Category Archives: PhD

PhD Project: Quality of Service- Aware Edge-Fog-Cloud technologies for Smart Grid

Quality of Service (QoS)-aware edge and fog technologies play a crucial role in optimizing the performance and reliability of smart grid systems. Smart grids integrate advanced communication and information technologies into the traditional power grid to enable real-time monitoring, control, and management of electricity generation, distribution, and consumption [1]. Edge and fog technologies facilitate real-time data analytics at the grid’s edge, enabling immediate insights into power consumption patterns, grid stability, and potential faults [2, 3]. This information can be utilized to optimize energy distribution, predict demand, and prevent potential failures. QoS-aware edge and fog technologies also prioritize low-latency communication for time-critical applications, such as grid monitoring, protection, and control. This minimizes communication delays and enhances the overall grid performance.

However, applying edge and fog technologies to a smart grid architecture is non-trivial due to challenges with distributed ownership, connectivity, data fusion, data storage, load-balancing and issues with security and privacy [4].

This project investigates how edge, fog and cloud technologies can be used to improve the QoS of the smart grid and also improve the computational and communication latency of the grid data.

References

[1] Judge, M.A., Khan, A., Manzoor, A. and Khattak, H.A., 2022. Overview of smart grid implementation: Frameworks, impact, performance and challenges. Journal of Energy Storage49, p.104056.

[2] Al-Turjman, F. and Abujubbeh, M., 2019. IoT-enabled smart grid via SM: An overview. Future generation computer systems96, pp.579-590.

[3] Veloso, A.F.D.S., de Moura, M.C., Mendes, D.L.D.S., Junior, J.V., RabĂȘlo, R.A. and Rodrigues, J.J., 2021, October. Towards sustainability using an edge-fog-cloud architecture for demand-side management. In 2021 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) (pp. 1731-1736). IEEE.

[4] Li, J., Gu, C., Xiang, Y. and Li, F., 2022. Edge-cloud Computing Systems for Smart Grid: State-of-the-art, Architecture, and Applications. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy10(4), pp.805-817.

PhD Project: Design and Development of Inclusive IoT Systems

The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way humans interact with technology, offering pervasive computation and connectivity [1]. However, ensuring inclusivity in IoT design is essential to cater to the diverse needs of users such as disabilities, gender diversity, and neurodiversity [2, 3].  Building inclusive IoT systems is non-trivial due the complexity of IoT technology, which encompasses heterogenous interconnected sensors, actuators, devices and services that work together. Ensuring inclusivity across this complex network of devices and services requires specialized knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, there are also challenges with identifying diverse user needs, lack of standards and guidelines, costs, education and awareness [4, 5].

This research aims to investigate and address the diverse aspects involved in the design and development of inclusive IoT ecosystems, for selected domains such as digital health/education/smart cities.

By understanding and accommodating these aspects, the outcomes of this project will contribute to create technology that is accessible, empowering, and beneficial to all individuals, and therefore sustainable in the long-term.

References

[1] Kirimtat, A., Krejcar, O., Kertesz, A. and Tasgetiren, M.F., 2020. Future trends and current state of smart city concepts: A survey. IEEE access8, pp.86448-86467. Kirimtat, A., Krejcar, O., Kertesz, A. and Tasgetiren, M.F., 2020. Future trends and current state of smart city concepts: A survey. IEEE access8, pp.86448-86467.

[2] Soares Guedes, L., Gibson, R.C., Ellis, K., Sitbon, L. and Landoni, M., 2022, October. Designing with and for People with Intellectual Disabilities. In Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (pp. 1-6).

[3] Strengers, Y. and Kennedy, J., 2021. The smart wife: Why Siri, Alexa, and other smart home devices need a feminist reboot. MIT Press.

[4] Davis J. U., Devine J., Ellis K., Fleet C., Fogarty J., Follmer S., Gotfrid T., Hodges S., Hofmann, M., Kushalnagar, R., Mankoff, J., Reinders, S., Seyed, T., Stangl, A., Wobbrock, J., Wu, T., Yang, X., 2021. Challenges to Inclusive and Accessible Prototyping, Isotyping and Production. Accessible Computer Science Education Fall Workshop, Microsoft Research

[5] Hamidi, F., 2019. DIY Assistive technology prototyping platforms: an international perspective. IEEE Pervasive Computing18(4), pp.12-16.