Abstract
The research project is coordinated by the MATE Safety Research Center. The basic aim of the project is to find answers to the threatening challenges of civilization, which can significantly contribute to increasing the security and resilience of the civilian population by strengthening the vital components of the agri-food economy and the critical infrastructures for their protection.
The research is based on five subprograms.
1. Feasibility of a circular economy in defense activities
2. Development of an ecotoxicological monitoring system to strengthen the protection of the water base
3. Development of a modular mobile sampling and monitoring platform for sites without developed infrastructure
4. Development of high energy food products for the survival of disasters, for groups with heavy physical activity, for the implementation of personalized nutrition
5. 5. Develop data-driven operating conditions for critical systems by developing a methodological tool to identify and assess cybersecurity risks in data management in order to avoid and manage identified risks
Subprogram 1.
NATO's environmental regulations have been introduced in the Hungarian Defense Forces too. The standard defines both operational and peacetime procedures from an environmental point of view, and also defines a protocol for waste management. The entire system of national waste management is undergoing a significant transformation. This is primarily methodological, due to the new rules being gradually introduced to ensure the whole EU to be transited to a circular economy. Expected results of the project:
Overall results on the amount of biodegradable waste generated by the Hungarian Defense Forces and the treatment methods currently used. Data collection, ecotoxicological examinations, methodological developments. Assessment of soil conditions and toxic elements in a typical practice field or fields. In the framework of the pilot project, selective collection and decentralized composting of bio-waste at the selected unit of the Hungarian Defense Forces. Carrying out soil remediation experiments with the produced compost to eliminate soil degradation caused by the Hungarian Defense Forces. Development of methods and applications that can be widely used in the Hungarian Defense Forces for monitoring in soil protection and ecotoxicology and the rapid methods for contaminant detection. Development of procedures for the selective collection and, where possible, decentralized treatment of biodegradable waste for the Hungarian Defense Forces.
Subprogram 2.
Providing good quality, pollutant- and pathogen-free drinking water is a worldwide important issue, both for civilian and military users. The drinking water supply of the world is declining and, as it is assessed, by 2025, 2/3 of services will no longer have enough drinking water sources. In Hungary, water bases are the country's drinking water reserves, thus protecting their quality is a national strategic importance.
A comprehensive assessment of water quality requires the determination of the contaminant concentration and toxicity of the water body and sediment. including the persistence of chemical micro-contaminants and biological agents in the water, and how they can be removed. The enrichment of many previously uncharacteristic substances in the environment can be measured, endangering the sustainable use of our waters. The aim of our project is to monitor the occurrence and risk analysis of such water pollutants using analytical and toxicological methods.
Subprogram 3.
Significant energy is spent on the delivery and on-site installation of technical systems during long-continuing measurement campaigns on large areas. The safe storage of equipment, the power supply of measuring instruments and the charging of batteries are not solved. There has been an increasing need for complex data collection and processing for agricultural, industrial or defence purposes in remote, hardly accessible field conditions. The easy to-transport modular design can be used for many purposes. It has an autonomous power supply and can be customized to different purposes. It is equipped with a high-capacity IT system and has a separate network with wired and wireless deployments. In addition to supporting traditional field sampling the platform can be equipped with a drone take-off pad suitable for multiple drones such as monitoring, spraying, bird scaring drone or defense drones. With autonomous operating conditions the complete configuration of the system is also suitable for secure data collection and data processing in extreme locations.
Subprogram 4.
Nutrition plays a key role in maintaining the physical and mental condition of soldiers and athletes. Unfortunately, the human body cannot store protein; therefore, it is necessary to provide continuous supply of such macronutrient. In the case of physically heavily demanding situations, protein requirements can be doubled. The utilization of the consumed protein can be influenced by carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. High and uncontrolled protein intake can also have a number of negative effects, e.g. promotes renal hyperactivity, rapid utilization of carbohydrates, etc., which also cause a decrease in cognitive performance, ability to concentrate. Carbohydrate consumption can encourage the release of dopamine, which helps to improve the psychological status, ability to concentrate, and handle stress challenges.
Our goal is to develop a product and associated production technology that provides soldiers and athletes - exposed to demanding physical activities - optimal nutrient profile and quantity required to maintain or improve their relevant body functions.
Subprogram 5.
In the field of food economy, data management poses a risk to national security and cyber security. The effects of the risks could be decisive for both economic and food service area. The aim of the research is to develop a methodological tool for identifying and assessing the cyber security risks of data management. The developed methodology will be tested in the framework of the research in the framework of a pilot based on the data management data of the four related research projects. Based on the experience of the pilot project, a compilation of research proposals is set to avoid and address the identified risks. The methodological tool based on the research will be suitable for exploring and evaluating the risks of public and private data systems operating in the field of food economy and for compiling a risk management proposal.
Hungary