How could future mobile networks help identify potential risks before a disaster occurs? On 25 September 2026, our Coordinator, Carlos Jesús Bernardos, attended the European Researchers’ Night in Madrid, an event celebrating science and research across Europe and beyond.
Carlos, a researcher at IMDEA Networks Institute and Professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, joined a discussion organised by the IMDEA Institutes and the Madrid Regional Firefighters to explore how science and technology can contribute to natural disaster prevention.
From mobile networks to intelligent sensing
During the event, Carlos explained how future mobile networks could evolve beyond communication to act as extensive sensing systems, helping detect anomalies and identify potential risks before a disaster occurs.
By sensing changes in their surroundings, future networks could provide valuable information to support earlier risk detection and improve situational awareness in critical environments.
This vision also reflects the growing potential of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), a technology that combines communication and sensing capabilities within the same wireless infrastructure.
While we focus on industrial manufacturing, exploring these emerging network capabilities highlights the wider potential of next-generation connectivity across different sectors.
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