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 development in the field of measurement standards, in calibration and measurement methodologies, and the intercomparison of such. Areas of emphasis are:

(a) the development and refinement of new measurement techniques.

(b) primary standards, including those based on quantum phenomena.

(d) characterization of the electromagnetic properties of materials.

(e) electromagnetic dosimetry.

The commission fosters accurate and consistent measurements needed to support research, development and exploitation of electromagnetic technologies across the spectrum.

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

The interest of Commission B is fields and waves, encompassing theory, analysis, computation, experiments, validation and applications. 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 and imaging.

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 down to nanoscale including quantum 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 from the low frequencies to the optical domain.

5. Commission E - ELECTROMAGNETIC NOISE AND INTERFERENCE.

The Commission promotes research and development in :

(a) Terrestrial and planetary noise of natural origin, seismic associated electromagnetic fields;

(b) Man-made noise;

(d) The effects of noise on system performance;

(e) The lasting effects of natural and intentional emissions on equipment performance;

(f) The scientific basis of noise and interference control, electromagnetic compatibility;

(g) Spectrum management.

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 atmospheres, surfaces (including land, ocean and ice), and subsurfaces;
- (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 Commission addresses 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 these studies, particularly to solar/planetary plasma interactions, space weather, and the 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 interaction of electromagnetic fields* with biological systems;

(b) Biological effects of electromagnetic fields;

(d) Experimental electromagnetic fields exposure systems;

(e) Assessment of human exposure to electromagnetic fields;

(f) Medical applications of electromagnetic fields.

* (frequency range from static to terahertz)

Reports from URSI Commissions
Overview of the URSI Commission Chairs
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These pages are maintained by Mrs. Inge Heleu

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