Conference papers

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/4889

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 90

Embargo
A BI Approach for Student Engagement and Retention along with Cognitive Load Analysis for Educator
(979-833153098-3, 2025) Algewatta, M. N; Manathunga, K
This research presents a systematic approach to monitoring student engagement, retention, and cognitive load within higher education by integrating Business Intelligence (BI) tools with cognitive load analysis. The proposed framework utilizes a diverse range of data sources -including attendance, academic performance, mental health indicators, demographic variables, and student feedback to generate real-time insights into student behavior patterns. The BI system identified critical trends, such as irregular attendance, declining academic performance, and the influence of demographic factors, enabling educators to identify at-risk students and intervene proactively. Additionally, cognitive load analysis was employed to evaluate the mental demands of course content, categorizing learning objectives in alignment with Bloom's Taxonomy. This allowed for the identification of content that could potentially overwhelm students, facilitating adjustments in instructional complexity. The integration of BI insights with cognitive load data provided a holistic approach that not only enhanced the monitoring of student engagement but also supported the tailoring of instructional content to optimize learning without inducing cognitive overload. The findings suggest that combining BI tools with cognitive load metrics offers a robust framework for both improving student retention and assisting educators in creating a balanced, engaging, and supportive learning environment. This study contributes a practical model for institutions seeking to leverage data-driven insights to promote student success and address the dynamic challenges of modern higher education.
Embargo
A Dual-Branch CNN and Metadata Analysis Approach for Robust Image Tampering Detection
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Zakey, A; Bawantha, D; Shehara, D; Hasara, N; Abeywardena, K.Y; Fernando, H
Image tampering has become a widespread issue due to the availability of advanced tools such as Photoshop, GIMP, and AI-powered technologies like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). These advancements have made it easier to create deceptive images, undermining their reliability and fueling misinformation. To address this growing problem, we propose a hybrid approach for image forgery detection, combining deep learning with traditional forensic techniques. Our study integrates a dual-branch Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with handcrafted features derived from Error Level Analysis (ELA), noise residuals from the Spatial Rich Model, and metadata analysis to enhance detection capabilities. Metadata analysis plays a crucial role in identifying inconsistencies in image properties such as timestamps, geotags, and camera details, which often accompany tampered images. The CASIA dataset, a publicly available benchmark for tampered images, was used to train and evaluate the proposed model. After 30 epochs of training, the hybrid method achieved an accuracy of 95%, demonstrating its effectiveness in distinguishing between authentic and tampered images. This research highlights the advantages of combining deep learning models with traditional feature extraction methods and metadata analysis, offering a robust solution for detecting manipulated images. Our findings contribute to advancing image forensics by improving detection accuracy, even in cases involving sophisticated tampering methods driven by AI.
Embargo
A Game Centric E-Learning Application For Preschoolers
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Kulasekara D.A.M.N.; Nipun P.G.I.; Dombawela H.M.D.L.B.A; Manilka G.S; Manilka G.S; De Silva D.I.
This research explores the potential of advanced technologies such as pose detection (PD), augmented reality (AR), object detection (OD), and voice recognition (VR) in creating a game-centric e-learning application for preschoolers. The proposed application, Kidstac, integrates cognitive and physical development through interactive activities with real world interaction, addressing gaps in traditional e-learning methods that often neglect physical engagement. The app features real-time feedback mechanisms and structured modules like virtual zoo explorations, exercise games, treasure hunts, and pronunciation activities. Testing results indicate significant improvements in motor skills, knowledge retention, problem-solving abilities, and language proficiency. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of blending physical and digital learning experiences to enhance early childhood education. The study establishes a foundation for scalable, activity-based learning tools, emphasizing the holistic development of young learners.
