EIS - Home

What We Do

The Center for Environmental and Information Systems houses three core research areas:

1. Acoustics and Signal Processing (ASP)

ASP conducts research and development in applied ocean acoustics to support antisubmarine warfare and other Navy programs, and, applies signal processing techniques to extract relevant information from underwater sound, speech, and radiation as well as other environmental signals.

2. Environmental Sensing and Modeling (ESM)

ESM investigates new techniques for making operational observations of the coastal ocean, estuaries, and other important regions. The group researches numerical modeling, data management and communication, environmental data visualization, and chemical sensing.

The Applied Optical Sensing Laboratory is researching the optical sampling characteristics of various spectroscopic techniques such as Raman, FT-IR, and UV-Vis, to improve real-time analyses and modeling for understanding and control of industrial processes like pharmaceutical manufacturing and biofuel processing.

Evanescent sensor — optical sensor development

3. Information and Control Systems (ICS)

ICS researches the use of information in complex decision-making environments like social networks, human robot interaction, computer interfaces, and cyber security, developing information and control systems for decision support systems, environmental visualization tools, autonomous underwater vehicles, and a testbed for studying botnets.

ICS is studying group decision-making in a joint Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Office of Naval Research (ONR) program. They are modeling the interaction of group structural and process variables on group decision-making outcomes, variables such as specific networks, their level of disagreement, the order of their communications, and internal and external pressures. The predicted behaviors from the model will be validated experimentally.

To do so ICS is examining the theoretical integration of small group and attitude change theory, nonlinear dynamical systems, and wireless sensor network analysis methods. From these investigations ICS will design and conduct online group discussion experiments on small groups (3-5 people) through the manipulation of structural and process variables.

The EIS Center’s know-how is applied to the needs of the Department of Defense, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, along with other agencies and industry partners.

Examples of our research efforts include the investigation of underwater acoustic communications to improve sensor networking, the study of the causes of hypoxia in Hood Canal, and the use of cognitive engineering approaches to study the needs of Puget Sound boaters that resulted in an interactive web application called BIS.

Future directions for our group include chemical sensor engineering, ecosystem modeling of estuaries and coastal regions, and new areas of information science such as the study of social networks. One example of our research and development in chemical sensing is the use of revolutionary optical technologies to measure dissolved gases and to probe the geochemistry of remote and harsh environments.

David Jones, EIS Center Director

“We develop new methods for environmental observation and new tools for data analysis and signal processing, plus design, develop, and improve systems for enhanced performance, precision, and ease of use.”

EIS Center Expertise

Oceanography & meteorology
Applied ocean acoustics
Human systems interfaces
Signal, image & information processing
Naval operational studies
Software & environmental engineering
Statistical analysis
Embedded real-time control systems

EIS Center Applications

Autonomous undersea vehicle piloting and control
Ocean observing systems
Naval ocean & acoustic forecasting
ASW sonar & sonobuoy systems
Torpedo defense
Mine countermeasure systems

What's New?

Countering Insurgencies

Insurgent groups' public speech and political declarations are used to drive computational simulations of network dynamics, giving intelligence analysts insight to the groups' decision making and behavior. More >>

ONR Undersea Signal Processing Program Review

The 2012 ONR Undersea Signal Processing Program Review will be held at the University of Washington from 31 July–2 August. Information and Online Registration >>

Ocean Acidification Research Funding Saved

On Earth Day, 22 April, Senator Maria Cantwell was in Seattle to announce continued funding for research into ocean acidification in Washington State. Principal Oceanographer Jan Newton was on hand to describe the value of the acidification monitoring assets to shellfish farmers and scientists alike. More >>

In the News

What goes wrong when talks break down

Science News, Rachel Ehrenberg

12 Dec 2012

Physicist Michael Gabbay uses nonlinear analysis to explain how negotiations often fail.

Review of science lets people off the hook for Hood Canal fish kills

The Seattle Times, Craig Welch

19 Sep 2012

The most comprehensive review ever of existing research on Hood Canal has concluded that septic systems aren't a leading cause of the massive fish kills that have hit the hooked fjord over the years.

Web tool, phone app pinpoint tsunami dangers, quick getaway routes

UW Today, Sandra Hines

20 Mar 2012

A new online portal and smartphone app lets Washington and Oregon residents enter the addresses of their homes, schools, workplaces or kids' day care centers to check if they're in harm's way should a tsunami hit.