Avin Mathew
 Avin Mathew |
Fulbright Postgraduate Award in Technology and Communications sponsored by Telstra
Media Profile
“Australia’s water utility industry is facing the pressing issue of water shortage. Asset managers are being forced to make critical decisions about the efficiency and effectiveness of their practices in order to appease the demand for water. Therefore it is extremely important to have access to centralised good quality information to assist management in making informed decisions about water resources.”
Avin Mathew has received the prestigious 2006 Fulbright Postgraduate Award in Technology and Communications sponsored by Telstra, the major provider of communications services in Australia. The award, announced by Telstra in May 2004, is aimed at helping nurture the next generation of technology and communication professionals, ‘…whose ideas and leadership will shape the future of our world’. Avin’s research will investigate the field of engineering asset management data warehousing and data mining for the water utility industry.
Avin is currently undertaking a PhD in the School of Engineering Systems at Queensland University of Technology on an APAI PhD Scholarship. He is a graduate from the University of Queensland with dual degrees in Bachelor of Engineering (Software) with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance. Avin was recognised throughout his undergraduate studies with the Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement and the Dean’s Honour Roll Award. He is a member of Engineers Australia, Maintenance Engineers Society Australia, and the Golden Key National Honour Society.
Through his Fulbright Award, Avin will undertake research towards his Australian PhD at the College of Engineering, University of Cincinnati to investigate the design of an engineering asset management data warehouse that will improve the decision making processes within the water utility industry. Part of his research will involve working with an industry trade association to develop international standards in the area.
“Data warehouses are typically the foundation for decision support systems, as they can provide accurate and timely information. The U.S. is involved in exciting research in this area, andthrough my Fulbright Award, I will be researching cutting edge practices in data management and collaborating with top-class researchers to develop academic and industry contacts,” said Avin. “This research will be significant not only water utility companies, but any industry that manages large scale engineering assets.”
“A secondary research outcome is to investigate the integration of case-based reasoning and data warehousing for rapid data warehouse deployment. Through learning theory, case-based reasoning systems retrieve, reuse, revise, and retain past cases. Akin to how doctors can reuse diagnosis and treatments, my research will investigate case-based reasoning for reusing data warehouse designs,” Avin explains.