Biography summary
Prof Mak-Hau obtained her PhD from the University of Melbourne, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, in 2002. She completed two years of postdoctoral research fellowship at CMIS/CSIRO and the University of Melbourne before joining Deakin University in 2004.
Prof Vicky Mak-Hau was one of the Chief Investigators in three ARC Discovery Projects and one ARC LIEF project (AUD 1.38M total), and is the lead CI in a number of industry funded projects and Deakin funded projects. To date, she has attracted over AUD $3.52M external research funding and over $727K Deakin internal funding.
Career highlights
2021, Keynote Speaker, 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Sydney, NSW, Australia ASOR/DORS Stream https://mssanz.org.au/modsim2021/papers/M8/mak-hau.pdf
2021, Finalist, Defence Industry Award 2021 - Academic of the Year https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/australian-defence-industry-awards/winners/2021-finalists
2021, Bronze medal IEEE CEC 2021 & GECCO 2021 Joint Competition in Smart Grid Applications, Track 1: Bi-level optimization of end-users’ bidding strategies in local energy markets (jointly with Dr Rasul Esmaeilbeigi)
2020, Runner up, IEEE WCCI Electric Vehicle Routing Competition 2020. jointly with Mr Brendan Hill
2020, Semi-finalist, Franz Edelman Award, A/Prof Mak-Hau and Dr Rasul Esmaeilbeigi, jointly with DSTG Workforce Analysis team
2006, Operations Research Meritorious Service Award, Institute of Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
2006, Cherry Ripe Prize, ANZIAM.
2000, Student Medal, Australian Society of Operations Research (ASOR).
Research interests
Fundamental research:
Novel solution algortihms for large-scale complex mixed-integer linear programming problems
Meta-heuristics and Metheuristics approaches
Integrating AI and Optimization
Multi-objective search algorithms
APPLICATIONS OF INTEREST AND RECENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Energy
Smart grid optimization probelms
Hycel / EV infrastructure optimization problems
SATCOM
Downlink scheduling problems
Scheduling and planning
Workforce optimization and analytics
Teaching interests
Combinatorial Optimisation
Industrial Engineering
Integer Programming
Matheuristics and Meta-heuristics
Units taught
Real-world analystics
Optimisation, Modelling, and Decision Analysis
Complex Analysis
Cryptography
Calculus
Knowledge areas
Combinatorial Optimisation; Integer Programming; Matheurisitcs; Meta-heuristics; Byspoke solution methods; Scheduling and planning; Routing; Resource allocation; Timetabling
Prof Mak-Hau's main area of expertise is in mixed-integer linear programming solution algorithms. She is experienced in developing problem-specific decomposition and relaxation approaches custom-designed for her industry partners. Besides exact algorithms, she has also designed and implemented bespoke heuristic or meta-heursitic approaches. Her current focus is in integrating Artificial Intelligence and Optimization and developing multi-objective search algorithms.
Expertise
- Mathematics
Conferences
1. Program Committee Member of: International Workshop on Applications and Technologies in Information Security, (2010-2013)
2. Organiser: Operations Research in Radiation Oncology Workshop, February 16th-18th, 2009. Keynote Speakers: Prof Edwin Romeijn (The University of Michigan) Prof Allen Holder (Rose-Hulman Technical Institute) Prof Tomas Kron (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre) A/Prof Eva Lee (Georgia Institute of Technology) A/Prof Matthias Ehrgott (University of Auckland) Dr. Omid Nohadani (Massachusetts General Hospital)
3. Organiser: Australian Society of Operations Research, (Melbourne Chapter), Recent Advances 1-day Workshop, November 26th, 2008.
4. Member of Organising Committee: ANZIAM 2006
Professional activities
Member of:
Institute of Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
Mathematical Optimization Society (MOS)
Australian Society of Operations Research (ASOR)
Research groups
Prof Mak-Hau established and leads the Advancing Optimization for Future Challenges Research Program. She also co-leads the Mathematics Lab, D2I
Awards
2021, Defence Industry Academic of the Year Award, Finalist
2021, Bronze Medal, IEEE CEC & GECCO Joint Competition in Smart Grid Applications
2020, IEEE WCCI Electric Vehicle Routing Competition, 2nd place
2020, Franz Edelman Award, semi-finalist
2006, (INFORMS) Operations Research Meritorious Service Award.
2006, ANZIAM Cherry, Ripe Prize.
2000, Australian Society for Operations Research (ASOR), Student Medal.
