Research Publications

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/4194

This main community comprises five sub-communities, each representing the academic contribution made by SLIIT-affiliated personnel.

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 17

Open Access
Early Diagnosis and Severity Assessment of Weligama Coconut Leaf Wilt Disease and Coconut Caterpillar Infestation Using Deep Learning-Based Image Processing Techniques
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025-02-03) Vidhanaarachchi, S; Wijekoon, J. l; Abeysiriwardhana, W. A. S.P; Wijesundara, M
Global Coconut (Cocos nucifera (L.)) cultivation faces significant challenges, including yield loss, due to pest and disease outbreaks. In particular, Weligama Coconut Leaf Wilt Disease (WCWLD) and Coconut Caterpillar Infestation (CCI) damage coconut trees, causing severe coconut production loss in Sri Lanka and nearby coconut-producing countries. Currently, both WCWLD and CCI are detected through on-field human observations, a process that is not only time-consuming but also limits the early detection of infections. This paper presents a study conducted in Sri Lanka, demonstrating the effectiveness of employing transfer learning-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Mask Region-based-CNN (Mask R-CNN) to identify WCWLD and CCI at their early stages and to assess disease progression. Further, this paper presents the use of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) object detection model to count the number of caterpillars distributed on leaves with CCI. The introduced methods were tested and validated using datasets collected from Matara, Puttalam, and Makandura, Sri Lanka. The results show that the proposed methods identify WCWLD and CCI with an accuracy of 90% and 95%, respectively. In addition, the proposed WCWLD disease severity identification method classifies the severity with an accuracy of 97%. Furthermore, the accuracies of the object detection models for calculating the number of caterpillars in the leaflets were: YOLOv5-96.87%, YOLOv8-96.1%, and YOLO11-95.9%.
Open Access
Event Detection and Classification for Long Range Sensing of Elephants Using Seismic Signals
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025-09-08) Wijayaraja, J.L; Wijekoon, J.L; Wijesundara, M
Detecting elephants through seismic signals is an emerging research topic aimed at developing solutions for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). Despite the promising results, such solutions heavily rely on manual classification of elephant footfalls, which limits their applicability for real-time classification in natural settings. To address this limitation and build on our previous work, this study introduces a classification framework targeting resource-constrained implementations, prioritizing both accuracy and computational efficiency. As part of this framework, a novel event detection technique named Contextually Customized Windowing (CCW), tailored specifically for detecting elephant footfalls, was introduced, and evaluations were conducted by comparing it with the Short-Term Average/Long-Term Average (STA/LTA) method. The yielded results show that the maximum validated detection range was 155.6 m in controlled conditions and 140 m in natural environments. Elephant footfall classification using Support Vector Machine (SVM) with a Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel demonstrated superior performance across multiple settings, achieving an accuracy of 99% in controlled environments, 73% in natural elephant habitats, and 70% in HEC-prone human habitats, the most challenging scenario. Furthermore, feature impact analysis using explainable AI identified the number of Zero Crossings and Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) Alignment Cost as the most influential factors in all experiments, while Predominant Frequency exhibited significant influence in controlled settings.
Embargo
Design of a kinetic energy harvester for elephant mounted wireless sensor nodes of jumbonet
(IEEE, 2016-12-04) Wijesundara, M; Tapparello, C; Gamage, A; Gokulan, Y; Gittelson, L; Howard, T; Heinzelman, W
