Internet of things, represented by an abstract image of a phone surrounded by home appliances

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) research group

Intro

IIoT research group is a multidisciplinary group with members from engineering and computing backgrounds, focusing on industry-driven research. Our group members have strong expertise in: 
  • Sensing, localisation and navigation technologies 
  • Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and big data analytics 
  • Intelligent systems 
  • System security 
  • Harvesting and scheduling systems 

Jump to each section of the page:

Those who are interested in PhD position under the areas of expertise of this research group, can directly contact the head of the research group at nagham.saeed@uwl.ac.uk.

IIoT events

Find out more about our upcoming events including our Early Career Talks.

Industrial Internet of Things research group logo

Group members

  • Dr Nagham Saeed profile image

    Dr Nagham Saeed

    Associate Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
    School of Computing and Engineering

    Since 2007, Dr Nagham Saeed has been deeply engaged in the realm of electrical and electronic engineering, seamlessly integrating teaching and research. In 2011, she successfully concluded her doctoral investigation, titled "Intelligent MANET Optimisation System", at Brunel University in the UK. Her scholarly pursuits encompass both core subject research and pedagogical exploration.

    Since 2007, Dr Nagham Saeed has been deeply engaged in the realm of electrical and electronic engineering, seamlessly integrating teaching and research. In 2011, she successfully concluded her doctoral investigation, titled "Intelligent MANET Optimisation System", at Brunel University in the UK. Her scholarly pursuits encompass both core subject research and pedagogical exploration.

PhD students

  • Rakan Armoush

    Rakan Armoush

    Research interests/areas:

    • Artificial intelligence
    • Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
    • Internet of things
    • Real-time processing
    • Edge computing

    PhD proposal title:

    UAV-assisted mobile edge computing for optimal disaster management: leveraging advanced learning models

    Research summary:

    Large-scale natural disasters can cause widespread damage and loss of life. Public safety communications (PSC) systems are essential for responding to these disasters, but traditional PSC systems are often not able to meet the demands of large-scale disasters. 

    This paper proposes a new approach to PSC that uses unmanned aerial vehicles and edge computing (EC). UAVs can be used to provide on-demand communication links in areas where the infrastructure has been damaged, and EC can be used to provide computing resources closer to the disaster site, which can reduce latency and improve performance. The proposed approach is evaluated through simulations and experimental results.

  • Muhammad Nadeem Khan

    Muhammad Nadeem Khan

    Research interests/areas

    • Artificial intelligence
    • Machine learning
    • Communication

    PhD proposal title

    Multi-UAV target tracking using O-RAN intelligent controller

    Research summary

    Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have found use in many applications including target tracking, where a UAV is used to predict the location of the target, find it and then follow it, if needed. Use of machine learning, neural networks, particle filters and kalman filters enhance the target tracking capability of UAVs.

    This research is based on the Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) and rApps inside the non-realtime part of O-RAN intelligent controllers. The aim of the research is to improve the accuracy of target detection and tracking while minimising the energy use. Offloading tasks will improve the use of available resources.

    Publications

    The WiMAX 802.16e physical layer model Author(s): M.N. Khan and S. Ghauri

    • Source: IET Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Multimedia Networks, 2008 p. 117 – 120 Conference: IET Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Multimedia Networks DOI: 10.1049/cp:20080159
    • ISBN: 978 0 86341 887 7
    • Location: Mumbai, India
    • Conference date: 11-12 Jan 2008

Research interest and projects

Professional researching on laptop

We work closely with industry to deliver innovative solutions for society, covering research themes including:

  • IIoT sensor nodes and wearable devices 
  • Sensor fusion in IIoT
  • Augmented reality and wearable technologies 
  • Smart flood warning systems 
  • Smart rainwater harvesting systems 
  • Smart power grid 
  • Intelligent transportation systems

Find out more about our research degrees with the School of Computing and Engineering

  • Optimisation of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) for enhanced WEFE nexus performance

    There is a growing need to enhance food security at the national level while optimising resource use and adapting to climate change impacts. Controlled Environment Agriculture, supported by photovoltaics and hydroponic systems, presents promising opportunities to improve irrigation water efficiency and maximise crop yields, facilitating the transition to climate-resilient agriculture, while promoting continued growth and creating green jobs. 

