ICASA - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

About ICASA

What is ICASA?

ICASA is the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis, a division of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). The Institute is dedicated to protecting the nation’s infrastructure systems by studying the behavior, vulnerabilities, and predictability of complex systems. These studies are then used to create innovative solutions to modern-day national security problems. ICASA also trains and educates the next generation of analysts, engineers, and scientists through workshops, seminars, and in-house developed training modules. More about ICASA...

What products and services does ICASA provide?

ICASA provides a variety of products and services that contribute to the safeguarding of the nation’s security. Scientists and engineers at ICASA thoroughly research the many aspects of complex systems and apply this research to develop key enabling technologies custom-designed and developed for customer’s needs. More about research…

ICASA also provides training and education for analyzing complex systems in the areas of information assurance and information security. Outreach programs, workshops, and presentations on these practical applications are prepared and presented by ICASA experts in these fields. More about Outreach…

Also contributing to training and education are ICASA’s training team members who develop various methods of training presentations, such as platform (lecture-based), online, and simulation. More about Training…

What capabilities does ICASA offer for technology development?: ICASA’s scientists and engineers’ studies of dynamical systems, control theory, mathematical physics, and economics lead to the development of key enabling technologies that non-experts can use and apply to real world problems. More about Enabling Technologies…

What training and education resources are available from ICASA?: ICASA provides outreach programs, workshops, and presentations in the area of complex systems, information assurance, and information security. More about Outreach…

Lead by the ICASA Training Team, the Institute also designs and develops training tools to accommodate various methods of presentation, such as platform (lecture-based), online, and simulation. More about Training…

Lastly, ICASA provides several educational programs for students and professionals. The Innovative Studies Research Program (ISRP) offers funding to professionals addressing critical problems in the area of complex systems and modeling and analysis. The Scholarship for Service provides financial support for outstanding students through a grant received from the National Science Foundation (NSF). More about Educational Programs…

Where is ICASA located?: ICASA is located in Socorro, New Mexico on the New Mexico Tech campus. More about Contact Information…

Who can I contact for more information about ICASA and its programs?: Please direct all inquiries to the General ICASA email, or write to:
New Mexico Tech – ICASA
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801

More Contact Information…

Who has ICASA previously worked with?: ICASA has developed a broad range of partners and collaborators since its inception including: Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratories, New Mexico State University, and Lucent Technologies.

About Complex Additive Systems

What are complex additive systems?: Complex additive systems are evolving systems distinguished by their specially engineered components. These components are designed with a specific goal of robustness, yet they are still fragile which allows the detection of vulnerabilities from accidents or malicious attacks.

How are complex additive systems' vulnerabilities analyzed?: ICASA scientists and engineers analyze complex additive systems by focusing on the additive effects, or unintended consequences, of a system’s efficient design. Through theoretical analysis and extensive modeling and simulation, scientists and engineers are able to identify several types of vulnerabilities of the system. Algorithms for checking existing vulnerabilities, obviating the need to specify exploitation methods, are also identified through interdisciplinary research.

What is the difference between complex adaptive systems and the complex additive systems that are researched at ICASA?: Complex adaptive systems are distinguished by the simplicity of their components, which interact in relatively simple ways to produce large-scale dynamics with rich, complex structures. In contrast, complex additive systems, such as those researched at ICASA, are typically engineered to work very efficiently, often by linking several systems together to form systems of systems.

What types of complex additive systems are studied at ICASA?: Currently, ICASA focuses on the study of four different types of complex additive systems.

Electric Power Systems– ICASA’s Electric Power (EP) team works to understand and model cascading power failures of Electric Power Systems.

Computer Networks – Scientists and engineers study computer networks’ behaviors, vulnerabilities, and interactions in order to develop innovative methods to better understand computer networks.

Financial Systems - An interdisciplinary team has developed a three-phase model of the currency market price-formation process to assess the trade behavior on prices and bid-ask spreads. Researchers have also developed a model of the US wholesale power trader market.

About Faculty, Staff, and Students

How do I join ICASA's faculty or staff?: ICASA strives to hire the best research scientists and engineers through New Mexico Tech. Please refer to Jobs at New Mexico Tech for ICASA career opportunities, as well as other career opportunities with New Mexico Tech.

How do I join ICASA as a student?: The primary function and goal of ICASA is to assist and encourage the training and education of future analysts, scientists, and engineers; therefore, ICASA seeks students to assist in research, development, and administrative tasks. New Mexico Tech students who are majoring in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, management, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and technical communication are encouraged to contact ICASA about available student opportunities.

Does ICASA offer scholarships to New Mexico Tech students?: Through a grant received from the National Science Foundation (NSF), New Mexico Tech offers Scholarship for Service, which provides support to outstanding students studying in information assurance-related fields. More about Scholarship for Service.