Earth Science Informatics - Call for Papers: Convergence of Network Security Protocols in Earth Observation Communication

Frequent occurrences of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions demand continuous observation of the earth to understand better tour earth’s biological, geological, and meteorological cycles. Advanced earth observation protocols (EOP) (like Passive observation, multispectral imagery, panchromatic, and hyperspectral observation protocols) gave an unprecedented advantage in precise monitoring of earth but not flawless. Emerging advances in digitalization burden the construction of next-generation network security protocols to counter data theft, hacking, and security breaching. The emergence of machine learning and artificial intelligence offers advanced methodologies and converge network security protocols with EOPs. Artificial neural networks empowered by big data analytics monitor the code of behavior and pattern between observatory stations and satellites and accurately identify even a small anomaly in the disruption of the protocol, which is a key signature of a security breach. This security protocol monitoring classifies and mitigates skimming of data maliciously several folds. AI algorithms like Intelligent asset maintenance (IAM) sternly enhance the security protocols by monitoring the information transfer of critical earth data centers and optimizing their security policies better. The adoption of advanced AI-empowered tools like User and Event Earth Observation Analytics (UEEOA) automatically analyzes the behavior of various data processing centers and their communication protocols with satellite observatories. Usage of UEEOA improves vulnerability identification by forecasting suspicious attacks and security breaches even before their occurrence. Crewless aerial vehicles (or Autonomous Drones) significantly impacted earth observation. Adoption of a behavior-based approach (like null space-based behavioral approach) enables precise coordination in the highly conflicting environment and reduces the level of the introducer to several folds. Nature-inspired algorithms are unique in providing versatile solutions in making intelligent decisions in highly challenging environments, thereby enhancing autonomy with next-generation cyber security. Artificial intelligence is the future of secure earth observation protocol, which reduces the security breaching by improving the coordination of base with observatory, thereby improving their functionality.

The impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning in secure earth observation protocols would certainly open limitless opportunities in earth monitoring and decision making. However, potential challenges and pitfalls need to be addressed before global adoption and recommendation. The performance of AI in recognition and classification of misconfigurations (which serve as primary sources for breaches) in observatory and data processing centers is still in its infancy. Strategies to identify abuse of privileged access are highly challenging and need improvements. AI-empowered networking security protocols often produced less reliable results due to the shortcomings of tool interoperability in observation stations that need more research openings. Visibility changes of the endpoint and nodes in earth monitoring highly challenge the identification of security breaches which needs to be improved. The secure operation of multiple observatory robots with real-world becomes challenging depending upon the terrain which needs to be addressed. Despite a substantial improvement towards secure earth observation protocols, the level of security is still inadequate to work without breaches. Appropriately bridging the existing knowledge gaps would certainly enhance the secure data transfer in earth monitoring and would undoubtedly serve as a driving force for the sustainability of future ecosystems.

This collection aims to discuss and challenge the recent trends paradigms related to Satellite observation, secure data transfer, IoT systems, drone monitoring, intrusion detection, network anomalies, and so on. We invite researchers from various fields to present their original papers, reviews, and perspectives on the Convergence of Network Security Protocols in Communication between Earth Observation Protocols.

List of topics to be covered in this special issue include, but not limited to the following:

Innovations in access control and automated security analysis for earth observation protocols
Advanced in the blockchain and cloud security empowered by big data analytics for intrusion detection in satellite data transfer
Trends in IP protection and key management of malware in remote sensing drones
Advances in complex security systems for detection of anonymity in privileged access systems of earth base stations
Research in critical infrastructures for improved data protection and earth imagery system management
Frontiers of artificial neural networks in improving the security of grid systems for secure earth big data
Future of Distributed cooperative perception in Ad hoc teamwork for secure automation of unmanned observatory vehicles
Innovations in the convergence of advanced security protocols for planning and management of heterogeneous and homogenous fleets
Trends in adversarial neural networks for Fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance secure node and endpoint data transfer
Impact of Human factors in ubiquitous security and usability of earth observation data
Innovations in data-driven approaches for privacy-enhancing protocols for one-to-one communications
Research in social issues and language-based security analysis for multimodal operation and interaction to the international space station (ISS)
Application of cryptography in enhancing the efficiency of secure communication protocols for earth observation systems.