CfP QEST 2014

[Nils Ole Tippenhauer <nils.t [at] adsc.com.sg>]

Dear colleagues, please find attached the Call for Papers for QEST 2014.

QEST2014

International Conference on
Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems

Florence, September 8th-11th 2014
www.qest.org/qest2014

Co-located with
FORMATS, SAFECOMP, EPEW, FMICS
www.florence2014.org


SCOPE AND TOPICS

QEST is the leading forum on evaluation and verification of computer
systems and networks, through stochastic models and measurements.
QEST has a broad range of interests -- the common thread is that the
evaluation be quantitative.  The range of performance metrics of
interest spans classical measures involving performance and
reliability, as well as quantification of properties that are
classically qualitative, such as safety, correctness, and security.
QEST welcomes measurement-based studies as well as analytic studies.
QEST welcomes diversity in the model formalisms and methodologies
employed, as well as development of new formalisms and methodologies.
QEST is keenly interested in case studies highlighting the role of
quantitative evaluation in the design of systems, where the notion of
system is broad.  Systems of interest include computer hardware and
software architectures, communication systems, embedded systems and
biological systems.  Moreover, tools for supporting the practical
application of research results in all of the above areas are of
special interest, and therefore tool papers are sought.  In short,
QEST aims to create a sound methodological basis for assessing and
designing systems using quantitative means.


IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract submission: 7 March 2014
Paper and tool submission: 14 March 2014
Author feedback/rebuttal period: 25-29 April 2014
Author notification: 16 May 2014
Final version due: 6 June 2014


CALL FOR PAPERS

All submitted papers will be thoroughly judged by at least three
reviewers on the basis of their originality, technical quality,
scientific or practical contribution to the state of the art,
methodology, clarity, and adequacy of references.

QEST considers five types of papers with additional reviewing
criteria:

1. Theoretical: advance our understanding, apply to non-trivial
problems and be mathematically rigorous.

2. Methodological and technical: describe situations that require the
development and proposal of new analysis processes and techniques.
Process structure and the individual steps should be clearly
described.  If the methodology has already been evaluated with
applications, a brief description of the lessons learned would be very
helpful.

3. Application: describes a novel application, and compares with
previous results (if any).

4. Tools: should motivate the development of the new tools and the
formalisms they support.  Tool papers need neither discuss their
theoretical underpinnings nor their algorithms.  Instead, they should
focus on the software architecture and discuss its practical
capabilities with particular reference to the size and type of model
it can handle within reasonable time and space limits.

5. Tool demonstration: describe a relevant tool, as well as its
features, evaluation, or any other information that may demonstrate
the merits of the tool.

The conference will have special tracks on
- rare events simulation, coordinated by Gerardo Rubino, INRIA (FR);
- hybrid systems, coordinated by Alessandro Abate, University of
     Oxford (GB), and Sayan Mitra, University of Illinois (US).


SUBMISSIONS

We invite submissions of original papers related to the aforementioned
topics.  Submissions must be in English, Springer LNCS format, and
must indicate the above paper type.  Papers must be prepared in LaTeX,
following Springer's LNCS guidelines.  Submitted papers should not
exceed 16 pages (4 pages for tool demonstrations).  Additional
material for the aid of the reviewers (e.g., proofs) can be sent in a
clearly marked appendix.  Papers must be unpublished and not be
submitted for publication elsewhere.  PC members, except program
co-chairs, may submit papers.

Papers should be submitted electronically using EasyChair online
submission system:

https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=qest2014

The revision process will include a rebuttal phase after the first
notification to authors and before the PC discussion.

All accepted papers (including tool demonstrations) must be presented
at the conference by one of the authors.  A best-paper award will be
presented at the conference.

The QEST 2014 proceedings will be published by Springer in the LNCS
Series.  The proceedings will be available at the conference.  As in
previous years, we are planning to publish extended versions of
selected papers in a special issue of a journal.


TUTORIALS

There will be one day of tutorials at the end of the conference.
Tutorial proposals (up to 4 pages Springer LNCS format) should be sent
to qest2014 [at] gmail.com or to the Tutorial Chair (Marco Paolieri) by the
same deadline of paper and tool submissions.


GENERAL CHAIR
Enrico Vicario, University of Florence, IT

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Gethin Norman, University of Glasgow, GB
William Sanders, University of Illinois, US

TOOLS CHAIR
David Parker, University of Birmingham, GB

TUTORIALS CHAIR
Marco Paolieri, University of Florence, IT

LOCAL ORGANIZATION CHAIR
Laura Carnevali, University of Florence, IT

PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS CHAIR
Marco Paolieri, University of Florence, IT

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Giuliano Casale, Imperial College London, GB
Pedro D'Argenio, University of Cordoba, AR
Peter Kemper, College of William and Mary, US
Nils Tippenhauer, Advanced Digital Sciences Center, SG

PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Alessandro Abate, University of Oxford, GB
Christel Baier, TU Dresden, DE
Nathalie Bertrand, INRIA Rennes, FR
Robin Bloomfield, City University London, GB
Luca Bortolussi, University of Trieste, IT
Jeremy Bradley, Imperial College London, GB
Peter Buchholz, TU Dortmund, DE
Javier Campos, University of Zaragoza, ES
Gianfranco Ciardo, UC Riverside, US
Susanna Donatelli, University of Turin, IT
Leana Golubchik, University of Southern California, US
Boudewijn Haverkort, University of Twente, NL
Holger Hermanns, Saarland University, DE
Jane Hillston, University of Edinburgh, GB
Andras Horvath, University of Turin, IT
Kaustubh Joshi, AT&T Labs Research, US
Mohamed Kaaniche, LAAS-CNRS, FR
Boris Koepf, IMDEA Software Institute, ES
Jan Kriege, TU Dortmund, DE
Annabelle McIver, Macquarie University, AU
Sayan Mitra, University of Illinois, US
Gethin Norman, University of Glasgow, GB
Catuscia Palamidessi, INRIA Saclay and LIX, FR
David Parker, University of Birmingham, GB
Eric Rozier, University of Miami, US
Gerardo Rubino, INRIA Rennes, FR
William Sanders, University of Illinois, US
Evgenia Smirni, College of William and Mary, US
Jeremy Sproston, University of Turin, IT
Miklos Telek, Technical University of Budapest, HU
Mirco Tribastone, University of Southampton, GB
Benny Van Houdt, University of Antwerp, BE
Laurie Williams, North Carolina State University, US
Verena Wolf, Saarland University, DE
Lijun Zhang, Technical University of Denmark, DK

STEERING COMMITTEE
Nathalie Bertrand, INRIA Rennes, FR
Luca Bortolussi, University of Trieste, IT
Peter Buchholz, TU Dortmund, DE
Pedro D'Argenio, University of Cordoba, AR
Boudewijn Haverkort, University of Twente, NL
Holger Hermanns, Saarland University, DE
Jane Hillston, University of Edinburgh, GB
Joost-Pieter Katoen, RWTH Aachen University, DE
Peter Kemper, College of William and Mary, US
William Knottenbelt, Imperial College London, GB
Gethin Norman, University of Glasgow, GB
Miklos Telek, Technical University of Budapest, HU