Special Session #1: Measurements for networking: Traffic monitoring and Performance analysis 

Description: Network management is increasingly important as infrastructure becomes more complex and organizations are exposed to higher risks and visibility. In this context traffic measurements provide essential data for networking, by addressing methodologies, paradigms and tools aimed at providing users with increasing performance.  
The main goal of the "Traffic monitoring and Performance analysis" Special Session is to present state-of-the-art research results and experimental evidences in the area of measurement techniques and tools for networking. The specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:  

  • Network optimization and learning
  • Ultra-wideband and millimeter-wave mobile networking vehicular network
  • Anomaly detection, network monitoring and forecasting
  • Network trust, security, and privacy
  • Internet of the Things (IoT) and/or next-generation wireless
  • Interdependent critical infrastructure networks
  • Edge computing and distributed computing over networks
  • Software Defined Networking/Network Function Virtualization
  • LTE and 5G network performance

Emerging communication scenarios such as those offered by IoT, 5G or V2V require a fine tuning of the system parameters in order, for the system, to be highly reactive and adaptive to changing network conditions, thus optimizing the user experience and the supported services. Accordingly, it is significant to have a continuous monitoring of network status, as also possible thanks to the use of Software Defined Networking which is bringing a revolution in the way data transmission and management are supported. 

Organizers: 

  • Prof. Alfio Lombardo (University of Catania, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica Elettronica e Informatica, Catania, Italy)
  • Prof. Laura Galluccio (University of Catania, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica Elettronica e Informatica, Catania, Italy)  

Special Session #2: Sensor Networks and Sensing Systems for Assistive Technology

Description: Assisted Living is a hot area having an everyday increasing strategic relevance given its impact on the economy and on the society. There is, in fact, an extremely vivid interest on this subject both in the scientific and in the industrial community. In this sector, sensors and sensing systems assume a role of primary importance. In spite of the numerous results available, there is still a large need for further research efforts and for novel solutions. In particular multi-sensor platforms and Wireless Sensors Networks (WSN) hold the promise of being able to bring innovative contribution to this area being able to collect and transfer large sets of measurement data from several points, thus realizing distributed and flexible measurement systems. We invite therefore original research papers on this subject with the goal to contribute to this area through a vibrant arena where novel ideas on converging subjects for the general topic of “Sensors and sensing system for Assistive Technology” will be confronted and exchanged between prominent actors in this field.
Submission are welcomed on (but not limited to):

  • Overview of the State Of The Art on "Sensors and sensing system for Assistive Technology".
  • Measurement methodologies and algorithms for Assistive Technologies, with particular regards to the well being and the active ageing.
  • Measurement methodologies for the evaluation of the performances of assistive tools.
  • Smart (wireless) multi-sensor systems for Ambient Assisted Living and Activities of Daily Living monitoring.
  • Smart textile solutions for Body Area Sensor Networks.
  • Wireless Body and Personal Area Sensor Networks.
  • Intra Body Communication Systems (IEEE 802.15.6).

Organizers: 

Special Session #3: Antenna and RCS Measurements

Description: The Special Session is organized by the Italian AMTA (Antenna Measurement Technique Association) Node under the recognition of AMTA, the most prestigious Association on Antenna Measurements worldwide. Antenna Measurements have today a leading position in Applied Electromagnetics and collect under a unique keyword many different but related areas of interest to Research and Industrial activities. The aim of the Session is to cover some of the most relevant topics on Antenna Measurements,including the characterization for radiating systems for 5G, that represent an exciting challenge and an important opportunity for the antenna measurement community.

The topics of the Special Session include (but are not limited to):

  • Theory and applications of measurements of antennas and radar scattering;
  • 5G antennas measurement methods;
  • Advances in indoor and outdoor test ranges;
  • Measurement standards and laboratory comparisons;
  • Advances in near-field, far-field, compact and RCS range measurement techniques;
  • New instrumentation for testing, data acquisition and processing;
  • Diagnostic methods for antenna acceptance testing;
  • GNSS, PCS, cellular, satellite, and automotive antennas and measurements;
  • Numerical methods related to EM measurements;
  • RFID characterization;
  • Antenna calibration and uncertainty quantification
  • Wearable antenna designs and measurements;
  • Multi-link MIMO and cooperative channels testing;
  • In-situ testing and channel sounding.
  • RF safety measurements.

Organizers: 

  • Prof. Claudio Curcio, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
  • Prof. Francesco D’Agostino (Secretary of the Italian AMTA Node), Università degli Studi di Salerno
  • Prof. Marco D. Migliore (Co-Founder of the Italian AMTA Node), Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale

Technical Committee Members:

  • Dr. Claudio Curcio, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
  • Prof. Francesco D’Agostino, Università degli Studi di Salerno
  • Dr. Daniele Pinchera, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale

Session Chairs:

  • Prof. Marco D. Migliore, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale
  • Dr. Claudio Curcio, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Special Session #4: Intelligent sensors technologies for Structural health monitoring 

Description: The development of Intelligent sensors technologies able to permanently and/or automatically monitor the conditions of concrete, metallic and composite structures will pave the path to the life-cycle extension of critical infrastructures (such as bridges, railways, pipelines) and will favor the improvement of safety conditions in transportation (in the automotive and aeronautical domain) through the implementation of on-condition maintenance procedures.

This new paradigm involves the optimal implementation of a broad range of technologies mastered by researchers of the M&N community. In particular, the proposed session will focus on the efficient acquisition, management and processing of ever growing volumes of monitoring data acquired by dense sensor networks. We will welcome papers presenting strategies for Structural health monitoring applications focusing on acquisition and communication optimization  (e.g compressive sensing, duty cycling...), adaptive sensor interfaces, context-awareness and hierarchical activation, as well as heterogeneous systems integration. 

Organizers: 

  • Luca De Marchi, PhD  (DEI - Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering Dept., University of Bologna, Italy)
  • Davide Brunelli, PhD  (Department of Industrial Engineering,  University of Trento, Italy)