David M. Almeida

 

 

Research Interests:

 

 

Academic Research Projects:

 

  • Development of Active Map Algebra, a Map Algebra-inspired computational framework for Wireless Sensor Networks, with Prof. Kate Beard, University of Maine Dept of Spatial Information Science and Engineering, Orono, Maine.

 

  • Investigation of Open Source geospatial software models and standards at CARSI (Center for the Advanced Research of Spatial Information) Lab,

with Prof. Sean Ahearn, Hunter College, NY, NY

 

  • Investigation of use of Virtual Globes and high-resolution DEMs for visualization of flooding and storm surge events, with Prof. Frank Buonaiuto, Hunter College, NY, NY (as coursework).

 

  • Developed MAPS (Multi-Agent Pedestrian Simulation), in conjunction with a Planner from the NYC Dept of City Planning (initially as coursework).

 

  • Automated analysis of NASA MODIS time series and Investigation of integration of NASA EOS satellite data with Environmental Protection Agency BASINS, with Dr. Wenge Ni-Meister, Hunter College, NY, NY (as coursework). 

 

Industrial Research Projects:

 

  • Developed the FIGS (Field Information GIS System) prototype for the United Nations (Nov 2006-Feb 2007), using FOSS Geospatial Software components.  This attempted to use FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) geospatial components to put together a field station-based prototype for a Field-based Humanitarian Information System (Geospatial Database Technology Consultant).

 

Projects Below were supported by American Express/Lehman Brothers Internal Technology Grants during 1989-1992.

 

  • Speaker-Independent Speech Recognition (SISR) Project: Worked along with several research institutions (including Carnegie Mellon and SRI) and vendors to find Speaker-Independent speech recognition systems that would perform acceptably in the harsh and noisy environment of the trading floor. Specific work included integration of candidate systems into Multi-modal Input System software, domain-specific speech corpus collection, background noise collection, labeling of collected speech, grammar design for specific speech recognizers, and rationalization of grammars into a single model to work with the API. (Approx. $500 thousand. Technical Lead)

 

  • SISR Project (above) also included the Multi-modal Computer Input Project: Constructed system software to support Multi-modal application input by imposing a Finite State Machine model on X-Windows applications.  The API allowed keyboard and mouse input to mix seamlessly with speech recognizer and other forms of input.  New input devices or systems could then be added and tested on systems that incorporated the API.

 

  • Speaker-Dependent Speech Recognition Project: Attempted to use a rule-based system and pattern matching to capture training data from Verbex speech recognizers in order to automatically re-train them at a later time. (Approx. $1.5 million. Technical Lead)

 

  • Handwriting Recognition Project: Investigated the use of handwriting recognition systems for trading ticket entry.  Worked with several vendors (Grid, AT&T, Scenario, Nestor) to architect prototype systems for trading floor use.  (Approx. $ 350,000. Technical Lead)