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Network Design and Optimisation (ELEN90003)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2024
Overview
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AIMS
This subject provides knowledge and skills necessary for analysis, design modelling and optimisation of telecommunication networks.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
This subject is a collection of analytical, numerical and optimisation techniques relating to network modelling and optimisation.
Topics in this subject can be generically applied to wired or wireless networks and are not limited to any specific type or tier. More specifically, the subject will include:
- Topological modelling of telecommunication network;
- Capacity planning and design; problems involving flow;
- Content and data delivery; supply and demand in telecommunication networks;
- Network cost optimisation with flow considerations;
- Collision detection; spanning trees, ethernet and its application;
- Routing protocols; shortest path problems;
- Application of evolutionary computation in network design and optimisation (will be presented subject to time availability);
- Quality of service and class of service (core network); Multiprotocole Label Switching (will be presented subject to time availability);
- Designing for performance, consideration of service level agreements in network design;
- Survivability, reliability and availability in network design; Designing fault tolerant network; Self healing design techniques; Fault detection mechanisms;
- Packet loss, delay and buffer size consideration in network design; Application of relevant queuing models.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs)
On completion of the subject, students will be equipped with a strong background in application of modelling and analytical techniques to design and optimise networking problems. Specifically, it is expected that students acquire the following set of skills and knowledge:
- Linear programming formulation of network design and optimisation problem; Simplex algorithm
- Maximum flow problem; Path augmentation and labelling methods Transportation problem; Minimum cost and penalty cost method for finding feasible solution; Modified distribution method for finding minimum cost supply-demand solution
- Minimum cost flow problem; Network simplex method
- Prim’s and Kruskal’s algorithm for minimum spanning trees
- Shortest math problem; Dijkstra algorithm
- Travelling sales man problem; application of branch and bound
- Application of Genetic algorithm, Tabu search and hill climbing in network design and optimisation (including cost optimisation) - (subject to time availability)
- Modelling network redundancies; cost consideration of adding redundancies (as a multiobjective optimisation example)
- Obtaining availability and reliability figures; application of mean time to failure and mean time to repair and the relevant formulations
- Little’s formula, Deterministic queuing models; Birth-Death process Queue models such as M/M/k, M/M/k/k, finite buffer, finite source, state dependent models; queuing networks, and telecommunication applications; Recursion of Erlang B formula
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, the students should have developed the following skills:
- Problem solving and analytical skills;
- Critical and creative thinking, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
- Sense of intellectual curiosity;
- Ability to interpret data and research results;
- Ability to learn in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies;
- Capacity to confront unfamiliar problems;
- Ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature;
- Ability to develop models of practical applications and evaluate their performance by rigorous analytical means.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
4-year Electrical Engineering degree
OR
equivalent
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Continuous assessment of submitted project work completed in small groups (2-4 students), not exceeding 30 pages in total, (Addressing ILOs 1-10)
| Week 12 | 40% |
One written examination,(Addressing ILOs 1-10)
| End of semester | 60% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2024
Time commitment details
200 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
Additional Reading:
As this subject is a collection of several analytical, numerical and optimisation topics, the best source of information is the lecture material on the Learning Management System (LMS). Sources will be recommended on the subject website.
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is delivered through sessions that combine lecture presentation, discussion, and mini-tutorials. Private study is also required, in addition to the weekly sessions. Learning is also enhanced by active participation in the online Discussion Board.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students are provided with lecture slides and tutorial problems. Extensive reference material is uploaded or linked on the subject website.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
Student teams are encouraged to interact with industry professionals as part of their assignment. Specific industry interactions may be organised according to interest and opportunities.
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024