, more connected devices and more operational sys- mance and operational risks.

tems have improved visibility across increasingly complex Although these environments appear very different, they environments. While these technologies remain essential, share a common operational reality: multiple systems gen- they have also introduced a new challenge. Operators are erating vast amounts of information that must be inter- often required to interpret fragmented information spread preted together rather than in isolation, the conversation is across multiple systems while responding to rapidly evolv- therefore beginning to shift.

ing operational conditions. Rather than asking how organizations can collect more

In this environment, visibility alone is no longer enough. information, infrastructure operators are increasingly ask- 8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • October 2026

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