Process Query Systems for Homeland Security

Project Summary

The main technical objective of this project is to develop advanced capabilities of Process Query Systems (PQS) for specific use in Homeland Security data analysis (HSDA) problems. A Process Query System is a novel software system capable of accepting process descriptions as queries. A PQS then performs standing queries and searches against databases and datastreams of sensor reports for evidence that instances of the queried processes exist in the data. The basic concepts underlying a PQS are derived from the mature theory and substantial implementation experience of multiple-hypothesis, multiple-target tracking in radar and sonar signal processing.

We believe that an appropriately designed and implemented Process Query System has the potential to revolutionize HSDA in ways that incremental research and development cannot and will not. This project aims to gain experience with an alpha version of a PQS for select HSDA problems, to evaluate the resulting performance, and to develop a distribution-quality PQS for government use.

• Principal Investigator: George Cybenko
• Related Documentation: Process Query Systems for Surveillance and Awareness [PDF Format]
• Subproject: Early Worm Detection