    This proposed project matches the WEFE Nexus approach by minimising irrigation water and utilising a sustainable energy source for producing agricultural crops through a climate-resilient agriculture technique. 

    Project collaborators:

    • Dr Nagham Saeed (UWL)
    • Mohammad Mashatleh (Royal Scientific Society Jordan)
    • Dr Asiya Khan (University of Plymouth)
    • Husam HajAli (Royal Scientific Society Jordan)
    • Laurence Peinturier (University of Oxford)

  • Research projects for PhD and Post Doc candidates

    Digital twin for wetland systems within the water-energy-food nexus

    Primary supervisors: Dr Atiyeh Ardakanian and Dr Nagham Saeed

    Research context

    The proposed PhD project is a continuation of our awarded project from the Royal Academy of Engineering – on utilising digital twins to visualise the water-energy-food nexus.

    The primary objective of this research is to further develop an advanced digital twin of a constructed wetland, aimed at optimising the intersections of water, energy and food systems through integrated modelling and simulation.

    The project will utilise GIS systems, Internet of Things sensors and real-time data to further develop the virtual model. The model aims to simulate water flows, energy dynamics and biomass productivity, enabling the exploration of various management scenarios and operational optimisations.

    By providing a visual and functional simulation of wetland dynamics, this digital twin will serve as a critical tool for researchers, policymakers and environmental engineers. The model aims to enhance decision-making processes, promote sustainable practices and optimise the synergies within the WEF nexus.

    Further information

    Questions regarding academic aspects of the project should be directed to Dr Atiyeh Ardakanian (atiyeh.ardakanian@uwl.ac.uk) or Dr Nagham Saeed (nagham.saeed@uwl.ac.uk).

Past projects

  • Smart Urban Drainage Systems using Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining Techniques

    PhD title of Farzad is “Smart Urban Drainage Systems using Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining Techniques” which aims to “make use of AI and data mining techniques to develop novel analytical tools for enhancing the performance of urban drainage systems in real-time management of urban flood events”. This research follows these objects: “Developing new data-driven models for merging rainfall data as input of urban flood forecasting by using data mining and deep learning techniques”, “Enhancement the performance of real-time prediction of urban flood events in the smart UDS” and “Improving the performance of real-time prediction of urban flooding in UDS through assimilation of physical parameters in the catchment”.

  • OVERCOME - Digital Innovation in Flood Early Warning and Water-Related Disease Prevention for Community Capacity Building and Resilience

    • Funded value: £134,894
    • Funded period: April 2020 – October 2021
    • Funder: EPSRC-Digital Innovation for Development in Africa (DIDA)
    • Project reference: EP/T030089/1
    • UWL team: Dr Ying Zhang and Professor Kourosh Behzadian

    Find out more via the UKRI website.

  • Sustainable decision-making digital twin for water-energy-food nexus

    Abstract achieving food security for the growing human population without widespread environmental degradation is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are an excellent example of how the integrated management of water-energy-food nexus in a single system can effectively reverse environmental degradation. CWs are artificial wetlands engineered to provide multiple ecosystem services to semi-arid areas; by treating wastewater and storm-water runoff through microorganisms (as much as 90%), while also providing habitat for wildlife and producing food, through low-tech methods that contribute to significant cost savings. Although these benefits have been locally demonstrated on a small scale, the quantitative benefits across all three resources have not been widely realised. In this project, and for the first time, Digital Twins (DT) will represent the virtual environment of a CW in South Africa (SA) and Malaysia. The prototype will be developed based on a successfully operating CW in a remote village in Cyprus. Consecutively, this will be tested and validated by implementing it in a similar CW in SA and Malaysia. This will enable us to simulate how different processes and equipment configurations affect energy consumption, water quality, and the crops that are being yielded from the treated water. The use of the DT will break the silos around the water-energy-food sectors and will add to the understanding of the nexus concept, minimise the risk of costly failures, and allow for more rapid innovation and development through integration. Additionally, by providing a shared, interactive platform for understanding and exploring complex systems, DT can help to build a more informed and engaged leadership and community around water-energy-food nexus projects in the global south. DT can revolutionise how we approach projects involving the water-energy-food nexus allowing more efficient and effective decision-making, by optimising the interlinkages and interdependencies of these.