Projects
CURRENT PROJETS
Defence
Project 1: Optimization engine and analytics tools in defence automatic workforce planners
Building optimization engines and analytics tools for these systems. For this work we were short listed as a semi-finalist of the Franz Edelman Award in 2020.
Project 2: Scaling force effectiveness modelling and assessment methods
The main research question for this project is to develop computationally feasible approaches for solving very large scale many-objective combinatorial optimization problems where some objectives may be inter-related, and the objective functions may be expensive to calculate
Project 3: SATellite Dynamic REsrouce Management (SAT-DREAM)
Energy
Project 1: Electric vehicle routing (2nd place: IEEE WCCI 2020 competition)
Project 2: Optimization in smart grid
Flexibility management of home appliance to support DSO requests and Bi-level optimization of bidding strategies in local energy markers
Project 3: Optimisation of refuelling logistics for a hydrogen bus network
Industry partner: Warrnambool Bus Lines.
As the company prepares to introduce a new fleet of 12 hydrogen buses, this project uses mathematical modelling to support WBL to determine the optimal configuration of a hydrogen refuelling network.
Project 4: Digital Microgrid Digital Twin
This project aims to develop a web-based Digital Twin for the newly commissioned Renewable Energy Microgrid (“Deakin Microgrid”) located on the Deakin Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus.
PAST PROJECTS
Health
Project 1: Kidney exchange
* Impact story * My model, among others, has been asessed by French researchers who work with the French Agency of Biomedicine. It was recommended by these researchers to be used by the agency for the French Kidney Exchange Program
Project 2: Radiotherapy and treatment planning optimization
Research partners: Barwon Health and PeterMac
* Impact story * We have demonstrated that it is acceptable to replace cone-beam CTs with portable bladder scanners in measuring bladder volumes in post-prostatectomy patients undergoing radiotherapy. Using portable bladder scanner at the bedside / point of care results in no radiation exposure as opposed to CT scanning—a significant benefit for patient health [paper]
Project 3: Redesigning medical wards by optimally allocating specialties to minimize outliers
Research partner: Monash Health
Transportation
Project 1: Aircraft rotation problems
We designed the Lagrangean relaxation-based BNB algorithm, and implemented it on real airline data with up to 519 flight legs, 42,732 connections.
Project 2: Simultaneous vehicle routing and packing
Publications
Deakin microgrid digital twin and analysis of AI models for power generation prediction
I Natgunanathan, V Mak-Hau, S Rajasegarar, A Anwar
(2023), Vol. 18, pp. 1-11, Energy Conversion and Management: X, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Angus Gaudry, Ryan Li, Vicky Mak‐Hau
(2023), pp. 1-24, International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, London, Eng., C1
Course Scheduling Under Uncertainty for Defence Workforce Training
T Lam, V Mak-Hau, K Pash
(2023), pp. 269-278, WAPAT 2023 : Proceedings of the International Conference on Operations Research and Enterprise Systems, Lisbon, Portugal, E1
Resource optimisation for geostationary communication satellites
Vicky Mak
(2023), MODSIM 2023 : Proceedings 25th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Darwin, NT, Australia, E1
The multiphase course timetabling problem
R Esmaeilbeigi, V Mak-Hau, J Yearwood, V Nguyen
(2022), Vol. 300, pp. 1098-1119, European Journal of Operational Research, C1
Aggregation of interacting criteria in land combat vehicle selection by using fuzzy measures
G Beliakov, T Cao, V Mak-Hau
(2022), Vol. 30, pp. 3979-3989, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, Piscataway, N.J., C1
T Chuong, V Mak-Hau, J Yearwood, R Dazeley, M Nguyen, T Cao
(2022), Vol. 319, pp. 1533-1564, Annals of Operations Research, New York, N.Y., C1
An efficient and exact algorithm for military timetabling and trainee assignment problems
V Nguyen, V Mak-Hau, B Moran, A Novak
(2022), Vol. 169, pp. 1-13, Computers and Industrial Engineering, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, C1
Error Spectrum Analysis of Solar Power Prediction for Deakin Microgrid Digital Twin
I Natgunanathan, A Anwar, S Rajasegarar, V Mak-Hau
(2022), Vol. 2022-November, pp. 1-6, APPEEC 2022 : Proceedings of the 14th Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, E1
DμDT: The Deakin University Microgrid Digital Twin
V Mak-Hau, A Henkel, M Abdelrazek, S Rajasegarar, A Anwar, A Fletcher
(2022), Vol. 2022-November, pp. 1-6, APPEEC 2022 : Proceedings of the 14th Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, E1
S Yang, G Huang, X Zhou, V Mak, J Yearwood
