Simula Metropolitan is a new research unit that is jointly owned by Simula Research Laboratory and Oslo Metropolitan University, formerly Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA). It is the home of Simula’s research activities on networks and communications, machine learning and IT management, and it is OsloMet’s strategic partner in research, PhD- and MSc- education in digital engineering. Simula Metropolitan is organized as a limited company and it is part of the Simula lab.
Brief overview of activities
The mission of Simula Metropolitan is to do research in digital engineering at the highest international level, to educate and supervise PhD- and master students at OsloMet and to contribute to innovation in society through collaboration, startup-companies and licensing of research results.
Machine Intelligence Department
Machine Intelligence Department (MIND) aims at advancing frontiers of machine learning and data mining, while developing algorithmic and numerical solutions for the analysis of complex systems and high-dimensional data in science and industry, and use these to make intelligent decisions. This includes development of new and efficient methods for matrix and tensor factorisations, data fusion, development of faster and robust learning methods, deep learning, using techniques from statistics, optimization, regularization theory, signal processing, and statistical learning theory. The ultimate goal is to apply the developed techniques to address challenging problems in various real-life applications from biomedical signal and image analysis, systems biology, climate to social and communication networks.
IT Management
The department of IT management conducts research on how to better manage software development work. This includes empirical research on software development methods, benefit management, cost estimation, risk and uncertainty management, use of contracts and models for user involvements. The goal is to produce results that improve software development work and move the software industry towards more evidence-based practices.
Mobile Systems and Analytics
The Mobile Systems and Analytics (MOSAIC) department focuses on empirical characterization of mobile networks, design of new protocols and algorithms for future mobile networks. More specifically, the group’s research interests lie in the areas of experimental evaluation and characterization of mobile networks (e.g. 3G/4G/5G, Wifi and satellite), design of novel protocols and services over mobile networks. The group is actively involved in EU (H2020 MONROE, H2020 MAMI, FP7 RITE, and more) and ESA (HENCSAT) projects as well as national projects (RCN MEMBRANE, RCN NIMBUS).
Center for Resilient Networks and Applications
The Center for Resilient Networks and Applications (CRNA) was established in 2014 as a response to modern society’s massive and increasing dependability on applications running on top of the Internet. CRNA focuses on the robustness and security of ICT infrastructures, by which we mean that applications should continue to function at the best possible level of quality and security, even in the presence of technical failures, unplanned excessive load, design and implementation flaws in specific components, human error and malicious intent.
The Center receives base funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Ministry has given the Center specific responsibilities through a mandate that includes operating an infrastructure for monitoring the state of the Norwegian telecommunications infrastructure, in particular the mobile broadband networks, and publishing an annual report on that. There is a tight integration between CRNA and Simula@UiB. Whereas CRNA concentrates on safety aspects of digital infrastructures, Simula@UiB has deep expertise in security. CRNA has also established partnerships with mobile operators and relevant stakeholders.
During the past four years CRNA has made a number of key scientific and societal contributions. These include contributions to education and science through the education of master and PhD students and the publication of numerous articles in high impact and respected venues. CRNA has also contributed to informing policy makers and network operators on issues related to digital vulnerability and network performance.
