Network-based mitigation of illegal immigration in Aegean Sea (Greece)

Abstract

Illegal immigration is a serious concern of countries neighboring devastated parts of the modern world. Illegal migrants dreaming of a new life follow perilous routes, cooperating with smuggling networks. For a significant portion, their dream never comes true. Besides, smugglers are also responsible for other illegal activities, such as drugs and weapons trafficking. Greece not only faces the problem of absorbing these immigrants from Africa and Greater Middle East countries, but it also has no chance to filter those migrants involved in dark networks. The Hellenic Coast Guard, lacking timely information on suspect vessels moving towards its territorial waters in the Eastern Aegean Sea, strives to be in the right place at the right time. The need for an ever-present adaptive networking system able to provide reliable communication and sensor data to and from the areas of responsibility is more profound than ever. This thesis examines the feasibility and constraints of applying modern networking technology, already successfully tested by NPS CENETIX TNT/test bed, on Aegean Sea islands as a concept of providing information to the Hellenic Coast Guard to enhance situational awareness and decision-making capability and thus increase overall effectiveness and efficiency while carrying out missions in that area.