DoctorWinyu Chinthammit

Project Total: $46,667; This project aims to develop and deliver a proof-of-concept virtual reality (VR) simulation focused on the extraction phase of vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery. The tool is designed to support re-training and clinical skill reinforcement for obstetric providers who have already received foundational instruction. The goal is to offer a realistic, feedback-rich, and repeatable VR experience that can help clinicians maintain clinical readinessespecially in low-resource environments where in-person simulation is rarely available. Funded by: United Nations Population Fund ($46,664); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $1,578,647; The proposed research aims to explore the concept of augmented human operations where the human is working with machines. The study will focus on the four key areas of collaboration, training, digital tools, and literacy of the tools. The research will investigate how these areas can be integrated to create a more efficient and effective workforce. This research will examine the concept in various industries as we recognise an opportunity to enable Australian industry sectors to enhance their operations through augmented human operations to boost Australias economy. Our core objective is to empower human performance, capabilities, and safety with digital technologies to facilitate seamless communication and cross-interactions between human and digital entities. We aim to innovate by fusing the capabilities of AI and humans in the focused key areas via immersive VR and AR technologies. The proposed research will provide valuable insights into how augmented human operations can be leveraged to create a more efficient and effective workforce. The findings of this study will have significant implications for businesses and organizations looking to optimize their operations through the use of advanced immersive technologies. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation - Grant ($560,245); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $29,435; This project will evaluate the performance of VR tools as point-cloud tree assessment tools for native forests, using DPI and FCNSW-provided large point-cloud datasets. Specifically, this project will address issues regarding accuracy estimations of the tree diameter and height accuracy estimations using the VR tools. The research will assess the practical usefulness of the VR assessment tools in the point cloud datasets of native forests. Funded by: NSW Department of Primary Industry ($29,435); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $24,586,664; This research centre will be one of three delivering forestry and forest products industry focussed research under the AFWI grant Funded by: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Grant ($24,586,664); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $36,713; different classes, such as stem, vegetation, and coarse woody debris. The untidiness and structural complexity of native forests present challenges for visualisation. Therefore, the design of the VR tools will focus on efficiency, intuitiveness and easy-to-use of the tools. The project will also analyse the challenges of the segmentation process in a VR environment with point cloud data in native forest. Funded by: Department of Primary Industries NSW ($36,713); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $15,000; Soldiers can be located in extreme environment and hazardous situations, and using VR associated with the conversation proves an extremely efficient way to train soldiers among various situations and environment, such as flight simulations, battlefield simulations, job training and etc. At present, most conversations embedded in virtual reality are typically structured interaction. This would allow conversations to take place and would be the normal method of communication. This form of conversation representation is restrictive, allowing for only a few predetermined responses to performing a few simple tasks. We can generalise these limitations in two prime categories. Firstly, lacks adaptive and dynamic conversation content. Predominantly automated conversations embedded into VR environment are driven by knowledge base (KB), which is typically developed with domain-specific requirements and assumptions that directly affect its architecture and implementation. Once knowledge base is developed it is not readily adaptable to other situations and scenarios. As the target of training keeps changing, conversations need to dynamically update. This cumbersome approach not only affects the overall efficiency of training or education but also majorly impacts the effectiveness, as the underlying engine fails to identify missing/required knowledge. Secondly a significant lack of relationship between conversational interface and knowledge. In the traditional approaches, there exists a clear separation between the knowledge and the inference of knowledge. This separation makes the knowledge generation on the fly a formidable task. Soldiers during training inevitably need to react based on conversation contents, so it should include behavioral abstractions rather than only information abstraction using natural language to impart their knowledge and train them in a highly effectual, seamless, efficient manner. These limitations provide an opportunity which motivates us to develop the next generation of conversation engine that is a cohesive unit of intelligent CLT (Control Language Interface) with assisted rule-based technology and adaptability at its core. The design of this conversation engine is intended to effectively identify the required knowledge for the soldiers while interacting and develop a broader range of contents with an agile delivery mechanism that can cater a wider scope defense situations and environment. We propose our approach that specifically addresses the above-mentioned limitations by targeting the following: 1. Identification of the missing/required knowledge of soldiers during VR military training to achieve personalized training. 2. Generation of interactive conversations based on multiple VR situations and environment. In our system, the interactive conversations will be dynamically changed and adaptive to various VR situations and environment. This unique and novel concept will enable the soldiers to invoke live knowledge generation during training as he/she explores additional information with experiences. Moreover, it will enhance and expand the core knowledge engine, by a wider range of contexts and their inter-matching connectivity to establish conversational flow in various domains of knowledge. Funded by: Defence Science Institute - PhD Scholarship Fund ($15,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $387,245; Vietnam is facing overcrowding in central hospitals due to the disproportional distribution of health workforces in terms of both quantity and quality. In many rural and remote areas, the healthcare staff lack to access real-time, effective assistance, and realistic training provided by experts located centrally. It may lead to less effectiveness of health care services and additional costs for rural/ remote residents. UTAS Augmented Reality Remote Assistance system (UTAS-ARRA) is a solution developed by the Centre for Rural Health and the Human Interface Technology Laboratory, University of Tasmania. In this project, we will employ the UTAS-ARRA to improve the effectiveness of the remote situational tele-mentorship between central experts and rural/ remote less-experienced healthcare staff in Vietnam. The system aims to improve the response of rural/remote staff to manage patients under the assistance and guidance provided by central experts in real-time. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation - Grant - Aus4Innovation Partnership ($387,245); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $2,375; Funded by: University of Tasmania; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $280,000; This project will provide operational methods and workflows to improve the accessibility by the forest grower section to Virtual Reality (VR) visualisation and measurement of plot‐level point‐cloud data, progressing the VR approach reported in FWPA PNC464‐1718. The project will integrate automated individual tree profiles using Machine Learning (ML) techniques into the VR environment. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grant-Research and Development ($270,000); Radiata Pine Breeding Co Ltd ($10,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $50,000; This project will investigate the benefits to production and sustainability in the adoption and application of advanced management technologies (AMTs), such as the AWI SmartTags, in several high performing wool producing properties in Tasmania. The objective of this project is to (1) create national and global visibility of the on-farm adoption of AMTs, and (2) demonstrate the use of AMTs in supporting practices associated with high quality, sustainable and socially acceptable wool and sheep production systems. This phase 1 project will support a potentially longer-term commitment between contributing parties and broader collaboration with a range of supply chain stakeholders Funded by: Australian Wool Innovation Limited - Grant-Research and Development Open Call ($50,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $80,000; This project will provide methods and workflows to support Virtual Reality (VR) visualisation and measurement of plot-level point-cloud data. This software application has the potential to greatly reduce reliance on the manual assessment of plots and improve the accuracy of inventory plot measurement. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grant-Research and Development ($50,000); Forestry Tasmania ($5,000); Forest Products Commission - University of Western Australia ($5,000); Forestry Corporation of New South Wales ($5,000); PF Olsen (Aus) Pty Ltd ($5,000); Interpine Group Limited ($5,000); HQ Plantations ($5,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $10,712; The project is to investigate what are the effective visualisation techniques in which interactive 3D graphic content can be used to augment the learning of seafaring online courses. The project is an initial/trial project which focus on two special learning modules: 1. General bulk carrier familiarisation 2. Draught and Plimsoll marks Funded by: AMCsearch Ltd ($10,712); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $29,996; This project will investigate fundamental knowledge in the area of Human Data Interaction (HDI) with Virtual Reality (VR) technology. The project's general aim is to answer the following fundamental questions: 1) What aspects of the VR system design are most critical for effective exploration of complex data sets? 2) How can multidimensionality and heterogeneity of large data sets be effectively interacted with using VR based control and display modalities? 3) What kinds of HDI tasks are suitable with VR based systems and how does this compare to conventional interfaces? 4) What are suitable metrics to quantify the effectiveness of VR based HDI? A key outcome of the project is, from the empirical data addressing the questions above, to establish a framework for HDI using VR technology. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($29,996); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $6,000; The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Club will engage local children, from outer urban and regional communities, in rich hands-on learning experiences at the University of Tasmania in the area of computer science. The Club is a community initiative between University of Tasmania and Launceston Church Grammar School (LCGS) to proactively engage with the local community. The Club is an extension of the Maths and Science Clubs offered to outer urban and regional school children by LCGS and will foster logical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, multimedia product design and application of ICT literacies. Students will apply these skills and knowledge immediately in their everyday lives, including school, to research information, analyse data, solve problems, design and create expressive multimedia products, to name a few. This knowledge and these skills are vital to preparing young Tasmanians for jobs of the future. Additionally, students' aspirations for further study at the University of Tasmania will be informed through the ICT club. Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Community Engagement; University of Tasmania ($6,000).

