Colour vision in birds: consequences to fatal collisions with wind farms. Wind-farms represent a key component of sustainable energy generation world-wide. However, many birds die as a result of collisions with wind-farms, posing an unsolved and controversial conservation issue. The proliferation of wind-farms in Australia will exacerbate the problem. Birds rely on vision to negotiate static and moving objects. Wind-farms, currently coloured to meet human aesthetic criteria, may be 'invisible' t ....Colour vision in birds: consequences to fatal collisions with wind farms. Wind-farms represent a key component of sustainable energy generation world-wide. However, many birds die as a result of collisions with wind-farms, posing an unsolved and controversial conservation issue. The proliferation of wind-farms in Australia will exacerbate the problem. Birds rely on vision to negotiate static and moving objects. Wind-farms, currently coloured to meet human aesthetic criteria, may be 'invisible' to birds since they see colours differently from humans. We will determine bird spectral sensitivities and compare them to the spectral reflectance of wind-farms. We will then develop modifications improving the visibility of wind-farms to birds, thereby reducing fatalities.Read moreRead less
Multi-Modal Dictionary Learning for Smart City Operation and Management. This Project aims to provide new digital asset management tools for city councils to improve city services by utilising new sensing and automated learning technologies for recognising, tracking and auditing of assets. Currently, there are no digital tools available to handle these services. This project proposes new multi-modal sensing and mapping of city asset techniques by building new multi-modal dictionary learning proc ....Multi-Modal Dictionary Learning for Smart City Operation and Management. This Project aims to provide new digital asset management tools for city councils to improve city services by utilising new sensing and automated learning technologies for recognising, tracking and auditing of assets. Currently, there are no digital tools available to handle these services. This project proposes new multi-modal sensing and mapping of city asset techniques by building new multi-modal dictionary learning procedures. The new framework will recognise different conditions of city assets in real-time to make decisions. Expected outcomes of this Project include integration and easy access of assets with unique digital identities to help city councils, governments, and navigation services for real-time asset monitoring.Read moreRead less
Scalable Robust Video Surveillance over Constrained Networks. Real-time monitoring of large numbers of people is becoming increasingly important for applications such as efficient service delivery and security against both common crime and terrorism. The use of human operators for such tasks is infeasible due to the large amount of data collected. Existing autonomous video surveillance systems are prone to high numbers of false alarms and often require expensive hardware. This proposal seeks ....Scalable Robust Video Surveillance over Constrained Networks. Real-time monitoring of large numbers of people is becoming increasingly important for applications such as efficient service delivery and security against both common crime and terrorism. The use of human operators for such tasks is infeasible due to the large amount of data collected. Existing autonomous video surveillance systems are prone to high numbers of false alarms and often require expensive hardware. This proposal seeks to address both difficulties by using rigorous statistical signal processing methods to optimally fuse information from a network of low-cost cameras.Read moreRead less
Creating perceptual experts in Australia's policing and security agencies. This project aims to create the next generation of experts in Australia’s policing and national security agencies, by improving crime scene evidence interpretation. Agencies are under pressure to develop more rigorous training practices that go beyond mere intuition and tradition. This project will use a novel approach that directs learning toward the most diagnostic perceptual cues. Expected outcomes include a solid empi ....Creating perceptual experts in Australia's policing and security agencies. This project aims to create the next generation of experts in Australia’s policing and national security agencies, by improving crime scene evidence interpretation. Agencies are under pressure to develop more rigorous training practices that go beyond mere intuition and tradition. This project will use a novel approach that directs learning toward the most diagnostic perceptual cues. Expected outcomes include a solid empirical basis for national training programs designed to create experts that are accurate, reliable, and continuously improving. Improving the training of experts will ensure the integrity of forensics as evidentiary tools available to police, lead to more reliable courtroom convictions and help safeguard Australia from terrorism and crime.Read moreRead less
Space-based space surveillance with robust computer vision algorithms. Space-based space surveillance with robust computer vision algorithms. This project aims to develop computer vision algorithms to detect man-made objects in space. These algorithms function on nanosatellite platforms, enabling space-based space surveillance. This technology is expected to provide always-on monitoring of the Earth's orbit to enhance existing defence infrastructure and protect vital space assets, including comm ....Space-based space surveillance with robust computer vision algorithms. Space-based space surveillance with robust computer vision algorithms. This project aims to develop computer vision algorithms to detect man-made objects in space. These algorithms function on nanosatellite platforms, enabling space-based space surveillance. This technology is expected to provide always-on monitoring of the Earth's orbit to enhance existing defence infrastructure and protect vital space assets, including communications and navigational satellites, in Earth’s orbit from collisions and covert sabotage. Increased space use by government and civilian agencies opens up opportunities for the space industry. This project is expected to develop Australia’s space surveillance capabilities, protect space assets and capture a growing market.Read moreRead less
Robust and scalable change detection in geo-spatial data. A flood of data in the form of text, images and video emanate from a proliferation of sensors. These data are collected but rarely analysed, rendering it meaningless. This project aims to develop new software and techniques to detect changes over time in large scale geographically referenced data (for example photomaps) for use across numerous domains.
Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia. Exploration of the deep-sea with the modern technologies to be developed by Deep-Downunder is a first for Australia. We aim to explore and discover life at depths from 50-3000m off The Great Barrier Reef, around the seamounts of Lord Howe Island and Tasmania and in the deep canyons of WA and SA. We expect to discover new species, hope for a glimpse of giant squid at home and will answer specific questions on ....Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia. Exploration of the deep-sea with the modern technologies to be developed by Deep-Downunder is a first for Australia. We aim to explore and discover life at depths from 50-3000m off The Great Barrier Reef, around the seamounts of Lord Howe Island and Tasmania and in the deep canyons of WA and SA. We expect to discover new species, hope for a glimpse of giant squid at home and will answer specific questions on Australia's ocean biology, fisheries and biotechnology never before approachable. To be effective guardians of Australian waters we must learn what lies in the depths we can't see from a boat.Read moreRead less
Bio-inspired camouflage to prevent shark attacks on surfers. Bio-inspired camouflage to prevent shark attacks on surfers. This project aims to develop a new shark deterrent technology to protect surfers and paddlers. Shark attacks are physically and emotionally devastating for the victims, and make the community disproportionately afraid. Surfers are at most risk of attack, but current surfboard-mounted deterrents are ineffective and not widely used. This project will build on the recent discove ....Bio-inspired camouflage to prevent shark attacks on surfers. Bio-inspired camouflage to prevent shark attacks on surfers. This project aims to develop a new shark deterrent technology to protect surfers and paddlers. Shark attacks are physically and emotionally devastating for the victims, and make the community disproportionately afraid. Surfers are at most risk of attack, but current surfboard-mounted deterrents are ineffective and not widely used. This project will build on the recent discovery that white sharks do not attack counter-illuminated (light emitting) seal-shaped decoys, and use new information about shark vision to understand why this ‘camouflage’ is so successful. This will also help to protect threatened shark species by reducing reliance on culling programs to keep people safe in the water.Read moreRead less
Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding ....Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding, prey manipulation and the role of critical senses in the only captive population of sawfishes in Australia. Such knowledge will underpin the development and use of visual, chemical and/or magnetic repellents by fisherman that are still responsible for the loss of large numbers of sawfish as by-catch.Read moreRead less
Design of adaptive learning visual sensor networks for crowd modelling in high-density and occluded scenarios. Partnering University of Melbourne researchers, with video surveillance experts SenSen, engineering consultants ARUP and the Melbourne Cricket Club, the project addresses research enabling a system-integrating, existing surveillance, infrastructure to model crowd behaviour and exit strategies, providing real-time analysis, prediction and response capabilities for venue managers and emer ....Design of adaptive learning visual sensor networks for crowd modelling in high-density and occluded scenarios. Partnering University of Melbourne researchers, with video surveillance experts SenSen, engineering consultants ARUP and the Melbourne Cricket Club, the project addresses research enabling a system-integrating, existing surveillance, infrastructure to model crowd behaviour and exit strategies, providing real-time analysis, prediction and response capabilities for venue managers and emergency services. This new capability enhances utilisation of security resources to prevent injury and fatalities in evacuation scenarios, applicable to existing venues and influencing the development of new facilities around the country. The project delivers researcher training, global clientele for local technology and a platform for local industry growth.Read moreRead less