[Colloq] Colloquium Talk: Pervasive Computing and Cyber-Physical Systems: A Perspective from Smart Environments - Sajal K. Das - Thursday, May 23rd, 3:30pm

[Jessica Biron]

Pervasive Computing and Cyber-Physical Systems: A Perspective from Smart Environments 

Sajal K. Das 

Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking 
Department of Computer Science and Engineering 
The University of Texas at Arlington 

Location: 366 WVH 
Time: May 23, 2013 @ 3:30pm (Thursday) 

Abstract 

Rapid advancements in smartphones, wireless sensors, mobile communications and middleware technologies have led to the development of pervasive computing, cyber-physical systems (CPS) and smart environments with applications to industry, civilian, military, and government sectors. Indeed, sensor networks and smartphones play significant roles in this context as they not only act as effective interface between the physical and cyber worlds, but also bring in human social aspects. However, increasing scale, heterogeneity and uncertainty pose significant challenges in determining context- and situation-awareness with desired information quality, assurance, and reliability for intelligent decision control. This is particularly important for critical applications like smart health care, pervasive security and infrastructure protection. In this talk we will examine uncertainty-driven challenges and opportunities in pervasive computing and CPS, and their inter-winding relationships with smart environments. Our novel contributions in theory and practice will be summarized through interdisciplinary projects and prototypes. The underlying approaches are based on randomized and online algorithms, information theory, game theory, graph theory, machine learning, and reputation and belief models. The talk will be concluded with open issues and future directions of research. 


Biography 

Dr. Sajal K. Das is a University Distinguished Scholar Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and the Founding Director of CReWMaN at the University of Texas at Arlington. During 2008-2011, he was a Program Director at NSF in the Computer Networks and Systems Division. In 2012 he was selected as the E.T.S. Walton Fellow by the Science Foundation of Ireland. His broad research interests include wireless and sensor networks, mobile and pervasive computing, cloud computing, smart environments and cyber-physical systems, smart grids and sustainability, security and privacy, biological and social networks, applied graph theory and game theory. Dr. Das has contributed significantly to these areas, published over 500 papers and 47 book chapters. He holds five US patents in wireless networks and mobile Internet, and coauthored three books – Smart Environments: Technology, Protocols, and Applications; Handbook on Securing Cyber-Physical Critical Infrastructure: Foundations and Challenges; and Mobile Agents in Distributed Computing and Networking. He is a recipient of the IEEE Computer Society’s Technical Achievement Award for pioneering contributions to sensor networks and mobile computing, IEEE Region-5 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award, and Best Paper Awards at IEEE SmartGridComm’12, QShine’09, EWSN’08, IEEE PerCom’06, and ACM MobiCom’99. At UT Arlington, Dr. Das is a recipient of the Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students, Lockheed Martin Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering Research Excellence Award, Academy of Distinguished Scholars Award, and University Award for Distinguished Record of Research. He is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Pervasive and Mobile Computing journal, and Associate Editor of several others. A founder of IEEE WoWMoM, IEEE PerCom and ICDCN conferences, Dr. Das has also served as General and Program Chair of numerous IEEE and ACM conferences.