Advanced Communication Techniques and Applications for High-Altitude Platforms

Call for Papers

We are beginning to witness an exciting era for researchers and developers of advanced future-generation multimedia telecommunication systems. High-altitude platform (HAP) systems are among these novel new technologies and are starting to attract considerable attention worldwide. Research and development activities include the EU FP6 CAPANINA Project and the COST 297 Action in Europe, along with government funded projects in Japan, Korea, and USA. Commercial projects are also underway in Switzerland, USA, China, and the UK.

High-altitude platforms (HAPs) are airships or planes, operating in the stratosphere, at altitudes of typically 17–22 km (around 75 000 feet). At this altitude (which is well above commercial aircraft height), they can maintain a quasi stationary position, and support payloads to deliver a range of services: principally communications and remote sensing. Communications services including broadband, WiMAX, 3G, and emergency communications, as well as broadcast services are under consideration.

This special issue seeks to highlight the ongoing research in this important area. Original manuscripts are solicited on HAP communications-related issues. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Broadband and future-generation HAP communication systems
  • Hybrid networks (terrestrial, satellite, and HAP)
  • Multiple HAPs for capacity and coverage enhancement
  • Networking techniques for HAP scenarios
  • Trials and measurements
  • Applications
  • HAP mobility models and payload constraint studies
  • Inter-/intra-HAP handoff, including fleet operation enhancement
  • Diversity management and QoS enhancement techniques
  • Radio resource and spectrum management including cognitive radio for HAP systems
  • Propagation and channel modeling and measurements for HAP links
  • Antenna steering solutions
  • Smart antennas and MIMO techniques
  • RF and antenna design for HAP architectures
  • Multicasting/broadcasting from HAPs
  • Terminal and payload development and architectures
  • Laser communications
  • Mixed radio and free-space optic solutions
  • HAP-based navigation systems and GPS accuracy enhancement
  • Standardization issues

Authors should follow the EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking manuscript format described at the journal site http://www.hindawi.com/journals/wcn/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/, according to the following timetable.

Manuscript DueOctober 1, 2007
First Round of ReviewsJanuary 1, 2008
Publication DateApril 1, 2008

Guest Editors:

  • Abbas Mohammed, School of Engineering, Blekinge Institute of Technology, 372 25 Ronneby, Sweden
  • Shlomi Arnon, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
  • David Grace, Department of Electronic, The University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
  • Marina Mondin, Departimento di Elettronica, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
  • Ryu Miura, Wireless Innovation Systems Group, Wireless Communication Division, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Yokosaka 239-0847, Japan