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Theses and Dissertations

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Shelter-In-Place: Indoor Exposure Assessment During An Airborne Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear (Cbrn) Event, Robert D. Schmidtgoessling Mar 2009

Shelter-In-Place: Indoor Exposure Assessment During An Airborne Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear (Cbrn) Event, Robert D. Schmidtgoessling

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of Shelter-In-Place (SIP) is to reduce human exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents in the event of an accidental or intentional airborne release into the outdoor environment. The Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) career field is responsible for providing hazard identification, evaluation, and control capabilities as well as executing health risk assessments to recommend appropriate courses of action to commanders pre-, trans-, and post-incident. Specifically, BE is responsible for providing sampling, identification, and quantification input to hazard prediction models and supporting evacuation plan development to provide risk-based control recommendations. This also includes providing exposure and …

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Modeling And Simulation Architecture For Studying Doppler-Based Radar With Complex Environments, Nicholas J. Amato Mar 2009

Modeling And Simulation Architecture For Studying Doppler-Based Radar With Complex Environments, Nicholas J. Amato

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort develops a hybrid large-scale modeling and simulation frame- work that defines the requirements for a program to evaluate radar-aircraft-turbine- clutter interactions. Wind turbines and other moving structures can interfere with a radar’s ability to detect moving aircraft because radar returns from turbines are comparable to those from slow flying aircraft. This interference can lead to aircraft collisions or crashes, reducing the safety for air traffic. Two radar applications, INSSITE and IMOM, were investigated to determine which of the subsystems, in the proposed architecture, are currently available and which need additional development. Current radar applications either delve too …

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The Economic Impact Of A Radiological Dispersal Device (Rde), Michael T. Lebrun Mar 2009

The Economic Impact Of A Radiological Dispersal Device (Rde), Michael T. Lebrun

Theses and Dissertations

While it will not cause the devastation of a nuclear weapon, the radiological dispersal event (RDE) is particularly dangerous in that it has the potential to cause major economic disruptions. The purpose of this research was to develop a generalized methodology that can be used to assess economic impacts, resulting from a (RDE), occurring in any location and across any industry. Currently, there is no universal approach for measuring the costs or economic impacts on businesses, or a common framework for conducting an economic impact for a RDE. The objective of this research was to aid in the RDE response …

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Decisive Routing And Admission Control According To Quality Of Service Constraints, Cindy C. Reese Mar 2009

Decisive Routing And Admission Control According To Quality Of Service Constraints, Cindy C. Reese

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort examines, models, and proposes options to enhance command and control for decision makers when applied to the communications network. My goal is to research the viability of combining three students’ past research efforts and expanding and enhancing those efforts. The area of this research is predicting a snapshot of the communications network, context-aware routing between network nodes, and Quality of Service-based routing optimization in order to create an intelligent routing protocol platform. It will consolidate efforts from an Intelligent Agent Based Framework to Maximize Information Utility by Captain John Pecarina, Dialable Cryptography for Wireless Networks by Major …

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A Taxonomy For And Analysis Of Anonymous Communications Networks, Douglas J. Kelly Mar 2009

A Taxonomy For And Analysis Of Anonymous Communications Networks, Douglas J. Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Any entity operating in cyberspace is susceptible to debilitating attacks. With cyber attacks intended to gather intelligence and disrupt communications rapidly replacing the threat of conventional and nuclear attacks, a new age of warfare is at hand. In 2003, the United States acknowledged that the speed and anonymity of cyber attacks makes distinguishing among the actions of terrorists, criminals, and nation states difficult. Even President Obama’s Cybersecurity Chief-elect recognizes the challenge of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Now through April 2009, the White House is reviewing federal cyber initiatives to protect US citizen privacy rights. Indeed, the rising quantity and ubiquity …

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A 4-Step Process Evaluation Model To Assess The Success Of Performance Based Logistics Contracts, Ferit Buyukgural Mar 2009

A 4-Step Process Evaluation Model To Assess The Success Of Performance Based Logistics Contracts, Ferit Buyukgural

Theses and Dissertations

Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) is DoD' s preferred product support approach in order to satisfy vitally-important war fighter needs. The elasticity of these needs makes it impossible to build a one-fits-all template PBL contract with the contractors. Thus, both economic metrics such as Cost per Unit Usage and non-economic metrics such as Availability, Reliability, Logistics Foot Print and Logistics Response Time can be defined and tailored according to each individual program. However, evaluation of the success of a PBL contract gets harder proportional to the increased number of different types of metrics. This research suggests an integrated model approach for combining …

