General interest covers simulation, from science to algorithms, including HPC, optimisation and AI.


Basic interests are science and technology, which is really understanding why and how systems and processes operate. This leads naturallly to simulation and modelling of systems, including high performance computer systems with a supportive interest in optimisation algorithms, heuristics and artificial intelligence for efficient execution.

Scientific methods can be classified as theory or data driven.

Theory Driven Inductive Reasoning - when we think we know what's going on ... and try to infer behaviour from our theory!

Cellular Automata Based Simulation (CABS) uses entities with states which interact with each other, and can cover systems which range from being discrete and isolated to continuous. Entities may be relatively isolated and sparse, and interact only by information: such as vehicles, networks routers or agents; or may be space filling and contiguous as in modelling fluid dynamics or solid mechanics. The range of applications include simulations of society, networks and physical systems, with agents and swarm intelligence as extensions.

Data driven Deductive reasoning - when we think we see what's happening ... and try to infer behaviour from our observations!

Pattern Analysis in Time and Space (PATS) covers a range of classification & recognition problems with prediction and control applications and generally require neural networks.

Hybrid - a bit of both.


Lego Robots, not just because they were there, but can combine aspects of the previous two areas, with remote autonomous systems becoming increasingly important in diverse areas such as exploration in remote or hazardous areas. Besides, they can be fun and you'll get some interesting behaviour.

Textual Analysis
- clearly much information is text based, and several project topics are possible in this area also, some of which are indicated below


Optimisation - when we want to get the best!


... for some implementations; the problem is challenging with practical applications and some of the techniques used above are applicable.

Miscellaneous .. for the rest

, the past, and the unclassified!

Latest Suggesitons.. for a change, that's as good as the rest!


I hope this brief overview stimulates you to find (or modify) one of these or your own ideas to find a worthwhile and rewarding project.

Contact me @ j.doherty@cs.ucc.ie