Large scale emergency response planning and operational decision making using parallel and distributed Agent Based, GIS and hazard distribution modelling

NHMRC BREATHE Centre for Research Excellence

Higher Degree Research Opportunities for Domestic and International Candidates

Project 2. Large scale emergency response planning and operational decision making using parallel and distributed Agent Based, GIS and hazard distribution modelling

Supervisory Team:

·      Professor Sisi Zlatanova (School of Built Environment)

·      Associate Professor David Heslop (School of Population Health)

·      Dr Mitko Alexandrov (School of Built Environment)

·      Professor Helen Skouteris (Monash University - School of Psychology)

Project summary:

The NHMRC BREATHE Centre for Research Excellence is examining the how airborne threats such as epidemic diseases and other threats can be mitigated. Mathematical models of hazard distribution in the built environment and broader environment are important for policy makers and decision makers to understand the risks during potential or unfolding airborne hazard events. The research team has developed hazard distribution models and other computational models that together enable the answering of complex questions relating to emergency management. A major focus area of software development is the construction, test, evaluation and analysis, and verification and validation of autonomous computational agents that respond within simulated environments.

In this PhD different conceptual, software architectural and implementation approaches for the integration of largescale autonomous agents in emergency response computational models will be examined. A key focus area will be the how distributed information management, computational systems, parallel processing architectures, microservices architectures and cluster compute solutions can enable large scale Agent Based Models and link them to hazard-distribution models in 3D GIS or BIM digital environments.

The candidate will work with a broad and diverse team of academics in the BREATHE CRE, examining how to mitigate the impacts of sudden emergencies on populations in different built environment contexts.

Alternative study pathways such as articulation from Masters to PhD or other Graduate Research Options are welcome. Candidates must be competitive for UNSW or government fee scholarship programs, or alternative funding covering tuition fees. Additional stipend support is available for this project of up to $28,854 AUD (tax free) either stand alone or contributing to a stipend top up for scholarship recipients.

Requirements:

-         Domestic or International Candidates are welcome, however candidates already based in Australia are preferred.

-         A GPA higher than 3.6/4.0, 90 (for international students), or WAM >75 for Australian residents

-         Graduated from a top 200 global University for their under- or postgraduate study (QS, Times or Shanghai ranking)

-         Ideally have at least one journal paper or international conference paper

-         Meet the UNSW admission requirements including English language tests (minimum of 6.5 in all subcategories and overall minimum of 7)

-         Experience with any major programming language (e.g. C#, Java, python) or prior tertiary level training in mathematics, physics or computing science ABM experience or prior modelling experience desirable

-         GIS/BIM training or knowledge

Keywords:

-         Australia

-         Sydney

-         Agent Based Modeling

-         Simulation

-         Computing Science

-         Mathematics

-         Emergency Response

-         Artificial Intelligence

-         Cognition

-         Decision Making

Contact Details:

Please contact Professor Sisi Zlatanova ([Email Address Removed]) for more details about this exciting opportunity.