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Range Estimation Algorithm Comparison In 3-D Flash Ladar Data, Steven P. Jordan Mar 2009

Range Estimation Algorithm Comparison In 3-D Flash Ladar Data, Steven P. Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

Range estimation algorithms have been applied to Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) data to test for accuracy and precision. Data was acquired from Matlab® simulations and an experiment using the Advanced Scientific Concepts 3-D flash LADAR camera. Simulated LADAR data was based on a Gaussian pulse shape model with Poisson noise added. Simulations were performed to test range estimation algorithm performance with respect to waveform position within the range gate. The effectiveness of each algorithm is presented in terms of its average root mean square error and standard deviation in 1000 trials. The measured data experiment examined the effectiveness of …

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Using A Multiobjective Approach To Balance Mission And Network Goals Within A Delay Tolerant Network Topology, Anthony L. Larweck Mar 2009

Using A Multiobjective Approach To Balance Mission And Network Goals Within A Delay Tolerant Network Topology, Anthony L. Larweck

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how to incorporate aspects of an Air Tasking Order (ATO), a Communications Tasking Order (CTO), and a Network Tasking Order (NTO) within a cognitive network framework. This was done in an effort to aid the commander and or network operator by providing automation for battlespace management to improve response time and potential inconsistent problem resolution. In particular, autonomous weapon systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were the focus of this research This work implemented a simple cognitive process by incorporating aspects of behavior based robotic control principles to solve the multi-objective optimization problem of balancing both …

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Achieving Alignment: An Analysis Of Enterprise Architecture Best Practices Within The United States Air Force, Michael A. Fetters Mar 2009

Achieving Alignment: An Analysis Of Enterprise Architecture Best Practices Within The United States Air Force, Michael A. Fetters

Theses and Dissertations

This research uncovers areas of best practices that support achieving alignment between an organization’s Information Technology (IT) and its business processes. One principal finding of this effort revealed that the means used to achieve alignment exists within the effective application of Enterprise Architecture (EA), a common practice found throughout the Federal Government, Department of Defense, and the Air Force. EA is the tool used to achieve alignment; likewise, the reason for developing IT architecture is to achieve alignment of IT investments and mission objectives. This research groups the best practices into vision, identification, framework, and governance. Interestingly, these practices relate …

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Using Covert Means To Establish Cybercraft Command And Control, Bradley D. Sevy Mar 2009

Using Covert Means To Establish Cybercraft Command And Control, Bradley D. Sevy

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in speed and availability of computers, our nation's computer and information systems are being attacked with increased sophistication. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate (RI) is researching a next generation network defense architecture, called Cybercraft, that provides automated and trusted cyber defense capabilities for AF network assets. This research we consider the issues to protect or obfuscate command and control aspects of Cybercraft. In particular, we present a methodology to hide aspects of Cybercraft platform initialization in context to formation of hierarchical, peer-to-peer groups that collectively form the Cybercraft network. Because malicious code networks (known …

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The Benefits Of A Network Tasking Order In Combat Search And Rescue Missions, Murat Gocmen Mar 2009

The Benefits Of A Network Tasking Order In Combat Search And Rescue Missions, Murat Gocmen

Theses and Dissertations

Networked communications play a crucial role in United States Armed Forces operations. As the military moves towards more network centric (Net-Centric) operations, it becomes increasingly important to use the network as effectively as possible with respect to the overall mission. This thesis advocates the use of a Network Tasking Order (NTO), which allows operators to reason about the network based on asset movement, capabilities, and communication requirements. These requirements are likely to be derived from the Air Tasking Order (ATO), which gives insight into the plan for physical assets in a military mission. In this research we illustrate the benefit …

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Evaluation Of An Opnet Model For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks, Clifton M. Durham Mar 2009

Evaluation Of An Opnet Model For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks, Clifton M. Durham

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) was first used as early as the American Civil War, when the North and the South unsuccessfully attempted to launch balloons with explosive devices. Since the American Civil War, the UAV concept has been used in all subsequent military operations. Over the last few years, there has been an explosion in the use of UAVs in military operations, as well as civilian and commercial applications. UAV Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are fast becoming essential to conducting Network-Centric Warfare (NCW). As of October 2006, coalition UAVs, exclusive of hand-launched systems, had flown almost …