    • Funded value: £20,000
    • Funded period: March 2023 - March 2024
    • Funder: RAE-REDAA
    • Project reference: FS-2223-18-102
    • UWL team: Dr Nagham Saeed and Dr Atiyeh Ardakanian

  • Working towards energy efficient wireless network: evaluation for the AI and ML usage project

    5G and beyond networks envision a massive increase in wireless network devices and traffic demands. This translates to significant growth in energy consumption, resulting in high network operation costs. Extending the usage of AI and ML in all the network layers is a business target that may enhance the communication radio interface. Minimising network operation costs and energy consumption will help to reach net zero goals. Collaboration outcomes expected from this work, include a scope report to BT Group, a workshop, a paper, and a developed KTP application for future funded projects led by BT partners.

    • Funded value: £3,000
    • Funded period: February 2023 – August 2023
    • Funder: KE Seed fund
    • UWL team: Dr Nagham Saeed

Selected publications

  • 2024

    K Sthankiya, N Saeed, G McSorley, M Jaber, RG Clegg, A Survey on AI-driven Energy Optimisation in Terrestrial Next Generation Radio Access Networks, IEEE Access, 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3482561, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10720780 

    Arman Sanahmadi, Mohammad Abdollahi Azgomi, Shidrokh Goudarzi, Mohammad Amin Haji Hosseini, Wiley, "Mobility-aware modeling and evaluation of IoT systems using stochastic reward nets" https://doi.org/10.1002/dac.5927. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dac.5927?af=R 

    J Hossain, N Saeed, R Manojkumar, M Marzband, K Sedraoui, Y Al-Turki, Optimal peak-shaving for dynamic demand response in smart Malaysian commercial buildings utilizing an efficient PV-BES system, Sustainable Cities and Society 101, 105107, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.105107 

  • 2023

    Goudarzi, S., Soleymani, S. A., Wang, W., and Xiao, P., "UAV-Enabled Mobile Edge Computing for Resource Allocation Using Cooperative Evolutionary Computation". IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, doi: 10.1109/TAES.2023.3251967. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10058597

    Soleymani, S., Goudarzi, S., Liu, X. et al. (Accepted: 2023) "Multi-target tracking using a swarm of UAVs by Q-learning algorithm". In: Proceedings of the Sensor Signal Data Processing in Defence (SSPD) 2023 Conference. Sensor Signal Data Processing in Defence (SSPD) 2023 Conference, 12-13 Sep 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). (In Press) https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/201100/

    Hossain, J., Marzband, M., Kalam, A., Hossain, M.A., Manojkumar, R., Saeed, N., "Optimizing PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems for Peak Demand Reduction and Cost Savings in Malaysian Commercial Buildings". 2023 IEEE IAS Global Conference on Emerging Technologies (GlobConET), 1-6. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10149980

    Hossain, J., Kadir, A.F.A., Shareef, H., Manojkumar, R., Saeed, N., Hanafi, A.N., "A Grid-Connected Optimal Hybrid PV-BES System Sizing for Malaysian Commercial Buildings". Sustainability 15 (13), 10564. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/13/10564

    ul Khairi, D., Ayaz, F., Saeed, N., Ahsan, K., Ali, S.Z., "Analysis of deep convolutional neural network models for the fine-grained classification of vehicles". Future Transportation 3 (1), 133-149. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/3/1/9

  • 2022

    Ayaz, F., Sheng, Z., Tian, D., Nekovee, M., Saeed, N. "Blockchain-Empowered AI for 6G-Enabled Internet of Vehicles". Electronics 2022, 11, 3339. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11203339 

    Pouresmaeil, H., Faramarz, M.G., ZamaniKherad, M., Behzadian, K.  et al. A decision support system for coagulation and flocculation processes using the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 10363–10374 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03848-4 

    Shi, T., Loo, J., et al., "Task Scheduling with Collaborative Computing of MEC System Based on Federated Learning," 2022 IEEE 95th Vehicular Technology Conference: (VTC2022-Spring), 2022, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/VTC2022-Spring54318.2022.9860987. 