In areas where the habitats of elephants and humans are rapidly encroaching on each other, real-time monitoring of the elephants' locations has the potential to drastically improve the co-existence of elephants and humans, resulting in reduced deaths in both groups. However, as tagging (using GPS collars) elephants to obtain such location information is difficult and costly, it is important to ensure very long lifetimes of the tags, which can only be achieved using energy harvesting. In this paper, we present a kinetic energy harvester that uses magnetic levitation and ferro fluid bearings to generate energy from an elephant's movements. In order to determine the feasibility of using this kinetic energy harvester for powering the tags on elephants, we obtained real acceleration data collected from an Asian elephant over a 10 day period, and this data was then used to tune the system to maximize the harvested energy. Using experimentally validated analytical and simulation models, and the actual elephant acceleration data, we find that our prototype can generate 88.91J of energy per day. This energy is not only sufficient to power the tags to acquire and transmit locations 24 times a day to a distance of 114Km (line of sight), but provides a surplus of at least 35.40J, which can be used to increase the frequency of position updates or to support alternative communication options such as GPRS. Therefore, this shows the viability of long-term tracking of elephants.
Open Access
Online education during Covid-19 lockdown-Student experience in the non-state higher education in Sri Lanka
(National Science Foundation, 2020) Wijesundara, M; Peiris, T. S, G; Thanaraj, T; Peiris, C. N
The objective of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of online education in both teaching and learning, based on data captured from the Moodle LMS, Eduscope Lecture Video Management System and two students’ feedback surveys at the Sri Lanka Institute of Technology (SLIIT) from January to December 2020. Regression analysis and chi-square test were used as data analyses tools. The data were analyzed using simple linear regression and Analysis of LMS data showed that with each user logging into LMS 3 to 4 times a day with a minimum of 10 user actions per login. The study also found that the percentage of ‘satisfactory’ ratings by students for all aspects considered under four criteria, namely lecture delivery, technology, support services and overall satisfaction exceeded 80% irrespective of the faculty and time of the year. However the students’ responses for individual criteria within four aspects were significantly associated (p < 0.05) by the nature of the faculty. More than 75% of students claimed that the online delivery is working well and enabling them to continue with their studies. No significant difference was found with respect to overall satisfaction by the students between the two periods. The inferences of this study can be used effectively to provide better online education environment in higher education organizations in Sri Lanka. and The infrastructure upgrades, including overall bandwidth, new services including Zoom, Webex and MS Teams, staff training on online delivery enabled a quick transition to online delivery. The incorporation of Respondus lockdown browser and Respondus Monitor online proctoring system further enhanced the integrity of online assessments and examinations.
Open Access
Design of a Framework for Professional Development Programs for Teachers in the Use of Interactive Touch Screen
(researchgate.net, 2021-12) Perera, K. G. S. K; Wijesundara, M; Siriwardhena, I
Interactive Touch Screens (ITSs) are distributed in selected schools in Sri Lanka. Although, in these schools, selected teachers are trained on the use of the ITS, comprehensive training on the instructional strategies of ITS is yet to be provided. The objective of the study was to design and develop a framework for professional development programme (PDP) for teachers on the use of ITS. The sample of 31 teachers of an educational zone in the Colombo district was selected to test the methodology. Instruments for quantitative data collection were six scales and to collect qualitative data open-ended questions were used. Design Based Research (DBR) approach was made to evaluate the new methodology. DBR approach is characterized by analysis of the problem domain, design of the solution (intervention), iterative cycles of testing and refining the solution and finally reflecting on the whole process to arrive at design principles and inventing the solution. Intervention of this study was in terms of two professional development programmes on the integration of ITS in instruction. The results of the first intervention are presented in this paper. Analysis of data formed the feedback to design the revised PDP. The results of the study are the feedback to the proposed revisions to the next PDP. The feedback was to increase the time allocation of the PDP, provide more hands-on experience, demonstrate ITS-based instructional strategies related to different subject areas and conduct separate PDPs for non-ICT teachers.
Open Access
An Automated Monitoring and Alert System for a Typical Server Room
(Academia.edu, 2014-06-13) Jayakody, J. A. D. C. A; Wijesundara, M
