FINDS Research Center: The Forensic Investigations Network in Digital Sciences (FINDS) Research Center: A Proposal for Development of Advanced Digital Forensic Research by Networked HBCU/MSIs for The
Abstract
Rapid growth, proliferation and reliance on digital devices permeates our society, government and military. There is ongoing concern of malfeasance, cyberattacks and illegal penetration of devices exposing valuable information to our nationÕs enemies. Once an incident occurs, the forensics process begins. But the need for digital forensics (DF) expertise, tools and techniques is now critical and will increase exponentially with the addition of active devices estimated to top more than 43 billion units by 2023. In solving crimes, nearly everyone agrees that diversity helps eliminate bias, producing stronger solutions than homogeneous groups. With a US population of 18 percent Hispanic and 12 percent Black we would expect the DF field to be the same. Yet a recent New York Times article reported computer science and engineering graduates with bachelor s or advanced degrees as only 8 percent Hispanic and 6 percent BlackÑrepresenting fewer opportunities for superior solutions to future challenges. To meet demands, Florida International University (FIUÑa Minority, Hispanic Institution) in collaboration with three traditional Historically Black Universities; Grambling State U., Jackson State U., and Florida A&M, propose to establish the Forensics Investigations Network in Digital Sciences (FINDS) Research Center of Excellence (COE). The Center will focus on advanced research and education in emerging DF areas. DoD agencies, industry and national laboratories will partner to collaborate on research, technology transfer and mentoring of students, as well as building research capacity of minority researchers. The FINDS Research Center will provide the U.S and the Army, with advanced capabilities in digital forensics. We propose to build the COE on a solid foundation of collaboration with HBCU researchers and students, the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), industry partners and DoD Labs via multidisciplinary, collaborative research projects in five DF theme areasÑAnalytical Methods/Evidence Processing Techniques; Forensic Fusion Models for Extracting Event Signatures; Analytical Method Processing and Big Data Digital Forensics; Drone Forensics and Ubiquitous Forensic Signatures; and Workforce Development. The Center will advance DoD digital forensic investigative capabilities and improve operational decision-making capabilities, while advancing education and training of minority and underrepresented groups. The Center will be a centralized DF hub focusing on developing new models and tools to understand and extract high-value, actionable information from digital data/devices across operational theaters, providing core capabilities in digital forensics, and building advanced digital forensics tools, techniques, software/hardware. The project will host digital forensic workshops bringing government, industry, and academia together to showcase research results, facilitate information exchanges, and address emerging challenges. The FINDS Research Center goal is to provide a Center of Excellence for HBCUs/MSIs that will (a) educate and increase Black and Hispanic students, especially women, in STEM careers, (b) enhance all participating HBCU/MSI institutionsÕ research capabilities and faculty research cultivation, (c) build research capacity for a government workforce of technologists with advanced forensic skills, knowledge of the U.S. government, and motivation for service. The Center would address critical problems for the U.S. government and the Army with societal spinoffs. Within each of the proposed projects are key elements to better facilitate military decision-making and secure cyber systems. AI applied to perception tasks such as imagery analysis will be developed to extract useful information from raw data, thereby equipping leaders with increased situational awareness tools and resilient, robust, reliable, and secure DF systems and forensic examiners and operational decision-maker
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110264
Entities
People
- Sundaraja Sitharama Iyengar
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Florida International University
- United States Army