Mr Alasdair Houston
PhD student at SIMBIOS
T: +44 1382 308142
General Information
Research interests
Current project:
- Evaluation and development of analysis algorithms applicable to micron-scale X-ray computed tomography images of soil.
Supervisors:
Project Background
There is a widespread requirement for robust analysis of micron-scale computed tomography images. This is a particularly challenging problem with regard to random heterogeneous materials such as soil; the mixture of both coarse and ultra-fine particulates greatly complicates analysis. Current technology used to acquire images of such materials is limited in terms of both image resolution and the quantity of information that can be processed. This leads to a difficult trade-off decision for the soil scientist; either a reasonably large physical sample volume can be studied at relatively coarse resolution or a smaller volume can be studied at increased resolution. This leads to the need for such materials to be imaged on various representative scales and the information (extracted by various analysis techniques) pieced together into a concise and coherent form. Ideally, such condensed information should lead to (or at least, assist with) an understanding of material properties on a macroscopic scale: verification by physical measurement is therefore important in the wider context.
Education
- BSc Microprocessor-Systems, 1989, University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom
Professional Skills and Interests
- Interactive computer graphics (for scientific visualisation).
- Mathematical modelling, numerical simulation and analysis.
- Parallel computation; computer networks; compression and encryption.
Key Professional Positions Held
- Software Engineer, Visimetrics (UK) Ltd (Prestwick, UK)
- Software R&D Consultant, Self-employed (UK)
- Lecturer in Computer Games Technology, University of Abertay Dundee (UK)
- Games R&D Programmer, DMA Design Ltd (Dundee, UK)
Publications:
- (Pending.)