Description

The domains of sonar and radar have developed in parallel over the past century. Essentially they address similar problems - the detection, identification and tracking of targets against a background of reverberation or clutter, using acoustic or electromagnetic energy.

In more recent decades there have been significant advances in both domains in the use of synthetic aperture imaging techniques - in radar for high resolution imaging from aircraft and satellites, for defence surveillance purposes and for geophysical remote sensing and environmental monitoring, and in sonar, for high-resolution imaging of targets on the seabed for the offshore industry and for mine countermeasures.

Despite these synergies, in practice there has been relatively little cross-fertilization between the two communities, and to attempt to address this a two-day conference was held in 2006, with the objective of providing a forum to compare work on systems, processing techniques and examples of results, with the intention of stimulating new ideas in both domains. Following the success of the first conference it has been decided to repeat the event in September 2010.

Programme

There has been an excellent response to the call for papers; Keynote presentations wil be given by Chris Oliver, Matthias Weiss and Bill Bardo.

Programme is now available

Organised by the Institutue of Acoustics in association with the Aerospace and Electrnoic Systems Society of the IEEE and suported by the Office of Naval Research Global.

Registration

SAS/SAR

Accommodation

Accommodation has been reserved at two hotels

The Doria Park info@doriaparkhotel.it
The Europa Hotel info@europahotel.it

Bookings should be made direct with the hotel by email. Please quote "Synthetic Aperture Sonar Conference" on the email subject heading.

Hotel Doria
Via Doria, 2 19032 Lerici(SP)
Tel: +39 0187 967124
Fax: +39 0187 966459

90,00 Euro (partial sea view)
105,00 Euro (full sea view)
110,00 Euro (large sized room, full sea view)

Hotel Europa
Via Carpanini, 1 - 19032, Lerici (SP)
Tel: +39 0187 967800
Fax: +39 0187 965957

80,00 Euro (large sized room, garden view)
85,00 Euro (partial sea view)
95,00 Euro (full sea view)
100,00 Euro (large sized room, full sea view)

These rates are guaranteed only until 31 July 2010.
Both hotels accept major credit cards and all room rates include breakfast and tax.

Travel

TRANSPORT
two mini buses will run in relay from the Piazza del Comune (Piazza Bacigalupi) up to the Villa in the morning and back in the evening.

Monday 13 September
morning from 0830 - 0930
evening from 2130 - 2230

Tuesday 14 September
morning from 0800 - 0900
afternoon from 1530 - 1630


VENUE & TRAVEL INFORMATION
________________________________________
The venue for the conference is Villa Marigola, a historic villa located on a promontory overlooking the sea between Lerici and Portovenere.
Villa Marigola
Via Biaggini, 1-19032
Lerici (SP), Italy
Tel +39 0187 773 318
Fax +39 0187 773 595


Travel Information

Air
Pisa International Airport is the closest airport to Lerici (90 km). Pisa is connected to Milano and Roma by regular domestic flights. Pisa also has direct connections from London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris CDG, and Brussels CRL. Genova (120 km) and Florence (170 km) airports are also nearby. Genova has direct daily connections to Frankfurt, Zürich, London LGW, and Munich. Trans Atlantic flights usually arrive at either Milano (230 km) or Roma (415 km).

Rail
Lerici is not linked by train directly to other travel destinations; the nearest railway stations are in La Spezia and Sarzana (both 10 km). There are multi-daily train connections from Genova, Firenze, Milano and Roma to La Spezia. From Pisa airport, take a shuttle to the Pisa train station (30 minutes), then take a train to La Spezia (1 hour). From the Malpensa airport in Milano, take a bus shuttle to the train station Centrale (1 hour), and then take a train to La Spezia (3-4 hours). From Genova airport, take a shuttle to the train station Genova Principe(40 minutes), and then take a train to La Spezia (90 minutes). The Italian Rail Web Site is: http://www.trenitalia.it

Bus/Taxi
Journey time by taxi from the central railway station of La Spezia or from the railway station of Sarzana to Lerici is around 15 minutes. Expect to pay approximately €30 Euro (tipping not included). Taxi bookings at Central railway station in La Spezia: 0187-714-805; railway station in Sarzana: 0187-627-777.
Journey time by bus from the central railway station of La Spezia or from the station of Sarzana to Lerici is around 30 minutes. Bus tickets can be purchased at the Railway stations, most magazine dealers, and coffee bars.

Car
It is possible to drive from most European cities to the Lerici area, without leaving the motorways. Note: as you exit the motorway, you have to pay a toll. Almost every “self-service Viacard” gate will accept credit cards. From Genova or Parma, drive towards Livorno and exit the motorway at the Sarzana toll station. Follow road signs to Lerici. From Rome, Florence, Livorno, or Pisa, exit the motorway at the Sarzana toll station and follow road signs to Lerici.
In order to drive in the town of Lerici in the summertime, one must obtain a driving permit. If staying at the Hotel Florida, this may be obtained upon check-in. If staying at any other hotel, you will not be able to obtain a permit and it will not be possible to drive into the “down town” section of Lerici.
Once in Lerici, to reach the Villa Marigola, turn right onto the coast road, Via Biaggini. At the Congress Centre Park enter through an automatic gate which is audio-visually controlled from the reception office. The entrance avenue leads to a large square immediately in front of the Villa equipped with two parking areas.

Climate
Temperatures in Lerici are relatively mild in September, with an average high of 25ºC (77ºF) and an average low of 15º (59ºF). The weather may be unpredictable, so we advise bringing suitable wet weather clothing.

Credit Cards
Generally, most credit cards (Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Eurocard) are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.

Electricity Supply
The voltage in Italy is 220 Volts and 50 Hertz.

Telephone
The International Dialing Code for Italy is +39 and the area code for Lerici is 0187. Phone Cards can be purchased at several places (i.e., airport, rail station, coffee bar, magazine dealers) and they are less expensive than using the room phones in the hotels.

Time Change
Lerici follows central European time (GMT +01:00). In September the time will be 2 hours ahead of GMT, to include daylight savings time.

Documents

• Programme PDF, 158KB
• Map of Lerici PDF, 1206KB
• Registration Form PDF, 35KB

© 1974-2009, Institute of Acoustics