Project compression; human resource scheduling; resource-constrained project scheduling; timetabling; application of annealing algorithms to scheduling.
Academic staff: Professor R J Willis, Dr R Li, Mr S Huxford, Mr K Sietsma, Mr D Goh, Mr K Luxford
Operations management
Distributed operations scheduling; visual interactive operations scheduling; lean production; computer-aided production management; inventory management; plant layout using genetic algorithms.
Academic staff: Dr C H Yeh, Mr R Johnston, Mr C-L Chang, Mr R Martin
Accounting, financial and administrative systems
Graphical user interfaces; input-output techniques; financial and strategic planning using knowledge-based systems; determination of shareholder value using neural networks; integrated corporate financial aids on microcomputers; sequence training; office document retrieval; impact of new technology.
Academic staff: Dr A Flitman, Dr C White, Mr E J Wilson, Ms A Parr, Ms S Bedingfield
Quality and reliability analysis
Quality control; quality management; statistical quality management tools; quality information systems; reliability systems.
Academic staff: Dr B Jenney, Dr J Ude
Hypothesis formation and testing; machine learning; statistical estimation; clustering; classification; decision trees and graphs; analysis of macro-molecules.
Academic staff: Professor C S Wallace, Dr L Allison, Dr K Korb, Dr G Farr, Dr J Oliver, Dr D Dowe
Computer graphics
L-systems; particle systems; procedural texture generation; isoluminance contours in rendering, hardware assistance in virtual reality; dynamics of articulated figures; constraint-based graphics; visual language parsing.
Academic staff: Dr D Conway, Mr J McCormack, Dr R Pose, Dr K Marriott
Image processing
Lossless image compression, greyscale and colour; segmentation and classification of greyscale and colour images; 3D reconstruction of laser confocal microscopy images; colour space; texture characterisation; image restoration.
Academic staff: Dr S Ray, Dr P Tischer, Dr R Worley
Multiprocessor architecture
Shared-memory and distributed shared-memory multiprocessor computer systems; techniques for managing the distribution of data and control over large scale massively-parallel computer systems from both the functional viewpoint and in terms of the practicalities of implementation; prototype hardware implementations; system clocking, data routing, data buffering, memory allocation, caching techniques and communication technology.
Academic staff: Associate Professor A J Hurst, Dr R Pose
Systems software
Capability-based persistent operating systems and languages; the mapping of capability systems onto various architectures in a reasonably portable manner; the implementation of shared libraries; optimal times for binding of objects; user interface; compatibility with conventional systems and multilingual support; persistent object reuse issues; computer system specification; computer system support for software engineering.
Academic staff: Professor C S Wallace, Dr T I Dix, Associate Professor A J Hurst, Dr R Pose
Virtual reality display architectures
Dedicated virtual reality display hardware to reduce the load on the host computer.
Academic staff: Dr R Pose
Logic programming
Logic and constraint programming; incremental constraint solving algorithms; program analysis and optimisation; compilation and applications to biology, engineering and financial modelling.
Academic staff: Professor J N Crossley, Dr K Marriott
Artificial intelligence
Agent modelling; discourse planning; multi-media interfaces; speech recognition; machine learning; knowledge representation; cognitive science; philosophy of artificial intelligence; Bayesian reasoning; philosophy of cognition and consciousness; planning; reasoning under uncertainty.
Academic staff: Dr I Zukerman, Dr K Korb, Dr A Nicholson
Graphical user interfaces
Systems software for managing GUIs; generalisation of hypercard interfaces; gestures as commands; separation of abstract objects from graphical views; educational multimedia systems.
Academic staff: Professor L M Goldschlager, Dr D M Conway
Biological computing
Stochastic algorithms for map assembly using restriction, finger-print and other data; exhaustive and stochastic algorithms for DNA string comparison and overlap assembly; generic interface and database development for capturing experimental data from the Human Genome project and for subsequent analysis.
Academic staff: Dr L Allison, Dr T I Dix
Programming languages
Development of parallel programming systems; introduction of safety into existing languages; functional programming; object-oriented programming; formal specification; human factors in the design of teaching languages.
Academic staff: Dr L Allison, Dr T I Dix, Associate Professor A J Hurst, Dr D M Conway
Pattern analysis and machine intelligence
Classification and feature selection methods; character recognition; document image analysis; speech recognition; statistical, fuzzy mathematical and neural network techniques.
Academic staff: Dr S Ray
For further information contact Dr Ingrid Zukerman, telephone 03 905 5202
Object-oriented database technology; object management in object-oriented databases and programming environments; transaction management in OODBMS; OODBMS query languages; schema evolution; schema versioning.
Academic staff: Dr Noel Craske
Deductive database using an SQL filter classification scheme.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Mr R Simpson
Data mining in large commercial databases.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Ms K Muntz
Transaction-driven database design; performance modelling of DBMS; SQL preprocessing and optimisation techniques.
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan, Mr Mark Nolan
Distributed database technology
Distributed databases, distributed DBMS commit protocols.