Embargo
A Non-Intrusive and Cost-Effective IoT-Based System for Smart Monitoring of Power Consumption
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Jayasooriya, S; Malasinghe, L
Electrical utility companies in developing countries traditionally employ non-smart energy meters to measure their users' electricity consumption, with billing conducted on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, there is an emerging market, especially in developing countries, for customers to measure their day-To-day energy usage, similar to how they track their internet data consumption. This project aims to contribute to addressing this demand by designing and developing a non-intrusive and cost-effective ESP-32-based optical measuring device that can autonomously and accurately take imagery measurements from electrical utility meters, carry out cloud-based extraction of data using optical character recognition and transmission to an interactive web application for users to access their current and historical electricity usage records remotely in a more informative way.
Embargo
A Secure Protocol for Computer-Based Assessments in Disrupted Environments
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Navin, D; De Zoysa, K; Karunaratna D.D; Harshanath, B
Examinations are fundamental to education, yet conducting secure computer-based exams in disrupted environments presents significant challenges. This research introduces a Secure by Design protocol leveraging Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) to overcome connectivity gaps in remote and resource-constrained areas. The proposed solution integrates physical, administrative, and technical controls to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of examination data. Through an iterative action research approach, the system evolved from a centralized Moodle server to standalone local servers, enabling offline functionality and enhanced resilience. Tested across over 180,000 candidates in Sri Lanka's largest computer-based examination, the framework effectively addressed power outages, internet disruptions, and logistical constraints. The findings demonstrate the protocol's effectiveness in promoting equitable and reliable access to education, ensuring examination continuity despite adverse conditions.
Open Access
A Spatial Study on the Ecological Signatures of Landscapes in Colombo
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Subasinghe J.C; Madhushani T.M.C.I.; Gomes P.I.A
Urbanization is a governing demographic feature and a significant part of global land transformation. According to the United Nations, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. If not studied and managed properly, urbanization can affect negatively its residents, and in Sri Lanka this is about 20%–30% in commercial areas and residential areas. Yet, studies related to exploring functions and status quo of different landuses are rare and rather unfound in Sri Lanka. This study the variations of temperature, humidity, soil moisture, infiltration rate, shrub cover and tree richness with different landuses namely, cemeteries, parks, residential areas and institutes have been investigated to see whether the landuses actually are the landscapes people perceive. It was found that the humidity of land plots with Institutes is significantly higher than all the other landscape types. Interestingly, it was observed that parks and cemeteries possessed high humidity levels while Institutes and Residential areas possessed a comparatively lower humidity level. The soil moisture content and infiltration rates of institutal landscape significantly differed from those of other landscape types. Shrub cover variation between Residential areas and Institutes was insignificant, while shrub cover of all the other landscape types resulted in substantial differences with a significance level of 0.00. The analysis of variation of multiple ecological factors under landscape types depicted that for all the temperatures, the shrubs cover percentage of cemeteries lies higher than the rest of the landscapes. In cemeteries, initially, the shrub cover increased with the humidity and with increments of humidity level, the shrub cover decreased. Overall sense, the Institutional areas depicted relatively adverse liveable conditions, and Cemeteries depicted most favourable conditions, interestingly it was better than Parks. This study gave insights into how these landscapes be best manged and engineering interventions needed in that regard.
Embargo
'AAYU', Paralyze Ease Home Suite and Mobility Companion
(IEEE Computer Society, 2025) Tharushi N.K.; Ranaweera D.G.K.T.T.; Munasinghe A.S.; Wijesekara P.N; Gamage N.D.U; Pandithage D
Ensuring the safety and well-being of paralyzed individuals remains a critical challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. Limited access to assistive technology and real-time monitoring increases health risks and dependency. This paper presents AAYU (Assistive Automation for Your Upliftment) Paralyze Ease Home Suite and Mobility Companion, an intelligent system integrating home automation and wearable technology to enhance patient safety, communication, and autonomy. AAYU addresses four key challenges: (1) optimizing home environments through automated adjustments based on vital signs, (2) enabling nonverbal communication via a voice-to-text smart device, (3) detecting falls with a real-time positioning belt, and (4) preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using a sensor-equipped monitoring belt. An initial evaluation demonstrates AAYU's potential to improve the quality of life for paralyzed individuals through proactive and adaptive support.
