Optimisation of piezoelectric metamaterials: Towards robotic stress sensors. This project aims to design new piezoelectric material microstructures that can enhance the measurement of complex local stress states within robotic limbs. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the achievable properties of multi-poled piezoelectric materials and develop computational tools for the analysis and structural optimisation of such materials. The designed microstructures may revolutionise piezoelec ....Optimisation of piezoelectric metamaterials: Towards robotic stress sensors. This project aims to design new piezoelectric material microstructures that can enhance the measurement of complex local stress states within robotic limbs. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the achievable properties of multi-poled piezoelectric materials and develop computational tools for the analysis and structural optimisation of such materials. The designed microstructures may revolutionise piezoelectric sensor technology. Expected outcomes include manufactured proof-of-concept sensors that enable measurement of local stress fields. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved future robot capability and reliability, and research training for next-generation Australian computational mathematicians. Read moreRead less
Stability of Generalised Equations and Variational Systems. This project seeks to advance a new mathematical theory of variational analysis which may lead to applications in optimisation. The emphasis will be on extensions of regularity concepts appropriate for studying stability (the ‘radius of good behaviour’) of solutions to optimisation problems, particularly those of semi-infinite optimisation and programs with equilibrium constraints, when standard assumptions are not satisfied. The expect ....Stability of Generalised Equations and Variational Systems. This project seeks to advance a new mathematical theory of variational analysis which may lead to applications in optimisation. The emphasis will be on extensions of regularity concepts appropriate for studying stability (the ‘radius of good behaviour’) of solutions to optimisation problems, particularly those of semi-infinite optimisation and programs with equilibrium constraints, when standard assumptions are not satisfied. The expected outcomes may have an impact in enhancing the convergence of numerical methods and facilitating the post-optimal analysis of solutions. It may also generate new tools for increasing efficiencies and cost reductions in engineering, logistics, economics, financial systems, and environmental science.Read moreRead less
Stochastic majorization--minimization algorithms for data science. The changing nature of acquisition and storage data has made the process of drawing inference infeasible with traditional statistical and machine learning methods. Modern data are often acquired in real time, in an incremental nature, and are often available in too large a volume to process on conventional machinery. The project proposes to study the family of stochastic majorisation-minimisation algorithms for computation of inf ....Stochastic majorization--minimization algorithms for data science. The changing nature of acquisition and storage data has made the process of drawing inference infeasible with traditional statistical and machine learning methods. Modern data are often acquired in real time, in an incremental nature, and are often available in too large a volume to process on conventional machinery. The project proposes to study the family of stochastic majorisation-minimisation algorithms for computation of inferential quantities in an incremental manner. The proposed stochastic algorithms encompass and extend upon a wide variety of current algorithmic frameworks for fitting statistical and machine learning models, and can be used to produce feasible and practical algorithms for complex models, both current and future.
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Large scale nonsmooth, nonconvex optimisation. This project aims to develop, analyse, test and apply (sub) gradient-based methods for solving large scale nonsmooth, nonconvex optimisation problems. Large scale problems with complex nonconvex objective and/or constraint functions are among the most difficult in optimisation. This project will generate new knowledge in numerical optimisation and machine learning. The use of structures and sparsity of large scale problems will lead to the developme ....Large scale nonsmooth, nonconvex optimisation. This project aims to develop, analyse, test and apply (sub) gradient-based methods for solving large scale nonsmooth, nonconvex optimisation problems. Large scale problems with complex nonconvex objective and/or constraint functions are among the most difficult in optimisation. This project will generate new knowledge in numerical optimisation and machine learning. The use of structures and sparsity of large scale problems will lead to the development of better models, and more accurate and robust methods. The expected outcomes of the project are ready-to-implement and apply numerical methods for solving large-scale, nonsmooth, nonconvex optimisation problems, as well as problems in machine learning and regression analysis.Read moreRead less
Bushfire analytics: optimisation of fuel reduction. Bushfires are an integral part of the Australian ecosystem. However, their severity has been worsening rapidly over the past decade. This project aims to develop a principled and scalable methodology for optimising fuel treatment planning to reduce the potential for severe bushfires. This project expects to generate new knowledge in bushfire fuel management using a groundbreaking combination of mathematical modelling techniques and state-of-the ....Bushfire analytics: optimisation of fuel reduction. Bushfires are an integral part of the Australian ecosystem. However, their severity has been worsening rapidly over the past decade. This project aims to develop a principled and scalable methodology for optimising fuel treatment planning to reduce the potential for severe bushfires. This project expects to generate new knowledge in bushfire fuel management using a groundbreaking combination of mathematical modelling techniques and state-of-the-art optimisation methods. The expected outcomes should provide significant benefits to our nation's ability to respond and adapt to the impacts of environmental change on biological systems and urban and rural communities.Read moreRead less