  • 2021

    H. Pouresmaeil, M. Faramarz, M. Zamani, M. Gheibi, A. Fathollahi, K. Behzadian, G. Tian, 2021 A Decision Support System for Coagulation and Flocculation Processes Using the Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System, International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, accepted/ in press 2022

    M. Shahsavar, M. Akrami, M. Gheibi, B. Kavianpour, A. Fathollahi, Behzadian, K., 2021. Constructing a smart framework for supplying the biogas energy in green buildings using an integration of response surface methodology, artificial intelligence and petri net modelling. Energy Conversion and Management, 248, p.114794. (IF=9.7 Q1), doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114794

    Yeganeh A, M.Y. Heravi, K. Behzadian, and H. Shariatmadar, 2021 Applying a New Systematic Fuzzy FMEA Technique for Risk Management in Light Steel Frame Systems, Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 1-22, doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2021.1971994,

    J. Pordoy, Y. Zhang,N. Matoorian and M. Zolgharni, ‘Seizure Classification Using Person-Specific Triggers’, EAI Endorsed Transactions on Collaborative Computing, EAI Publisher, ISSN: 2312-8623, 4(14), February 2021. 

    U.  M.  Butt, S.  Letchmunan, F.  H.  Hassan, M.  Ali, A.  Baqir and H.  H. R. Sherazi, ‘Spatio-Temporal Crime Predictions by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Citizens Security in Smart Cities’, IEEE Access, IEEE Press, ISSN: 2169-3536, Vol.9 pp. 47516-47529, March 2021. 

    H. H. R. Sherazi, L. A. Grieco, M. A. Imran and G. Boggia, ‘Energy-Efficient LoRaWAN for Industry 4.0 Applications’, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Press, ISSN: 1551-3203, 17(2), pp.  891-902, February 2021.

  • 2020

    J. Pordoy, Y. Zhang, N. Matoorian and M. Zolgharni, ‘Predicting Epileptic Seizures with a Stacked Long Short-Term Memory Network’, International Journal of Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Research Lake, ISSN: 2563-7568, 1(1), October 2020.  

    J. Pordoy, Y. Zhang and N. Matoorian, ‘A Novel Approach for Seizure Classification Using Patient Specific Triggers: Pilot Study’. In Gao et al. (Eds), Collaborative Computing: Networking, Applications and Worksharing (CollaborateCom 2020), Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, ISBN: 978-3-030-67539-4, pp. 455-468, Vol. 350. Springer, Cham. 

    U.  M.  Butt, S.  Letchmunan, F. H. Hassan, M. Ali, A.  Baqir and H. H. R. Sherazi, ‘Spatio-Temporal Crime HotSpot Detection and Prediction: A Systematic Literature Review’, IEEE Access, IEEE Press, ISSN: 2169-3536, Vol.  8, pp.  166553-166574, September 2020. 

    O. Landa-Cansigno, K. Behzadian, D. I. Davila-Cano, L. C. Campos, ‘Performance Assessment of Water Reuse Strategies Using Integrated Framework of Urban Water Metabolism and Water-energy-pollution Nexus’, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27:4582–4597, 2020. 

  • 2019

    Z. Dar, A. Ahmad, F. A. Khan, F. Zeshan, R. Iqbal, H. H. R. Sherazi, A K. Bashir, ‘A Context-aware Encryption Protocol Suite for Edge Computing-based IoT Devices’, The Journal of Supercomputing, Springer Science Press, ISSN: 0920-8542, 76(4), pp. 2548-2567, October 2019. 

    K. Awan, H. H. R. Sherazi, A. Ali, R. Iqbal, Z. A. Khan, and M. Mukherjee, ‘Energy Aware Cluster-based Routing Optimization for WSNs in Livestock Industry’, Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies,  John Wiley and Sons Press, ISSN: 2161-2935, 30(12), December 2019. 

