title: Towards a new evolutionary subsampling technique for heuristic optimisation of load disaggregators

authors: Mayo, Michael

subjects: computer science

abstract: In this paper we present some preliminary work towards the development of a new evolutionary subsampling technique for solving the non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) problem. The NILM problem concerns using predictive algorithms to analyse whole-house energy usage measurements, so that individual appliance energy usages can be disaggregated. The motivation is to educate home owners about their energy usage. However, by their very nature, the datasets used in this research are massively imbalanced in their target value distributions. Consequently standard machine learning techniques, which often rely on optimising for root mean squared error (RMSE), typically fail. We therefore propose the target-weighted RMSE (TW-RMSE) metric as an alternative fitness function for optimising load disaggregators, and show in a simple initial study in which random search is utilised that TW-RMSE is a metric that can be optimised, and therefore has the potential to be included in a larger evolutionary subsampling-based solution to this problem.

text: Towards a new evolutionary subsampling technique for heuristic optimisation of load disaggregators In this paper we present some preliminary work towards the development of a new evolutionary subsampling technique for solving the non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) problem. The NILM problem concerns using predictive algorithms to analyse whole-house energy usage measurements, so that individual appliance energy usages can be disaggregated. The motivation is to educate home owners about their energy usage. However, by their very nature, the datasets used in this research are massively imbalanced in their target value distributions. Consequently standard machine learning techniques, which often rely on optimising for root mean squared error (RMSE), typically fail. We therefore propose the target-weighted RMSE (TW-RMSE) metric as an alternative fitness function for optimising load disaggregators, and show in a simple initial study in which random search is utilised that TW-RMSE is a metric that can be optimised, and therefore has the potential to be included in a larger evolutionary subsampling-based solution to this problem.

year: 2016

title: Invasive fish and nutrients – fact sheet

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: Invasive fish such as koi (or common) carp (Cyprinus carpio) are large fish as adults (typically 1-3 kg) and can exist at high biomass (commonly 1000-2000 kg/ha). Because of their large size, high biomass, and suctorial feeding behaviour that disturbs the lake bed, koi carp have the potential to contribute a significant amount of plant nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) to lake waters. To estimate the potential of koi carp to inhibit lake restoration, we estimated the rates of excretion relative to other processes contributing nutrients to lakes.

text: Invasive fish and nutrients – fact sheet Invasive fish such as koi (or common) carp (Cyprinus carpio) are large fish as adults (typically 1-3 kg) and can exist at high biomass (commonly 1000-2000 kg/ha). Because of their large size, high biomass, and suctorial feeding behaviour that disturbs the lake bed, koi carp have the potential to contribute a significant amount of plant nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) to lake waters. To estimate the potential of koi carp to inhibit lake restoration, we estimated the rates of excretion relative to other processes contributing nutrients to lakes.

year: 2015

title: Keynote address: Is there a distinctive Māori psychology?

authors: Durie, Mason

subjects: Maori

abstract: Many of the theoretical paradigms that underpin the study of psychology pay marginal attention to culture as a determinant of psychology.
While there are some aspects of human experience that are universal, patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are by no means divorced from specific cultural influence. A challenge for Māori psychologists is to re-examine psychological theory from a Māori perspective. In attempting to identify the psychological distinctiveness underlying a Māori perspective, this paper has introduced marae encounters as a rich source of information within which distinctive psychological characteristics can be identified.

text: Keynote address: Is there a distinctive Māori psychology? Many of the theoretical paradigms that underpin the study of psychology pay marginal attention to culture as a determinant of psychology.
While there are some aspects of human experience that are universal, patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are by no means divorced from specific cultural influence. A challenge for Māori psychologists is to re-examine psychological theory from a Māori perspective. In attempting to identify the psychological distinctiveness underlying a Māori perspective, this paper has introduced marae encounters as a rich source of information within which distinctive psychological characteristics can be identified.

year: 2003