Embargo
Adaptive Robotic Voice Modulation for ASD Kids: Tailored Voice Pitch, Tone, and Speed
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Panduwawala, P; Pulasinghe, K; Rajapaksha, S
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience sensory sensitivities, particularly auditory hypersensitivity, which can make interactions and communication challenging. This study explores the customization of the NAO robot's voice pitch, tone, and speech speed using the Kaldi Speech Recognition Toolkit to align with the preferences of children with ASD. Eight distinct voice profiles were created, offering a range of variations in pitch, tone, and speech speed. Parents or caretakers were asked to select the voice profile they felt would be most suitable for their child. Based on this feedback, we created a spectrum of voices tailored to each child's needs. Results indicate that medium-pitch and moderate-speed combinations are most effective in enhancing engagement, with Voice 2 emerging as the preferred profile. The findings underscore the potential of adaptive voice modulation in improving robotic interactions for ASD therapy and highlight opportunities for further research in real-time adaptability and long-term impact assessment.
Embargo
Adaptive Voice Communication in Emotion-Aware Digital Companions
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Rathnayake, P; Rathnaweera, C; Jithma, U; Aththanayake, I; Rathnayake, S; Gunaratne, M
This paper presents an adaptive voice communication system for emotion-aware digital companions that dynamically responds to users' affective states through expressive speech and synchronized 3D avatar animation. The system integrates real-time voice input, emotion recognition, and context-aware dialogue generation using GPT-3.5, followed by emotional text-to-speech synthesis via neural TTS. Lip-sync data is generated using phoneme alignment and rendered in sync with the avatar's facial expressions and gestures. To enhance user trust and engagement, the avatar visually mirrors the emotional tone of the speech. A cultural adaptation layer is introduced to align voice output and speech style with Sri Lankan communication norms, including tone, pacing, and formality. Implemented using a Node.js backend and React + Three.js frontend, the system demonstrates strong potential for emotionally intelligent, culturally adaptive AI interactions. This work contributes a modular pipeline for building empathetic voice agents capable of enhancing realism and trust in human-AI communication.
Embargo
Advancing Speech Therapy for Sinhala-Speaking Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through an Intelligent Dialog System
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Jayawardena, A; Pulasinghe, K; Rajapakshe, S
This paper presents a dialog system integrated with a NAO socially assistive robot, designed to support Sinhala-speaking children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The system leverages a pipeline-based architecture implemented using the RASA framework, consisting of Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Dialog Management (DMU), and Natural Language Generation (NLG) units. The NLU unit processes user input by identifying intents, entities, and dialogue acts, incorporating custom tools like the SpokenSinhalaVerbTokenizer for handling spoken Sinhala. The DMU includes a Dialog State Tracker (DST) to maintain conversation context and a Dialog Policy Generator, which employs rule-based, TED, and UnexpecTED policies to adapt conversation flows dynamically. The NLG unit generates natural responses to foster interactive and goal-oriented conversations. Integrated with the NAO robot, the system engages children through meaningful dialogues, such as discussing toy preferences, aiming to enhance social interaction and communication skills. This work highlights the potential of conversational AI and robotics in therapeutic interventions for ASD in low-resource languages.
