EURASIP President's Message

Europe is on the move - with respect to many coordinates. While the loss of many old securities is felt to be threatening, globalization and motion are nothing new for researchers whose most interesting journals, conferences, or workshops have always been international and open world-wide, such as EURASIP's journals or as our flagship conference EUSIPCO, which takes place every two years.

The EUSIPCO itself has always been on the move - deliberately trying to cover all regions of Europe more or less evenly. The list of venues - Lausanne/CH, Erlangen/D, The Hague/NL, Grenoble/F, Barchelona/E, Brussels/B, Edinburgh/GB, Trieste/I, and Rhodes/GR - shows that we have been zig-zagging through the continent, in the recent events from north-west to south-east, but with a jump to the north in the year 2000, when we all shall hopefully meet in Tempere/FIN. It also shows that we have been lucky so far to find groups quite easily, that would volunteer to take over the tremendous load of EUSIPCO presentation. Why did they all volunteer to host the EUSIPCO? Because they feel that Europe and we, the Europeans, need what to my mind is the main task of EURASIP and similar societies besides providing a forum for written scientific texts in their multidisciplinary journals: we need to offer possibilities where researchers and application engineers and students of all countries present their results and meet in person, get to know colleagues and their way of thinking, working, and living - and even possibly become friends.

In this sense, EURASIP is a friendly society - and as its President, I should very much like to give my friendly greetings and best wishes to all participants of EUSIPCO'98. Especially, of course, I should be very glad to welcome many of you (who will receive the benefits of EURASIP membership automatically after the meeting) as future regular and hopefully active members.

Since I have decided to retire from my Presidentship now because of heavy new duties elsewhere, I should also like to use the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all society members for their trust, to my friends of the AdCom for their continues help and work (and patience with me), and to all Officers for their efforts often made without much public notice. Especially, I do of course want to express my thanks to Sergios Theodoridis and his colleagues and team for preparing the EUSIPCO'98: for them, but also for all of us, I wish that it will become a most successful and friendly event.

See you at Rhodes!

 General Chairman's Message

It is my pleasure to warmly welcome you all to EUSIPCO-98 in the beautiful Greek island of Rhodes. A place rich in history, culture, and natural beauties.

EUSIPCO-98 is to be held at the RODOS PALACE international Convention Center. It is located by the sea and it is an ideal place to combine stimulating scientific meetings with leisure.

I am very pleased that the response of the Signal and Image Processing Scientific Community confirmed the tradition of continued growth of the EUSIPCO conferences. This year we received more than 960 submissions from all over the world, 86 of which were allocated in 12 special sessions, 270 in 38 oral sessions, and 274 to 21 poster sessions. The program of the conference also includes 4 plenary talks on "hot" topics in the areas of Signal and Image Processing as well as in Communications.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to all organizing committee members and in particular N. Kalouptsidis, I. Pitas and A. Stouraitis, for their efforts and invaluable help in organizing EUSIPCO-98. I would like to thank the International Scientific Committee members for offering their time in reviewing the submitted papers. Their effort made it possible for the papers to be reviewed by three reviewers independently, which guaranteed a rigorous reviewing process, matching the prestige of the EUSIPCO conferences. Last but not least I want to thank the plenary speakers, the special session organizers, the session chairmen, and all the authors for their efforts towards a successful scientific event.

On behalf of the organizing committee, I wish you a pleasant stay in Rhodes, and I hope that all of you will enjoy an experience rich in science, culture and natural beauty.

Sergios Theodoridis

General Chairman

RHODES

Rhodes (Rodos), the Isle of the Roses, is the largest of the Dodecanese complex and the third largest of the Greek islands. Situated in the South Aegean in the Mediterranean, at the cross-roads of two continents, Rhodes combines the worldliness of Europe and the mystery of the Orient in an atmosphere that is truly fascinating.

Discovering Rhodes you discover Greece. Ancient cities, a medieval town with its own castle, small villages, sun-drenched beaches are all found on Rhodes. But Rhodes is more than that. It is one of the most developed islands in the Mediterranean and it provides its visitors with every holiday amenity including large and modern hotels of interational standards, yachting harbour, entertaining night life, casino, sports facilities and duty-free shopping.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Passport and Visa

A valid passport is required for entry into Greece. An identity card is sufficient for citizens of the EU member countries. No visas are required for visitors from West European countries, USA, Japan, many South American countries and the British Commonwealth. For all other countries, visas are issued on a reciprocal basis. Please consult the Greek Consulate nearest to you for more details.