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Waypoint Generation Based On Sensor Aimpoint, Shannon M. Farrell Mar 2009

Waypoint Generation Based On Sensor Aimpoint, Shannon M. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has emphasized a need for a greater number of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to support combatant commanders and military operations globally. Unmanned systems, especially MAVs, used as ISR platforms provide the ability to maintain covertness during missions and help reduce the risk to human life. This research develops waypoint generation algorithms required to keep a point of interest (POI) in the field of view (FOV) of a fixed sensor on a micro air vehicle (MAV) in the presence of a constant wind.
Fixed sensors, while cheaper and less prone to mechanical failure …

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Deeply-Integrated Feature Tracking For Embedded Navigation, Jeffery R. Gray Mar 2009

Deeply-Integrated Feature Tracking For Embedded Navigation, Jeffery R. Gray

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is investigating techniques to improve aircraft navigation using low-cost imaging and inertial sensors. Stationary features tracked within the image are used to improve the inertial navigation estimate. These features are tracked using a correspondence search between frames. Previous research investigated aiding these correspondence searches using inertial measurements (i.e., stochastic projection). While this research demonstrated the benefits of further sensor integration, it still relied on robust feature descriptors (e.g., SIFT or SURF) to obtain a reliable correspondence match in the presence of rotation and scale changes. Unfortunately, these robust feature extraction algorithms are computationally …

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Royal Images And Rebel Ideals: Contradictory Symbols In American Revolutionary Newspaper Nameplates, Autumn Lorimer Linford Mar 2009

Royal Images And Rebel Ideals: Contradictory Symbols In American Revolutionary Newspaper Nameplates, Autumn Lorimer Linford

Theses and Dissertations

Historians have long claimed that the newspaper printers of the American Revolution were instrumental in bringing about Independence. By focusing solely on the written words left behind by these men, however, researchers have erroneously believed the printers belonged exclusively to either the patriot or Tory camps. The masthead symbols chosen by the printers to represent their newspapers offer a more objective measure of their partisan affiliations than a textual analysis of the content. The printers marked major changes in their political ideologies by inserting and deleting political symbols in their newspaper mastheads. This study examines the use and meanings of …

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Assessment Of Weather Sensitivities And Air Force Weather (Afw) Support To Tactical Lasers In The Lower Troposphere, Francesco J. Echeverria Mar 2009

Assessment Of Weather Sensitivities And Air Force Weather (Afw) Support To Tactical Lasers In The Lower Troposphere, Francesco J. Echeverria

Theses and Dissertations

ATL scientists need to develop a full understanding of the interaction effects between a high-energy laser beam and the atmosphere through which it propagates. Achieving this understanding is important for many reasons. In particular, the high cost of DE weapons systems makes each propagation event expensive. Having an understanding of the atmosphere in which a high-energy laser propagates will increase efficiency and effectiveness of the ATL weapon system, which in turn will decrease cost of operation. A tool that allows for the ATL war-fighter to determine the atmospheric effects on laser propagation currently does not exist. This study creates a …

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Advanced Radiometry For High Discrimination Explosive Fireball Discrimination, Steven E. Slagle Mar 2009

Advanced Radiometry For High Discrimination Explosive Fireball Discrimination, Steven E. Slagle

Theses and Dissertations

The high explosive fireball phenomenological model for the mid wave infrared spectrum, developed by AFIT, performs classification from spectral signatures was modified to use radiometric intensities. Five bands were sequentially fit to derive the five physical fit parameters describing the fireball's temperature, size, soot absorption coefficient within 16% and emissions from the H2O and CO2 concentrations within 333% of the spectral model. This was improved by changing the model's band sizes, center, and fitting methods where all five fit parameters were matched to within 17% of spectral model. This demonstrated that a combination of radiometric intensities could …

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The Use Of Spider Webs As Passive Bioaerosol Collectors, Daniel I. Mattei Mar 2009