Embargo
AI Interviews with Facial Emotion Recognition for Real-Time Feedback and Career Recommendations
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Herath R.P.N.M; Arachchi D.S.U.; Gunaratne M.H.B.P.T.; Hansana K.T.; Wijayasekara, S.K; Jayasinghe, D
The hiring process is complex, requiring evaluation of candidates across multiple dimensions, including technical proficiency, behavioral traits, and credibility. Traditional interviews often suffer from biases and inefficiencies. This research presents an AI-driven Interview System integrating Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Computer Vision to automate and enhance recruitment. The system generates contextual interview questions, evaluates candidate responses using LLM-based scoring models, and provides real-time feedback for engagement. It includes speech-to-text transcription and offensive word detection to ensure professionalism. The behavioral analysis module leverages facial emotion recognition and computer vision to assess non-verbal cues such as confidence and attentiveness. Additionally, Curriculum Vitae (CV) parsing and LinkedIn data extraction use NLP-based entity recognition to extract educational background, work experience, and key skills, enabling personalized interviews. The technical assessment module administers real-time coding challenges, evaluating solutions for correctness, efficiency, and best practices while providing AI-generated feedback. By automating these key hiring aspects, this system enhances objectivity, efficiency, and decision-making, ensuring a data-driven, unbiased, and scalable selection process while improving the candidate's experience and employer insights
Embargo
AI Powered Integrated Code Repository Analyzer for Efficient Developer Workflow
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Akalanka, I; Silva, S.D; Ganeshalingam, M; Abeykoon, A; Wijendra, D; Krishara, J
Transitioning between new and legacy codebases in diverse project environments poses significant challenges for developers, especially with traditional Knowledge Transfer (KT) methods, which are often resource intensive and prone to obsolescence. These limitations hinder the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), particularly in fast-paced industrial settings. This research introduces an AI-driven automation solution that leverages large language models (LLMs) and advanced artificial intelligence technologies to address critical gaps in technical knowledge transfer, with a focus on modern software frameworks. The proposed system reduces development costs, improves team performance, and accelerates adaptation to complex codebases. Key features include a documentation generation tool that cuts manual effort by up to 90%, with an average generation time of 6.8 minutes. Additionally, a virtual knowledge transfer assistant enhances onboarding efficiency, potentially reducing senior developer involvement by 50-60%. The system also includes an automated diagram generator that achieves 97% validation accuracy and a code smell detection tool with 71% accuracy, resulting in better code quality assessments. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of AI-driven automation in improving developer productivity, streamlining onboarding processes, and optimizing software development workflow
Embargo
AI-Driven Fault-Tolerant ETL Pipelines for Enhanced Data Integration and Quality
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Wickramaarachchi, C.K; Perera, S.K; Thelijjagoda, S
The reliability and fault tolerance of ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines are essential for maintaining data integrity in corporate environments. Traditional ETL systems often depend on manual interventions to resolve data inconsistencies, leading to errors, inefficiencies, and increased operational costs. This study introduces an AI-driven framework designed to improve the fault tolerance of ETL processes by automating data cleaning, standardization, and integration tasks. Using machine learning models, the framework reduces the need for human intervention, enhances data quality, and supports scalability across various data formats. Using real-world data sets, the proposed solution demonstrates its ability to improve operational efficiency and reduce errors within corporate data pipelines. This research addresses a crucial gap in ETL automation, offering a scalable and proactive approach to robust data integration in large-scale corporate settings. The findings highlight the ability of the framework to improve fault tolerance, improve data quality, and offer organizations a competitive advantage in managing complex data ecosystems.
Embargo
AI-Driven Vehicle Valuation and Market Trend Analysis for Sri Lanka's Automotive Sector
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) De Silva K.P.N.T.; Shehan H.A.; Jayawardhane A.S; Premarathne A.P.S.; Krishara, J; Wijendra, D.R
The automotive sector in Sri Lanka faces challenges in vehicle valuation accuracy and market trend analysis due to fluctuating prices, varying vehicle conditions, and environmental concerns. This paper presents an AI-driven vehicle valuation system integrating machine learning models for automated vehicle identification, damage detection, market trend analysis, and environmental sustainability assessments. Using deep learning techniques such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and time-series models like Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), the system delivers accurate valuation and market trend insights. Experimental results demonstrate 9 2% accuracy in damage classification and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.3% in repair cost estimation, supporting informed decision-making. This research bridges gaps in valuation transparency and sustainability in emerging automotive markets.
Embargo
An Adaptive E-Learning Platform for Individuals with Down Syndrome
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Sandaruwan U.V.S.; Dias A.H.J.S.S; Shamindi H.M.H; Priyawansha N.G.D.; Chandrasiri L.H.S.S; Attanayaka B.
