The Database Research group is actively engaged in research in the areas of advanced data modelling, schema integration, database transfers, distributed database management, spatial database management systems, and applications for mining genetic databases and the overall structuring of these databases. Other areas of research in which the group is interested include client/server architectures, database management systems, internet/intranet applications and their implications for client/server and distributed systems, and object/relational technology. Long-term aims include the development of a CASE environment that facilitates the use of multiple data modelling perspectives, and an environment for generating software to transfer between different databases. The group is multi-talented, enthusiastic, and always on the look out for new and exciting projects involving the use or development of databases.

DCSA Research Centre Home Page
Software agents are used both for modelling complex interactive systems and for providing robust services in an open, distributed environment.

The Otago Distributed Computing & Software Agents Research Centre, a member of the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) and the AgentCities consortium, is engaged in research and development of advanced technology covering a range of practical techniques and applications in this area. These include:

• Distriburted computing platforms and infrastructure
• Agent architectures and communication
• Distributed interactive architectures
• Ontology representation and usage
• Agent interaction protocols, institutions, and policies
• Distributed information system applications
• Peer-to-peer and Grid applications
• Mobile, location-aware computing
• Wireless applications
• Situated agents and robotics

Health Informatics Home Page
Health Informatics deals with the evaluation and effective use of computer systems, software and electronic information in the healthcare context. It emphasises the appropriate use of computers and telecommunications technology. Electronic information systems are revolutionising healthcare practice, research and education. Many healthcare professionals realise that they need skills in finding and using information, and in assessing the information systems. In that a large part of clinical practice is concerned with the creation and storage of data about patients and the finding and use of information for decision-making, service planning, budgeting, audit and research. These tasks can no longer be managed efficiently using paper-based methods. Because of the escalating cost, providers are required increasingly to justify treatment decisions, and to audit outcomes. It is important that there is effective integration of information technology into clinical practice to enable timely communication between the provider and the patient. Informatics provides opportunities to improve the impact of patient education, and assists in the production, peer review and delivery of these resources. Whilst many fear that computer technology may have a dehumanising effect on the interpersonal basis of healthcare, efficient management of information improves patient satisfaction and makes time available for new aspects of practice, for learning and improvement in the quality of care.

The Health Informatics Research Group since starting this program in 1999 has contributed to over 30 workshops and presentations and in addition published over 30 refereed book chapter, journal and conference papers.

KIWI Lab Home Page

The Knowledge, Intelligence and Web Informatics Laboratary (KIWI for short) was established in 1994. It develops methods and systems based on neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, adaptive systems and hybrid systems, with applications in speech processing, intelligent control, data mining, information retrieval, human-computer interfaces, image processing, and decision-making in business and finance. The laboratory is host for one of the emerging research themes in the University - Connectionist-based Information Systems. It has developed several software tools and environments used for research and teaching in the Department, in other departments of the University and by dozens of overseas universities and research institutes. The tool, a hybrid software environment called FuzzyCOPE/2, integrates modules for data analysis and visualisation, neural networks, fuzzy inference, and genetic algorithms. The following are some of the application-oriented systems developed in the lab: an experimental English-to-Maori talking dictionary; a neural network-based system for effluent flow prediction in the Paraparaumu township; and a hybrid system for waste water treatment in Morrinsville. The KDL lab has well-established research contacts with several companies in New Zealand, among them Waste Solutions Ltd, Fisher ∓ Paykel, Dairy Products Ltd, and with overseas partners in Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States.

MSRL/HCI Home Page

The Multimedia Systems Research Laboratory (MSRL) facilitates the work of the Human-Comuter Interaction (HCI) group. The focus of work in the MSRL is applied research in all areas of multimedia systems. Though, we emphasise on non-standard HCI concepts like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and Three-dimensional User Interfaces (3DUI)

Some of the projects currently being undertaken in the MSRL include:

• Support of verbal and non-verbal communication and interaction in 3D teleconferencing environments
• Measuring task performance and presence in teleconferencing applications
• Development and Test of Virtual and Augmented Reality to be used in psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation applications

We are working together with external and internal partners, in particular the departments of Psychology, Design Studies, Medicine and Physiotherapy.

