Post by Security on Sept 1, 2006 22:45:58 GMT -5
nicta.com.au/director/research/programs/sga/dprr.cfm
Smart Applications For Emergencies (SAFE)
Introduction
The main component of the Safeguarding Australia program is the Smart Applications For Emergencies (SAFE) research project based at NICTA's Queensland Lab. The project addresses key elements of the process of predicting, responding, and recovering from a range of disasters including natural (cyclone, fire, etc.) and man-made (terrorist). The project is structured as a number of work packages including:
SAFE Sensors
SAFE Information
SAFE Agents
SAFE Networks
SAFE Sensors
This work package considers the acquisition and understanding of the real-world environment through the meaningful integration of various types of sensor inputs. The focus is on smart reconfigurable hardware, embedded systems, and algorithms for pattern recognition, and array processing for computer vision and audio signal processing.
SAFE Information
This work package covers management of information and human behaviour with emergency systems and incidents. Information management includes modeling, representation, and integrating information and situations from multiple sources into a cohesive framework to support decision making. The WP will also investigate issues with human behaviour during emergency prediction, response, and recovery and human interactions and experiences with emergency systems and information
SAFE Agents
In this work package formal modeling and understanding of dynamically changing environments in emergency and disaster services is being addressed. The aim is to formally represent and effectively reason about real-world situations that involve over-constrained resources, risk factors, and real-time decision making.
SAFE Networks
In this workpackage research will investigate principles and solutions for protocols and middleware to support adaptable, self-configuring, self-healing networks and applications. The work focuses on the network protocols and context management facilities required to achieve an optimum level of communications and situation-aware services in emergency response scenarios. This research will also consider methods of inferring the location of disaster areas and impact zones based on information gathered by network and application monitoring.