About

Professor Ian Atkinson is a Tropical Leader and Director of the eResearch Centre at James Cook University. His PhD studies were in chemical physics but nearly 20 years ago moved from experimental science into computational chemistry and high-performance computing.

Over the past decade the rapid expansion of the Internet, mass data storage and computing has impacted every area of research and academic activity. As Director of the JCU eResearch Centre he has the privilege of working with researchers to apply new and ever changing ICT tools and methods to their research and amplifying their impacts.

He has a long-standing interest in eResearch methods, tools, scientific data management and user interfaces for HPC tools. He is also actively involved in researching how new systems and software that connect the physical and virtual worlds, particularly focusing on environmental monitoring with sensor networks.

Teaching
  • SC1101: Science, Technology and Truth (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
Interests
Research
  • Sensor Networks and IoT
  • Big Data Analytics
  • eResearch
  • Precision Agriculture
Research Disciplines
Honours
Awards
  • 2016 - JCU Senior Staff 'Dugong Award'
  • 2008 - University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellors Award for Knowledge Transfer with Professor Marimuthu Palaniswami, for Monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef using Distributed Sensor Networks.
  • 2001 - RACI Ollé Prize for best treatise, writing or paper: Self-Assembly in Supramolecular Systems, Book, with Prof. L.F. Lindoy
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
Conference Papers
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 90+ research outputs authored by Prof Ian Atkinson from 1988 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - National Landcare Program: Smart Farming Partnerships Grant

Improved feral cattle and buffalo herd management for environmental and economic benefits in remote Northern Australia

Indicative Funding
$1,040,450 over 3 years (administered by CSIRO)
Summary
The project aims to develop improved feral cattle and buffalo herd management for environmental, biosecurity and economic development in remote Northern Australia. It includes the following core components: 1) Development of a smart ear tag using GPS and Kineis satellite telemetry (France) - JCU lead agency 2) Testing and development of the ear tag at Fletcherview Research Station (approx. 100 animals) - JCU lead agency 3) Development of management tools for geolocation data - CSIRO lead agency 4) Deployment of tags on 1000 feral Buffalo and Cattle in the NT - CSIRO/NAILSMA 5) Development of on-ground capacity for herd management within indigenous community organisations - JCU/NAILSMA
Investigators
Ian Atkinson and Justin Perry in collaboration with Nigel Bajema, Scott Mills, Ricky Archer, Sandy Whyte, Dominic Nicholls and Denis Kelly (Research Infrastructure, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance, Aak Puul Ngantam, Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation and Melsonby Balnggarrawarra Rangers)
Keywords
Bovidae Bubalus bubalas; Bovidae Bos taurus; Animal Tracking; Environmental Management; Indigenous Industry; IoT

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Develop a deployable hardware and firmware control system

Indicative Funding
$46,300 over 1 year (administered by FET Pty Ltd)
Summary
Develop an integrated Agriculture control systems solution that will increase functional flexibility with more inputs, outputs using low energy, long range communications networks and low energy, longrange sensing devices for large area multi-farm applications.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson, Russell Warburton, Brett Havenaar and Walter Thomas (Research Infrastructure and FTEC Electrical)
Keywords
Irrigation control; AgTech; Iot; SCADA

CRC for Developing Northern Australia Scheme - Projects

Applying new technologies to enhance biosecurity and cattle quality.

Indicative Funding
$1,084,500 over 3 years (administered by Branir Pty Ltd & Trustee for Booloomani Unit Trust)
Summary
The vast natural environment of Northern Australia feeds the cattle industry; however, biosecurity threats have negatively impacted this. Conventional management of such threats such as weeds are not suited to such broad, harsh landscapes. The project will use an Internet of Things network with low-cost environmental sensors, drone mapping and big data analytics to develop and test data-driven, strategic pest management programs - ultimately improving both cattle industry and natural assets.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson, Wei Xiang, Ron White, Stephanie Duce, Mohan Jacob and Karen Joyce (Research Infrastructure and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Biosecurity; Cattle; Drones; Weeds; Technology; Internet Of Things

QLD Department of Environment and Science - Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships

