CAREER

2006 Present; Software Engineer, Oerlikon Contraves AG (www.ocag.ch)

Video and Audio Streaming. In charge of development of a video streaming widget to imbed with in a QT graphical user interface. The requirement of the widget was to support multiple input streams linked to various output displays, while maintaining a low CPU load. Although SDL was considered, it did not meet the required specifications, and so a DirectX solution was implemented.

Primary responsibility was for the streamlining of job submissions to a Linux cluster. After defining the specifications and assessing solutions, the Torque cluster management system was selected for its compatibility with the native Linux kernel. Responsible for the implementation and testing of the above software. With 63 Linux boxes this resulted in saving time and financial expense to the firm.
Other responsibilities included creating Perl scripts for the merging of labels and mapping information to produce maps for hardcopy use. Extended the capabilities of old C++ code to accurately import png (image) files.
Streamlining Endoxons proprietary mapping system, as it was currently inefficient and cumbersome. Undertook investigations into optimizing image processing code and analysing new image libraries. Converted Perl scripts (interfaced to ImageMagick) into (~2500 lines) C++ code linked to VXL, to make the scripts run faster and increase the quality of the imaged Maps.

Team Leader for the realistic texturing project. Managed five students in the development of the point and click computer graphics software package for pasting texture onto arbitrary 3D surfaces (~40000 lines of C++ code), which included the development of an automatic graphical mesh parameterisation method. Responsible for the design and implementation of a texture database, for feeding data back into the main application. This was a world first technique in surgical simulation for Hysteroscopy training.
Team member of the virtual-reality surgical simulator project. Responsible for the development of the Graphical fluid model for the simulation of real-time interactive bleeding, including defining design criteria and research into algorithmic models.
Mentored students and supported their (PhD) research degrees by validating research methods and techniques and supplying solutions and ideas and keeping them focused.

Recipient of a Large Australian Research Council grant to identify different terrain types from synthetic aperture radar images using texture recognition. Developed software (~30000 lines of C++ code) that led to the conception of an application for finding and classifying unique areas from a ground view radar images suitable for mapping. The method was different from other methods, as it did not require all possible terrain types to be pre-modelled before classification.
Awarded a New Staff Grant, for the software development of a target recognition system for synthetic aperture radar images (~20000 lines of C++ code). This was a DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation) military project, for which I improved their target recognition system by using texture analysis to find anomalies in the background terrain texture from the synthetic aperture images.

Head software engineer for the following projects: Texture analysis of mineral core samples; Rock joint modelling for a caving study; Deglommerisation and mineral segmentation for the Mineral Liberation Analyser.
Texture analysis of mineral core samples. Modelled the visual characteristics of the various mineral layers taken from ore samples and viewed under an electron microscope (~20000 lines of C and Fortran90 code). The visual characteristics determined the mining potential of the ore, for which we were able to supply quantitative analysis that transcended the objective analysis previously given by the mineral analysts.
Rock joint modelling for a caving study. Modelled the three dimensional properties of joints (cracks) in the rock faces of a caving wall (~15000 lines of Fortran90 code). In particular we were able to supply error analysis with these models and display a 3D graphical view of the joints. The analysis gave an indication to the cave-in probability of the cave and also provided an insight into the amount of explosives required to extend the cave.
Deglommerisation and mineral segmentation for the Mineral Liberation Analyser. Developed an automatic mineral segmentation algorithm (~40000 lines of VC++ code). Using this software, images taken from an electron microscope of various ore compositions could be automatically segmented into their mineral components.

Developed the graphical user interface for Telstra's nationwide alarm system. Utilising Telstra proprietary graphical tools, this interface was developed to monitor errors within Telstras communications infrastructure.

Responsible for the preparation of estimates for the installation of heating equipment.
Audited valve equipment for the purpose of equipment support and maintenance.

1999, Doctorate (Ph.D), University of Queensland, Thesis: Nonparametric Markov random field models for natural texture images.
1991, Bachelor of Engineering with 1st class honours, Majoring: Electronics and Communications, Honours Thesis: Computer recognition of handwritten postcodes.