Bayesian Inference for Multivariate Hierarchical Regression Models. This project will develop Bayesian methodology for analysing multivariate regression models. The distribution of each measurement can be discrete or continuous, with the dependence between measurements obtained through the correlation matrix of a Gaussian copula. Model parsimony is obtained by identifying zero elements in the correlation matrix or its inverse and by variable selection on the regression parameters. The results wi ....Bayesian Inference for Multivariate Hierarchical Regression Models. This project will develop Bayesian methodology for analysing multivariate regression models. The distribution of each measurement can be discrete or continuous, with the dependence between measurements obtained through the correlation matrix of a Gaussian copula. Model parsimony is obtained by identifying zero elements in the correlation matrix or its inverse and by variable selection on the regression parameters. The results will be applied to solve problems in finance, health management and marketing. In all these fields multiple observations are often taken per individual or time period and the models need to incorporate measures of dependence and uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Improved Monte Carlo Methods for Estimation, Optimisation and Counting. The project will benefit the Australian society by building the theoretical and methodological foundations for the next generation of Monte Carlo techniques. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will provide important tools for solving complex estimation, optimisation and counting problems in engineering, statistics, computer science, mathematics and the physical and life sciences. As a result it will generate a com ....Improved Monte Carlo Methods for Estimation, Optimisation and Counting. The project will benefit the Australian society by building the theoretical and methodological foundations for the next generation of Monte Carlo techniques. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will provide important tools for solving complex estimation, optimisation and counting problems in engineering, statistics, computer science, mathematics and the physical and life sciences. As a result it will generate a competitive advantage for various sections of the Australian industry, including telecommunications, biotechnology and finance. The project will enable Australian researchers to continue to work at the forefront of this fast moving and exciting area of international research.Read moreRead less
Rare Event Simulation with Heavy Tails. The project provides a rigorous way to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that bring about catastrophic rare events such as urban flooding, electricity shortages and financial bankrupcy. Australia is at the forefront of exciting recent developments in rare event simulation. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will generate a competitive advantage for various sections of the Australian industry, including the areas of industrial reliabili ....Rare Event Simulation with Heavy Tails. The project provides a rigorous way to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that bring about catastrophic rare events such as urban flooding, electricity shortages and financial bankrupcy. Australia is at the forefront of exciting recent developments in rare event simulation. The advancement of the knowledge in this area will generate a competitive advantage for various sections of the Australian industry, including the areas of industrial reliability, finance and insurance, were accurate simulation techniques are becoming increasingly important.Read moreRead less
Statistical Methods for Flow Cytometric Data. The project will aid users of flow cytometry throughout Australia. It will help foster collaborations between the biological and mathematical scientists. Biological research is an important part of Australia's future and is becoming very quantitative. During the course of the project, two PhD students will be provided strong training in Statistics geared towards biological applications. The project is aligned with the 8th Human Leucocyte Differentiat ....Statistical Methods for Flow Cytometric Data. The project will aid users of flow cytometry throughout Australia. It will help foster collaborations between the biological and mathematical scientists. Biological research is an important part of Australia's future and is becoming very quantitative. During the course of the project, two PhD students will be provided strong training in Statistics geared towards biological applications. The project is aligned with the 8th Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen workshop to culminate in Adelaide in December 2004 and will aid the fight against blood cell cancers. The project will also aid research on plankton with potential commercial benefits for Australia's marine scallop industry.
