Topological data analysis is a field which uses ideas and techniques from topology to analyse and characterise data sets. This course covered a lot of ground quite quickly:
We can approximate a topological space by simplical complexes (which is closely related to the familiar triangulation used
Using simplical complexes to represent topological spaces and computing their homology.
Simplical complexes and computing them from data
The homology of simplical complexes
Persistent homology, which is the main tool of TDA
Comparing persistence diagrams (the space of persistence diagrams)
Statistical analysis of persistence diagrams (monte carlo simulation)
Some applications
Functional summaries of persistence diagrams (rank, landscape, persistence image)
Functional principal component analysis (FPCA)
Union-Find for connected components
Kruskal’s algorithm for MST
Smith Normal Form for computing the boundary matrices
An incremental algorithm for computing Betti numbers
An algorithm to compute persistent homology by pairing simplicies
Morse theory for smooth manifolds
Discrete Morse theory
A reception
A closing dinner.
A diversity session and panel discussion.
Morning tea every week day.
BBQ lunch each Wednesday.
A lunchtime lecture each Tuesday.
A maths-related movie night on Thursday night.
An excursion to the Philip Island and the penguin parade.
An excursion to the Yarra valley to visit a winery or two.
A tour of the Monash University Wind Tunnel Facility
Required:
Recommended:
Required:
Recommended:
Additional reading:
Recommended reading:
The other courses I’ll be doing include “Milestone Papers in Computing” (COMP4200) and “Advanced Algorithms” (COMP4700). I haven’t had a lecture for either of these units as COMP4700 doesn’t start until next week and I have a feeling that I missed the first lecture of COMP4200.
On top of that lot, I had to buy some clip-on sunglasses today because I went to the Union courtyard to grab some lunch and it was painful to have my eyes open due to the glare and general brightness. On the good side, I got two new books today (the texts for AI and Algorithms) which was good, even though they cost nearly $200, even with the Co-op members discount.
I’ve also started reading up on my Honours topic. I’ve written a little bit about it on my reading blog.
]]>It’s going to be strange. At UTas, O-Week was, for me at least, the first week. Nothing more, nothing less. Burgmann college (where I stayed over summer) is supposed to have a party (probably several) that usually gets noise complaints. To the police. From the other side of the lake.
I’ll either love it, or hate it.
On the “here and now” side, I went and saw Weifa Liang (the Honours Convenor) today after getting enrolled, getting my logon and password (the reason for the lack of posts this last week) and all the rest of it. So now I have a desk at the DCS (in honours room, a.k.a. “The Zoo”) and I had an email from Rajeev Gore (my supervisor) about getting some office space at the RSISE as well.
I’m not sure which I’ll prefer: both Raj and Pietro (the PhD student whose software I’ll be working with and modifying) are at the RSISE, but the environment there is professional. The “Zoo”, I imagine, will be a little more relaxed. I’m not sure which will be the more productive environment, but I suspect having more contact with my supervisor will be of significant import, in that it’ll encourage me to actually do work before my deadlines.
]]>Rooms at B&G are supposed to be quite small, but it is self catered (which is always a plus in my book), on campus and cheap enough for me to afford. All in all, the only thing that might suck is the other residents and the facilities such as the shared toilets, showers and kitchens. On the plus side, if I didn’t live in a Hall or College on campus, I would probably finish the year having met only the other Honours students and the lecturers at the Department of Computer Science.
All in all, I think this year is going to be an interesting experience. Only time will tell.
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