The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, QinetiQ and DSTL are holding a conference entitled "Mathematics in Defence 2009" on 19 November 2009 at Cody Technology Park, Farnborough, Hampshire.

Introduction

Science and technology plays an increasingly important role in the equipment and operations of the armed forces. Mathematics is the fundamental basis behind these disciplines providing a framework for understanding and solving the varied and complex problems faced. Mathematics and statistics are used to model military systems and scenarios. The information provided by these models can be used to estimate system performance, suggest improvements or find weaknesses of real systems.

This conference brings together a wide variety of mathematical methods that can be applied to defence and security applications. The conference programme will include keynote speakers, contributed presentations and poster sessions as well as refreshment breaks for informal discussions. The conference should be attended by mathematicians, scientists, and engineers from industry and academia, as well as government and military personnel who have an interest in how mathematics can be applied to defence problems.

Conference topics

The conference will cover the following themes: Data analysis: data and text mining, data fusion, information visualization, multidimensional data analysis; Modelling and Estimation: electromagnetic models, estimation theory, Markov models, non-linear models, mathematical models, simulation; Operational and Risk Analysis: asymmetric threats, cost benefit analysis, counter-terrorism, operational analysis, risk management, intelligence analysis, behaviour analysis; Security: cryptography and coding, security systems, secure communications; Signal Processing: adaptive processing, computer vision, digital signal processing, distributed sensor processing, emitter location, image processing, signal enhancement, super-resolution, synthetic aperture radar, time series analysis; Statistical Methods: Bayesian techniques, classification, detection, identification, Markov models, Monte Carlo methods, particle filters, pattern recognition, statistics, and tracking.

Key dates

Abstract submission: 31st May 2009
Notification of acceptance: 30th June 2009
Final paper submission: 30th September 2009

Conference fees and registration

Non-IMA Member: £130
IMA Member: £100
Student/Retired: £40
Register online

Instructions to authors

Contributed papers or posters are invited on all aspects of mathematics in defence. Papers or posters will be accepted on the basis of a 300-500 word abstract which should be submitted by 31st May 2009 online or by e-mail. Authors will be advised of acceptance by 30th June 2009. Successful authors will be invited to submit a paper or poster for inclusion in the conference proceedings by 30th September 2009. This is an open conference and all papers will be unclassified. The proceedings will be made available to delegates on CD and for download from the conference website.

Organising committee

Chairperson: Anjna Kashyap (Dstl)
Deputy Chairperson: Jonathan Fairbairn (Dstl)
Technical Leaders: Richard Lane (QinetiQ), Edward Stansfield (Thales), David Byrne (QinetiQ)
Organisation Team: Ann Steptoe (Dstl), Bethan Hughes (Dstl), Alistair Fitt (Southampton University), Chris Freshwater (Dstl), Stephen Hayward (QinetiQ), Kate Moran (Dstl)

Further information

For scientific queries please contact Richard Lane by email or by phone: 01684 896954. For general conference queries contact Amy Marsh, Conference Officer, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Catherine Richards House, 16 Nelson Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1EF. Tel: 01702 356104. Email: amy.marsh@ima.org.uk. Web: http://www.ima.org.uk/Conferences/maths_in_defence09.html.