Research groups in the College of Engineering advance knowledge about analysis and design of secure networks, power systems, and other critical infrastructure.
Experts
Vicki M. Bier — Risk analysis and decision analysis, homeland security and critical-infrastructure protection
Pascale Carayon — Human factors and organizational issues in computer security, quality and productivity improvement, technological and organizational change, human factors and systems engineering in healthcare and patient safety
Ben-Tzion Karsh — Patient safety, health systems engineering, macroergonomics, technology change, occupational safety and health
Enid Montague — Patient safety, technology mediated collaboration, trust in technology, human-computer interaction, technology integration, human factors and ergonomics, macroergonomics
David A. Noyce — Transportation safety, vehicle crash analysis, traffic operations, geometric design, traffic simulation, human actors, intelligent transportation systems
Michael J. Smith — Human factors and ergonomics, occupational safety, job-related stress, work organization design and management, job design
Douglas A. Wiegmann — System safety, accident investigation, human error analysis, aviation, healthcare, cognitive sytems engineering
Paul H. Wilson — Sustainable nuclear energy, energy policy, radiation transport in nuclear systems
Most of us take for granted the confidence we have in the systems we rely upon every day. But it is, of course, only through the efforts of countless people that we have routine access to safe food and water or reliable communications. Whether it is security from attack or security in the dependable operation of our electrical distribution system, the College of Engineering is engaged in research that helps protect and improve the nation’s critical systems. In an effort to secure our country from future terrorist attacks, we are developing techniques not only to prioritize possible targets, but also to develop effective risk-reduction and resource-allocation strategies. We are developing sensors for the detection of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, technologies for the safe distribution of the blood supply and materials and innovations to improve military systems. Our experts in water systems work to improve the removal and inactivation of waterborne pathogens and other microbes during drinking water treatment and distribution. We’ve developed sensors that give early warning of food spoilage and deposition techniques to provide anti-fouling and anti-microbial surfaces that help protect the food supply. The need for security and reliability in communications grows each day in our increasingly digitized society. The number of web-enabled devices is expected to grow from 3 to 14 billion within the next five years, driven by the proliferation of wireless sensors with ubiquitous Internet connections. College of Engineering researchers are working on applications of algebra and number theory to engineering in areas such as cryptography, coding theory, watermarking, and biometrics.
Security News
- Opportunities in engineering: Annual report 2011
- Energy inspired by the sun
- UW-Madison stellarator continues to re-shape fusion research
- 100-year study mirrors U.S. history of concrete
- Research may yield more compact antennas
- Warning system shows potential for alleviating crashes at dangerous rural intersections
- With new high-tech materials, researchers aim to catalyze U.S. manufacturing future
- Academic centers merge to form statewide energy research powerhouse
- Behdad receives Department of Defense instrumentation grant
- Transportation researchers help identify economic impact of traffic congestion on truck-borne freight
Resources
Center for Human Performance
and Risk Analysis
Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement
Construction and Materials Support Center
Disaster Management Center
Fusion Technology Institute
National Center for Freight and
Infrastructure Research and Education
Power Systems Engineering Research Center
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
Thermal Storage Applications Research Center
Transportation Information Center
UW Energy Institute
Wisconsin Institute of Nuclear Systems
Wisconsin Power Electronics Research Center
Wisconsin Public Utility Institute
Wisconsin Structures and Materials
Testing Laboratory
Wisconsin Traffic Operations
and Safety Laboratory
Wisconsin Transportation Center