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan, Assoc Professor John Daly
Resource sharing issues and distributed computing.
Academic staff: Mr Stephen Giles
Graphical interface research
Satellite navigation systems and visual map displays.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Mr S Giles
Graphical user interface research for applications and operating systems.
Academic staff: Mr Bob Sier
Databases and information retrieval
Semantic justification of normal form-based designs; transaction-driven database design, knowledge-based modelling for information acquisition and retrieval.
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan
Data retrieval and manipulation
Archiving and retrieval of massive data archives. Framework models as classifiers in corporate knowledge bases.
Academic staff: Dr Geoff Martin
Performance issues in string matching algorithms for text databases. Use of SGML structured documents to generate hypertext retrieval systems. Text retrieval, natural language.
Academic staff: Mr David Foott
Data compression techniques using neural nets. CD-ROM based technology.
Academic staff: Mr John Carpenter
Knowledge processing and data generation.
Academic staff: Mr Jason Ceddia
CASE technology.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Ms Kim Bay
Communications and related research
Security and privacy in distributed DBMS; ISDN communications; data communications; cryptography; interactive voice response systems - dialog design issues; voice processing technologies as an interface to database systems.
Academic staff: Mr Chris Avram
Distributed fax service issues. Interprocess communication across computer networks.
Academic staff: Mr Peter Granville
For further information, contact the Postgraduate Coordinator, Dr Noel Craske, telephone 03 903 2051.
User interface design, direct manipulation interfaces, dialogue modelling; design and implementation of distortion oriented displays.
Academic staff: Mr Paul Anderson
Computer-mediated communication and computer-aided learning
Application to the delivery of courses by distance education.
Academic staff: Mr Mahbub Hassan, Mr Doug Thomson, Mr John Hewson
Databases and multilingual environments
Mixed language and multilingual database environments; query formulation in multilingual environments; natural language translation in multilingual database access; natural language translation between Bengali and English; character recognition techniques with special reference to Bengali character and multilingual environments.
Academic staff: Dr Syed Rahman
Optimisation techniques
Application of genetic algorithms and related heuristics to combinatorial optimisation problems and to scheduling.
Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall, Dr B Nath
Reliability modelling
Application to power station plant life. Business systems reliability analysis.
Academic staff: Dr B Nath
Multiple-valued logic
Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall
For further information contact Associate Professor Bob Bignall, telephone 03 903 6464 or Dr B Nath, 03 902 6468.
Software development methodologies; object-oriented approaches; software process modelling; software architectures; software configuration management; software reuse; software metrics, software cost models; software quality assurance; project management; cooperative team work; requirements engineering; formal methods; integration of conventional and formal software development methods.
Academic staff: Dr J Han, Mr P McKenzie, Ms D Ceddia, Mr D Casey, Ms R Polan
Information systems engineering
Information systems development methods; system analysis and design techniques; conceptual modelling techniques, their interoperability and integration.
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Mr P Torokfalvy, Mr R Dorling, Ms L Lindner
Computer-aided software/system engineering (CASE)
CASE tools and applications for information systems engineering; comparative study and evaluation of CASE tools; interoperability and conceptual modelling of CASE tools; distributed information repository; software engineering environments (SEE); modelling, description and unified support for software products and processes; support for software traceability and consistency; object management systems and user interfaces for SEEs; software process enactment; computer supported cooperative work; environment support for formal methods.
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Dr J Han, Ms N Lindner, Ms R Polan
Database systems
Database management systems, their architecture, evaluation and comparative study; database design and implementation; performance and integrity control in databases; graph-theoretical algorithms for database design; object-oriented database systems; federated and multidatabase systems.
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Ms J Dospisil, Ms D Ceddia, Ms C Clemence
Human-computer interaction
User interface management systems; graphical user interfaces; GUI adaptability and tuning within different computer applications.
Academic staff: Ms J Dospisil, Dr J Han
Hypertext and multimedia
Multimedia information systems; multimedia support for concurrent engineering; real-time management of composite multimedia objects; hypertext support for CASE; hypertext support for groupwork; hypertext-based information retrieval; user interfaces for hypertext and multimedia systems.
Academic staff: Ms J Dospisil, Mr E McPherson, Professor P Steele, Dr J Han, Mr K O'Yang, Mrs A Ellis
Operating systems and data communication
File management; storage management; concurrency control; distributed operating systems.
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Mr E McPherson
Computer education
Teaching methods for the computing discipline, computer-assisted instruction, training and assessment.
Academic staff: Mr D Casey, Mr P McKenzie, Mrs A Ellis
For further information, contact Dr J Han (Postgraduate Coordinator for SCIT, Peninsula), telephone 03 904 4604.
The major research areas are:
Decision support systems
Development methods, system evaluation, managerial use of information systems, behavioural decision theory, influence diagramming, executive information systems, intelligent DSS.
Academic staff: Professor D R Arnott, Mr P A O'Donnell, Dr F Burstein, Mr M Grice, Ms J Pereira
Systems analysis
Conceptual modelling notations, methods and support tools; requirements elicitation, soft systems methodology, implementing data architectures.
