Journal Special Issue on Control and Intelligent Systems in Humanitarian Technologies
Control and Intelligent Systems
An International Journal published by ACTA press established in 1972
Papers due: 30.07.2008
In an ideal world, all engineering and technology related research should serve humankind and try to solve hard problems facing humanity and therefore should be inherently humanitarian.
This call for papers is for the world's first journal special issue on Humanitarian Technologies, focusing on the use of control and intelligent systems. The special issue will
also attempt to identify technological challenges in control and intelligent systems in this vast area. In the spirit of this unique special issue that is expected to be circulated
widely crossing boundaries between rich and poor nations on earth the publishers have kindly agreed to make all accepted papers freely available electronically.
What constitutes humanitarian technology? Any technology serving humanity to solve urgent humanitarian problems is the simple answer. Control and intelligent systems are extensively applied
in these areas. The world witnessed innovative solutions after natural catastrophes, human created destructions and a combination of both in the recent past. The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004
challenged engineering practices ranging from building constructions to early warning systems. It prompted international research collaboration to limit destruction in possible future tsunamis.
The destruction of life and resources due to acts of terrorism has created the need for a range of humanitarian technologies. Tens of millions of mines are still active in 80 or more countries
and it is believed that a victim of this human made disaster is found every 20 minutes. Demining is a prominent technology that has a strong use of control and intelligent systems. Rehabilitation
and research on prostheses and biomechanical systems are other examples of engineering research that uses control and intelligent systems. The wide area of environmental engineering supporting to
limit the effects of overuse of resources and control emissions is another important area of humanitarian technology.
Topics and examples that use and extend control and intelligent systems research are:
1. Humanitarian Engineering
Humanitarian demining robotics, biological and biomemetic systems
Sensors and sensor systems in Humanitarian applications
Early warning systems for natural disasters
On-line monitoring of natural disasters
Image processing for humanitarian actions such as location of missing airplanes
Technology Transfer for Humanitarian use
2. Health and Medical applications
Artificial organs and rehabilitation
Genetic and medical research
Emergency disease control and tracking
3. Environmental applications
Environmental sustainability of industries
Water purification and preservation
Environmental Bioengineering
4. Logistics
Disaster management
Supply Chain Management in Humanitarian work
Command and control of multiple organizations in humanitarian missions
5. Arts and Culture
User friendly and culturally sensitive humanitarian product design and deployment
Technological innovation in preserving cultural heritage of indigenous communities
Deadlines:
Paper Submissions: 30.07.2008
Reviews available: 30.09.2008
Publication of the issue: 15.12.2008
Submission Instructions:
The authors directly upload their papers by the deadline using the electronic submission
site at http://www.actapress.com/review and by choosing the correct journal Control and Intelligent Systems.
Please include in the title field of the paper the text "Humanitarian Technology Special Issue" to ensure that the paper
is considered for the special issue.
Guest Editors:
Saman Halgamuge
Department of Mechanical Engineering
School of Engineering
University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia
Phone: +61 3 83445587, Email: saman@unimelb.edu.au
Thrish Nanayakkara
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Harvard University, Room 238, Maxwell Dworkin
33 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Phone: +1 617-460-2256, Email: thrish@seas.harvard.edu