Children with Down Syndrome (DS) encounter varying degrees of learning disabilities within the traditional education framework, requiring personalized interventions. This paper presents Blooming Minds, an adaptive, Machine Learning (ML) driven e-learning platform designed to support the development of cognitive, linguistic, and motor skills in children with DS. Built on the VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, Kinematic) theory, the platform provides personalized activities using real-time feedback mechanisms. The system includes nine interactive modules that cover the above VARK theory. It uses ML algorithms, including Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) for screening, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for handwriting and speech analysis, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for sequence prediction, and Reinforcement Learning (RL) for adaptive difficulties. Handwritten letters and voice samples from children with DS, both domestic and international, were specifically considered as inputs for this research. Progress tracking dashboards provide visual insights for educators, parents, and caregivers, improving support and adaptability. The system achieved 91.26% accuracy in letter recognition and 88% in speech classification. This e-learning platform has been recognized as an effective solution in Sri Lanka, allowing for further correlations and investigations to assess the knowledge capacity and ability to express that knowledge in children with DS
Embargo
An Explainable Deep Learning Framework for Coconut Disease Detection Using MobileNetV2, Super-Resolution, and Grad-CAM++
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Balasooriya R.C.; Adithya E.L.A.Y; Gunarathne M.M.S.U; Silva T.C.D; Lokuliyana, S; Wijesiri, P
Coconut production is a significant industry in Sri Lanka's economy and food security. However, it is constantly under threat from diseases such as Grey Leaf Spot and pests such as Coconut Mites (Aceria guerreronis). Detection must be early, but it is difficult, especially in field conditions where image quality is low and symptoms are not visually distinguishable. This paper proposes a two-stage deep learning solution to enhance and automate disease and pest recognition with a lightweight and mobile system. The system combines Real-ESRGAN based image super-resolution to restore visual detail in poor-quality mobile images and MobileNetV2-based classification, a lightweight convolutional neural network. The model recognizes grey leaf spot with over 97% accuracy and greatly enhanced mite recognition performance when combined with super-resolution preprocessing. In the interest of transparency and trust for users, the Grad-CAM++ and LIME interpretation techniques are utilized, and visual explanations of the predictions are presented. A mobile application was created with React Native and integrated with a Flask-based backend to enable real-time image enhancement and classification to facilitate practical deployment. Smartphone-captured field-level photos were preprocessed and categorized into healthy, diseased, and non-coconut samples. Farmers can use the proposed system in real time because it maintains good accuracy while being computationally efficient. This framework provides a scalable method for intelligent and sustainable agriculture.
Open Access
An integrated data-driven approach for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) risk profiling and prediction in Sri Lanka
(SPIE, 2025) Rajapaksha, N; Rajawasan, H; Ubeysinghe, R; Perera,S; Swarnakantha, N.H.P.R.S; Gamage, M; Nanayakkara, N; Wijayakulasooriya, J; Herath, D; Lakmali, M
Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology is a significant public health issue in Sri Lanka, especially in rural farming communities. The exact causes remain unclear, with potential links to environmental and socio-economic factors. This research employs Biological Data and Geographic Information Systems to analyze risk factors such as water quality, agricultural practices, climatic conditions, Demographic Factors, Socio-economic Factors. This study uses data from government health records, the Centre for Research-National Hospital Kandy, and field surveys. By identifying patterns and correlations, the study aims to inform public health interventions and reduce the impact of CKDu, ultimately improving health outcomes for affected populations. This will greatly contribute to preventing the disease, reducing the risk, and identifying patients at an early stage.
