Naples, INGV: “The Vesuvius observatory reached by optical fiber” for a new communication channel free from interference.
With the connection of the historic headquarters of the Vesuvius Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ov-Ingv), created by the Garr network, an area characterized by a strong digital divide has finally been reached by optical fiber. This is underlined in a note by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
The headquarters of the Vesuvius Observatory of the INGV is in fact located on Colle del Salvatore, at 608 meters above sea level and can only be reached from the road that leads from Ercolano to the crater of Vesuvius.
This site, founded in 1841 by order of the King of the Two Sicilies Ferdinand II of Bourbon, was the first volcanological observatory in the world and currently plays a strategic role in monitoring Vesuvius, an area with a high population density today. The fiber optic connection of the Ercolano site to the Garr national network, dedicated to education and research, will allow the multi-parameter monitoring activities of Vesuvius to be expanded and represents an important step forward in terms of reliability and efficiency.
The location of the observatory, at high altitude on the side of the volcano, is also strategic for collecting monitoring data from other observation points in the area, from Campi Flegrei to Ischia.
The fiber link will allow a double connection for the institute to the national backbone and a new communication channel free from interference typical of air channels. In this way, the operational continuity of the Ercolano office is guaranteed, making it autonomous from the connectivity point of view from the operational headquarters of the OV in Naples.
“Having reached our historic headquarters with optical fiber is a result of extremely high technological value which will allow us not only to consolidate and enhance our scientific and monitoring activities, but also to offer visitors to the annexed Museum new educational paths, connectivity-based training and dissemination", comments the Director of the Vesuvius Observatory of the INGV, Francesca Bianco.
“One of Garr's most important goals is to ensure that all researchers have the best conditions to do research regardless of the location of their offices”, said Claudia Battista, coordinator of the Network Department and deputy director of Garr.
“The connection that we inaugurated today makes us particularly happy because it was the result of significant work and investment, which demonstrates once again the value and uniqueness of the Italian research network, because no commercial operator would have been interested in realizing it”.
The historical site is currently equipped with a double broadband hiperLAN radio bridge for direct communications towards the OV operational headquarters, which is located in that part of the Phlegraean caldera that lies in the city of Naples, and a WAN bonding system for balancing traffic on multiple paths.
Furthermore, through connectivity on the Garr infrastructure, the headquarters continuously exchanges data with the other INGV operating rooms and with the responsible institutions, both local and national, such as the Department of Civil Protection. With the headquarters of the Vesuvius Observatory, the number of INGV offices connected to the Garr network reaches 17, some of which are in areas of strong digital divide such as the headquarters of Nicolosi (CT) on the slopes of Etna, the Info Point of Stromboli and the Geophysical Observatory of Lipari, headquarters of strategic centers for monitoring the Aeolian volcanoes or the headquarters of Portopalo di Capopassero (SR), a fundamental node of the EMSO initiative which hosts a network of marine observatories for monitoring and studying geophysical, oceanographic and biological processes that take place in the ocean depths.
In 2021, the overall traffic exchanged on the Garr network by INGV offices was equal to over 2 PB, a volume of data destined to grow rapidly, just think that in the first months of 2022 alone the average monthly traffic increased by 50% compared to the previous year.
Article published on May 25, 2022 - 13:06 pm