(2021), Vol. 20, pp. 341-370, International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making, C1
V Mak-Hau, B Hill, D Kirszenblat, B Moran, V Nguyen, A Novak
(2021), Vol. 154, Computers and Industrial Engineering, C1
Hydrogen bus route planning in regional Victoria
R Esmaeilbeigi, V Mak-Hau, G Pineda-Villavicencio, J Ugon
(2021), pp. 757-763, MODSIM 2023 : Proceedings of the 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Sydney, N.S.W., E1
The Standard Refuelling Facility Expansion Problem: A Case Study in Australia
Juan Calle Salazar, R Perez-Franco, V Mak-Hau, D Abril, D Rojas
(2021), pp. 750-756, MODSIM 2021 : Modelling for action with a flood of data and a cloud of uncertainty : Proceedings of the 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Sydney, N.S.W, E1
Branch-and-cut-and-price for the cardinality-constrained multi-cycle problem in kidney exchange
E Lam, V Mak-Hau
(2020), Vol. 115, Computers and Operations Research, C1
A mixed integer linear programming approach for soft graph clustering
V Mak-Hau, J Yearwood
(2020), pp. 1166-1171, ICDM2020 : Proceedings of IEEE's International Conference on Data Mining, Online : Sorrento, Italy, E1
Aggregation of dependent criteria in multicriteria decision making problems by means of capacities
G Beliakov, S Boswell, T Cao, R Dazeley, V Mak-Hau, M Nguyen, T Wilkin, J Yearwood
(2019), pp. 228-234, MODSIM2019 : Supporting evidence-based decision making: the role of modelling and simulation : Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Canberra, A.C.T., E1
A novel approach for information discovery in wireless sensor grids
M Tissera, R Doss, G Li, V Mak-Hau, L Batten
(2018), Vol. 26, pp. 640-662, Journal of network and systems management, Berlin, Germany, C1
Identifying items for moderation in a peer assessment framework
S James, E Lanham, V Mak-Hau, L Pan, T Wilkin, G Wood-Bradley
(2018), Vol. 162, pp. 211-219, Knowledge-Based Systems, C1
V Mak-Hau
(2018), Vol. 99, pp. 13-26, Computers and operations research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Dancing links for optimal timetabling
V Nguyen, B Moran, A Novak, V Mak-Hau, T Caelli, B Hill, D Kirszenblat
(2018), Vol. 23, pp. 61-77, Military Operations Research, C1
Vicky Mak-Hau, I Moser, Aldeida Aleti
(2018), pp. 91-101, ASOR 2016 : Proceedings of the Australian Society for Operations Research Conference 2016, Canberra, A.C.T., E1
P Lalbakhsh, V Mak-Hau, R Séguin, V Nguyen, A Novak
(2018), pp. 2285-2296, WSC 2018 : Proceedings of the 2018 Winter Simulation Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden, E1
V Mak-Hau
(2017), Vol. 33, pp. 35-59, Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, C1
Defense against packet collusion attacks in opportunistic networks
M Alajeely, R Doss, A Ahmad, V Mak-Hau
(2017), Vol. 65, pp. 269-282, Computers & security, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A quick practical guide to polyhedral analysis in integer programming
Vicky Mak-Hau
(2017), pp. 175-185, ASOR 2016 : Proceedings of the Australian Society for Operations Research Conference 2016, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, E1
Optimal policies for aircraft fleet management in the presence of unscheduled maintenance
Looker Jason, Vicky Mak, David Marlow
(2017), pp. 1392-1398, MODSIM2017 : Proceedings of the 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Hobart, Tas., E1
Using column generation to solve an aircrew training timetabling problem
David Kirszenblat, Brendan Hill, Vicky Mak, Bill Moran, Vivian Nguyen, Ana Novak
(2017), pp. 667-673, MODSIM2017 : Managing cumulative risks through model-based processes : Proceedings of the 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation 2017, Hobart, Tas., E1
An efficient detection mechanism against packet faking attack in opportunistic networks
M Alajeely, A Ahmad, R Ram Mohan Doss, V Mak
(2015), Vol. 523, pp. 84-100, Future network systems and security : first international conference, FNSS 2015, Paris, France, June 11-13, 2015, Proceedings, Berlin, Germany, B1
L Mason, V Mak-Hau, A Ernst
(2015), Vol. 60, pp. 441-477, Computational Optimization and Applications, Berlin, Germany, C1
K Akartunali, V Mak-Hau, T Tran
(2015), Vol. 56, pp. 134-150, Computers & operations research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Alajeely, R Doss, A Ahmad, V Mak-Hau
(2015), Vol. 71, pp. 111-118, Computer communications, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
V Mak-Hau
(2015), pp. 1773-1779, MODSIM 2015 : Proceedings of the 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Gold Coast, Queensland, E1
Heuristic approaches for multi-criteria optimisation in kidney exchange programs
L Nickholds, V Mak
(2015), pp. 1780-1786, MODSIM 2015 : Proceedings of the 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Gold Coast, Queensland, E1
The 0-1 Knapsack polytope - a starting point for cryptanalysis of Knapsack ciphers?
