Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) research group

Research interests/areas:

• Artificial intelligence
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Internet of things
• Real-time processing
• Edge computing

PhD proposal title:

UAV-assisted mobile edge computing for optimal disaster management: leveraging advanced learning models

Research summary:

Large-scale natural disasters can cause widespread damage and loss of life. Public safety communications (PSC) systems are essential for responding to these disasters, but traditional PSC systems are often not able to meet the demands of large-scale disasters. 

This paper proposes a new approach to PSC that uses unmanned aerial vehicles and edge computing (EC). UAVs can be used to provide on-demand communication links in areas where the infrastructure has been damaged, and EC can be used to provide computing resources closer to the disaster site, which can reduce latency and improve performance. The proposed approach is evaluated through simulations and experimental results.

Research interests/areas

• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Communication

PhD proposal title

Multi-UAV target tracking using O-RAN intelligent controller

Research summary

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have found use in many applications including target tracking, where a UAV is used to predict the location of the target, find it and then follow it, if needed. Use of machine learning, neural networks, particle filters and kalman filters enhance the target tracking capability of UAVs.

This research is based on the Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) and rApps inside the non-realtime part of O-RAN intelligent controllers. The aim of the research is to improve the accuracy of target detection and tracking while minimising the energy use. Offloading tasks will improve the use of available resources.

Publications

The WiMAX 802.16e physical layer model Author(s): M.N. Khan and S. Ghauri

• Source: IET Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Multimedia Networks, 2008 p. 117 – 120 Conference: IET Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Multimedia Networks DOI: 10.1049/cp:20080159
• ISBN: 978 0 86341 887 7
• Location: Mumbai, India
• Conference date: 11-12 Jan 2008

PhD title of Farzad is “Smart Urban Drainage Systems using Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining Techniques” which aims to “make use of AI and data mining techniques to develop novel analytical tools for enhancing the performance of urban drainage systems in real-time management of urban flood events”. This research follows these objects: “Developing new data-driven models for merging rainfall data as input of urban flood forecasting by using data mining and deep learning techniques”, “Enhancement the performance of real-time prediction of urban flood events in the smart UDS” and “Improving the performance of real-time prediction of urban flooding in UDS through assimilation of physical parameters in the catchment”.

• Funded value: £134,894
• Funded period: April 2020 – October 2021
• Funder: EPSRC-Digital Innovation for Development in Africa (DIDA)
• Project reference: EP/T030089/1
• UWL team: Dr Ying Zhang and Professor Kourosh Behzadian

Find out more via the UKRI website.

Abstract achieving food security for the growing human population without widespread environmental degradation is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are an excellent example of how the integrated management of water-energy-food nexus in a single system can effectively reverse environmental degradation. CWs are artificial wetlands engineered to provide multiple ecosystem services to semi-arid areas; by treating wastewater and storm-water runoff through microorganisms (as much as 90%), while also providing habitat for wildlife and producing food, through low-tech methods that contribute to significant cost savings. Although these benefits have been locally demonstrated on a small scale, the quantitative benefits across all three resources have not been widely realised. In this project, and for the first time, Digital Twins (DT) will represent the virtual environment of a CW in South Africa (SA) and Malaysia. The prototype will be developed based on a successfully operating CW in a remote village in Cyprus. Consecutively, this will be tested and validated by implementing it in a similar CW in SA and Malaysia. This will enable us to simulate how different processes and equipment configurations affect energy consumption, water quality, and the crops that are being yielded from the treated water. The use of the DT will break the silos around the water-energy-food sectors and will add to the understanding of the nexus concept, minimise the risk of costly failures, and allow for more rapid innovation and development through integration. Additionally, by providing a shared, interactive platform for understanding and exploring complex systems, DT can help to build a more informed and engaged leadership and community around water-energy-food nexus projects in the global south. DT can revolutionise how we approach projects involving the water-energy-food nexus allowing more efficient and effective decision-making, by optimising the interlinkages and interdependencies of these.

