Skip to Main Content

The University of Tennessee

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Frequently Used Tools:




David J. Icove, Ph.D., P.E.

Areas of Interest

  • Forensic engineering analysis of electrical cable fires in power plants
  • High performance computational modeling of fires and explosions
  • Cyberterrorism, intrusion detection, and computer security
  • Pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, and image processing


Education

  • BS - Electrical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 1971
  • BS - Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland, 1975
  • MS - Electrical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 1973
  • Ph.D. - Engineering Science and Mechanics, University of Tennessee, 1979


Professional

  • Registered Professional Engineer (Tennessee and Virginia)
  • Member, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
  • Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (NAFI)


Background

An internationally recognized forensic engineering expert with over 35 years of experience, Dr. Icove's expertise is based on a blend of university teaching, on-scene fire tests and experiments, and authorship of several peer-reviewed textbooks and articles. A retired federal law enforcement agent, he has testified as an expert witness in civil and criminal trials, as well as before U.S. Congressional Committees seeking guidance on key legislative initiatives.

Funded Research

  • National Institute of Justice (1998). Cybercrime Cyberterrorism Study, 98-MU-CX-A076, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC. $65,000.
  • U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (1995-2001), Arson Information Management System (AIMS) Project, Emmitsburg, MD. $450,000.
  • National Computer Security Center (1988-1993). Computer Assisted Security and Investigative Analysis Tool, Ft. Meade, MD. $450,000.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (1974). FEDAP: A Fire Engineering Data Analysis Program, Gaithersburg, MD. $500.


Patents

  • U.S. Patent 7,272,612, Sept. 18, 2007, Method of Partitioning Data Records, J.D. Birdwell, T.W. Wang, R.D. Horn, P. Yadav, D.J. Icove.
  • U.S. Patent 6,741,983, May 25, 2004, Method of Indexed Storage and Retrieval of Multidimensional Information, J.D. Birdwell, T.W. Wang, R.D. Horn, P. Yadav, D.J. Icove.
  • U.S. Patent 7,454,411, Nov 18, 2008, Parallel Data Processing Architecture, J.D. Birdwell, T.W. Wang, R.D. Horn, P. Yadav, and D.J. Icove,
  • U.S. Patent Pending, Application 20080309488, Dec. 18, 2008, Passive Microwave Fire and Intrusion Detection System, D.J. Icove and C.T. Lyster,


Peer-Reviewed Textbooks

  • D.J. Icove and J.D. DeHaan. (2009). Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction, 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall. LINK
  • D.J. Icove, C.M. Blocher, and J.D. DeHaan. (2002). Instructor’s Manual to Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-060458-5, Upper Saddle River, NJ. LINK
  • D.J. Icove, V.B. Wherry and J.D. Schroeder. (1998). Combating Arson-for-Profit: Advanced Techniques for Investigators, 2nd Edition, Battelle Press, ISBN 0-934550-2, Columbus, OH. LINK
  • D.J. Icove, K.A. Seger and W.R. VonStorch. (1995). Computer Crime: A Crimefighter's Handbook. O'Reilly & Associates, Cambridge, MA. LINK


Representative Publications

  • A.T. Tinsley and D.J. Icove. (2008). An Assessment of the Use of Structural Deformation as a Method for Determining Area of Fire Origin, (ISFI 2008, International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 19-21, 2008)
  • D.J. Icove and M.W. Dalton. (2008). A Comprehensive Prosecution Report Format for Arson Cases, (ISFI 2008, International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 19-21, 2008)
  • D.J. Icove and C.T. Lyster. (2007). Passive Microwave Fire Detection: A Survey and Assessment, (11th International Conference on Fire Scene and Engineering, University of London, Royal Holloway College, United Kingdom, September 3-5, 2007.)
  • D.J. Icove and G.A. Haynes. (2007). Guidelines for Conducting Peer Reviews of Complex Fire Investigations, (Fire and Materials Conference, San Francisco, California, January 29-31, 2007.)
  • D.J. Icove and J.D. DeHaan. (2006). Hourglass Burn Patterns: A Scientific Explanation for their Formation (International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 26-28, 2006.)
  • D J. Icove, H.E. Welborn, A.J. Vonarx, E.C. Adams, J.R. Lally, T.G. Huff. (2006 Scientific Investigation and Modeling of Prehistoric Structural Fires at Chevelon Pueblo, (International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 26-28, 2006.)
  • D.J. Icove and J.D. DeHaan. (2004). NFPA 921’s Impact on Fire Scene Reconstructions, Fire Protection Engineering Magazine, (Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Bethesda, Maryland, Vol. 21, pp. 10-16. Winter 2004)
  • A.M. Christensen and D. J. Icove. (2004). The Application of NIST’s Fire Dynamics Simulator to the Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Exposure in the Deaths of Three Pittsburgh Fire Fighters. Journal of Forensic Science, Vol. 49, No. 1. PDF
  • H. Stambaugh, D. Beaupre, D.J. Icove, R. Baker, W. Cassaday, and W.P. Williams (2000). State and Local Law Enforcement Needs To Combat Electronic Crime. Research in Brief, NCJ 183451, Washington, D.C. PDF
  • D.J. Icove. (1997). Collaring Cybercrooks: An Investigator's View. IEEE Spectrum. New York, NY, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, June 1997. PDF
  • D.J. Icove. (1990). Safeguarding Computer Centers, Security Management. American Society for Industrial Security, Arlington, VA.
  • D.J. Icove and R. Gilman. (1989). Arson Reporting Immunity Laws, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., Vol. 58, No. 6, September 1989.
  • K.A. Seger and D.J. Icove. (1988). Power Theft: The Silent Crime, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., Vol. 57, No. 3, March 1988. PDF
  • D.J. Icove and M.H. Estepp, Motive-Based Offender Profiles of Arson and Fire-Related Crimes, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., April 1987.
  • D.J. Icove. (1986). Automated Crime Profiling, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., Vol. 55, No. 2, December 1986. PDF


E-mail Address

icove (at) utk.edu

Links
Mailing Address

301 Ferris Hall, 1508 Middle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-2100

Telephone Numbers

Office (voice): 865-974-8051
Office (fax): 865-693-4361

Courses Taught
  • ECE 301 - Circuits and Electromechanical Devices
  • ECE 302 - Electronics and Computer Circuits
  • EF 230 - Computer Solutions of Engineering Problems using MATLAB
  • EF 402 - Electrical Engineering review for the FE Licensing Exam
  • ME 495 - Enclosure Fire Dyanmics
  • ECE 599 - High Performance Computer Fire Modeling and Visualization
  • ECE 599 - Pattern Recognition Applications to Forensic Engineering


Upcoming Seminars
  • October 28-30, 2009, Stillwater, Oklahoma. OK-IAAI Seminar, “Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction.” Info


Page last modified 07/11/2009.