ProfMichael Blumenstein

Michael is a nationally and internationally recognised expert in the areas of automated Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, and his current research interests include:

• Marine Animal and Wildlife Detection from Video Imagery;
• Document Image Analysis;
• Video-based/multi-lingual Text Detection, and;
• Signature Verification

He has published over 300 papers in refereed books, conferences and journals. His research also spans various projects applying Artificial Intelligence to the fields of Engineering, Environmental Science, Neurobiology and Coastal Management. Michael has secured internal/nationally competitive research grants to undertake these projects with funds exceeding AUD$6.5 Million. Components of his research into the predictive assessment of beach conditions have been commercialised for use by local government agencies, coastal management authorities and in commercial applications.

In addition, Michael’s team has developed SharkSpotter, a world-first AI-based technology for detecting Sharks in the ocean from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The software was developed in collaboration with local company, The Ripper Corporation (formerly Ripper Group), to protect beachgoers and to save lives. It has been deployed at over 50 beaches in Australia (including within New South Wales and Queensland). SharkSpotter has attracted numerous industry awards, including recognition at the National iAwards for the 2018 AI or Machine Learning Innovation of the Year. Following the success of SharkSpotter, Michael’s team developed world-first technology to protect North Queensland’s waterways from predators via the launch of CrocSpotter in 2019. In 2020, Michael's Team was conferred the Australian Association for Unmanned Systems (AAUS) Industry Champions Innovation Award for research undertaken on their AI-Spotter suite of technology.

In 2009 Michael was named as one of Australia’s Top 10 Emerging Leaders in Innovation in the Australian’s Top 100 Emerging Leaders Series supported by Microsoft. Michael is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.