    A. Cagnano, H. H. R. Sherazi, and E. De Tuglie, ‘Communication System Architecture of an Industrial-scale Microgrid: A Case Study’, Internet Technology Letters, John Wiley and Sons Press, ISSN: 2476-1508, 2(6), November/December 2019. 

    M. J. Ahmed, S. Iqbal, K. M. Awan, K. Sattar, Z. A. Khan, H. H. R. Sherazi, ‘A Congestion Aware Route Suggestion Protocol for Traffic Management in Internet of Vehicles’, Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Springer Press, ISSN: 2191-4281, 45(4), pp. 2501-2511, August 2019. 

    D. Saeed, R. Iqbal, H. H. R. Sherazi, and U. G. Khan, ‘Evaluating Near Field Communication Tag Security for Identity Theft Prevention’, Internet Technology Letters, John Wiley and Sons Press, ISSN: 2476-1508, 2(5), July 2019. 

    H. H. R. Sherazi, R. Iqbal, F. Ahmad, Z. A. Khan and M. H. Chaudary, ‘DDoS Attack Detection: A Key Enabler for Sustainable Communication in Internet of Vehicles’, Sustainable Computing, Informatics and Systems, ScienceDirect, ISSN: 2210-5379, Vol. 23, pp. 13–20, September 2019. 

    A. Atchome, H. H. R. Sherazi, T.O. Edoh, L. A. Grieco and A. Vianou, ‘A Hybrid Network Model Embracing NB-IoT and D2D Communications: Stochastic Geometry Analysis’, Proceedings of 11th EAI International Conference on e‐Infrastructure and e‐Services for Developing Countries (AFRICOMM 2019), Porto-Novo, Benin, 2019. 

    H. H. R. Sherazi, R. Iqbal and L. A. Grieco, ‘AREA: Adaptive Resilience Algorithm for Clustering in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks’, Proceedings of 18th IEEE International Symposium on Network Computing and Applications (NCA 2019), Cambridge, USA, 2019. 

    A. Urbonavicius and N. Saeed, ‘IoT Leak Detection System for Building Hydronic Pipes’, International Journal of Engineering and Manufacturing, 9(5), 2019. 

    H. Gao, K. K. Dluzniak, H. Xia, W. Jie, Y. Chen, W. Xing, X. Wang and Z. Wang, ‘A Service Clustering Method based on Wisdom of Crowds’, 2019 IEEE International Congress on Big Data, Milan, Italy, 8th-13th July 2019, IEEE Press, ISBN: 978-1-7281-2772-9. 

    M. Momeni, Z. Zakeri, M. Esfandiari, K. Behzadian, S. Zahedi and V. Razavid, ‘Comparative analysis of agricultural water pricing between Azerbaijan Provinces in Iran and the state of California in the US: A hydro-economic approach’, Agricultural Water Management, 2233 (20), 2019. 

    O. Landa-Cansigno, K. Behzadian, D. I. Davila-Cano and L. C. Campos, ‘Performance Assessment of Water Reuse Strategies Using Integrated Framework of Urban Water Metabolism and Water-energy-pollution Nexus’, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019. 

    A. J. Veldhuis, J. Glover, D. Bradley, K. Behzadian and et al., ‘Re-distributed Manufacturing and the Food-water-energy Nexus: Opportunities and Challenges’, Production Planning and Control, 30(7), 2019. 

  • 2018

    H. H. R. Sherazi, M. A. Imran, G. Boggia and L. A. Grieco, ‘Energy Harvesting in LoRaWAN: A Cost Analysis for the Industry 4.0’, IEEE Communications Letters, IEEE Press, ISSN: 1089-7798, 22(11), pp. 2358-2361, November 2018. 

    H. H. R. Sherazi, G. Piro, A. Grieco, G. Boggia, ‘When Renewable Energy Meets LoRa: A Feasibility Analysis on Cable-less Deployments’, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, IEEE Press, ISSN: 2327-4662, 5(6), pp. 5097-5108, December 2018. 