Distributed Optimisation without Central Coordination. This project will develop the mathematical foundations for discovery and analysis of iterative methods for optimisation problems in distributed computing systems. Most methods in distributed optimisation were not designed for distributed computing, rather they were adapted for purpose post-hoc. By building on recent advances in monotone operator splitting, this project expects to develop a mathematical theory for decentralised optimisation a ....Distributed Optimisation without Central Coordination. This project will develop the mathematical foundations for discovery and analysis of iterative methods for optimisation problems in distributed computing systems. Most methods in distributed optimisation were not designed for distributed computing, rather they were adapted for purpose post-hoc. By building on recent advances in monotone operator splitting, this project expects to develop a mathematical theory for decentralised optimisation algorithms specially designed for distributed systems. The framework is expected to produce a suite of algorithms, each customised to exploit a specific network configuration. The project will provide significant benefits in distributed machine learning applications such as federated learning.Read moreRead less
Data-Driven Multistage Robust Optimization—the New Frontier in Optimization. Robust optimisation is a powerful technology for decision-making in uncertain environments. Yet, developing numerically certifiable optimisation principles and data-driven methods that can be readily implemented by common computer algorithms remains an elusive goal for multistage robust optimisation. But it is crucial for the practical use of multistage optimisation. This project aims to develop this novel mathematical ....Data-Driven Multistage Robust Optimization—the New Frontier in Optimization. Robust optimisation is a powerful technology for decision-making in uncertain environments. Yet, developing numerically certifiable optimisation principles and data-driven methods that can be readily implemented by common computer algorithms remains an elusive goal for multistage robust optimisation. But it is crucial for the practical use of multistage optimisation. This project aims to develop this novel mathematical theory and methods by extending the investigators' recent award winning advances, including the von Neumann-prizewinning Lasserre-hierarchy approach. Results will provide a foundation and technologies for making superior decisions in the pervasive presence of big data uncertainty, enhancing data-driven innovation in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Geometry in projection methods and fixed-point theory. This project aims to resolve mathematical challenges arising from problems with specific structure typical for key modern applications, such as big data optimisation, chemical engineering and medical imaging. We focus on developing new mathematical tools for the analysis of projection methods and accompanying fixed point theory, specifically targeting the refinement of the geometric intuition for algorithm design techniques to inform the imp ....Geometry in projection methods and fixed-point theory. This project aims to resolve mathematical challenges arising from problems with specific structure typical for key modern applications, such as big data optimisation, chemical engineering and medical imaging. We focus on developing new mathematical tools for the analysis of projection methods and accompanying fixed point theory, specifically targeting the refinement of the geometric intuition for algorithm design techniques to inform the implementation of optimal methods for huge-scale optimisation problems.Read moreRead less
An optimisation-based framework for non-classical Chebyshev approximation. This project aims to solve open mathematical problems in multivariate and piecewise polynomial approximations, two directions that correspond to fundamental obstacles to extending classical approximation results. Through an innovative combination of optimisation and algebraic technique, the project intends to develop foundations for new results in approximation theory, and new insights into other areas of mathematics, mos ....An optimisation-based framework for non-classical Chebyshev approximation. This project aims to solve open mathematical problems in multivariate and piecewise polynomial approximations, two directions that correspond to fundamental obstacles to extending classical approximation results. Through an innovative combination of optimisation and algebraic technique, the project intends to develop foundations for new results in approximation theory, and new insights into other areas of mathematics, most notably optimisation. The techniques and methods developed should also have significant benefits in the many disciplines where approximation problems appear, such as engineering, physics or data mining. The research outputs resulting from this project will be used in a wide range of fields to help implement programs, policies and improve decision making.Read moreRead less
Beyond black-box models: interaction in eXplainable Artificial Intelligence. This project addresses a key issue in automated decision making: explaining how a decision was reached by a computer system to its users. Its aim is to progress towards a new generation of explainable decision models, which would match the performance of current black-box systems while at the same time allow for transparency and detailed interpretation of the underlying logic. This project expects to generate new knowl ....Beyond black-box models: interaction in eXplainable Artificial Intelligence. This project addresses a key issue in automated decision making: explaining how a decision was reached by a computer system to its users. Its aim is to progress towards a new generation of explainable decision models, which would match the performance of current black-box systems while at the same time allow for transparency and detailed interpretation of the underlying logic. This project expects to generate new knowledge in modelling interdependencies of decision criteria using recent advances in the theory of capacities. The expected outcomes are sophisticated but tractable models in which mutual dependencies of decision rules and criteria are treated explicitly and can be thoroughly evaluated. Read moreRead less