Czech National Committee of The International Union of Radio Science

Scientific Commissions

The various branches of radio science are allocated to a set of ten URSI Commissions. The make-up of these Commissions, and the topics of principal interest within them, move with the changing needs and interests of the scientific community. At present the Commissions and their interests are:

1. Commission A - ELECTROMAGNETIC METROLOGY, Electromagnetic measurements and standards.

The Commission promotes research and developments in :

(a) Measurements and standards in time and frequency, including infrared and optical frequencies;
(b) Measurements in the time domain;
(c) Measurements in the frequency domain;
(d) Measurements in telecommunications;
(e) Measurements using lasers;
(f) Quantum metrology and electrical methods in fundamental constants;
(g) Measurements and standards from dc to optical frequencies.

2. Commission B - FIELDS AND WAVES, Electromagnetic theory and applications.

The interest of Commission B is fields and waves, encompassing theory, analysis, computation, experiments, and validation. Areas of emphasis are :

(a) Time-domain and frequency-domain phenomena;
(b) Scattering and diffraction;
(c) General propagation including waves in specialised media;
(d) Guided waves;
(e) Antennas and radiation;
(f) Inverse scattering.

The Commission fosters the creation, development, and refinement of analytical, numerical, and measurement techniques to understand these phenomena. It encourages innovation and seeks to apply interdisciplinary concepts and methods.

3. Commission C - RADIO-COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING.

The Commission promotes research and development in :

(a) Radio-Communication and Telecommunication systems;
(b) Spectrum and Medium Utilisation;
(c) Information Theory, Coding, Modulation and Detection;
(d) Signal and Image Processing in the area of radio science.

The design of effective radio-communication systems must include scientific, engineering and economic considerations. This Commission emphasises research into the scientific aspects, and provides enabling technologies to other areas of radio science.

4. Commission D - ELECTRONICS AND PHOTONICS.

The Commission promotes research and reviews new development in :

(a) Electronic devices, circuits, systems and applications;
(b) Photonic devices, systems and applications;
(c) Physics, materials, CAD, technology and reliability of electronic and photonic devices, with particular reference to radio science and telecommunications.

The Commission deals with devices for generation, detection, storage and processing of electromagnetic signals together with their applications, covering all frequencies, including those in the microwave and optical domains.

5. Commission E - ELECTROMAGNETIC NOISE AND INTERFERENCE.

The Commission promotes research and development in :

(a) Terrestrial and planetary noise of natural origin; man-made noise;
(b) The composite noise environment;
(c) The effects of noise on system performance;
(d) The lasting effects of natural and intentional emissions on equipment performance;
(e) The scientific basis of noise and interference control;
(f) Spectrum management/utilisation and wireless telecommunications;
(g) Geo-electric and -magnetic fields and seismic associated electromagnetic fields.

Note : Many of the subjects mentioned are treated under the common title of Electromagnetic Compatibility.

6. Commission F - WAVE PROPAGATION AND REMOTE SENSING (planetary atmospheres, surfaces and subsurfaces).

The Commission encourages :

(a) The study of all frequencies in a non-ionised environment :

(i) wave propagation through planetary, neutral atmospheres and surfaces,
(ii) wave interaction with the planetary surfaces and subsurfaces (including land, ocean and ice),
(iii) characterisation of the environment as it affects wave phenomena;

(b) The application of the results of these studies, particularly in the areas of remote sensing and communications;
(c) The appropriate co-operation with other URSI Commissions and other relevant organisations.

7. Commission G - IONOSPHERIC RADIO AND PROPAGATION (including ionospheric communications and remote sensing of ionised media).

The Commission deals with the study of the ionosphere in order to provide the broad understanding necessary to support space and ground-based radio systems. Specifically, the study includes the following areas :

(a) Global morphology and modelling of the ionosphere;
(b) Ionospheric space-time variations;
(c) Development of tools and networks needed to measure ionospheric properties and trends;
(d) Theory and practice of radio propagation via the ionosphere;
(e) Application of ionospheric information to radio systems.

To achieve these objectives, the Commission co-operates with other URSI Commissions, corresponding bodies of the ICSU family (IUGG, IAU, COSPAR, SCOSTEP, etc) and other organisations (ITU, IEEE, etc.).

8. Commission H - WAVES IN PLASMAS (including space and laboratory plasmas).

The goals of the Commission are :

(a) To study waves in plasmas in the broadest sense, and in particular :

(i) the generation ( i.e. plasma instabilities) and propagation of waves in plasmas,
(ii) the interaction between these waves, and wave-particle interactions,
(iii) plasma turbulence and chaos,
(iv) spacecraft-plasma interaction ;

(b) To encourage the application of the results of these studies, particularly in the areas of solar/planetary plasma interactions, and an increased exploitation of space as a research laboratory.

9. Commission J - RADIO ASTRONOMY (including remote sensing of celestial objects).

(a) The activities of the Commission are concerned with observation and interpretation of all radio emissions and reflections from celestial objects.
(b) Emphasis is placed on :

(i) the promotion of technical means for making radio-astronomical observations and data analysis,
(ii) support of activities to protect radio-astronomical observations from harmful interference.

10. Commission K - ELECTROMAGNETICS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

The Commission is charged with promoting research and development in the following domains :

(a) physical interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems;
(b) biological effects of electromagnetic fields;
(c) interaction mechanisms;
(d) human exposure assessment;
(e) experimental exposure systems;
(f) medical applications.

The Commission emphasises its interdisciplinary character and fosters research co-operation among various disciplines.

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