ComSafe 2009
First International Conference on Public Safety Communication
December 1-3, 2009 - Lisbon, Portugal

Sponsored by ICST

* Scope

ComSafe 2009 seeks high-quality research contributions in the form of well-developed full papers. Topics of interest encompass research advances in the several key areas of ICT technologies supporting the safety and security of modern society. The ComSafe conference is aim to present and facilitate the exchange of research results and ideas in the areas of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), Public Safety Communications (PSC), Network Resilience and ICT Trust and Security. Presentations reporting on cutting-edge research results will be supplemented by panels and invited talks on timely and important topics.
The conference agenda includes technical and panel sessions on cross-domain issues and interdependencies between these areas.
The key objectives of the conference are to establish a dialogue and between the research and industrial communities that represent the key areas of ICT for Safety and Security, and to create an international platform for convergence of research efforts and results.

Technical papers describing original unpublished research are solicited. Submissions must not be concurrently under review by a conference, journal or any other venue that has proceedings. All submissions will be refereed by the program committee.

* Topics

The topics of interests are:

ICT for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Critical Information Infrastructures Protection (CIIP)
In the areas of ICT for CIP and CIIP contributions are invited on aspects of security, dependability, resilience, network integration, interoperability, including the topics of:

* ICT for SCADA
* Modeling and Simulation of Critical Infrastructures
* Self-healing, Self-protection and Self-management Architectures
* Situation Awareness and Response Optimization
* CIIP Policy and Cross-Border Issues
* Communication Risk and Assurance
* Information Sharing and Exchange
* Incident Response
* Dependable Infrastructure Communications
* Internet-based remote control
* Trust Models in Critical Scenarios
* CIP Networks Survivability and resilience


ICT Trust, Security and Dependability
Contributions are invited in the areas of security and dependability applicable to PSC, public, private and CIP networks including the dependability and Security of Future Networked Systems, Architectures, Protocols and Environments for Trust, Security and Dependability.

The main topics:

* Security and Privacy in Dynamic Wireless Networks
* Future Test beds
* Modeling, simulation, predictive evaluation, assurance cases of Security and dependability of Networked Systems
* Systems monitoring, and operational assessment of Dependability and Security of Networked Infrastructure
* Mobile, Ad Hoc and Sensor Network Security
* Database and System Security
* eGovernment Security
* Grid Security
* Security and Privacy in Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing


Availability, robustness and resilience of public and private electronic communication networks
The main focus is on new ideas and technologies that could increase the availability, robustness and resilience of public and private electronic communication networks for CIP and PSC including topics on:

* Network resilience performance evaluation and studies
* Network optimization to increase robustness and resilience
* Network composition, management and protocols to improve resilience and survivability
* Cross layer issues to optimize network resilience
* Policy and regulatory aspects
* Upgrade and modification of public networks to improve resilience
* Public network optimization for crisis and disaster situations


ICT for Public Safety Communications (PSC)
The main focus is on ICT technologies for first responders. The major topics are:

* Mesh networks for PSC
* Test beds
* Heterogeneous networks and PSC
* Ad hoc/deployable networks and integration of fixed and deployable networks
* PSC use cases and scenarios
* Evolution of PMR networks
* Interoperability (network, data, operational)
* Satellite systems for PSC
* Regulatory and policy issues
* Presentation of project results and achievements


Horizontal and inter domain aspects
The contributions to cross-domain frameworks should be focused on topics of interest of several areas and common issues such as:

* Modeling and simulation tools
* ICT role
* Architectural issues
* Users perspective, operational considerations
* Test beds
* Interoperability
* Regulatory aspects
* Human factors and Man Machine Interface
* Self-healing, Self-protection, Self-management Architectures
* Cognitive systems and networks
* Policy and cross-border Issue


Important Dates

* Paper Submission: July 26, 2009
* Notification of Acceptance: August 4, 2009
* Camera-ready Version: September 2, 2009
* Conference Dates: December 1-3, 2009


Submission Instructions

The length of submitted articles is a maximum of 8 pages, following the guidelines described in the Author's Kit on the conference website. The criteria of selection for papers will be based on novelty, innovation and originality. Conference sessions will include technical contributions from papers included in the Topics above. In addition, position papers will also be included and may introduce relevant technology advances, specific challenges and trends, as well as advances in industry.


Organizing Committee

General Chair: Adrian Boukalov, University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg)

Web Chair: Aurel Machalek , University of Luxembourg, (Luxembourg)

Publication Chair: Stefanie Oestlund, University of Luxembourg, (Luxembourg)

Technical Program Committee Co-Chair: Jim Clarke, TSSG, (Ireland)

Conference Coordinator: Beatrix Ransburg, ICST

Steering Committee: Imrich Chlamtac, CREATE-NET, (Italy)