Underpinning Defence Mathematics Programme

industrial collaborators:	Open to all
academic collaborators:	Open to all
initiated :	2009/09/29
last updated:	2010/03/11

Call for proposals - deadline 31 January 2010
In December 2009 proposals were invited for research on novel measures of information content in data or image streams with respect to military objectives in the context of electromagnetic remote sensing. The total budget available under this Invitation to Tender was £150k. There was a good response to the call and proposals are currently being assessed. It is anticipated that MoD will fund up to 3 proposals at an approximate cost of £50k each.

Research is required to develop ways to define and measure the amount of information in data or image streams that is relevant to deciding on a particular issue, eg detecting, counting and classifying targets. Intended uses of such quantitative measures include:

• Efficient pre-processing of data or image streams to avoid unnecessary signal processing. For example, there is a requirement for a fundamental understanding of how to define and measure the information content in radar returns with respect to the objectives of detecting, counting and classifying targets. Currently there is insufficient understanding of the theoretical underpinnings to estimate in real time the information content without first carrying out the signal processing.
• An understanding of compressive sensing from an information theoretic point of view. Such an understanding would help to decide if there are sparser ways to gather data and image streams that still contain the information needed. The aim of compressive sensing is as far as possible to avoid sensing those parts of the data and image streams that do not contribute information of relevance to the military objective. The success of compressive sensing is critically dependent on being able to define and measure the information content with respect to the objectives.
• Compression that preserves information content to reduce the bandwidth required for communication. For example, image streams from hyperspectral cameras generate much higher data rates than can be accommodated within many military applications. Typically image streams are compressed and communicated for remote image analysis. The challenge is in determining how to compress without losing critical information relevant to military objectives.
• Improved situational awareness and decision-making through effective data and image fusion. This requires the combination of data and image streams from multiple sources to increase the information content communicated to the decision-maker. The communication and processing overheads of fusion need to be minimized while maximizing the resulting increase in information content available to the decision-maker.

Evaluation of relevant underpinning mathematical theory with reference to the features of the military context is required. Proposals were particularly encouraged from researchers not already working with defence experts in EMRS.

The wording of the call document is provided below in pdf format for reference. The closing date for applications was midnight on 31 January 2010. Submitted proposals are currently being assessed by assessors drawn from MoD, industry and academia. All queries please to Tim Boxer.

 

related resources:

	Underpinning Defence Mathematics Programme
»	Call for proposals - deadline 31 January 2010
	Guidance for applicants - Briefing Session
	UDM research contracts
	UDM Internships
	Management

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