    H. H. R. Sherazi, L. A. Grieco, and G. Boggia, ‘A Comprehensive Review on Energy Harvesting MAC Protocols in WSNs: Challenges and Tradeoffs’, Ad Hoc Networks, ScienceDirect ISSN: 1570-8705 Vol. 71, PP. 117–134, March 2018. 

    F. Piadeh, M. Ahmadi and K. Behzadian, ‘Reliability Assessment for Industrial Wastewater Recycling Hybrid Systems: Using Combined Event Tree and Fuzzy Fault Tree Analysis’, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 201, 2018. 

    F. Rahmani, K. Muhammed, K. Behzadian and R. Farmani, ‘Optimal Operation of Water Distribution Systems Using a Graph Theory–Based Configuration of District Metered Areas’, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 144(8), 2018. 

    H. Sun, W. Jie, J. Loo, L. Wang, S. Ma, G. Han, Z. Wang and W. Xing, ‘A Parallel Self-Organizing Overlapping Community Detection Algorithm Based on Swarm Intelligence for Large Scale Complex Networks’, Future Generation Computer Systems, Vol. 89, 2018. 

    Y. Li, W. Ren, T. Zhu, Y. Ren, Y. Qin and W. Jie, ‘RIMS: A Real-time and Intelligent Monitoring System for Live-broadcasting Platforms’, Future Generation Computer Systems, Vol.87, 2018. 

    J. Yan, Y. Ma, L. Wang, K. K. R. Choo and W. Jie, A Cloud-based Remote Sensing Data Production System, Future Generation Computer Systems, Vol. 86, 2018 

    T. Ngalo, H. Xiao, B. Christianson and Y. Zhang, Threat Analysis of Software Agents in Online Banking and Payments, 2018 IEEE 16th International Conference on Dependable, Autonomic and Secure Computing, 16th International Conference on Pervasive Intelligence and Computing, 4th International Conference on Big Data Intelligence and Computing and Cyber Science and Technology Congress (DASC/PiCom/DataCom/CyberSciTech), Athens, Greece, 12th-15th August 2018. IEEE Computer Society Press, ISBN: 978-1-5386-7518-2.  

    S. Sacchi, N. M. Dhutia, M. J. Shun-Shin, M. Zolgharni, N. Sutaria, D. P. Francis and G. D. Cole, ‘Doppler Assessment of Aortic Stenosis: a 25-operator Study Demonstrating Why Reading the Peak Velocity is Superior to Velocity Time Integral’, European Heart Journal of Cardiovasc Imaging, 19(12), 2018. 

Activities and calls for submissions

  • Call for technical paper submissions:

    We invite researchers, industry professionals, and practitioners to submit papers for the technical session on sustainable technologies for Industrial IoT. Relevant topics include energy-efficient circuit design, low-power sensor innovations, advanced communication protocols, AI-driven power optimisation and edge computing. Submissions will undergo expert review, with selected papers showcased during the workshop.

    We welcome contributions on, but not limited to, the following topics: 

    • AI-driven optimisation for industrial IoT 
    • Circuit design for low-power and scalable IIoT Systems 
    • Energy-efficient edge computing 
    • Smart sensors and wireless networks for IIoT 
    • Real-time data analytics for predictive maintenance 
    • Sustainable power solutions for IIoT 
    • Security and privacy in IIoT systems 
    Important dates
    • Manuscript submissions start: 1 September 2024 
    • Manuscript submission deadline: 14 October 2024 
    • Notification of acceptance: 30 January 2025 
    • Authors’ revision deadline: 14 February 2025 
    • Final decision notification: 28 February 2025 
    • Final manuscript submission deadline: 7 March 2025 
    • Presentation date: 25 May 2025 

    We particularly encourage diversity across paper submitters to this workshop. We continue to promote diversity, equity and inclusion through the speakers, evaluation committee and request for paper submitters.

    Please feel free to reach out to nagham.saeed@uwl.ac.uk directly if you have any questions or need further details about the submission process.

  • Call for submissions: Empowering People with Disabilities using IoT and Human-Centred Technologies

    Dr Nagham Saeed is serving as a guest editor for the IEEE Internet of Things Magazine May 2025 special edition issue.