• Funded value: £20,000
• Funded period: March 2023 - March 2024
• Funder: RAE-REDAA
• Project reference: FS-2223-18-102
• UWL team: Dr Nagham Saeed and Dr Atiyeh Ardakanian

5G and beyond networks envision a massive increase in wireless network devices and traffic demands. This translates to significant growth in energy consumption, resulting in high network operation costs. Extending the usage of AI and ML in all the network layers is a business target that may enhance the communication radio interface. Minimising network operation costs and energy consumption will help to reach net zero goals. Collaboration outcomes expected from this work, include a scope report to BT Group, a workshop, a paper, and a developed KTP application for future funded projects led by BT partners.

• Funded value: £3,000
• Funded period: February 2023 – August 2023
• Funder: KE Seed fund
• UWL team: Dr Nagham Saeed

• Date: 21-23 October 2024
• Location: The Alban Arena, St Albans

AI and Gender Equality: an Open Challenge

Organised by Nagham Saeed (UWL) and Valentina Bello (University of Pavia), this panel aims to explore the dual facets of AI's impact on gender equality, focusing on its potential to bridge and inadvertently widen the gender gap.

Panellists:

• Latizia Tanca (Politecnico di Milano)
• Julie Wall (UWL)
• Luigi Lavorgna (University of Campania)
• Carol Marsh (Celestia)

• Date: 25-28 May 2025

This workshop will bring together leading academics and industry experts to discuss the latest advancements and ongoing challenges in Industrial IoT. It will focus on sustainable technologies for circuit design, sensor development, communication systems and power management. The event will include keynote talks, a technical session and a panel discussion, providing a platform for participants to explore how cutting-edge innovations can optimise IIoT systems for efficiency and sustainability.

Our panel, "Potential of Sustainable Industrial IoT", will address critical issues like the need for low-power solutions, the role of AI in sustainability and the challenges of integrating renewable energy into IIoT systems. The discussion will focus on real-world applications and future directions in the field.

This special issue, titled "Optimising the Future: Securing and Streamlining IoT Resource Allocation in the 6G Era with Edge Computing and UAV Integration" and edited by IIoT research group member Dr Shidrokh Goudarzi, aims to explore the forefront of IoT and 6G technologies, focusing on innovative solutions for resource allocation, security, and efficiency.

The integration of edge computing and UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in the IoT ecosystem presents novel opportunities and challenges, especially as we transition into the 6G era. We are looking for original research articles, case studies, and comprehensive reviews that address these topics, providing insights into the future of IoT and 6G technologies.

IEEE WIE UK&I's goal is to facilitate the recruitment and retention of women in technical disciplines globally. We envision a vibrant community of IEEE women and men collectively using their diverse talents to innovate for the benefit of humanity. IEEE WIE UK and Ireland through the Ambassadors Network is calling women in engineering to participate in a technical, inspirational and empowering session “Early Career Talks”. The previous ECT events were very successful, they have attracted attention from both academia and industry. This event converges the state-of-the-art research and technology in engineering and computing besides establishing networking/collaboration links and exploring new opportunities for developing interactions between academia, industry, and government, fostering economic and social development.

What are the themes?

We offer two themes in this call which take place online and will be around March and June 2024 respectively.

Theme 1: Unlocking the potential of offshore renewable energy: innovations, challenges and environmental sustainability

• Explore the dynamic landscape of offshore renewable energy in this theme, covering advancements, challenges and innovations in harnessing sustainable energy from offshore sources. Submissions may address topics such as wind, solar, wave and tidal energy, along with associated technologies, environmental impact assessments and offshore infrastructure developments.

Theme 2: Revolutionising robotics: harnessing the power of 5G and emerging technologies for next-generation applications

• Delve into the cutting-edge intersection of robotics and 5G technology in this theme, showcasing research and developments that leverage high-speed connectivity to propel robotics into new realms. Submissions can span a spectrum of applications, including industrial automation, healthcare robotics, autonomous vehicles and the integration of emerging technologies beyond 5G, providing insights into the future of robotic systems.

