Advanced computing methods and related technologies are changing the way engineers interact with the information infrastructure. Explicit knowledge representation formalisms and new reasoning techniques are no longer the sole territory of computer science. For knowledge-intensive tasks in engineering, a new philosophy and body of knowledge called Engineering Informatics is emerging.

Advanced Engineering Informatics solicits research papers with particular emphases both on 'knowledge' and 'engineering applications'. As an international Journal, original papers typically:

• Report progress in the engineering discipline of applying methods of engineering informatics.
• Have engineering relevance and help provide the scientific base to make engineering decision-making more reliable, spontaneous and creative.
• Contain novel research that demonstrates the science of supporting knowledge-intensive engineering tasks.
• Validate the generality, power and scalability of new methods through vigorous evaluation, preferably both qualitatively and quantitatively.

In addition, the Journal welcomes high quality review articles that summarise, compare, and evaluate methodologies and representations that are proposed for the field of engineering informatics. Similarly, summaries and comparisons of full-scale applications are welcomed, particularly those where scientific shortcomings have hindered success. Typically, such papers have expanded literature reviews and discussion of findings that reflect mastery of the current body of knowledge and propose novel additions to contemporary research.

Papers missing explicit representation and use of knowledge, such as those describing soft computing techniques, mathematical optimization methods, pattern recognition techniques, and numerical computation methods, do not normally qualify for publication in the Journal. Papers must illustrate contributions using examples of automating and supporting knowledge intensive tasks in artifacts-centered engineering fields such as mechanical, manufacturing, architecture, civil, electrical, transportation, environmental, and chemical engineering. Papers that report application of an established method to a new engineering subdomain will qualify only if they convincingly demonstrate noteworthy new power, generality or scalability in comparison with previously reported validation results. Finally, papers that discuss software engineering issues only are not in the scope of this journal.

Special Issue on Advanced Theories and Methodologies for Countering Illicit Supply Chains
Submission Date: 2023-07-31

Illicit supply chains, including but not limited to trafficking networks for counterfeits, humans, drugs, weapons, wildlife, and other contraband not only harm the legitimate economy, but they also pose tremendous harm to public health and safety. Often facilitated by corruption across borders, illicit supply chains are networks that help to move contraband from source, through transit, onto destination locations. Many current studies neglect to use advanced computing methods and related technologies to understand these illicit supply chains. Additionally, there is a need to build upon fields such as engineering informatics methods to inform public policy making and supply chain decision making. To address these research gaps, this special titled “Advanced Theories and Methodologies for Countering Illicit Supply Chains” explores new trends and engineering informatics methods for detecting and disrupting illicit supply chains from a multidisciplinary perspective. To understand illicit supply chains, contributors who use knowledge such as describing soft computing techniques, mathematical optimization methods, pattern recognition techniques, and numerical computation methods are strongly encouraged to submit manuscripts. This SI focuses on engineering informatics theories and methodologies for detecting and countering illicit supply chains to enhance the efficiency of disruption strategies for criminal networks. Using evidence from case studies and applied analysis, each article will address a specific type of illicit artifact-centric supply chains, such as counterfeit networks, and apply novel engineering informatics approaches from a variety of other disciplines to provide specific examples, insightful findings, and constructive recommendations to counter illicit supply chains.
Advanced analytical engineering methods with different illicit supply chains relevance include but are not limited to:

Engineering methods to inform public policy related to illicit supply chains
Pattern recognition of illicit supply chain activities
Engineering methods to protect patents and IP rights/copyright
Advanced data analytics for illicit supply chains
Detection and disruption strategies for countering illicit supply chains
Machine learning using illicit supply chain data from the open, deep, and dark web
Data fusion methods to analyze illicit supply chains
Engineering applications for detecting and disrupting illicit supply chains
Network analysis of illicit supply chains
Cybersecurity techniques and applications for countering illicit supply chains
Knowledge extraction from sparse data for analyzing illicit supply chains
Math modeling for understanding criminal adaptability