    This special issue aims to explore how IoT and human-centred technologies can improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. We invite PhD students within SCE to submit a research article to this special issue, as we recognise your distinguished work in this field.

    Submission details:

    • Special issue title: Empowering People with Disabilities using IoT and Human-Centred Technologies
    • Journal: IEEE Internet of Things Magazine
    • Submission deadline: 15 December 2024
    • Link for submission and more information

    Please feel free to reach out to nagham.saeed@uwl.ac.uk directly if you have any questions or need further details about the special issue or submission process.

Past activities

  • IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group - Panel for 2024 IEEE MetroXRAINE

    • Date: 21-23 October 2024
    • Location: The Alban Arena, St Albans

    AI and Gender Equality: an Open Challenge

    Organised by Nagham Saeed (UWL) and Valentina Bello (University of Pavia), this panel aims to explore the dual facets of AI's impact on gender equality, focusing on its potential to bridge and inadvertently widen the gender gap.

    Panellists:

    • Latizia Tanca (Politecnico di Milano)
    • Julie Wall (UWL)
    • Luigi Lavorgna (University of Campania)
    • Carol Marsh (Celestia)

  • Challenges and Opportunities in Industrial IoT: Sustainable Technologies for Circuit Design, Sensing, Communication and Power Consumption

    • Date: 25-28 May 2025

    This workshop will bring together leading academics and industry experts to discuss the latest advancements and ongoing challenges in Industrial IoT. It will focus on sustainable technologies for circuit design, sensor development, communication systems and power management. The event will include keynote talks, a technical session and a panel discussion, providing a platform for participants to explore how cutting-edge innovations can optimise IIoT systems for efficiency and sustainability.

    Our panel, "Potential of Sustainable Industrial IoT", will address critical issues like the need for low-power solutions, the role of AI in sustainability and the challenges of integrating renewable energy into IIoT systems. The discussion will focus on real-world applications and future directions in the field.

  • Sensors (MDPI) journal

    This special issue, titled "Optimising the Future: Securing and Streamlining IoT Resource Allocation in the 6G Era with Edge Computing and UAV Integration" and edited by IIoT research group member Dr Shidrokh Goudarzi, aims to explore the forefront of IoT and 6G technologies, focusing on innovative solutions for resource allocation, security, and efficiency.

    The integration of edge computing and UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in the IoT ecosystem presents novel opportunities and challenges, especially as we transition into the 6G era. We are looking for original research articles, case studies, and comprehensive reviews that address these topics, providing insights into the future of IoT and 6G technologies.

  • 2024 Early Career Talks (IEEE WIE UK&I Ambassadors Network)

    IEEE WIE UK&I's goal is to facilitate the recruitment and retention of women in technical disciplines globally. We envision a vibrant community of IEEE women and men collectively using their diverse talents to innovate for the benefit of humanity. IEEE WIE UK and Ireland through the Ambassadors Network is calling women in engineering to participate in a technical, inspirational and empowering session “Early Career Talks”. The previous ECT events were very successful, they have attracted attention from both academia and industry. This event converges the state-of-the-art research and technology in engineering and computing besides establishing networking/collaboration links and exploring new opportunities for developing interactions between academia, industry, and government, fostering economic and social development.

    What are the themes?

    We offer two themes in this call which take place online and will be around March and June 2024 respectively.

    Theme 1: Unlocking the potential of offshore renewable energy: innovations, challenges and environmental sustainability

    • Explore the dynamic landscape of offshore renewable energy in this theme, covering advancements, challenges and innovations in harnessing sustainable energy from offshore sources. Submissions may address topics such as wind, solar, wave and tidal energy, along with associated technologies, environmental impact assessments and offshore infrastructure developments.

    Theme 2: Revolutionising robotics: harnessing the power of 5G and emerging technologies for next-generation applications

    • Delve into the cutting-edge intersection of robotics and 5G technology in this theme, showcasing research and developments that leverage high-speed connectivity to propel robotics into new realms. Submissions can span a spectrum of applications, including industrial automation, healthcare robotics, autonomous vehicles and the integration of emerging technologies beyond 5G, providing insights into the future of robotic systems.