V Mak-Hau, V Mak-Hau, L Batten, L Batten
(2014), Vol. 490, pp. 171-182, Communications in Computer and Information Science, Berlin, Germany, B1
K Ung, R White, M Mathlum, V Mak-Hau, R Lynch
(2014), Vol. 58, pp. 377-383, Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, Richmond, VIC, C1
Packet faking attack: a novel attack and detection mechanism in OppNets
M Alajeely, A Ahmad, R Ram Mohan Doss, V Mak
(2014), pp. 638-642, CIS 2014 : Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security, Kunming, China, E1
The L(2,1)-labelling problem for cubic Cayley graphs on dihedral groups
X Li, V Mak-Hau, S Zhou
(2013), Vol. 25, pp. 716-736, Journal of combinatorial optimization, New York, N. Y., C1
An exact method for minimizing the total treatment time in intensity-modulated radiotherapy
L Mason, V Mak-Hau, A Ernst
(2012), Vol. 63, pp. 1447-1456, Journal of the operational research society, London, England, C1
Information discovery in mission-critical wireless sensor networks
R Doss, G Li, V Mak, M Tissera
(2010), Vol. 54, pp. 2383-2399, Computer networks, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1-1
Optimal radio labellings of complete m-ary trees
X Li, V Mak, S Zhou
(2010), Vol. 158, pp. 507-515, Discrete applied mathematics, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
Information discovery in mission-critical wireless sensor networks
Robin Doss, Gang Li, Vicky Mak, Menik Tissera
(2010), Vol. 54, pp. 2383-2399, COMPUTER NETWORKS, C1
Improving the qos for information discovery in autonomic wireless sensor networks
R Doss, G Li, V Mak, S Yu, M Chowdhury
(2009), Vol. 5, pp. 334-349, Pervasive and mobile computing, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
A Ernst, V Mak, L Mason
(2009), Vol. 21, pp. 562-574, I N F O R M S journal on computing, Hanover, MD, C1
The Crossroads Approach to Information Discovery in Wireless Sensor Networks
Robin Doss, Gang Li, Shui Yu, Vicky Mak, Morshed Chowdhury
(2008), Vol. 4904, pp. 310-321, Distributed Computing and Networking, Berlin, Germany, B1-1
The crossroads approach to information discovery in wireless sensor networks
R Doss, G Li, S Yu, V Mak, M Chowdhury
(2008), Vol. 4904, pp. 310-321, Lecture notes in computer science, Berlin, Germany, C1
V Mak, N Boland
(2007), Vol. 155, pp. 2093-2110, Discrete applied mathematics, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
Iterative variable aggregation and disaggregation in IP : an application
V Mak
(2007), Vol. 35, pp. 36-44, Operations research letters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Polyhedral studies for minimum-span graph labelling with integer distance constraints
V Mak
(2007), Vol. 14, pp. 105-121, International transactions in operational research, Chichester, England, C1
New cutting-planes for the time-and/or precedence-constrained ATSP and directed VRP
V Mak, A Ernst
(2007), Vol. 66, pp. 69-98, Mathematical methods of operations research, Heidelberg, Germany, C1
Facets of the polytope of the asymmetric travelling salesman problem with replenishment arcs
V Mak, N Boland
(2006), Vol. 3, pp. 33-49, Discrete optimization, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
V Mak, T Thomadsen
(2006), Vol. 11, pp. 421-434, Journal of combinatorial optimization, Dordrecht, Netherlands, C1
Using autonomous mobile agents for efficient data collection in sensor networks
T Black, V Mak, P Pathirana, S Nahavandi
(2006), pp. 1-6, Intelligent Automation and Soft Computing Volume 5: Proceedings of the World Automation Congress 2006 (WAC 2006), Budapest, Hungary, E1
V Mak, N Boland
(2005), Geelong, Vic., A6
V Mak
(2005), Geelong, Vic., A6
On the minimum makespan machine scheduling problem with sequence dependent setups and due dates
A Ernst, V Mak
(2005), Geelong, Vic., A6
New cutting planes for the time and/or precedence constrained ATSP and directed VRP
V Mak, A Ernst
(2005), Geelong, Vic., A6
V Mak, T Thomadsen
(2004), Lyngby, Denmark, A6
Heuristic approaches to the asymmetric travelling salesman problem with replenishment arcs
V Mak, N Boland
(2000), Vol. 7, pp. 431-447, International Transactions in Operational Research, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Channel Assignment in Cellular Communication Systems and Optical Networks
Dr Sanming Zhou, Prof Vicky Mak
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2006: $13,500
Capturing Dance: Using Motion Capture to enhance the creation of innovative Australian dance.
