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Networking, Security, and Cloud Research (NSCR) is a part of the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Western Sydney and is led by Dr. Seyed Shahrestani. The team focuses on security, reliability, performance, and quality of service of large-scale networked systems. The team approach is based on a complementary mix of theoretical, conceptual, applied, and experimental research. Our research spans a broad range of topics including
- ICT and Networking (Wireless and Mobile Networks, Ad hoc Networks, Sensor Networks, Performance Modeling and Analysis, and Application of AI in Networked Systems).
- Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous computing and Internet of Things).
- Security (Traditional Network Security, Reliable Wireless Networks, and Secure Cloud Computing).
- Grid/Cloud Computing and eResearch (Performance Evaluations, Network-based Education, eHealth, and Workflow Management Systems).
Key People
Research Grants
- Wireless/Mobile Community Healthcare, $43,934, UWS.
- Intelligent Motion Control, $5,000, UWS.
- Equity through online Education, $5,000, UWS.
- UWS and Cisco Strategic Alliance, $982,500, Cisco Systems.
Some Indicative Research Projects
eVillage for Rural Areas
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Dr. Chun Ruan
Student: Farnaz Farid (PhD Candidate)
Award: The APA scholarship
Summary: Communication technologies and broadband networks offer interesting solutions for improving the human quality of life. However, the improvements are less prominent in the rural areas and in developing countries. Partially, this may be related to the cultural and social acceptance of such technologies in rural areas. It can also be associated with the lack of a proper architecture for the utilization of such technologies in those areas. Based on analysing the existing infrastructure and technical requirements, this research aims to use wireless and cellular technologies to provide suitable solution for adaptation in rural areas.
As part of this work, a network-based architecture, referred to as eVillage, is designed and analyzed. OPNET is used as the network simulator tool for this research. The work will use simulation techniques, facilitated by OPNET modeller to investigate the effects of various modes of utilization on the performance of the underlying communication networks. Given the widespread use of cellular systems in urban areas, the emphasis of the research is on wireless and mobile networks and their related applications. This work will also study the results obtained from the simulations in order to improve the design of the eVillage framework, incorporating the results of the earlier parts in choosing or fine-tunning the appropriate parameters and protocols of the communication networks.
Privacy of Location Based Services in the Internet of Things
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Dr. Hon Cheung
Student: Mahmoud Elkhodr (PhD Candidate)
Award: The IPRS scholarship and APA award
Summary: The Internet of Things (IoT) is where networks of applications, computers, devices, physical and virtual objects, and users, referred to as things, are interconnected together using communication technologies such as, wireless, wired and mobile networks, RFID, Bluetooth, GPS systems, and other evolving technologies. This paradigm is a major shift from an essentially computer-based network model to a fully distributed network of smart objects. This does pose serious challenges in terms of architecture, connectivity, efficiency, and provision of services among many others. But perhaps, security concerns, and more specifically privacy related issues, top the list of the major challenges. The seamless interconnectivity of things, envisioned in the IoT, highlights the complexity of realizing location privacy in this global infrastructure. To achieve location privacy, objects, specifically those which have access to the personal information of users, should not be allowed to communicate in an uncontrolled manner. Therefore, the key objective of this research is to investigate the extent of privacy related problems for users of location-based services sharing their information with other users or objects in an IoT environment. It will then move to identify ways to address these problems or to alleviate their impacts.
Secure Cloud Computing
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Prof. Athula Gingie
Student: Farhad Ahmad (PhD Candidate)
Summary: Providing consistent security and privacy solutions for cloud computing environments is an essential requirement for their wide spread acceptance. Securing the cloud infrastructure operations for the purpose of achieving an end to end confidentiality, privacy, and trust, at both ends of the communication, comes with many challenges. Due to the conceptual development of the cloud architecture and its multi-tenancy system, new security vulnerabilities are on the rise. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to investigate sustainable solutions for cloud computing in order to maintain an adequate level of trust between the cloud service provider and its clients.
Enhancing Cloud Computing Security and Privacy
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Dr. Hon Cheung
Student: Nabil Giweli (MSc Candidate)
Award: The dean medal in the SCEM
Summary: The purpose of this study is to improve the privacy and integrity of data stored in the cloud. Cloud computing solutions offer numerous benefits to users. However, this emerging technology comes with challenges in which security is among the major ones. There is a need to provide sufficient security solutions that guarantee the confidentiality of information during their lifecycle in the cloud. The main contribution of this research is to establish a data-centric security approach to ensure the privacy and integrity of data stored in a cloud environment.
Improving Reliability of Wireless Mesh Networks through Trust Evaluation
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Dr. Chun Ruan
Student: Sogand Fathy (MSc Candidate)
Summary: The aim of this research is to enhance the security and reliability of transmission of packets in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN). Nodes in these networks are dynamically self-configured and are usually self-organized. These features provide many advantages for the deployment of WMNs, resulting in their popularity. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the reliability of the participating nodes in routing packets, based on their behaviour. These evaluations will then be used to enhance the overall reliability of the end-to-end packet delivery in such networks.
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Improve Wireless Security
Supervisory Panel: Dr. Seyed A. Shahrestani and Dr. Bahman Javadi
Student: Mohammad Ali (MSc Candidate)
Summary:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an essential part of the technology industry, providing some novel solutions for many complex problems found in computer science research. With the evolution of the wireless communication networks, pervasive computing, cloud computing, and others, wireless devices are becoming more intelligent. Network nodes, in this interconnected infrastructure, posses the ability to be dynamically self-configured and to behave independently. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to provide ways that utilize AI to improve the security of wireless nodes and networks within the paradigms of IEEE 802.11i/ Wi-Fi and IEEE 802.16/ Wi-Max.
Future Researchers/ Students
The NSCR group is happy to accept application for any Research degree in any field relevant to networking, security, and cloud computing. For more information about our research strengths and interests, please contact Dr. Seyed Shahrestani. For more general information regarding Research degrees at UWS, please follow the links below.