In this paper presents, the design and implementation of an Automated Monitoring and Alert System for Typical Server Room. This project is based on a microcontroller by Dallas Semiconductor known as TINI (Tiny Internet Interface) DS80C400. The system can send SMS messages, send out emails, etc to alert to appropriate personnel to maintain a high availability of services.
Embargo
Design of a Low-Frequency Linear Motion Testbed for Electromagnetic Kinetic Energy Harvesters in JumboNet
(IEEE, 2017-09-14) Wijesundara, M; Gamage, A; Gokulan, Y; Tapparello, C
Kinetic energy harvesting on animals is an emerging technology that could facilitate real-time monitoring of wild elephants. Real-time monitoring is a proven solution to the Human-Elephant Conflict, a problem that has spread across Asia and Africa. However, when designing electromagnetic harvesters, it is essential to accurately model the voltage produced due to electromagnetic effects. In this paper, we present the design, development and the complete simulation of a simple and low-cost linear motion testbed that estimates the generation of an electromagnetic harvester. We integrated the dynamic non-linear flux linkage across the coil with an analytical model that accurately estimated the motion of the moving magnet. The experimental measurements from the testbed were better than 80% in agreement with the simulation results within the frequency range of 1Hz to 2Hz.
Embargo
Lighthouse-Smart Virtual Learning Platform
(IEEE, 2018-10-02) Abeyrathne, P. K. R. R. I; Sarathchandra, B. R. I. D; Hewavitharana, D. T. R; Perera, L. M. D; Wijesundara, M
This paper presents the design, development and performance evaluation of a new virtual learning platform. The novel features in this platform include real-time transcribing of live lectures conducted in English and the ability to search recorded lectures based on keywords mentioned during the lectures. This is in addition to real-time streaming and archiving of nine channels of information namely; audio, subtitles, video, slide synchronization, code editor, whiteboard, chat, polls and emotion. The system provides a number of novel features to ease the lecturer's workload. These include one touch recording, real-time polling, real-time emotion detection of students, and cloud based lecture editor allowing editing of each of the nine channels. From an operational perspective, the system requires no additional or special hardware other than a laptop, and it uses cloud based streaming and storage, eliminating the need for a dedicated infrastructure.
Embargo
Eduscope. Mobile-Mobile Application for Teaching and Learning
(IEEE, 2018-12-06) Fernando, K. H. M; Gunasekara, I. S; Krishani, J. V. G. A; Dilshani, A. G. C; Wijesundara, M
Smart Phones and Tablets are very common devices among people at Present. They have many additional features i.e. camera, internet, GPS etc than the basic phone has. Smart devices make easier the work of social, business and academic life of people. M-Learning is used to make easier works of academic life. M-Learning describes the Teaching and Learning using mobile devices. Eduscope.Mobile represents the M-Learning by providing virtual classroom. It will cover the whole classroom scenario. The lecturer can do their lectures from anywhere as well as students can learn the lectures from anywhere. Eduscope.Mobile is a cross-platform mobile application for M-Learning. It provides Live session facility for both Lecturers and students to connect from anywhere to the lecture at the same time. It creates a virtual classroom for lecturers and students. Lecturers and Students perform any activity in a normal classroom by using this mobile application.
Embargo
A Geophone Based Surveillance System Using Neural Networks and IoT
(IEEE, 2020-12-10) Hettigoda, S; Jayaminda, C; Amarathunga, U; Thaha, S; Wijesundara, M; Wijekoon, J
Securing our assets and properties from intruders and thieves has become increasingly challenging as intruders become technology aware. The most common approach to monitor physical assets is CCTV. However, this approach has a number of technical limitations in addition to the cost. The CCTV camera location is visible to the intruder and intruder can also identify possible blind spots in the CCTV coverage area. In this paper, we introduce a novel method to secure physical assets using Geophones, Neural Networks, and IoT Platforms. This can either be used stand alone or to complement existing CCTV systems. In this approach, the system monitors vibrations on ground to detect intruders. We have achieved up to 93.90% overall accuracy for person identification. The system is invisible to intruders and covers a large area with a smaller number of nodes, thereby reducing the cost of ownership.

Research Publications

Browse

Filters

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results