Embargo
An Integrated Deep Learning Framework for Early Detection of Vision Disorders
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Jayathilaka, S; Balaruban, D; Kumanayake, I; Elladeniya, A; Wijendra, D; Krishara, J; De Silva, M
Vision impairment due to retinal diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Glaucoma, and Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) poses a significant health challenge in Sri Lanka, where these conditions are leading causes of blindness. This research presents a novel multi-disease prediction system leveraging advanced deep learning techniques for early detection of DR, AMD, Glaucoma, and RVO. The study utilized publicly available datasets, including retinal fundus images from repositories such as RFMiD, IDRiD, APTOS validated by medical professionals to ensure diagnostic reliability. These images were preprocessed and augmented to train robust convolutional neural network (CNN) models tailored to each disease. The predictive models were developed and optimized using hybrid architectures, integrating attention mechanisms and feature fusion for enhanced performance. This approach achieved high accuracies 93% for DR, 92% for AMD, 94% for Glaucoma, and 94% for RVO demonstrating robustness and consistency across diverse retinal conditions. To validate real-world applicability, the models underwent further testing in clinical settings using a Sri Lankan dataset, reflecting local disease prevalence and imaging conditions. By combining validated public data with clinical testing, this scalable system supports ophthalmologists in early diagnosis, reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes. This work offers a reliable, innovative solution to mitigate the burden of blindness in Sri Lanka and beyond.
Embargo
"articulearn": An Integrative, AI-Driven Speech Therapy System for Children With Speech Disorders
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Ranasinghe, K; Zoysa, S.P.D; Annasiwatta, S; Fernando, P; Thelijjagoda, S; Weerathunga, I
"ArticuLearn", a personalized speech therapy system for children with speech sound disorders that integrates advanced machine learning techniques and interactive digital tools to provide targeted intervention across four key domains: phonological disorder detection, fluency disorder identification and intervention, therapy for childhood apraxia of speech, and personalized speech activity filtering for articulation disorders. By leveraging dedicated LSTM-based classifiers and feature extraction techniques such as Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), this approach automatically identifies specific error types, including phoneme substitutions, omissions, and vowel mispronunciations. In addition, a hierarchical deep learning framework employing attention mechanisms and dynamic time warping is applied to quantify motor planning deficits associated with childhood apraxia of speech, while a reinforcement learning agent adapts therapy prompts based on individual performance. Data were collected from eight children per disorder category along with a normative sample of twenty typically developing children, providing a basis for personalized intervention and progress monitoring. ArticuLearn is designed to complement traditional therapy methods by offering an accessible, scalable solution that supports remote intervention and enhances clinical decision-making. Pilot evaluations suggest that the system can facilitate targeted speech exercises, improve self-monitoring, and foster adaptive learning in young users. This research underscores the potential of combining AI-driven analysis with interactive therapy to transform speech rehabilitation, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to specialized care is challenging.
Open Access
Assessment of Influence of Flow Regime on Heat Transfer Capacity of A Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
(Avestia Publishing, 2025) Ushettige S.A.P; Wimalsiri W.K; Hikkaduwa H.G.S
Shell and tube heat exchangers (STHX) are widely adopted in industrial thermal systems due to their reliability and performance. As such thermo-mechanical design and sizing of these devices has become a continuously expanding and existing research domain. Following technological advancements, CFD is now widely adopted for flow analysis and design. An upcoming area as of recent is the integration of tools such as non-linear least squares regression and CFD to develop correlations capable of predicting thermal performance based on the input design parameters such as Re and Pr. However, limited applications exist for STHXs. This study focuses on the development of thermal correlations in the form of Nu = C.Rea.Prb for a small TEMA E-type STHX. For these devices, turbulence is identified as a key parameter which affects thermal and mechanical performance and is often introduced by using metal plates known as baffles. Single segmental baffles which are widely used in industry are integrated into the design. Hence, turbulence is varied as a function of both the mass flow rate and the central spacing among the baffles. CFD Modelling in ANSYS-Fluent is conducted in the steady state for six, eight, ten and twelve baffles. Following CFD analysis the data is fit using non-linear least squares regression in MATLAB Curve-Fitter Toolbox generating four correlations with applicable operating ranges. The results of the goodness of fit were reasonable, however, high 95 % confidence interval widths were evident for certain fitted coefficients leaving further potential for improvement. The work conducted highlights that the application of CFD combined with numerical tools such as non-linear least squares regression can act as an aid in the design and optimization of heat exchangers, increasing design potential for engineers and researchers.