New Wired and Wireless Lab for University of Strathclyde

‘Geoffrey Smith Intelligent Dynamic Communications Networks Laboratory’ Institute of Communications and Signal Processing Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde has recently invested in the establishment of the “Geoffrey Smith Intelligent Dynamic Communications Networks Laboratory”, a state-of-the-art capability which will house wireless and wired communications network test-beds with associated software modelling clusters and DSP hardware development. It is well recognised that the next decade will be dominated by the growth and development in ubiquitous communication systems and technologies in which users and devices will demand mobility. In essence communication will be with devices irrespective of their location and will occur on networks shared by a multiplicity of service providers. The Institute of Communications and Signal Processing (ICSP) has had a long history of participation in major national and international research programmes in communications technologies and signal processing. However given the increasing awareness of the importance of communications to the global economy and the unique combination of expertise in the ICSP, the establishment of this multi-disciplinary laboratory is timely and will be central in maintaining and growing that core excellence by addressing the many long term challenges in this strategically important area of technology. The objective of the laboratory will be to address fundamental problems in communications, signal processing and networks theory for the analysis, synthesis, design and development of large scale and complex networks, that materially rely on the development of advanced algorithms, architectures, tools and techniques for the provision of services. The activities will address the integration of elements of the fixed network and the mobile network necessary to provide intelligent and dynamic resource allocation and management between competing service providers and their un-tethered subscribers. This will incorporate signal processing developments which are an essential enabling technology for multi-media, multi-operator mobile communications systems, drawing on a unique combination of skills which has been assembled at Strathclyde and which is not available elsewhere in Scotland. In addition to facilitating the execution of long term research, the laboratory will also provide a focus for the engagement of industrial collaborators which will have beneficial effect not only on the quality and relevance of the research but also will extend to the teaching/training domain. In order to attract the best quality students, a facility which houses state-of-the-art demonstrations of new capabilities in communications and DSP will bring to life the beauty and elegance of the technology, and in so doing help to enthuse the best of talent to study the subject. END.