28th of February at 16h00, Helder Sousa will give a presentation entitled“Strengthening proximity between Academia and Industry” Location: G4.1
Bio Helder Sousa is a seasoned software engineer and leader with a background in Computer and Systems Engineering. He has extensive experience in Business Critical Enterprise Systems and has held various roles at Critical Software, including Project Engineer, Software Architect, Engineering Manager, and Product Manager for edgeBOX. He later founded and served as CTO of the Smart Technologies Solutions division at Critical Software, with extensive expertise on the UK’s Smart Metering Implementation Programme. Currently, he is on a sabbatical, working on an initiative to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Abstract It is generally perceived in Portugal that the relationship between Universities and the Industry has a long way to reach full potential. This is the main premise for the initiative. Having had conversations with the key roles at Critical Software, DEI and CISUC, the premise held up and this initiative was welcomed and seen as valuable to all parts. The initiative will experiment and develop ways of increasing the potential of the relationship between Academia and Industry.For efficiency and focus the relationship between DEI/CISUC and CSW will be used as case study and main subject of interest. Conclusions and proposals for future shall be taken with a global perspective following the mindset ”Think Globally, Act Locally”.In this presentation I’ll go through the foundations of the initiative, the main developing areas and incite you to join and participate on this journey of proximity.
14th of February at 16h00, João Rafael Henriques and Rodrigo Machado will give two short presentations, to promote discussion on two relevant ongoing or disruptive topics. Afterwards, there will be a social gathering where everyone can talk freely on whatever subjects they like. Location: G4.1
João Rafael Henriques – “Automated Software Vulnerability Collection for a Database with Static Information” Bio My name is João Rafael Henriques and I am a master’s student in the Computer Engineering course in the Software Engineering field. I finished my degree last year, the same year I started working in the area of vulnerabilities. Since then I have been working on automating processes with the aim of maintaining an updated database with important information about vulnerabilities, allowing the obtained dataset to be useful for researchers and developers in the area. Abstract Software vulnerabilities are present in most software applications. They leave the applications prone to attacks, which can cause severe consequences e.g., damage to the operation, and unauthorized access), leading to legal and financial implications. There are techniques to detect such vulnerabilities, but they suffer from the same issues: reporting items that are not actual vulnerabilities or not detecting all of them. There are datasets to support the development of new vulnerability detection techniques. Nevertheless, their data are usually frozen and must be frequently updated with the newly disclosed vulnerabilities. Hence, we propose an automated solution to mine vulnerability and code repositories. An up-to-date database can support studies reflecting the most recent vulnerabilities and threats. To do that, we use a known vulnerability database with static information about open-source C/C++ projects (Linux Kernel, Mozilla, Xen, Apache httpd, and Glibc). Results show that the field responsible for identifying the project has more changes in the vulnerabilities from the database. Additional 3,882 vulnerabilities have been collected since the release of the database.
Rodrigo Machado – “Adversarial Techniques for the Evaluation And Improvement of Intrusion Detection Systems” Bio Rodrigo Machado received a Bachelor’s degree in Informatics Engineering in 2022 at the University of Coimbra. He now pursues a Master’s degree on the Intelligent Systems path. In his first year, and under advisory of Prof. João Campos, he researched how autocorrelation in sequential data might be leveraged for predicting system failures using Machine Learning.Now in his second-year, he is writing his dissertation under supervision of Prof. João Campos. Abstract Recent research into Anomaly-based Intrusion Detection Systems lead to the proposal of Machine Learning as a viable classification method in these systems, with some works delivering promising results.However, given the hostile environment where these systems operate, adversaries can aim to attack and bypass these IDSs, in order to harm the underlying system.This MSc. thesis aims to understand how sensitive the proposed classifiers are to Adversarial Machine Learning techniques, which an attacker could leverage to bypass a classifier trained in this task.
