i++ School Newsletter

Week commencing 29 July 2009

Previous Newsletters

CSEE Academic joint winner of IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation Outstanding Paper Award

Professor Qingfu Zhang and Dr Hui Li's paper MOEA/D: A Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm Based on Decomposition was awarded the IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation Outstanding Paper Award by The IEEE Computational Intelligence Society. This award is the most prestigious international paper award in the field of evolutionary computation.

Abstract - Decomposition is a basic strategy in traditional multiobjective optimization. However, it has not yet been widely used in multiobjective evolutionary optimization. This paper proposes a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D). It decomposes a multiobjective optimization problem into a number of scalar optimization subproblems and optimizes them simultaneously. Each subproblem is optimized by only using information from its several neighbouring subproblems, which makes MOEA/D have lower computational complexity at each generation than MOGLS and NSGA-II. Experimental results have demonstrated that MOEA/D with simple decomposition methods outperforms or performs similarly to MOGLS and NSGA-II on multiobjective 0-1 knapsack problems and continuous multiobjective optimization problems. It has been shown that MOEA/D using objective normalization can deal with disparately-scaled objectives, and MOEA/D with an advanced decomposition method can generate a set of very evenly distributed solutions for 3-objective test instances. The ability of MOEA/D with small population, the scalability and sensitivity of MOEA/D have also been experimentally investigated in this paper.

Staff News

Professor Naci Balkan

Professor Naci Balkan has been  awarded by the university a Higher Doctorate (DSc) in Physics for his published work of distinction and merit constituting a substantial, important and original contribution to knowledge or scholarship in the field of Hot Electrons in Semiconductors.

This rare accolade has been awarded to only a few other academics at Essex. Professor Balkan will be graduating this July along with his own research student Sun Yun, who recently gained her PhD.

Papers Published

M. R. Al-Mulla, F. Sepulveda, M. Colley and A. Kattan, Classification of localized muscle fatigue with Genetic Programming on sEMG during isometric contraction, to appear IEEE & EMB Embc 2009, USA

M. R. Al-Mulla, F. Sepulveda, M. Colley, Statistical Class Separation using sEMG Features Towards Automated Muscle Fatigue Detection and Prediction, to appear IEEE & EMB Cisp 2009, China

Navin Cota, Global Security Concerns: Moving Towards a Foolproof Authentication System Using Brain Signals, IEEE GOLDRush, June 2009, page 14

Papers Accepted

Adam J. Hill and Malcolm O. J. Hawksford, Visualization and analysis tools for low frequency propagation in a generalized 3D acoustic space, 127th Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, New York, October 9-12 2009.

Abstract - A toolbox is described that enables 3D animated visualization and analysis of low-frequency wave propagation within a generalized acoustic environment.  The core computation exploits a Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) algorithm selected because of its known low frequency accuracy.  Multiple sources can be configured and analyses performed at user-selected measurement locations.  Arbitrary excitation sequences enable virtual measurements embracing both time-domain and spatio-frequency domain analysis.  Examples are presented for a variety of low-frequency loudspeaker placements and room geometries to illustrate the versatility of the toolbox as an acoustics design aid.
 
Adam J. Hill and Malcolm O. J. Hawksford, Seeing through the darkness: Visualizing low frequency behaviour in small rooms, Institute of Acoustics - Reproduced Sound 25, Brighton, November 19-20 2009.

Abstract - Room equalization, active/passive absorption and multiple subwoofer configurations are all common techniques for low frequency control. It is useful to have a tool that brings these methods to life in the virtual world. Using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation, a toolbox was created to provide low frequency visualization and analysis. The toolbox gives users maximum control over simulation variables including: room topology, source locations, time delay, source signals and surface absorption. This allows for a comprehensive examination of common low frequency control techniques, giving clues as to how the room response can be improved.