Information Technology research - Southern Cross University

Information Technology Research Areas and Expertise

Southern Cross University’s IT discipline brings together 13 researchers across six interconnected clusters, with collective citation counts in the tens of thousands and partnerships spanning CSIRO, Google Research, Nvidia, and Defence Science and Technology. The discipline’s core strength is applied AI, from machine learning and computer vision through to digital health platforms and smart environment systems.

Cybersecurity and trustworthy AI work has appeared in top-tier venues ACM CCS and ESORICS, complemented by deep software engineering track record.

Digital health is a particular sweet spot, with multiple researchers working across health smart homes, clinical decision support, and affective computing.

The discipline also punches above its size in external engagement, having secured over $10 million in competitive funding and maintaining active collaborations with Queensland Health, local government, and international research institutes.

Across all clusters, the unifying thread is technology in service of people, whether in health, education, environment, or community resilience.

Research Area	Academics
Intelligent and Transformative Digital Technologies that transform organisations, industries, and communities through data-driven decision making, automation, and innovation. Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Computer Vision and Multimodal Intelligence Data Analytics and Decision Support Systems Intelligent Optimisation and Predictive Modelling Digital Twins and Smart systems Internet of Things and Edge Computing Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation Information Systems and Knowledge Management Software Engineering and Digital Platforms AR/VR and Mixed Reality Technologies Human–AI Collaboration Digital Transformation of Health, Environment, Education and Industry.	Ali Reza Alaei, Golam Sorwar, Haifeng Shen, Lukas Folkman, Nehemia Sugianto, Rania Shibl, Reza Ghanbarzadeh, Vinh Bui
Secure and Trustworthy Digital Technologies, to ensure digital innovation is secure, reliable, ethical, and trusted by individuals, organisations, and communities. Cybersecurity, Privacy-preserving technologies, Secure software systems, AI security and adversarial AI, Digital identity and trust frameworks, Responsible and ethical AI, Cyber resilience.	Haifeng Shen, Lin Li, Ruitao Feng
Digital Capability and Future Education to transform digital education and develop the future workforce required for an AI-enabled society. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), AI-enhanced learning, Learning analytics, Authentic assessment and AI literacy, Digital skills development, Future IT workforce models, Inclusive digital education, Healthcare Education Technologies.	Alex Henry, Ali Reza Alaei, Carolyn Seton, Golam Sorwar, Prithwi Raj Chakraborty, Reza Ghanbarzadeh, Ruitao Feng, Vinh Bui
Digital Health Technologies and Wellbeing to develop human-centred digital technologies to improve healthcare, education, disease prevention and community wellbeing. Digital Health and Health Informatics, AI-driven Healthcare and Clinical Decision Support, Healthcare Analytics and Predictive Modelling, Healthcare Education Technologies, Climate-sensitive Disease Forecasting, Human-centred Health Technologies.	Carolyn Seton, Golam Sorwar, Lin Li, Lukas Folkman, Nehemia Sugianto, Prithwi Raj Chakraborty, Rania Shibl, Reza Ghanbarzadeh, Vinh Bui
Smart Environments, Climate Resilience and Sustainable Communities to develop intelligent technologies and data-driven solutions that enhance environmental sustainability, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and community wellbeing. Environmental and Climate Intelligence, Climate Resilience, Adaptation and Decision Support, Natural Hazard Prediction, Monitoring and Early Warning Systems, Geospatial Intelligence and Predictive Modelling, Ecology and Biodiversity Technologies	Ali Reza Alaei, Golam Sorwar, Lukas Folkman, Vinh Bui
Industry, Government and Community Engagement. Information Technology researchers collaborate nationally and internationally with universities, industry, government, health organisations, research centres, NGOs and local communities. Key partners include CSIRO and Data61, Defence Science and Technology, A*STAR, leading Australian and international universities, Google Research, Nvidia, Gold Coast City Council, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development of New South Wales, Tencent, maritime and energy companies, cybersecurity and software organisations, Queensland Health, NSW and Queensland health districts.	Ali Reza Alaei, Golam Sorwar, Haifeng Shen, Lin Li, Lukas Folkman, Reza Ghanbarzadeh, Ruitao Feng, Vinh Bui

IT research highlight

When AI meets aged care: using technology to keep the elderly safe

When an elderly relative falls over, help response time is critical. Left untreated, a fall can lead to injuries, health complications or fatalities. In a world-first, a new Australian-made artificial intelligence-driven fall detection device is expected to be a game-changer. Called HomeGuardian.ai, it monitors the interaction of objects and people within its surroundings and alerts carers or family members if abnormal behaviour occurs.

Learn how artificial intelligence can raise the alarm when the elderly fall over.