  • Seminar: The quest for AI systems

    • Date: Wednesday 27 March 2024, 12pm - 1pm
    • Location: Ealing site, BY.01.017

    AI is currently talked about everywhere, but do we have the right underlying technologies available to truly power and deliver what we set out to achieve?

    The aim of this presentation is to look at the reality of what our current computers are good at and not so good at to then explore if there are more effective ways of achieving AI functionality. This should demonstrate that to create AI systems that deliver functionalities like that of the human brain, there will be a need for some quite different lines of thinking to be explored in more depth.

  • 2023 Challenges and Opportunities: Enabling Technologies for Connected Smart Cities

    Watch our '2023 Challenges and Opportunities: Enabling Technologies for Connected Smart Cities' event, hosted on the IEEE WIE UKI Ambassadors' YouTube channel.

  • 'Early Career Talks' events

  • Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) Project - 'Propagate Positive Impact of IoT in Water Reuse through Frontier'

    Frontier Champion 2022 aimed to encourage the use of a continuous and real-time monitoring system, with the help of IoT devices, as an alternative solution in sustaining water reuse efforts.

    Due to the rapid growth of the human population and climate change, the resources of clean drinking water have been menaced. Hence, water reuse has become one of the solutions in order to solve the water crisis. By reusing water, nearly 40% of drinkable water consumption can be reduced for non-potable uses, including toilet flushing and gardening.

    Over the last few years, frontiers have worked hand in hand to collect and study all the social and technical data to spot the challenges and opportunities in the water reuse topic. However, constant and real-time data sharing has been the biggest challenge in sustaining water reuse strategies. IoT devices aim to overcome this problem; a system of devices connected through the internet, able to communicate with each other (including data transfer).

    The aim of this competition was to design and fabricate a wastewater harvesting system coupled with the IoT system for monitoring and controlling purposes.

  • Blockchain, Internet of Things and Networking (BITNet) Research Group, Xiamen University Malaysia: Research Seminar on Integration into Smart Cities

    • Date: 26 September 2022
    • Time: 3pm - 4pm
    • Speaker: Dr Nagham Saeed, UWL
    • Host/Chair: Dr Mahdi H.Miraz, Head BITNet RG

    Talk Introduction— the concept of smart cities is the dream of every government for future development where living standards will be improved to another level. In another word, the smart cities have been recently regarded as the effective and reasonable solution for a better way of living.  
    These smart cities are now being designed by Fifth Generation mobile communication networks (5G). 5G technology has many characteristics that will have a positive impact on the digital experience and smart cities. This talk illustrates the integration into smart cities, it focuses on smart grid integration into the smart cities using the 5G technology, showing the advantages of the network slicing and the benefit of introducing the virtual MPN to smart cities.

  • 2022 Challenges and Opportunities: Women's Roles in Digital Era webinar

    The webinar gave an insight into how professional female engineers can lead and significantly contribute to the digital era.

  • 2024 Challenges and Opportunities: Leading Women in Tech

    • Date: Tuesday 30 July 2024, 10:30am - 12pm
    • Location: King's College London

     

    • Panel 1 - Navigating the tech industry as a woman: insights, experiences and lessons learned from leading women in tech
    • Panel 2 - Designing for diversity and inclusion

    Invited speakers and panellists:

    • Professor Julie A McCann (Imperial College London)
    • Dr Carol Marsh OBE (Celestia)
    • Dr Ramona Marfievici (Digital Catapult)
    • Dr Zeba Khanam (BT)
    • Fehmida Jafferali (University of West London)
    • Dr Saumya Kareem Reni (University of Westminster)
    • Dr Erika Sanchez-Velazquez (Anglia Ruskin University)
    • Dr Nagham Saeed (University of West London) - moderator

Contact us

The research group is always looking for talented postgraduate research students and potential collaborations. 

For further information about PhD study in these areas and the collaborative opportunities, please contact Research Group Head,  Dr Nagham Saeed on nagham.saeed@uwl.ac.uk.

Find out more

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