Car Rental - International Driver's Licence

Rhodes is a wonderful place for exploring by car. Rent-a-car is not expensive. If you wish to drive a car while in Greece, you must obtain a European or a international driver's licence in your home country.

Currency exchange

The Greek currency unit is the drachma (GRD). 1 US dollar is about 310 GRD at the time of printing. Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport and at most banks. Banking hours for the public are daily from 7:30 to 13:30 except weekends. Centrally located banks also provide "Exchange Service" from Monday to Friday afternoon (5:00 pm to 7:30 pm) and on Saturday mornings. They also offer ATM service. Banks at Rhodes Airport provide services throughout the day as well as a night for most flights. There is also a bank inside Rodos Palace Hotel.

Insurance

All kinds of insurance, including medical coverage, is left to your responsibility. We recommend that you discuss insurance coverage with your travel agent.

Electricity

Three-pin flat electric (220 V, 50 Hz) outlets are provided.

Credit Cards

Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept VISA, Diners Club and American Express credit cards as well as Eurochecks and Eurocards.

Shopping

Shops are open from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 20:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:00 to 13:30 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Large stores including supermarkets are open from 8:30 to 21:00.

Climate-Clothing

Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate, especially the regions which are close to the sea. During September the temperature is around 22^o Celsius, (72^o Fahrenheit). Being in one of the most beautiful Mediterranean islands during this period of the year, we suggest you bring summer clothes, cameras, and of course, bathing suits to enjoy swimming in an extraordinary blue sea. Include something more substantial for the evenings.

Transport within the town: Bus-Taxi

There are 7 public bus lines serving the town, the terminal of which is in the new market at Mandraki. The west coast where Rodos Palace is situated, is served by buses leaving every 10 to 15 minutes. The fare is GRD 300. Taxi is perhaps the best way to move in town. The fare between Rodos Palace and Downtown Rodos is approx. GRD 800. It is easy to get a taxi all day except in the rush hours in the morning and in the evening.

Tips

In restaurants, tips are included in the bill but if you are very satisfied with the service you may give a tip of 5 to 10% on the bill. In taxis you may round up the fare.

Telephones

Telephone calls from the hotel are more expensive than public telephones, as usual. Public telephones accept mostly cards which can be bought for 1,700 GRD at kiosks, supermarkets and corner stores. In Rodos Palace they are available at the drugstore.

Useful Phone Numbers

Country code (Greece): 30

Area code (Rhodes): (0) 241

Olympic Airways: 24 571 - 5

Rhodes Airport: 92 839

Rhodes Port Authority: 28 888, 27 695

Tourist Police: 27 423

Tourist Organization: 23 255, 23 655

Taxi: 27 666

First Aid: 22 222

Rodos Palace Hotel: 25 222

EUSIPCO-98

Before the conference: +301 727 53 28

During the conference: +30 241 25 222

+30 241 73 317 (fax)

TRAVEL INFORMATION

You can reach Rhodes by plane, by daily boat services from Piraeus and by hydrofoil service from other islands.

There are daily jet services directly to Rhodes from Athens and most major European cities. There may be a direct flight from your country/city to Rhodes. Olympic Airways (tel.: +30 1 9666 66 66) links Rhodes with Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Karpathos, Kassos, Kos, Megisti, Mykonos and Santorini.

If you will fly to Rhodes via Athens, book your flight as early as possible, September is still high season in Rhodes and demand almost always exceeds supply.

The Athens Hellinikon International Airport consists of the West Airport Terminal, used exclusively for domestic or international Olympic Airways flights, and the East Airport Terminal, used by all other international airlines. In case you reach Athens by an international flight to the East Terminal, you need to take the airport bus or a taxi to the West Terminal for your domestic flight to Rodos via Olympic Airways. Taxi rates are approx. GRD 2000.

Rhodes Airport is 12 km from the Rodos Palace Hotel. A bus service for the transportation of the participants from the airport to the venue and back to the airport will be established, the day before and after the conference. Another possibility is to hire a taxi just at the airport exit. The fare to the Rodos Palace Hotel is approx. GRD 2,500.