24th of January at 16h00, David Perez Abreu will give a presentation entitled“Towards zero-touch management in the Cloud-to-IoT continuum” Location: G4.1
Bio David Perez Abreu received his Ph.D. degree in Information Science and Technologies from the University of Coimbra in 2021. He has published several conference and journal papers and has actively participated in different national and international research projects. He is part of the program committee of the IEEE/IFIP Network Operations and Management Symposium (NOMS), IEEE International Workshop Smart Living and Communications for the Next Generations Networks (SLICO – WoWMoM), and IEEE International Conference on Design of Reliable Communication Networks (DRCN). His research interests include Cloud-to-IoT continuum, softwarized networks, as well as zero-touch network and service management. He worked as a researcher in the Laboratory for Mobile and Wireless Networks at the Central University of Venezuela from 2006 until 2014. He is an invited assistant professor at the Department of Informatics Engineering at the University of Coimbra and a senior researcher at the Laboratory for Informatics and Systems at the Pedro Nunes Institute.
Abstract The distributed and heterogeneous nature of the Cloud-to-IoT continuum and other network infrastructures, such as 5G and 6G networks, have boosted the need for automation of network and service management operations. Early automation solutions rely on optimization models and heuristics that for current conditions are not enough. Different paradigms have recently appeared, such as Zero touch network & Service Management (ZSM), designed by the ETSI to automatically orchestrate and manage network resources while assuring QoS requested by users. ZSM seeks to provide a cost-effective solution to both users and operators of communication networks by incorporating intelligence and autonomous adaptivity into network management. The goals are achieving three main characteristics: (1) self-organization; (2) self-optimization; and (3) self-healing. Cognitive approaches can be used by management modules that gather knowledge based on current and past observations; thus, Machine Learning (ML) algorithms can allow the collection, exchange, and usage of data to enhance the learning process, leading to a faster convergence, incurring in lower costs. This talk will present some perspectives based on early and more recent approaches to achieve automation for network and service management for the Cloud-to-IoT continuum.
10th of January at 16h00, André Almeida will give a presentation entitled“Middleware for Digital Twins: Current Research, Challenges and Opportunities” Location: G4.1
Bio Digital twins (DTs) are becoming a groundbreaking concept to support Industry 4.0, but their potential reaches various other domains, such as healthcare and smart cities. Several challenges arise to enable DTs, which require underlying middleware with advanced services to support the complexities of managing the virtual replicas of real-world entities. In this scenario, this talk aims to present which middleware strategies and technologies are used for DTs. We carried out a systematic mapping study that analyzed 13 primary studies on middleware for DTs. We shed light on the current state of the art and discuss research opportunities to evolve middleware to support DTs, especially regarding data management, integration, intelligence, management, and security.
Abstract Andre Almeida holds the position of senior lecturer at IFRN(Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil). He was Director of Information Technology Management at IFRN for six years, leading a team with more than one hundred collaborators across different departments. His current work is mainly on the following topics: Middleware Platforms with an emphasis on platform interoperability, Cloud Computing, and Digital Twins. He also works on several IT Projects, developing systems and platforms to improve management processes in public administration, in particular, to support evidence-based decision-making and the provision of digital public services.
13th of December at 16h00, Marco Vieira will give a presentation entitled“A Tale of Contributions to Dependability Benchmarking” Location: G4.1
Bio Marco Vieira is currently a Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and at the University of Coimbra (currently under a leave of absence). His research interests include dependable computing, dependability and security assessment and benchmarking, software security, fault and vulnerability injection, failure prediction, static analysis andsoftware testing, subjects in which he authored or co-authored works in refereed conferences and journals. Marco is Chair of the IFIP WF 10.4 on Dependable Computing and Fault Tolerance, Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing, Steering CommitteeVice-Chair of the IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks, member of the Steering Committee of the IEEE International Symposium on Software ReliabilityEngineering, and member of the Steering Committee of the Latin America Dependable and Secure Computing Symposium. He served as Program Chair for the major conferences on the dependable computing area.
