Released on: September 25, 2008, 7:20 pm

Press Release Author: Institute for Infocomm Research

Industry:

Press Release Summary: A team of engineers from A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm
Research (I2R) has won the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious
Engineering Achievement Award 2008 for their work on Fish Activity Monitoring system
or FAMS. This project was done in collaboration with PUB, the national water agency.


Press Release Body: Singapore, 23 September 2008 – A team of engineers from A*STAR’s
Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) has won the Institution of Engineers Singapore
(IES) Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2008 for their work on Fish Activity
Monitoring system or FAMS. This project was done in collaboration with PUB, the
national water agency.

The team, represented by Dr Eng How Lung and Mr Teo Chit Pin, representative from
PUB, received their IES award from Mr Lim Siong Guan, Chairman, Economic Development
Board (EDB), at the IES Distinguished Lecture 2008, held at Singapore Management
University (SMU) on 16 September 2008. The I2R team consists of Dr Eng How Lung, Ms
Chew Boon Fong, Ms Myo Thida, Mr Lee Beng Hai and Ms Suryanti Yunita Anggrelly.

One of the ways that project researchers ensured water quality was by monitoring
live fish kept in tanks for any sudden decline in their population – an indication
of possible decline in the quality of water. Currently, fish kept in tanks are
monitored manually. By deploying sophisticated image processing and analysing
techniques in the locally-developed FAMS technology, the process of monitoring fish
activities and raising alerts can now be fully automated. Any sudden dip in the
number of live fish will raise a visual and audio alert to the operators at the
control centre. This not only increases the reliability of the technique as an early
warning system, but also allows the monitoring of fish to be carried out at a
central location. This innovation will help enhance the security of water as a
strategic resource.
Professor Lye Kin Mun, Deputy Executive Director (Research) said, “I congratulate
How Lung and his team for winning this year’s IES Engineering award. I’m also proud
of the fact that I2R has been winning this award for the past four years! We are
indeed pleased to have PUB as our partner in this FAMS project and look forward to
working with them for future projects. This diversity of talent at Fusionopolis
demonstrates the fact that many international scientific talents converge here to
constantly forge ahead with new discoveries that benefit the society.”
Mr Harry Seah, Director of Technology & Water Quality Office, PUB, the national
water agency, said, "The fish activity monitoring system is part of PUB's continuous
investments in water technology R&D to ensure a robust and sustainable water supply
system for Singapore. We are promoting R&D on many fronts through partnerships with
water industry players, academia and researchers from the local and foreign tertiary
and research institutions. This project with A*STAR to make use of video imaging and
analysis technologies to further enhance water quality monitoring is a good example.
We look forward to more of such partnerships as we continue in our efforts to
develop Singapore into a hub for water technologies."

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Background

About Institute for Infocomm Research
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R - pronounced as i-squared-r) is a member of
the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) family. Established in
2002, our mission is to be the globally preferred source of innovations in
`Interactive Secured Information, Content and Services Anytime Anywhere’ through
research by passionate people dedicated to Singapore’s economic success.
I²R performs R&D in information, communications and media (ICM) technologies to
develop holistic solutions across the ICM value chain. Our research capabilities
are in information technology and science, wireless and optical communications, and
interactive digital media.
We seek to be the infocomm and media value creator that keeps Singapore ahead.
Website: www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg

About Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES)
IES is a national society of engineers in Singapore and the Prestigious Engineering
Achievement Awards are presented annually to recognise the outstanding achievements
of engineers.
Website: www.ies.org.sg

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
A*STAR is Singapore's lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and
talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. A*STAR actively nurtures public
sector research and development in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and
Engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to Singapore's
manufacturing industry and new growth industries. It oversees 19 research institutes
and consortia and supports extramural research with the universities, hospital
research centres and other local and international partners. At the heart of this
knowledge intensive work is human capital. Top local and international scientific
talent drive knowledge creation at A*STAR research institutes. The Agency also sends
scholars for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training in the best
universities, a reflection of the high priority A*STAR places on nurturing the next
generation of scientific talent.

A*STAR’s science and engineering research institutes will be headquartered at
Fusionopolis.

For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg

About PUB
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
It is the national water agency, managing Singapore’s water supply, water catchment
and used water in an integrated way. PUB won the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award
and was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006.

About PUB’s tagline: Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy
PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the
Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated
water).

To provide water for all, PUB calls on all Singaporeans to play our part to conserve
water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with
water so we can enjoy our water resources. We can then have enough water for all
uses – for industry, for living, for life.

Web Site: http://i2r.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Details: Mr Andrew Yap
Acting Manager, Corporate Communications
Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)
DID: (65) 6419 1143 Fax: (65) 6466 7716
Email: jtyap@i2r.a-star.edu.sg

Ms Lim Siew Wee
Senior Manager, Communications
PUB, the national water agency
DID: (65) 67313126 Fax:
E-mail: lim_siew_wee@pub.gov.sg