Centre for Pattern Recognition and Data Analytics (PRaDA)

Our research

PRaDA's innovative research projects are finding solutions to problems in fields such as health care, social media, advanced manufacturing and surveillance. 

Our research has resulted in nine patents. These patents have led to start-up companies including the award-winning iCetana, a video surveillance platform that uses analytics to detect potential security threats in large data sets. The system is now used around the world.

Our research focus

PRaDA’s research is driven by the need for solutions to the real problems society faces. Through our work we endeavour to advance current frontiers in various technologies. We ask the following questions:

  • How to accelerate scientific innovation across various fields of science through efficient exploration?
  • How to advance AI and machine learning methods to empower humans?
  • How to provide assurance and reassurance to human users about AI algorithms?
  • How to transform our lives by understanding extremely complex biological data to improve health and wellbeing?

All our methods are grounded in statistical pattern recognition and modern methods of machine learning. In particular, we focus on the following fundamental computational problems:

What is a good representation of data to allow appropriate learning and inference?

  • How to create flexible models for big data and lean data problems?
  • Given a complex goal, what is the optimal way to navigate the complexity in order to reach the goal?
  • How to make an AI algorithm learn from its successes and failures and start reasoning?

PRaDA projects in action

Our innovative projects have a range of applications for the real world. We can use data insights to help doctors predict suicide risks, assist children with autism to learn new skills, and reduce neighbourhood crime.

Assistive technology and autism research

Our research into early intervention therapy has produced a learning tool for children living with autism.

Find out more about the positive therapy results

Health analytics

Our health analytics program conducts research in dynamic health intervention and improved health care and safety.

Learn more about how data analysis can improve healthcare

Large-scale surveillance

Our research into the issues surrounding large-scale surveillance has enabled operators to focus on the crucial 1% of events in a video feed.

Find out more about our breakthrough surveillance algorithm

Social media analysis

Our work in social media analysis focuses on the study of patterns in social media to extract socially meaningful indices that can be used to derive understanding of communities and individuals.

Find out more about our work analysing social media

Contact us

Centre for Pattern Recognition and Data Analytics (PRaDA)
General enquiries
+61 3 5227 8797
Email PRaDA

School of Information Technology
Deakin University
Locked Bag 20000
Geelong VIC 3220

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