There are also Olympic Airways buses and public buses that run between airport and Rodos with a stop in front of Rodos Palace. The waiting time depends on the hour of the day.

There are daily car ferries between Rhodes and Piraeus. Either way the departure is at 17:00 and arrival is at 06:00 the next morning. First class tickets are about GRD 40,000 round trip. For information on ship routes to and from Piraeus contact the Piraeus harbour master (tel.: +30 1 422 6000).

VENUE

EUSIPCO-98 will be held at the International Convention Centre of Rodos Palace Hotel, the largest and best equipped conference venue in Greece. Rodos Palace is a 5-star hotel complex by the sea, 12 km from the international airport and near the city of Rhodes. Set on a 30-acre site, it includes an elegant tower building, vast gardens and excellent sport facilities. The tower building includes deluxe rooms and suites offering an unparalleled panoramic view of the island and the blue Aegean. Situated within the Hotel's picturesque gardens lie spacious apartments and bungalows for those seeking a touch of privacy and relaxation. Adjacent to the tower stands the new 7-storey executive wing, fully designed for the demanding needs of today's executive travelers and conference delegates. All 780 rooms of the complex offer private balcony or patio, private bath, colour TV with satellite programs, 5 channel music, air conditioning and direct dial telephones.

The address of the Rodos Palace Hotel is:

Rodos Palace

Trianton Ave., Ixia,

851 00 Rodos, Greece

Tel.: +30 241/25 222 or 26 222

Telex: 29222-213

Fax: +30 241/25350

Official Language

The official language of the Conference is English.

Paper Presentation

Each paper is allocated strictly 20 minutes, made up of 15 minutes actual paper presentation with the remaining 5 minutes for questions. EUSIPCO-98 will also host invited lectures as first presentations in some of the special sessions, offering an overview of the topic related to the special session. Invited lectures are allocated 40 minutes.

All presenters must contact their Session Chair in advance of the session.

Audio Visual Equipment

All presentation rooms are equipped with:

• 1 35 mm slide projector
• 1 overhead projector

Poster Presentation

Authors should plan to spend the entire session at their poster. All presenters must contact their Session Chair in advance of the session. Labels indicating the poster code will be stuck on all poster boards. Please hang your poster on the appropriate board. Since poster sessions will take place twice a day, authors are kindly recommended to hang their poster just before the session and remove it immediately after the end of the session. All presentations will take place in the Jupiter Hall.

Speaker's Preparation Room

A speakers' preparation room will be available on the first floor of the Congress Centre.

Session Identifiers

WA SS-3 T: Tuesday

W: Wednesday

Th: Thursday

F: Friday

WA SS-3 M: Morning

A: Afternoon

WA SS-3 S: Session

SS: Special Session

P: Poster Session

WA SS-3 1-7: Rank of Presentation

Message Board

There will be a message board located by the registration desk.

E-mail

All delegates will have the possibility to send or receive e-mail messages. A special area will be equipped for this purpose with 6 computers. The terminals will be allocated in room Nefeli.

Coffee Breaks

Coffee, tea and other light refreshments will be available during morning and afternoon breaks.

Registration Fees

EURASIP Members (early) GRD 110.000

EURASIP Members (late) GRD 125.000

Non Members (early) GRD 135.000

Non Members (late) GRD 150.000

Students (CD-ROM only) (early) GRD 54.000

Students (CD-ROM only) (late) GRD 60.000

Dinner (not included in registration fee) GRD 13.000

Extra proceedings GRD 25.000

Extra CD ROM GRD 8.000

Tutorials GRD 45.000

Registration Fee Includes:

• Access to Scientific Sessions
• Access to the Exhibition
• Conference programme
• Proceedings (except for student registration)
• CD-ROM
• Coffee breaks
• Welcome Reception

The registration desk will be open during the following hours:

Monday: 15.00-19.00

Tuesday: 8.00-18.00

Wednesday 8.00-18.00

Thursday 8.00-18.00

Friday: 8.00-16.00

Delegates and exhibitors are kindly requested to wear their name badges during all Conference meetings and social gatherings.

Proceedings

The Conference Proceedings will be distributed at the Proceedings Desk. A special ticket will be handed out at the registration desk for collecting proceedings. A limited number of additional proceedings will be for sale at a price of 25.000 GRD.

