Social network analysis as an intelligence technique

Graham Durant-Law, chief scientist of HyperEdge Pty Ltd, will speak on "Social network analysis as an intelligence technique" at the Australian National University in Canberra, 16 August 2011. The talk will be followed by drinks courtesy of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO):

Social network analysis as an intelligence technique - the Iranian nuclear weapons program revisited.

Network analysis has its origins in graph theory which can be traced to Leonhard Euler’s solution of the Konigsberg bridges problem in 1736. Simplistically, graph theory is a mathematical discipline that examines the relationships between a set of entities referred to as vertices or nodes. These nodes are connected by edges, more commonly known as links. Network analysis builds on graph theory by allocating attribute data to the nodes and relationship data to the links. These are then visualised as ‘maps’ and analysed. The method has primarily been used in theoretical physics and mathematics, but more recently has been applied to academic investigations in the social sciences, and practically into fields like medicine and terrorism studies. This presentation uses these techniques to show how intelligence analysts can use readily available open-source information to map the networks of people of interest.

Graham Durant-Law CSC is the owner, founder, and chief scientist of HyperEdge Pty Ltd. He is an expert in network analysis and an acknowledged thought leader in knowledge management, acting as one of the international adjudicators for the Singapore Knowledge Management Excellence Awards. He holds numerous academic qualifications and has won prizes for academic achievement, as well as awards for innovation and practice.

AIPIO is the peak representative body for all intelligence professionals. For further information about AIPIO please visit our website: http://www.aipio.asn.au/