Academic staff: Mr G Shanks, Mr B Hodgson, Mr A Barnden, Ms P Darke
The interface group
New metaphors for interactive computing, 3D and animated interfaces, system simulation as an analysis technique.
Academic staff: Mr D T Eaves
Management systems technology
Academic staff: Dr R Smart
Soft computing research group
Neural networks, fuzzy networks, genetic algorithms for problem solving, forecasting, knowledge acquisition using neural networks, financial risk analysis.
Academic staff: Ms I Jagielska
Knowledge-based systems
Knowledge acquisition, intelligent decision support, knowledge base maintenance and adaptation, case-based reasoning.
Academic staff: Ms H G Smith, Dr F Burstein
Systems modelling research group
Collaborative development methods, knowledge representation, simulation, formal models, multimedia systems, biological modelling, dictionary construction.
Academic staff: Mr H Linger and external collaborators
Information systems management
Information technology strategic planning, business process re-engineering, total quality management.
Academic staff: Mr M Atchison, Ms A Rouse
Please refer to the Department of Information Systems Handbook for further information about the department's graduate program.
For further information please contact the Student Services Officer for the Department of Information Systems, Miss Karen Young, telephone 03 903 2612.
Library and information services management
Special librarianship, use of information technology in libraries and information services; expert systems in libraries; Australian information industry; strategic value of information.
Academic staff: Ms J Anderson
The intersection between politics and libraries; public libraries in Australia; Australian library history; the book as a cultural artefact.
Academic staff: Professor J Levett
Academic and research library services; collection building; bibliography (historical, descriptive and analytical); textual criticism and editorial work.
Academic staff: Dr B McMullin
Public librarianship; library services to ethnic minority communities; international and comparative librarianship; library developments in South-east Asia.
Academic staff: Ms R Rasmussen
Archives and records management
Theory and practice of archival administration and its relationship to records management; adaptation of government-derived archival principles and practices to the private sector.
Academic staff: Ms L Iacovino
Records appraisal and disposal; archival systems development; guides and finding aids; client and user services in archives and records programs; public records programs.
Academic staff: Ms S McKemmish
History and future development of archival and records management systems; records classification and indexing; relationship between archival theory and practice.
Academic staff: Mr F Upward
Robotics
Academic staff: Dr S Hill, Mr G Lowe, Dr P Atkinson
Signal processing
Academic staff: Dr H Wu, Dr A Paplinski, Dr S Hill, Mrs N Bhattacharjee
Digital communications and protocol engineering
Academic staff: Professor J Breen, Mr A McGregor
Neural networks
Academic staff: Dr A Paplinski
Circuit and integrated circuit design
Academic staff: Dr A Paplinski, Mrs N Bhattacharjee, Dr P Atkinson
Software engineering and real-time systems
Academic staff: Mr A McGregor, Mr J Dann, Mr J Robinson
Computer graphics and animation
Academic staff: Mr J Dann, Mr C Greig
For further information, contact the Postgraduate Coordinator for Robotics and Digital Technology, Professor J Breen, telephone 03 905 3402.
High-performance object technology
High-performance systems engineering; design of concurrent object oriented languages; semantics and typing issues; implementation; optimisation; tools support; performance evaluation; commercial applications of real time systems.
Academic staff: Professor H Schmidt, Dr A Sajeev, Mr A Blucher
Formal aspects of software engineering
Formal specification of systems; refinement; testing based on formal specifications; type systems of object-oriented specification languages; type checkers; semantic analyses.
Academic staff: Mr B Durnota, Professor H W Schmidt, Dr J Chen, Dr A Sajeev
Software quality assurance
Object-oriented quality model; quality policies for reuse; software documentation evolution; object-oriented machine concepts; performance metrics; calculus for reasoning about performance.
Academic staff: Professor H W Schmidt, Ms C A Mingins, Ms S Ramakrishnan, Ms J Miller, Ms S Tucker
Software reuseability
Reuseable object libraries; tools for reuse; library standards; classification mechanisms; reuse metrics.
Academic staff: Ms C Mingins, Ms S Ramakrishnan, Mr B Durnota, Dr A Sajeev
Persistent systems
Persistent languages; design and implementation; persistent object reuseability; persistence in object-oriented languages.
Academic staff: Dr A Sajeev, Dr J Chen
Object-oriented programming languages and systems
Integrating object-oriented software specification and implementation; specifying software components for reuse; semantic analysis techniques for object-oriented systems.
Academic staff: Dr J Chen
Software tools for teaching
The production of high-quality, zero-defect materials and high-quality, efficient environments for computer programming students.
Academic staff: Mrs D Hagan
Systems software development
Design and construction of system software; re-engineering issues; use of object-oriented techniques in system software development.
Academic staff: Mr A Blucher, Mr J Boutland
For more information, contact Dr A S M Sajeev (Postgraduate Research Coordinator for Software Development), telephone 03 903 2181