ONGENS Test Bed Home Page

The test bed has been established as a facility for the evaluation and testing of advanced distributed networking applications and multi-processing applications. In particular, the ONGENS Test Bed has been established to test JAIN SLEE applications.

The test bed provides:

1. software and systems testing, calibration and verification by an independent and authenticated facility;
2. application functional testing, solution testing and performance testing;
3. testing and reporting;
4. an academic and applied research facility;
5. an education and training facility for convergent technologies and applications.

The ONGENS Test bed is part of the Global Network Interconnectivity (GNI) Project (www.gni.otago.ac.nz). The GNI project works to provide a framework to build a globally competitive industry around next generation networks.
The project is developing research, enterprise training, and knowledge sharing activities to support new ICT technologies, such as JAIN SLEE, that are contributing to telecommunications, multimedia, and information systems convergence. Rapid change in the telecommunications arena is leading to both a convergence of technical resources and an opening up of network architectures.

Areas of particular interest in the Security Research Group include software viruses, privacy and ethics, disaster recovery and threat contingency, physical precautions, firewalls and other aspects of internet security.

SECML Home Page

The Software Engineering and Collaborative Modelling Laboratory (SECML) is devoted to the research and technological development
of new approaches to software modelling and software system production. At the present time research projects are actively engaged in the following areas:

• Distributed Information Systems and Agent-based Software Engineering. Investigations are being conducted into agent-based software techniques that facilitate both the integration of disparate information sources and the interoperation of separate tools that are distributed over a heterogeneous, networked environment. (WWW: http://nzdis.otago.ac.nz)
• Intelligent Knowledge Discovery. New tools for data mining of spatial and environmental data sets are under development and have been incorporated into the Otago Spatial Analysis and Modelling System toolbox (http://divcom.otago.ac.nz/infosci/ssmam/index.html), which supports a distributed collection of modules (including those for feature selection, neural-network modelling and pruning, rule extraction, and agent-modelling) that can be used in combination with widely-used spatial information tools.
• Workflow Management and Process Modelling. The modelling and simulation of complex, concurrent systems is being investigated using coloured Petri nets and agent-based modelling software techniques. A model of the administrative government processes specified in the New Zealand Resource Management Act has been constructed as part of this programme.
• Applications and Models of ATM Broadband Networks. Empirical investigations are being conducted concerning the configuration, use, and performances of Asynchronous Transfer Mode broadband networks for multimedia applications.
• Computer Supported Cooperative Work. This work involves the development of new tools that assist the activities of collaborative groups of people distributed over an electronic network.
• Alternative Connectionist Architectures. This research concerns the investigation of novel connectionist architectures based on the optical properties of thin-film multilayers. Examples have been shown to have pattern-recognition capabilities similar to neural networks.

SECML research listed above is partially supported by the following NZ Foundation for Research, Science and Technology grants:

* Distributed Information Systems (UOO621)
* Spatial Systems: Modelling, Analysis and Management (UOO807)
* Applications of Broad-Band Communications (UOO809).

SIRC Home Page

The Spatial Information Research Centre (SIRC) was established in 1989 to conduct research and development in the general area of spatial information science. The Centre’s research is primarily concerned with spatial information gathering, processing and analysis. It encompasses computing, information processing and management, database and system development techniques. The Centre undertakes multidisciplinary research into aspects of spatial data acquisition, storage, manipulation, display and analysis. Current projects include investigations into GIS maturity in local government, the use of case-based reasoning and other intelligent methods in spatial analysis, the recording of M_ori place names, ecological modelling and simulation, spatial representation, image processing, spatial data structures, temporal land information systems and spatial visualisation.