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Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important v ....Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures. The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used to identify important variables and thus make the estimation more efficient. The methods will be extended to multivariate responses where account will taken be taken of the structure of the dependence between responses.Read moreRead less
New Approaches to Modelling Operational Risk in the Light of the Basel II Accord. The outcome of this project will be useful for Australian banks, because they will be required by the Basel II Accord to calculate capital to be held against operational risk. The benefits will accrue to Australian banks as the results should help them understand the effects of operational risk and how to manage it more effectively. The benefits will also accrue to the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, by ....New Approaches to Modelling Operational Risk in the Light of the Basel II Accord. The outcome of this project will be useful for Australian banks, because they will be required by the Basel II Accord to calculate capital to be held against operational risk. The benefits will accrue to Australian banks as the results should help them understand the effects of operational risk and how to manage it more effectively. The benefits will also accrue to the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, by providing some guidelines on the implementation of the Accord. The outcome of this project, which quantifies the risks due to crime and terrorism, will be useful for the Australian community at large.Read moreRead less
Exploiting Database Technologies for the Visualization and Analysis of Measured and Simulated Plant Structures in Bioinformatics. The project will contribute to both bioinformatics and database research at both the national and international levels, although this project is specifically focusing on plant architecture but it has great potential other fields such as solving computationally difficult problems of branching in nature such as DNA and crystal related research. The results of this resea ....Exploiting Database Technologies for the Visualization and Analysis of Measured and Simulated Plant Structures in Bioinformatics. The project will contribute to both bioinformatics and database research at both the national and international levels, although this project is specifically focusing on plant architecture but it has great potential other fields such as solving computationally difficult problems of branching in nature such as DNA and crystal related research. The results of this research can be applied to all kinds of plants such as rice, cotton, rose etc.Read moreRead less
Increasing the effectiveness of quantitative verification. The ability to analyse the performance of complex systems and protocols is a vital part of the development of large-scale computer applications. Methods that improve the effectiveness of the analysis task would increase the competitiveness of the software industry, and would attract future development work (in complex systems) to Australia. The results of this project will have a direct influence on currently available design tools; the ....Increasing the effectiveness of quantitative verification. The ability to analyse the performance of complex systems and protocols is a vital part of the development of large-scale computer applications. Methods that improve the effectiveness of the analysis task would increase the competitiveness of the software industry, and would attract future development work (in complex systems) to Australia. The results of this project will have a direct influence on currently available design tools; the fact that Australian institutions will be (in part) responsible for key theoretical results in this growing field will strengthen Australia's position worldwide as an international centre for computer science.Read moreRead less
Assessment of the Seismic Hazard in South-East Queensland utilizing earthquake simulations. Assessment of seismic hazard in Australia is hampered by relatively few instrumental records of past earthquakes. Supercomputer simulations of long-term earthquake activity and strong ground motion, provide an alternative method for estimating the risk posed by earthquakes. The aim of this project is to construct a physical model for South-East Queensland incorporating the major faults and rock units of ....Assessment of the Seismic Hazard in South-East Queensland utilizing earthquake simulations. Assessment of seismic hazard in Australia is hampered by relatively few instrumental records of past earthquakes. Supercomputer simulations of long-term earthquake activity and strong ground motion, provide an alternative method for estimating the risk posed by earthquakes. The aim of this project is to construct a physical model for South-East Queensland incorporating the major faults and rock units of the region. In conjunction with earthquake simulation software of the Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator, this model will be employed to analyse the spatial and temporal variability of earthquake activity and the ground motion resulting from these earthquakes.Read moreRead less
APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation Visitors Program. This project aims to improve understanding of earthquakes through development of numerical simulation models for the earthquake generation process. Its centerpiece is a major international collaboration, achieved via a visitor exchange program between the headquarters of the APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation in Australia and overseas centres of excellence. Earthquakes are one of the most costly and deadly natural disasters, a ....APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation Visitors Program. This project aims to improve understanding of earthquakes through development of numerical simulation models for the earthquake generation process. Its centerpiece is a major international collaboration, achieved via a visitor exchange program between the headquarters of the APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation in Australia and overseas centres of excellence. Earthquakes are one of the most costly and deadly natural disasters, and APEC member economies have a high earthquake risk. Recent analyses suggest earthquakes may dominate the loss potential in Australia. The complementary research programs offer an opportunity to achieve breakthrough advances in improved methods of earthquake forecasting and hazard quantification.Read moreRead less