Abstract Once upon a time, in the realm of computing, there was a kingdom that faced a pressing need for dependable and reliable systems. The citizens of the kingdom relied on various technologies for their daily lives, from communication to commerce, and they yearned for a way to measure and ensure the dependability of these systems. In this kingdom, there lived a visionary computer scientist named Ocram. Ocram was deeply committed to advancing the field of dependable computing, and he recognized the crucial role that benchmarking could play in achieving this goal. Benchmarking, he believed, could provide a standardized way to assess the performance and dependability of different systems, guiding the kingdom’s engineers and decision-makers toward the most dependable solutions. Motivated by this vision, Ocram and his mentor Euqirneh, set out on a quest to establish a comprehensive framework for dependability benchmarking. He collaborated with fellow researchers, engineers, and industry experts to create a set of standardized metrics and test scenarios that could be universally applied across a wide range of computing systems. As Ocram’s work gained recognition, he expanded his efforts to include not only dependability attributes but also security and trustworthiness. His benchmarks became holistic, addressing the demanding properties of modern computing systems. To ensure the relevance of his benchmarks, Ocram actively engaged with industry, seeking their input and feedback. Over time, Ocram’s contributions to dependability benchmarking became the gold standard in the kingdom and beyond. His benchmarks were adopted by industry standards organizations, and his methodology became a cornerstone for evaluating and improving the reliability of computing systems worldwide. And so, thanks to Ocram’s dedication and innovation, the kingdom entered a new era of dependable computing. Engineers, armed with reliable benchmarks, could confidently build and maintain systems that met the highest standards of dependability. The tale of Ocram’s contributions to dependability benchmarking became a legend, a story passed down through the generations as a reminder of the importance of measuring and striving for excellence in the realm of computing.– Ghostwriter: ChatGPT
6th of December at 16h00, we will have an extra session. Tomaz Aljaz will give a presentation entitled“Managing IT Projects: Strategies and Tools for Achieving Business Goals” Location: G4.1
Bio Tomaž Aljaž is having over 22 years of professional experience in Information & Telecommunication industry. He is employed in Spar Slovenija where is managing IT projects with a particular focus on improving performance of the project team, establishing, and maintaining an optimal use of resources and reducing the operational risks. He is also a faculty member of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto, Slovenia. His past experiences are related to the R&D environment where he worked as a Resource, Project, Product and Solution manager. He has published several papers on the information technology and telecommunication area, resource management, project management and process improvements using Theory of the Constraints methodology. He is a holder of a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering received from the Faculty of Electro Engineering and Computer Science of Maribor and has completed courses in Constraint Management at the Washington State University, USA. For over 11 years he has been teaching at a graduate and postgraduate level the topics related to performance improvement of organizations, project management, information technology and telecommunication. In 2018 and 2019 he was granted a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certificate and in 2014 a Jonah certificate, by the Theory Of Constraints International Certification Organization (TOCICO).
Abstract In today’s competitive business environment, it is essential for organizations to be able to manage IT projects effectively. IT projects can be complex and challenging, but by following the right strategies and using the right tools, organizations can increase their chances of success.This presentation will discuss the key elements of successful IT project management, including:- Project planning: Setting clear goals and objectives, identifying, and assessing risks, and developing a realistic schedule and budget.- Project execution: Tracking progress, managing resources, and communicating with stakeholders.- Project monitoring and control: Identifying and addressing potential problems early on and adjusting the plan as needed. The presentation will also delve into real-world case studies and practical examples to illustrate the application of effective IT project management strategies. This presentation is designed for anyone involved in managing IT projects or seeking to enhance their IT project management skills. ““In projects, like in production, the key is to understand the interconnection between logistics, human behavior, policies and measurements. Any attempt to separate between them guarantees that only sophisticated, impressive, useless methods are the results of mammoth efforts.”
22nd of November at 16h00, João Macedo will give a presentation entitled“Robotics: evolution and dependability” Location: G4.1
Bio João Macedo is a researcher at CISUC and an Assistant Professor at the Department of Informatics Engineering of the University of Coimbra, where he has been responsible for practical classes of Introduction to Programming in both Python and Java, as well as Evolutionary Computation. During his PhD he worked at CISUC and ISR-UC and focused in the field of Evolutionary Robotics. In particular, he developed Genetic Programming algorithms to automatically produce human-readable robotic controllers, applied to locating the sources of pollutants. He has helped with the organization of several conferences, namely EvoStar2016, ICARSC2017, PPSN2018, GECCO2022 and GECCO2023 and is member of the program committee of EvosAPPS.
