SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing (DSS) is the largest unclassified international symposium covering technologies for defense, homeland security, industrial applications, and the environment. The event draws more than 5,500 attendees who attend 60 conferences and visit 500 exhibitors. This year promises to be stronger than ever, with three new technical conferences, industry-leading speakers, and an exhibition drawing companies from around the globe.

DSS conferences cover the gamut of topics relevant to defense, security, and sensing communities. Researchers and engineers from academia, government, and the private sector present their latest innovations, report on recent findings, and discuss challenges on the horizon. The call for papers for DSS will be open until 21 September 2009-authors are encouraged to submit abstracts at spie.org/dss.

Examples of conferences on offer include:

• IR, Radar, Passive Millimeter-wave, and Terahertz Imaging
• CBRNE
• Cyber Sensing
• Energy Harvesting
• Biometric
• Laser Sensors and Systems
• Nanosensors
• Biomimetics
• Unmanned, Robotic, and Layered Systems
• Displays
• Sensing and Systems including Fiber Optics
• Sensor and Data Analysis
• Image and Data Processing
• Visual Analytics
• Situation Management
• Information Systems and Networks

The goal of DSS organizers is to provide a comprehensive set of presentations, covering the latest, most important issues.

The DSS exhibition is the single most important event for defense, homeland security, and sensing-a global shopping center for environmental technology, optics, sensors, and IR imaging equipment and much more. Qualified buyers are abundant, and the range of exhibitors stretches from the largest defense contractors in the world to highly specialized niche suppliers. A key synergy at DSS is the ability of prime contractors to access potential suppliers. It's not uncommon for business relationships hatched at DSS to stretch across many years and multiple projects.

The Robotics and Unmanned Systems Displays return to the exhibition for 2010. Attendees will see DARPA Challenge vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles currently being used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and robotic systems used by the US Army and Navy.

DSS attendees interested in enhancing their personal market value or earning continuing education units can access the wide variety of available courses. Classes are offered at beginning through advanced levels, and are taught by renowned authorities. Students draw on the long list of offerings in science, engineering, and business.

Overall, SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing 2010 promises to deliver a wide variety of compelling content, commercial opportunities, and learning possibilities.