The Use Of Spider Webs As Passive Bioaerosol Collectors, Daniel I. Mattei

Theses and Dissertations

In this experiment, spider webs demonstrated their suitability as passive bioaerosol collectors. For spider webs to be considered suitable passive collectors webs had to satisfy three basic conditions; (1) collection of microorganisms without discrimination based on species or size, (2) collection under variable environmental conditions, and (3) saturation avoidance in the presence of strong microbial launching sources. Four field sampling locations were used, a waste water treatment facility, a commercial garden center, a secluded state park area, and a parking garage. Microscopy cover glass slides were used as the collection instrument. The methodology assured sterility during collection and promoted in …

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Model-Based Control Using Model And Mechanization Fusion Techniques For Image-Aided Navigation, Constance D. Hendrix Mar 2009

Model-Based Control Using Model And Mechanization Fusion Techniques For Image-Aided Navigation, Constance D. Hendrix

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles are no longer used for just reconnaissance. Current requirements call for smaller autonomous vehicles that replace the human in high-risk activities. Many times these activities are performed in GPS-degraded environments. Without GPS providing today's most accurate navigation solution, autonomous navigation in tight areas is more difficult. Today, image-aided navigation is used and other methods are explored to more accurately navigate in such areas (e.g., indoors). This thesis explores the use of inertial measurements and navigation solution updates using cameras with a model-based Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller. To demonstrate the methods behind this research, the controller will provide …

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Host-Based Multivariate Statistical Computer Operating Process Anomaly Intrusion Detection System (Paids), Glen R. Shilland Mar 2009

Host-Based Multivariate Statistical Computer Operating Process Anomaly Intrusion Detection System (Paids), Glen R. Shilland

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Value-Driven Enterprise Architecture Score: Evaluation Applied To Joint Force Protection Future State Design, Larry D. Cotton, Gary A. Haase Mar 2009

Value-Driven Enterprise Architecture Score: Evaluation Applied To Joint Force Protection Future State Design, Larry D. Cotton, Gary A. Haase

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents a methodology to evaluate the quality of a system's architecture using principles drawn from Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) and resulting in a Value-Driven Enterprise Architecture Score (VDEA-Score). This is an overall numerical architecture quality score useful to a system's management team to identify the advantages and disadvantages of a system design and associated architecture documentation or to track its quality across discrete evaluation epochs. This effort determined which aspects of the architecture are most valuable to the stakeholder in the areas of (1) the system effectiveness values (quality of the instantiated system being represented and its ability to …

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An Exploratory Social Network Analysis Of Military And Civilian Emergency Operation Centers Focusing On Organization Structure, Joseph D. Legradi Mar 2009

An Exploratory Social Network Analysis Of Military And Civilian Emergency Operation Centers Focusing On Organization Structure, Joseph D. Legradi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore how United States Air Force Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) compare to civilian EOCs with respect to their task-based social networks and decision making social networks. Multiple measures were explored to understand the networks, which included analyzing key metrics of the network such as closeness centrality and betweenness centrality, centralization of the network, and comparison of structural holes within the networks. These measures were then used to suggest improvements for the organizations to improve performance and more importantly, interoperability. The results of the study showed that in this data set there were several …

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Robust Sensitivity Analysis For The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (Jieddo) Proposal Selection Model, Christina J. Willy Mar 2009

Robust Sensitivity Analysis For The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (Jieddo) Proposal Selection Model, Christina J. Willy

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the Department of Defense (DoD) faced challenges not experienced in our previous military operations. The enemy’s unwavering dedication to the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against the coalition forces continues to challenge the day-to-day operations of the current war. The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization’s (JIEDDO) proposal solicitation process enables military and non-military organizations to request funding for the development of Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) projects. Decision Analysis (DA) methodology serves as a tool to assist the decision maker (DM) in making an informed decision. This research applies Value Focused Thinking …

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Surface Acoustic Wave Devices As Chemical Vapor Sensors, Daniel Gallagher Mar 2009

Surface Acoustic Wave Devices As Chemical Vapor Sensors, Daniel Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

In order to effectively neutralize non-traditional threats to US forces and population such as improvised explosive devices (IED) and chemical, biological, radio- logical, nuclear, and explosive (CBNRE) weapons, a flexible vapor sensor platform is proposed. This work involves the design, fabrication, and testing of coated surface acoustic wave devices for vapor sensing ability. Devices were fabricated in-house using MEMS fabrication techniques, then coated with a thin layer of a Nafion polymer. The frequency response of coated devices displayed 2 MHz frequency shifts around the resonance frequency upon introduction of ethanol vapors into the nitrogen vapor stream. This indicates strong sensing …