Abstract Nowadays, robots are easily encountered, ranging from autonomous vacuum cleaners at homes to mobile manipulators in factories and autonomous vehicles, carrying people and goods in land, water and sea. As robots are requested to perform more complex tasks, their controllers and bodies become more difficult to design. Researchers have been addressing such problems through Artificial Intelligence methods, namely Evolutionary Algorithms, which draw inspiration from Nature to evolve robots similarly to animals, yielding the field of Evolutionary Robotics. Another way to address the complexity of robots is to reuse software and although such software libraries do exist and are widely applied in robots, they still lack proper dependability and resilience studies. In this presentation I’ll go through the basis of Evolutionary Robotics, briefly presenting my PhD work and then I’ll move to describe the Robot Operating System and its need for dependability studies.
8th of November at 16h00, Jorge Nunes (Talkdesk) will give a presentation entitled“How to scale Reporting with a small teams?”
Bio Over the past 15+ years, I have been actively involved in the tech industry, driven by a profound passion for technology and a commitment to fostering innovation. During the most recent 5 years of my career, I have effectively overseen teams and contributed to the professional development of engineers within those teams, facilitating their growth and success.
Abstract In the contemporary data-driven business environment, it is crucial for clients to enhance their reporting capabilities to facilitate data-driven decision-making and gain valuable insights. The primary challenge that every technology company is currently addressing is how to achieve scalability with limited resources. It will be showcase the path that Talkdesk is taking to achieve efficiency on this topic.
25th of October at 16h00, Hao (Jane) Gao and Sara Habibi will give two short presentations, to promote discussion on two relevant ongoing or disruptive topics. Afterwards, there will be a social gathering where everyone can talk freely on whatever subjects they like. Location: G4.1
Bio Hao (Jane) Gao received her M.Eng. degree Faculty of Information at Yun Nan University. Currently, she is a third-year Ph.D. student at Macao Polytechnic University and attends the Daul degree program at Coimbra University, advised by Prof. Paulo de Carvalho & Henrique Madeira, and C.T Lam. Her research interests are a new area named NeuroSE (a research field in software engineering (SE) that makes use of neurophysiological methods and knowledge to better understand the software development process, as well as its outcome, the software system), especially on improving code complexity metrics by biometrics.
Abstract Current code complexity metrics used in the software industry do not consider the human factor from an individual perspective (i.e., the programmer, or tester). In software development, the developers play a critical and fundamental role in accomplishing each development activity, and the limitations induced by them are inevitable. Therefore, accurately capturing perceived code complexity is very important for the software quality and its adequate maintenance. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on exploring the possible approaches to incorporating a human-centric dimension in software complexity assessment and management.
Sara Habibi – “Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) for Healthcare and Emergency Services in Urban Airspace”
Bio Sara Habibi earned her master’s degree in Informatic Engineering with a specialization in Data Resource Management from the Science and Research branch of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran. Her professional background includes roles in data analysis, data mining, and web development in Iran. Currently, she is a second-year Ph.D. student at the University of Coimbra, with her research interests centered on the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in healthcare services.
Abstract In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has advanced significantly, offering potential benefits for various industries, including healthcare. However, integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into complex, dynamic, and safety-critical healthcare systems operating within densely populated urban areas like the ones in Portugal is quite challenging. This thesis aims to bridge this gap by developing an integration framework specifically designed to Portugal’s healthcare sector. By addressing key elements such as social acceptance (i.e., mainly focused on patients and healthcare workers), technical needs (i.e., types of UAVs required in diverse use cases, required software and hardware, human-UAVs interaction), and procedural adaptation (i.e., redesign the existing healthcare workflows if necessary, regulatory compliance), this framework aims to provide practical guidance for healthcare organizations and UAV manufacturers looking to employ UAVs for enhancing healthcare services. Addressing these vital aspects, this thesis aims to prepare the way for the safe, efficient, and effective integration of UAV technology into healthcare services.
27th of September, at 16h00, André Baptista will give a presentation entitled“Ethiack – Autonomous Ethical Hacking” Location: G4.1
Bio André Baptista is co-founder and CTO of Ethiack. He is also a guest professor at the University of Porto on the Masters in Computer Security (FCUP) and one of the coaches of the Portuguese youth team for the European Cybersecurity Challenge organised by ENISA.
Abstract Ethiack develops technology that allows offensive security analyses to be carried out from an external perspective. This solution provides an accuracy greater than 99% in detecting vulnerabilities and is capable of continuously monitoring attack surfaces, identifying newly exposed assets and services. The technology is also equipped with an algorithm for detecting changes in services, contributing to greater efficiency.
