KEYNOTE
The 10th International Conference on Digital Arts, Media and Technology (DAMT) and 8th ECTI Northern Section Conference on Electrical, Electronics, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering (NCON)
1.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tiranee Achalakul,President, Big Data Institute (Public Organization),Thailand
Power the Future with Data and AI
Abstract:
In recent decades, the excitement surrounding Big Data and AI has led to significant exploration of these technologies in both the public and private sectors in Thailand. This presentation highlights compelling big data stories related to government use cases in healthcare, tourism, and carbon neutrality initiatives. It discusses how challenges related to data integration and government data silos have been addressed. Additionally, the talk will explain the concepts of big data, analytics, AI, and generative AI, supported by clear examples. The audience will gain insights into these concepts and their applications within the Thai context, including an introduction to the collaboration framework for the Thai Large Language Model (ThaiLLM).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tiranee Achalakul is the President and CEO of the Big Data Institute (BDI), which operates as a data intelligence service provider under Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. Since 2000, she has built a career in the IT industry, specializing in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and cloud computing. Over the last 24 years, Dr. Achalakul has taken on various roles in management and education. She also serves on advisory boards for multiple government agencies and imparts knowledge to university students and government employees. In addition, she is a co-founder of a few technology startups.
2.Prof. Dr. Minoru Okada, NAIST JAPAN
Optimizing Wireless Communication through Machine Learning-Based Antenna Control
Abstract:
While massive array antenna, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), and Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) are pivotal technologies in 5G/6G wireless communication systems and the next-generation satellite communication systems, the increasing computational complexity associated with traditional signal processing techniques poses significant implementation challenges. Leveraging recent advancements in machine learning, we can now realize large-scale MIMO and IRS systems within practical hardware constraints. This presentation will introduce the background of deep learning algorithms in wireless communication applications and highlight our research group’s recent work, including MIMO beamforming and IRS-assisted communication.
Minoru Okada received a B.E. in communications engineering from the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan, in 1990 and his M.E. and Ph.D. in communications engineering from Osaka University in 1992 and 1998, respectively. He served as an assistant professor from 1993 to 2000. He moved to Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) as an associate professor in 2000 and is now a professor at the same institute. His research interests include wireless communications and power transfer.
3.Prof. Dr. Plamen Zahariev, University of Ruse Bulgaria
The modern 3D technologies as a catalyst for the digital transformation of the educational processes.
Abstract: The digital transformation of the education is an ongoing process that covers all degree levels and all study areas. The constant development of new information and communication systems, collaborative tools and hardware platforms and their integration in the teaching and learning activities are among the main drivers of this transformation. Currently, the 3D technologies are slowly entering the educational domain, but are promising to become the main catalyst for its future transformations. This keynote talk will present some of the main technologies for 3D digitalization and 3D visualisation and will further highlight the efforts of the UNITe Centre of Excellence at the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” in its mission to transform the educational processes using 3D technologies, like photogrammetry, 3D scanning, 3D printing, Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality, holograms, etc.
Short Bio: Dr. Plamen Zahariev is a full time Professor and the Head of the Department of Telecommunications at the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev”. He has more than 17 years of teaching and research experience. Prof. Zahariev is author or co-author of more than 200 scientific publications and is member of IEEE and ACM. His main research interests are related to the 3D technologies, the wireless, wired and sensor networks and systems, the cryptography and the cybersecurity, as well as the use of drones and robots in the education. In the last 15 years, he was project manager, institutional coordinator and researcher in more than 50 national and international educational and scientific projects. At the present moment of time, Dr. Zahariev is coordinating the scientific and research activities of the Centre of Excellence UNITe at the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” in Bulgaria.
4.Kijpaiboon Chivapansi,Revolution Didactic
“Transformation Journey: Insights from the Factory Floor”
Synopsis:
This keynote showcases the transformation story of an auto parts manufacturing factory, transitioning from manual workflows to a fully digitalized system. It highlights the technical challenges and motivations behind each stage of change. Drawing on industry expertise, it explores how to leverage the power of software technology to customize modular solutions, and integrate them together as a future-proofed platform aligned with industry standards, ensuring long-term operations and productivity.
The presentation also demonstrates the tools for kickstarting the project and offers a comparison of academic versus industry tools, outlining the strengths and limitations to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, while preparing students for evolving industry standards and expectations.
Bio:
Kijpaiboon is a project manager at Revolution Didactic, specializing in factory automation and test development using graphical programming platforms. With 20 years of experience, he has empowered clients across industry and academia to tailor their workflows to meet their specific needs. Kijpaiboon is also the author of five editions of a LabVIEW programming book in Thai, widely recognized as an essential resource for professionals and educators. He holds a degree in Information and Communication Systems from Hamburg University of Technology.
5.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fernando Brito e Abreu, Iscte-IUL, Portugal
Developing Smart Tourism Tools and Platforms: from the RESETTING experience to AI-based futures
This talk will describe the challenges and breakthroughs in the development of several smart tourism tools and platforms to address critical issues such as overcrowding, resource management and destination sustainability as part of the RESETTING project funded by the European Commission. Using cutting-edge open-source technologies, the project provided actionable insights to tourism stakeholders, especially SMEs, with the aim of improving the visitor experience while preserving the cultural and environmental integrity of destinations.
One of the key innovations developed within RESETTING was a distributed IoT-based crowd monitoring system that provides real-time data based on the detection of mobile phones in the vicinity of hot tourist attractions, enabling local authorities and tourism managers to take timely action to prevent overcrowding, balance the needs of residents and visitors, preserve the attractiveness of the destination, and reduce the environmental footprint.
To take into account the topology of destinations, we have developed the Carrying Capacity Calculator, an interactive web application that estimates the optimal number of visitors a destination can accommodate without compromising its cultural, social and environmental assets. These estimates can be calibrated by considering factors such as local infrastructure, natural resources and visitor behavior.
The next step was a geo-temporal 3D crowd visualisation platform that combines the data provided by the previous two tools. Through an intuitive 3D interface, it improves understanding of crowd movement and density in both spatial and temporal dimensions, allowing destination managers to identify peak times and locations that require proactive management. We can also provide predictions using AI-based techniques. This platform can be used with other sources of crowd detection beyond our Wi-Fi sensors, such as mobile network data and motion detectors, as we have done in Lisbon and Melbourne.
Last but not least, we have laid the foundation for the European Smart Tourism Observatory, an online platform that aggregates data from different sources, namely available smart tourism tools and initiatives across Europe. By providing a geo-referenced and content-rich awareness of their existence, this Observatory can provide valuable insights for policy makers, researchers and tourism professionals across Europe, supporting the industry’s transition towards more resilient and sustainable tourism models.
Finally, this talk will provide details on ongoing and future developments to extend and further refine these smart tourism tools and platforms, by leveraging recent AI breakthroughs. Stakeholders from across the tourism sector will be invited to collaborate in these efforts, building on RESETTING’s experience in promoting innovation and sustainability in tourism management.