Networks are critical to modern military operations, but military networks are not like the others.

The unique challenges inherent in creating complex, mobile, selfforming and rapidly changing networks such as those used on the battlefield will be the focus of the new Information Network Academic Research Center (INARC), which the University of Illinois’ Department of Computer Science will establish with $16.75 million in recently announced funding from the Army Research Laboratory.

The center will focus on how to best support the primary task of a military information network: providing users with reliable and actionable intelligence across the full spectrum of network-centric operations, including humanitarian support, peacekeeping, force protection and full combat operations.

“Most existing network modeling and analysis methods consider homogeneous, static networks. However, networks in the real world are heterogeneous, interacting and evolving,” said Illinois computer science professor Jiawei Han. “This poses great challenges in terms of effectiveness, scalability, and comprehensive analysis of such information networks, and especially so for the case of military networks.”

The center will focus on five projects: integrated modeling and analysis of networks; distributed and real-time data-source integration and information extraction; scalable, human-centric information network systems; knowledge discovery in information networks; and designing trusted information networks.

Addressing information network challenges in this environment requires a multi-disciplinary approach that breaks new ground and builds on existing research in communication, information, and social and cognitive research.

The Illinois INARC center is part of ARL’s Network Science Collaborative Technology Alliance program, and will work closely with three other centers as part of a collaborative technology alliance contract. The consortium includes work on social-cognitive networks and communications networks, as well as an interdisciplinary research center.

Harrison Donnelly, Editor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 301.670.5700 x114