Smart Ear Tag for Livestock

Indicative Funding
$1,500,000 over 4 years
Summary
CeresTag is investing in the development of a smart ear tag for livestock to enable near real-time geo-location and health monitoring. The developed ear tag will be compliant with the current NLIS identification system and cost only marginally more than existing tags. This technology will revolutionise the industry through enhanced animal welfare, improved land management practices and increased profitability. It will form the starting point of block chain traceability that will underpin the continued success of this important component of the Australian economy and help maintain the premium status of Australian livestock products.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson, Wei Xiang, Bronson Philippa, Ed Charmley, Greg Bishop-Hurley, Nigel Bajema, Scott Mills, Gordon Foyster and Richard Keaney (Research Infrastructure, College of Science & Engineering, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation and Taggle Systems)
Keywords
Animal tracking; Internet Of Things; Microelectronics; Geo-location; Precision Agriculture; Beef Cattle

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Early detection of asset failure using Machine Learning

Indicative Funding
$9,091 over 1 year (administered by Rockfield Technologies Australia Pty Ltd)
Summary
Develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to anticipate the likelihood of catastrophic failure of civil assets (eg bridges). This includes validation of code to support the AI processing of real-time data measured from large civil infrastructure such as bridges and assessing the viability of using low-cost IoT sensors to monitor asset health in real-time.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson in collaboration with Jeffrey Loughran, Govinda Pandey and Thomas Bainbridge (Research Infrastructure and Rockfield Technologies Australia Pty Ltd)
Keywords
AI; Artificial Intelligence; structural health analysis; Machine Learning; finite element

Department of Industry - Innovations Connections

Machine Learning for Structural Health Monitoring

Indicative Funding
$99,464 over 1 year, in partnership with Rockfield Technologies Australia Pty Ltd ($49,732)
Summary
Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a developing technology but is still considered expensive by asset owners. However, SHM is on the verge of a massive technology disruption. Through the emergence of low-cost, high-performance sensors, the development of Internet of Things (IoT) communications and now deep-learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) the SHM monitoring of buildings, bridges and other civil assets can now be realised. This project will attempt to build a prototype loT/ML based SHM system.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson (Research Infrastructure)
Keywords
Iot; Structural Health Monitoring; Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Control Tools and Technologies for Established Pest Animals and Weeds Programme

Enhanced landscape scale management of feral pigs and buffalo in large remote landscapes with new technologies enabling real-time data, modelling and analytics

Indicative Funding
$372,750 over 2 years (administered by CSIRO)
Summary
In remote Northern Australia properties are vast with limited seasonal access. In these large connected landscapes feral pigs and buffalo are controlled on an annual basis with limited success despite significant investment in time and money. Here we propose to develop an Internet of Things low power network connected with advanced low cost tracking devices and big data analytical techniques to develop a real time pest species tracking system including environmental sensors. Using these data, scientists and land managers will work together to develop end user products that will be used to inform strategic integrated pest management programs.
Investigators
Justin Perry, Adam McKowen, Eric Vanderduys, Philip Valencia, Peter Durr and Ian Atkinson in collaboration with Nigel Bajema, Ricky Archer, Sandy Whyte and Tim Jaffer (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Research Infrastructure, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, APN Cape York and Kalan Enterprises)
Keywords
Feral Pigs; Buffaloes; Northern Australia; Cape York; animal tracking; GPS

CSIRO - Contract Research

Climate Extremes Data Scientist

Indicative Funding
$187,500 over 4 years
Summary
As climate variability increases, researchers are being asked about the role of extreme weather events in shaping the appearance of natural ecosystems, potential for species extinction and loss of biodiversity, the viability of agricultural production systems, and whether particular system thresholds have been or will soon be breached. Such information is essential for adaptation policy, planning and management as it provides insights into the direction and rate of likely change as well as the management challenges that might be faced. This project will address these "big data" issues.
Investigators
Ian Atkinson and Helen Murphy (Research Infrastructure and Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
Keywords
Data Science; Big Data; Climate Change; Extreme Events
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • Measuring and quantifying the benefits of improved Internet connectivity in regional and remote Australia and its effect on adoption of technology (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Use of Technology to Enhance Rehabilitation Services for Stroke Survivors in Rural and Remote Areas (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • A Flexible Wired Sensor Network System for Vineyard Microclimate Monitoring (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Prognostics and health management in asset life cycle decision making ? A data driven approach. (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
  • Understanding the motivations and barriers to adoption and effective use of connectivity technologies by SMEs in RRR Australia (Masters , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Completed
Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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Email
Phone
Location
  • 17.066A, Faculty of Science & Engineering (Townsville campus)
Advisory Accreditation
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