• Date: Wednesday 27 March 2024, 12pm - 1pm
• Location: Ealing site, BY.01.017

AI is currently talked about everywhere, but do we have the right underlying technologies available to truly power and deliver what we set out to achieve?

The aim of this presentation is to look at the reality of what our current computers are good at and not so good at to then explore if there are more effective ways of achieving AI functionality. This should demonstrate that to create AI systems that deliver functionalities like that of the human brain, there will be a need for some quite different lines of thinking to be explored in more depth.

Watch our '2023 Challenges and Opportunities: Enabling Technologies for Connected Smart Cities' event, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.

• Watch our twelfth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on robotics, 5G, artificial intelligence, feature extraction and software defined networks, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our eleventh IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on edge computing, intelligent autonomous systems, generative models and wireless sensor networks, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our ninth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on augmented reality, intelligent surfaces, energy efficiency and computer vision, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our eighth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on hyperspectral imaging, Intell., robotic systems, power systems dynamics, and cognitive systems, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our seventh IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on power electronics, data analytics, Internet of Things security, and built environment, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our sixth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on bioelectronic distributed systems, speech technology and smart grids, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our fifth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on IoT cybersecurity, fibre optics, robotics, and image processing, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.
• Watch our fourth IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors Programme 'Early Career Talks' event. This event was on vehicular comm. sec., power systems, cryptocurrency, and industrial automation, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.

Frontier Champion 2022 aimed to encourage the use of a continuous and real-time monitoring system, with the help of IoT devices, as an alternative solution in sustaining water reuse efforts.

Due to the rapid growth of the human population and climate change, the resources of clean drinking water have been menaced. Hence, water reuse has become one of the solutions in order to solve the water crisis. By reusing water, nearly 40% of drinkable water consumption can be reduced for non-potable uses, including toilet flushing and gardening.

Over the last few years, frontiers have worked hand in hand to collect and study all the social and technical data to spot the challenges and opportunities in the water reuse topic. However, constant and real-time data sharing has been the biggest challenge in sustaining water reuse strategies. IoT devices aim to overcome this problem; a system of devices connected through the internet, able to communicate with each other (including data transfer).

The aim of this competition was to design and fabricate a wastewater harvesting system coupled with the IoT system for monitoring and controlling purposes.

• Date: 26 September 2022
• Time: 3pm - 4pm
• Speaker: Dr Nagham Saeed, UWL
• Host/Chair: Dr Mahdi H.Miraz, Head BITNet RG

Talk Introduction— the concept of smart cities is the dream of every government for future development where living standards will be improved to another level. In another word, the smart cities have been recently regarded as the effective and reasonable solution for a better way of living.  
These smart cities are now being designed by Fifth Generation mobile communication networks (5G). 5G technology has many characteristics that will have a positive impact on the digital experience and smart cities. This talk illustrates the integration into smart cities, it focuses on smart grid integration into the smart cities using the 5G technology, showing the advantages of the network slicing and the benefit of introducing the virtual MPN to smart cities.

The webinar gave an insight into how professional female engineers can lead and significantly contribute to the digital era.

• Watch 2022 Challenges and Opportunities: Women's Roles in Digital Era webinar via YouTube.

• Date: Tuesday 30 July 2024, 10:30am - 12pm
• Location: King's College London

• Panel 1 - Navigating the tech industry as a woman: insights, experiences and lessons learned from leading women in tech
• Panel 2 - Designing for diversity and inclusion

Invited speakers and panellists:

• Professor Julie A McCann (Imperial College London)
• Dr Carol Marsh OBE (Celestia)
• Dr Ramona Marfievici (Digital Catapult)
• Dr Zeba Khanam (BT)
• Fehmida Jafferali (University of West London)
• Dr Saumya Kareem Reni (University of Westminster)
• Dr Erika Sanchez-Velazquez (Anglia Ruskin University)
• Dr Nagham Saeed (University of West London) - moderator