A CD ROM version of the Conference Proceedings is also included in the registration fee and will be found in the Conference folders. A limited number of extra copies is available at 8.000 GRD.

Welcome Reception

On Monday September 7, attendants will be offered a Welcome Reception by the Mayor of Rhodes Mr. George Giannopoulos from 19:30 to 21:30 at the Palace of the Grand Masters. It is the most impressive building of the. Knights of St John built around 1350. Buses will depart in front of the hotel entrance at 19:00.

Banquet

The official Dinner of the Conference will take place on Thursday September 10, 21:00 in the Gardens of the Rodos Palace Hotel by the swimming pool organized as a Greek night. It will include Greek specialities and wine, barbecue and an orchestra that will play modern and folk music. Tickets are available at the registration desk at 13.000 GRD.

WELCOME TO RHODES

Rhodes is the largest of a complex of more than 200 Greek islands known as the Dodecanese. The name means "twelve islands", and refers to the principal inhabited islands, which in fact are thirteen. Rhodes has an area of 1,400 sq. km and a population of 90,000. Its climate is mild with 300 days of sunshine a year on average.

History

Strategically placed, the island has had a tumultuous past linked with the sea. Rhodes was already inhabited in prehistoric times. The island gradually expanded its influence and became the main commercial link in the Mediterranean.

In 408 BC, the island's three important Doric cities Ialissos, Lindos and Karimos united to found the city of Rhodes on the island's northeastern edge. This marked a new area in the history of the island. The sun-worshipping city of Rhodes (Rodos) became an important political, commercial and religious centre. Its golden era lasted from the 5^th to the 3^rd century BC.

Rhodes extended its rule, minted its own coin, introduced the first maritime law rules, advanced the arts, theater and sports. Its school of Rhetoric became famous and attracted many well-known Romans and Greeks. In the 2^nd century BC, Rhodes became an ally of Rome: this led to a gradual weakening of the island, which from the 1th century AD became a roman prefecture.

St. Paul visited the island and recruited the first Christians 57 AD; when in 395 AD the Roman Empire split, Rhodes and the other islands of "Provincia insularum" were included in the Byzantine Empire.

New seafarers attacked and often looted the city in the following centuries.

The Knights of the Order of Saint John were established in Rhodes in 1309 AD. Their stay has endowed the city with a series of majestic buildings protected by a fortified wall.

From 1522 onwards the Dodecanese islands form part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912 AD, when they came under Italian rule. In 1948 the islands were united with Greece.

The City

Present-day Rhodes is a medieval/modern amalgam which impresses and fascinates visitors. Its medieval aspect, fortified behind an impressive wall, merges harmoniously with the refined, cosmopolitan air of a modern resort with luxurious hotels, broad tree-lined avenues, and rich commercial stores.

Tours

A number of tours to the city as well as excursions to other cities in the island (such as Lindos), or others islands (such as Simi), are organized on a daily basis. You can book the tour of your choice through our travel agent Keramidas travel.

Sattelite Events

Wednesday morning: 11:00-12:50, Nefeli B'

JPEG 2000: "Developments in Still-Image Coding"

1. JPEG2000: Objectives and Achievements

by D.T.Lee, Convenor ISO/SC29/WG1, HP, USA

2. JPEG2000: Application Requirements and Profiles

by T. Ebrahimi, Requirements and Profiles Editor, EPFL, Switzerland

3. JPEG2000: Verification Model: Current State of the Art Technology

by C. Christopoulos (VM editor), Ericsson, Sweden

and A. N. Skodras, Univ. of Patras, Greece

4. EUROSTILL: A European Contribution

by T. Ramstad, NTNU, Norway

Thursday afternoon: 18:00, Jupiter

S. Bensasson; EU DGIII: "The 5^th RTD Framework Programme".

EURASIP GENERAL ASSEMBLY

EURASIP General Assembly will take place on Wednesday 9 at 18:00 in Room Jupiter.

EUSIPCO - 2000

EUSIPCO-2000 will take place in Tampere, Finland from September 5 through September 8, 2000. For further information contact the chairman:

Jaakko Astola, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, 33101, Finland, e-mail: jta@cs.tut.fi