Project Total: $4,835,000; This project aims to transform the Australian food industry by innovatively integrating leading-edge applied research with commercial partner expertise and business priorities in two distinct food supply chains. It will demonstrate how new knowledge on food production and consumption generated through novel sensing technologies and advanced modelling techniques can be implemented in smart applications. The project will produce the world's first holistic investigation of how intelligent use of information can contribute to powering food industry competitiveness, environmental sustainability and innovation in food value chains from producers through to end-consumers. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Industrial Transformation Research Hub ($2,500,000); Grey Innovation Pty Ltd ($800,000); Fisheries Research & Development Corporation ($400,000); Southern Rocklobster Limited ($400,000); Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd ($385,000); Greenham Tasmania Pty Ltd ($250,000); National Australia Bank Limited ($100,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $494,000; This project will provide data workflow and analytical solutions required for the operational deployment of high spatial resolution data acquired by UAV's and light aircraft into the resource information systems managed by the Australian plantation and native forests growers. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grant-Research and Development; Department of Primary Industries NSW; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $48,090; The project will identify potential solutions to hardware and software issues associated with a night fighting and situational awareness system being developed by Rockwell Collins Australia Pty Ltd (RCA). RCA had identified three issues of importance prior to the workshop including: optimisation of hardware/software for real-time video display to operator; optimisation of graphical user interface; and optimisation of hardware enclosure. Funded by: Rockwall Collins Australia ($48,090); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $35,000; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS); University of Tasmania ($35,000).

Project Total: $450,000; Funded by: Department of State Growth (Tas) ($450,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $5,000; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-New Appointees Research Grant Scheme (NARGS); University of Tasmania ($5,000).