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Using Agent-Based Modeling To Evaluate Uas Behaviors In A Target-Rich Environment, Joseph A. Van Kuiken Mar 2009

Using Agent-Based Modeling To Evaluate Uas Behaviors In A Target-Rich Environment, Joseph A. Van Kuiken

Theses and Dissertations

The trade-off between accuracy and speed is a re-occurring dilemma in many facets of military performance evaluation. This is an especially important issue in the world of ISR. One of the most progressive areas of ISR capabilities has been the utilization of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Many people believe that the future of UAS lies in smaller vehicles flying in swarms. We use the agent-based System Effectiveness and Analysis Simulation (SEAS) to create a simulation environment where different configurations of UAS vehicles can process targets and provide output that allows us to gain insight into the benefits and drawbacks of …

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The Hybrid Counterinsurgency Strategy: System Dynamics Employed To Develop A Behavioral Model Of Joint Strategy, Ferdinand Maldonado Mar 2009

The Hybrid Counterinsurgency Strategy: System Dynamics Employed To Develop A Behavioral Model Of Joint Strategy, Ferdinand Maldonado

Theses and Dissertations

Since the recent focus on the Global War on Terror, both military and civilian theorists have begun to “relearn” the intricacies of counterinsurgency warfare. We face difficult challenges when confronting non-state actors that tend to attack in the time between conventional battles and the establishment of stable governments. This research compares and contrasts current counterinsurgency strategies (Hearts and Minds and Cost Benefit Theory) by applying System Dynamics to provide insight into the influences and emergent behavior patterns of counterinsurgency systems. The information gained from the development of the models and from their simulation behaviors is used to construct a System …

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Abstracting Gis Layers From Hyperspectral Imagery, Torsten E. Howard Mar 2009

Abstracting Gis Layers From Hyperspectral Imagery, Torsten E. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

Modern warfare methods in the urban environment necessitates the use of multiple layers of sensors to manage the battle space. Hyperspectral imagers are one possible sensor modality to provide remotely sensed images that can be converted into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layers. GIS layers abstract knowledge of roads, buildings, and scene content and contain shape files that outline and highlight scene features. Creating shape files is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. The availability of shape files that reflect the current configuration of an area of interest significantly enhances Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB). The solution presented in this thesis …

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Numerical Analysis For Relevant Features In Intrusion Detection (Narfid), Jose Andres Gonzalez Mar 2009

Numerical Analysis For Relevant Features In Intrusion Detection (Narfid), Jose Andres Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Identification of cyber attacks and network services is a robust field of study in the machine learning community. Less effort has been focused on understanding the domain space of real network data in identifying important features for cyber attack and network service classification. Motivations for such work allow for anomaly detection systems with less requirements on data “sniffed” off the network, extraction of features from the traffic, reduced learning time of algorithms, and ideally increased classification performance of anomalous behavior. This thesis evaluates the usefulness of a good feature subset for the general classification task of identifying cyber attacks and …

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The Evaluation Of Rekeying Protocols Within The Hubenko Architecture As Applied To Wireless Sensor Networks, Cory J. Antosh Mar 2009

The Evaluation Of Rekeying Protocols Within The Hubenko Architecture As Applied To Wireless Sensor Networks, Cory J. Antosh

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the impact of using three different rekeying protocols–pair-wise, hierarchical, and Secure Lock within a wireless sensor network (WSN) under the Hubenko architecture. Using a Matlab computer simulation, the impact of the three rekeying protocols on the number of bits transmitted across the network and the amount of battery power consumed in WSN nodes during rekey operations is investigated. Baseline pair-wise rekeying performance can be improved by using either Secure Lock or hierarchical rekeying. The best choice depends on the size of the WSN and the size of the key used. Hierarchical rekeying is the best choice for …

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An Analysis Of Defense Information And Information Technology Articles: A Sixteen Year Perspective, Daniel K. Smith Mar 2009

An Analysis Of Defense Information And Information Technology Articles: A Sixteen Year Perspective, Daniel K. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, information and information technology (IT) have evolved significantly and have become increasingly important to our national security. Many different journals have described this evolution. The purpose of this study is to examine the evolution of information and IT through the articles of two defense journals over a sixteen-year period. It provides a review of the article subject matter, the changes in the subject matter, the contributing authors and their institutions, and predictions for the next five years.

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