Prof Kim Vincs, Prof Vicky Mak, A/Prof Richard Smith
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2011: $93,622
- 2009: $204,050
An intelligent machine modelling assistant for combinatorial optimisation
Prof John Yearwood, Prof Vicky Mak, Dr Bahadorreza Ofoghi
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2024: $51,342
- 2023: $99,833
- 2022: $143,266
Other Public Sector Funding
Timetabling solutions for defence
Prof Vicky Mak, Dr Ana Novak, Dr Vivian Nguyen, Dr Kristan Pash, Prof Terry Caelli, Prof Bill Moran, Mr Brendan Hill, Dr Sergey Polyakovskiy
DSTO Grant - Research - Defence Science & Technology Organisation
- 2018: $40,721
- 2017: $15,000
Timetabling and Data Analytics solutions for Defence. MyIP: 8308
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood
The Defence Science and Technology Group of the Department of Defence
- 2019: $162,000
- 2018: $100,000
Timetabling and Data Analytics solutions for Defence - Co-funded Post doc MyIP: 8366
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood
The Defence Science and Technology Group of the Department of Defence
- 2019: $30,000
- 2018: $30,000
Scaling Force Effectiveness Modelling and Assessment Methods.
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood, Prof Gleb Beliakov, Prof Richard Dazeley, A/Prof Tim Wilkin
The Defence Science and Technology Group of the Department of Defence
- 2021: $49,221
- 2020: $114,880
- 2019: $131,293
Simulation, Optimisation and Data Analytics Solutions for Defence Submariners.
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood
DSTO Grant - Research - Defence Science & Technology Organisation
- 2020: $141,277
- 2019: $303,450
Simulation, Optimisation and Data Analytics solutions for Defence Submarine Workforce.
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood, Prof Terry Caelli, Mr Brendan Hill, Dr Bahadorreza Ofoghi
DSTO Grant - Research - Defence Science & Technology Organisation
- 2023: $583,925
- 2022: $420,474
- 2021: $419,250
- 2020: $100,000
Development of mathematical models and algorithms for Defence resource allocation problems, scheduling and optimisation problems.
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof John Yearwood
DSTO contract
- 2021: $61,250
- 2020: $40,000
Explainable Analytics for Simulated Maritime Surveillance Mission Data.
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof Terry Caelli
DSTO contract
- 2021: $80,675
- 2020: $8,964
Planning and Optimisation of Resources in Defence Satellite Communication Systems - Satellite Dynamic Resource Management (SAT-DREAM).
Prof Vicky Mak, Prof Gleb Beliakov, Dr Chetan Arora
Department of Defence
- 2024: $135,000
- 2023: $146,000
- 2022: $220,101
- 2021: $100,000
Industry and Other Funding
Demonstrating the benefits(s) of 7-minute Point of Care (POC) White Blood Cell Analyser in Day Oncology Units
Prof Vicky Mak, Mr Chris Carter
Pharma Devices Pty Ltd
- 2017: $5,000
Supervisions
Juan Esteban Muriel
Thesis entitled: Simulation-Optimisation of Last-mile Logistics Decisions
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), School of Engineering
Juan Esteban Calle Salazar
Thesis entitled: Optimising the Location of Refuelling Facilities at Transportation Companies
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), School of Engineering
Asma'a Nasser Ahmad
Thesis entitled: Establishing Trust Relationships and Secure Channels in Opportunistic Networks
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Technology), School of Information Technology
Huy Vu
Thesis entitled: Preference Mining Techniques for Consumer Behavior Analysis
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Technology), School of Information Technology
Luke Mason
Thesis entitled: On the Minimum Cardinality Problem in Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Technology), School of Information Technology
Lei Pan
Thesis entitled: A Performance Testing Framework for Digital Forensic Tools
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Technology), School of Information Technology