The Advanced Computing Centre (ACC) applies sophisticated computational algorithms - from areas such as machine learning, pattern recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) - to task areas of social importance. The current focus areas of the ACC are Remote Sensing (in close collaboration with the Centre for Remote Sensing of the Meraka institute at the CSIR), Pattern Recognition, Detection and Estimation for Defense Research (in close collaboration with Defence Research at the CSIR), and Data Mining methods in AI.
The Centre is located on the main campus of the University of Pretoria, and hosts the High Performance Computing Centre. The HPCC is used by staff and students for intensive computer simulations.
CEFIM has been active in the field of microelectronics research and specialist training for the last 27 years. The research and post graduate program is mainly in the field of integrated circuit design, especially the design of analog signal processors, RF circuits and optical receivers in CMOS technology. The simulation and modelling of circuits, devices and processing technologies are also investigated. The application of semiconductors as opto-electronic devices plays an important role in the activities at CEFIM. International contact in microelectronics is vital and the CEFIM lecturers and students often participate at international conferences and overseas experts visit the CEFIM facility regularly.
The research group focuses on quality of supply, power generation and system
operation. With the increasing demand for power in South Africa, utilities are
running at close to their capacity on its networks. As a result, it becomes
more difficult to manage the networks based on standard methods. This group
develops expertise in these fields where students can understand the network
and propose solutions to existing problems.
The Centre for Advanced Sensor Networks is a leading hub of research and development in the field of Advanced Sensor Networks in South Africa. It aims to be a focal point in the creation of a critical mass in this key field partnering with local and overseas academic institutions, research organisations and industry. It will also focus on developing strategic industrial partnerships and multi-year contract R&D programmes to fund the creation of a market-relevant R&D capability for the country.
Prof. Ian F. Akyildiz, a leading world authority on Advanced Sensor Networks, is a member of staff and provides research leadership for the centre together with Prof. Gerhard Hancke.
This Advanced Sensor Networks initiative is a joint initiative between University of Pretoria and the CSIR Meraka Institute under the digital@SERA partnership.
The Centre brings together a team of researchers from Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. For the period 2007-2009 a project named New Generation Networks: Technology has been defined. For 2010-2012 we are focusing on Technological Convergence. It includes work on Network Security, Wireless Sensor Networks and Physical layer signal processing and coding theory. The objective is to unite these technologies to provide a seamless integration for the emerging fourth generation wireless networks that are now being developed worldwide.
This project has started with the aim to form a Centre of Excellence in Teletraffic Engineering. It has grown to a large group of students and staff of the two participating departments, and has received extensive funding via the NRF and the THRIP initiative. Also, several industrial partners contribute and fund the centre, including Telkom, Unisys, EMC and Alvarion. This will ensure that the research and development performed by the Centre may be focused in such a way that it will eventually lead to industrial products. Access to international technology is also possible through the co-operation of the industrial partners.
CNES has been awarded to host the National Hub on Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management by SANERI (as of 07 February 2008)
The Centre for New Electricity Studies (CNES) is a research centre within the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering in the University of Pretoria. It has gained a reputation as a premier research institute in the area of energy management both nationally and internationally. It is the only centre of excellence in energy optimization and standardization. To reflect the trend of recent developments, the Centre is being renamed as Centre of New Energy Systems to stress its research expertise in energy systems and to continue keeping its leading position in the field of energy optimization, management and standardization With the hard work of the present researchers of CNES, the Centre has undergone a main change on its research techniques and themes. CNES has put more of its attention in both theoretical and practical research so that both academic results and industrial applications are developed.
This EEDSM Hub is hosted by the Centre of New Energy Systems (CNES).
With the existing structure of the Centre of New Energy Systems (CNES) in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, the University of Pretoria is awarded to host the EEDSM Hub within the period 2008~2012 to further strengthen energy related researches, human capacity development, and market transformation and enterprise development initiatives.
The postgraduate research programmes aim at attracting a large number of qualifying undergraduates from across the country, as well as an increasingly strong contingent of international students. The range of research specialisations and the breadth of knowledge within the Hub, contribute to make it a truly unique learning environment in energy efficiency and demand side management. Analytic techniques from engineering and optimisation are the main tools in the quantitative study of energy efficiency related topics such as power system scheduling, power system efficiency with alternative energy resources and co-generation, motor and transportation efficiency, fuel efficiency, and energy efficient architecture and housing. The study extends also to demand side management schemes, smart load control and computer networks, and efficient lighting. These research topics are clustered among different research groups across faculties within the University of Pretoria: power and energy systems, industrial electronics, electric drive and transportation, control and computer network systems, chemical engineering, and architecture and housing. These include, but not restricted to, the following: energy optimisation, power systems, motor and transportation, fuel efficiency, architecture and housing efficiency, energy computer network and energy efficient lighting.
The Postgraduate Programme will train highly qualified masters and doctoral students; bring about research results; and improve the international reputations of CNES and the University of Pretoria. The Hub will be an open platform and test bed for the national energy efficiency needs, projects and human resource developments. More importantly, the Programme will seek cooperation with off-campus organisations and industries so that the research results can be put in immediate use in key energy consumption industries, and thus have far-reaching implication in promoting energy efficiency throughout the country.
More information about the Hub can be obtained from the Hub home page.
The mission of the Centre for Radio and Digital Communication (CRDC) is to provide industry and greater society excellence in teaching, research, manpower development and specialised services in the field of Radio and Digital Communications. Five Signal Processing and Telecommunications staff members of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Pretoria are presently directing research and development projects in CRDC.
Three professors in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering at the University of Pretoria form the
electromagnetism Group in LGI. In addition to its comprehensive measurement facilities, the group has developed very strong
computational abilities in various aspects of electromagnetism.
The SENTECH Chair in Broadband Wireless Multimedia Communications (BWMC) participates in state-of-the-art research activities in the field of Wireless Broadband Multimedia Communications. It delivers world-class research and educational outputs for the benefit of SENTECH, the University and the RSA in general.
SENTECH Chair scholarships are made available at the end of the year. If you have excellent marks and would like to study or are studying Electronic or Computer Engineering, but need a scholarship, bookmark this site, and revisit from October to check for announcements.
