The Signal Processing Division (also fondly referred to as the DSP Division thanks to its penchant for solving problems digitally) works in a variety of areas that involve the manipulation of information-bearing signals. The division comprises both those people who specialise in the transmission of such signals over large distances (Telecommunications) and through complex networks (Network Theory), and those people who are interested in extracting and embedding the information in the signal – whether it be digital data (Digital Communications and Media) or natural-world signals such as speech (Speech Processing) and images (Image Processing).
A visitor looking to find the Signal Processing Division’s DSP Laboratory is encouraged to follow the rich aroma of freshly-brewed filter coffee, the substance that fuels approximately 30 post-graduate researchers in our well-equipped laboratories. Since so much of our research involves the manipulation of information, the main work area is a large computer network running Ubuntu Linux. The division also maintains three smaller laboratories for specialised equipment and hardware development. Five full-time faculty members oversee the research effort.
The activities in the Signals Division can be divided into five primary research areas, each with its own projects and staff members.
Contact person: Prof. TR Niesler: trn@sun.ac.za OR Tel: +27-21-808 4118
SPEECH PROCESSING AND PATTERN RECOGNITION
Specific Research: Speaker, speech and language recognition
Email: dupreez@sun.ac.za
Website: http://staff.ee.sun.ac.za/~dupreez/index.shtml
DEPARTMENTAL CHAIR; NETWORKS AND DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS
Specific Research: Networking and networked applications; Distributed virtual environments; Machine learning.
Email: hebrecht@dsp.sun.ac.za
Website: http://staff.ee.sun.ac.za/~hebrecht
MACHINE LEARNING AND PATTERN RECOGNITION
Specific Research: Speech, vision and language processing
Email: kamperh@sun.ac.za
Website: http://www.kamperh.com
SPEECH PROCESSING AND PATTERN RECOGNITION
Specific Research: Speech and Language Technology, Biomedical pattern recognition, Animal behaviour classification
Email: trn@sun.ac.za
Website: http://www.dsp.sun.ac.za/~trn/
DATA VISUALISATION AND MACHINE LEARNING
Specific Research: 3D microscopy data visualisation and analysis; Virtual reality applications; Machine learning.
Email: rptheart@sun.ac.za
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rensu-theart-32320233/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING
Specific Research: Detection and classification of cetaceans using passive acoustic monitoring; Array Processing (Direction of Arrival, localisation of Cetaceans); Digital communication systems;
Email: djjversfeld@sun.ac.za
Website: https://www.ee.sun.ac.za/djjversfeld/
Extraordinary Researcher: DSP Telecommunications
Email: wolhuter@sun.ac.za
Website: http://staff.ee.sun.ac.za/rwolhuter