1st International Workshop on Embedded Systems and its Applications (IWEMSA’15) held on 3rd-5th March, 2015 at MUET, Jamshoro

13/04/2015 - 11:33am

Understanding the importance of embedded systems and its applications in recent decades, 1ST international workshop on Embedded Systems and its Applications (IWEMSA’15) was organized at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology on 3rd- 5th Mar, 2015 and was sponsored by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.


Top: Inaugural Ceremony of the IWEMSA’15 @ Senate Hall, Main Admin Block
Middle: Inaugural Address of the Chief Guest IWEMSA’15 Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili
Bottom: Prof. Dr. BS Chowdhry presenting shield of honour to Chief Guest

In welcome speech by Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, event general chair and Dean FEECE, MUET mentioned that in our modern world we are surrounded by systems and devices that have unseen computer software and hardware, such as processing industries, digital television sets, MP3 players, smart phones, power generation, and traffic lights. It takes a special type of person, (typically working in a multi-disciplinary team) to conceive, design and implement, and deploy these so-called embedded systems. Over recent years, embedded systems have gained an enormous amount of processing power and functionality. This tendency has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the size and cost of embedded systems so a single system-on-chip (SoC) has become possible. Hence, embedded systems are key players in today’s technological advancement. This workshop is deemed to understand recent development in the area of embedded systems, and strengthen skills nationwide to develop similar systems indigenously.



Top: Technical Session @ Audio Video Hall, IT Building, MUET
Middle: Engr. Muzafar Rao keynote speech
Bottom: Engr. Muhammad Faisal presenting expert lecture on Embedded Systems for Satellite Communication 

Dr. Tayab Din Memon, event Chief organizer and Assistant Professor, Mehran UET, in his workshop overview talk told that this international workshop is organized to bring national/international researchers, scientists, and industry personals to present and exchange recent development in the areas of embedded systems including: FPGA based system design, Digital Signal Processing Using  FPGA, microcontroller based system design and development especially AVR, PIC and Arduino Microcontroller, Embedded Systems for Image Processing, Embedded Control Applications, System On Chip Modelling and Trends, Wireless Technologies for Embedded Systems are a few. In this workshop, we have expert speakers from very high repute organizations including Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia, University of Limerick, Ireland, SUPARCO, NESCOM, MTC, Navy Dockyard, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, PIEAS Neilore, and Mehran UET Jamshoro.  He also added that this workshop is comprises of two streams i.e., expert lectures and laboratory sessions on embedded systems that will be highly beneficial for all participants.


Top: Address of the Prof. Dr. Younis Javed in conclusion ceremony 
Middle: Prof. Dr. BS Chowdhry presenting shield to Prof. Dr. Younis Javed
Bottom: Conclusion ceremony in a glance

Professor Dr MA Uqaili, Vice Chancellor MUET in his inaugural address said that International workshop on embedded systems (IWEMSA’15) is first of its nature in Pakistan and it brings together a wide spectrum of national/international experts to facilitate a creative environment for the promotion of collaboration and knowledge transfer. In particular it facilitates a dialogue between major industry players, entrepreneurs and academia to help create a roadmap for the development of tangible research environment in the country. In this speech he unveiled that MUET has been successful in fetching first time in history of The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy a regional activity titled “Asian Regional School on FPGA Design for Scientific Instrumentation” to be held on 7th – 18th Dec, 2015. He also informed that next year we are expecting establishment of an Institute of Embedded System in Mehran UET for advancement of research and development in the same area. And it will open new ways of interaction, collaboration and networking with national/international universities, organizations, entrepreneurs, and R&Ds. He also mentioned that MUET has become partner of several EU Erasmus Mundus external cooperation window projects in which more than 150 UG, PG students, staff has received fully funded scholarship from 06 months to 03 years in European universities.

First day technical session was started with keynote speech of Prof. Dr. Paul Beckett (RMIT, Melbourne) and was followed by various other experts lectures namely Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry (MUET), Dr. Muzaffar Rao (University of Limerick, Ireland), Engr. Muhammad Faisal (SUPARCO), and Dr. Tayab Din Memon (MUET). First lab session was followed by the expert lectures.

Second day of the workshop was started by the keynote lecture by Engr. Jahanzeb (Manager, SUPARCO), and followed by Prof. Dr. Mukhtiar Ali Unar (MUET). On the second day of another keynote speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Paul Beckett on the topic of System-on-Chip. Other expert lectures were delivered by Engr. Hafeezullah Kazi (NESCOM), Dr. Imtiaz Hussain Kalwar (MUET) and Dr. Muhammad Amir (Sir Syed UET) and Engr. Muhammad Rafey. Second day Lab session was followed by the expert lectures.   


Prof. Dr. Younis Javed presenting shield to Dr. Tayab Din Memon, Chief Organizer, IWEMSA’15 

Third day of the workshop was started with the keynote speech of Prof. Dr. Haroon-ul-Rasheed (PIEAS, Neilore) and was followed by other expert lectures including Prof. Dr. Sheeraz Memon (MUET), Muhamtmad Asif Memon (SUPARCO), Dr. Wanod Kumar (MUET) and Engr. Muhammad Arsalan (SUPARCO). Third day lab session was followed by the expert lectures.

Conclusion ceremony was followed by the lab session and Prof. Dr. Younis Javed (Dean, NUST) was the chief guest. In his address, he highly appreciated the effort made to organize such an event that is very important and demanding in regards to the current technological development. He congratulated to organizing committee, steering committee as well as to University officials to organize such a wonderful event first time in Pakistan. He admired that a focused area workshop has been arranged and overwhelming response is received through registration and participation is from various organizations, institutes including: professionals, faculty members, and students.

He believed that the training through this workshop will help in disseminating knowledge and latest developments, research and market trends to students, professionals, practitioners and academicians. It will also support in conducting collaborative research projects as per requirements of local ICT sector needs and exchange of academia, faculty staff, exchange of undergraduate students, and joint supervision of master's and Ph.D. projects.

In addition hands-on lab sessions, expert's exposure to students and their face to face interaction should enhance their technical growth and vision at much higher level that will create a deep thrust in participants for acquiring technical advancement.

Following to the address of the Chief Guest, shields were distributed to organizers, and certificates were given to workshop participants and others.

This concluding ceremony was finished by the Vote of Thanks by Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry. He appreciated the effort made by all the organizing committee members, faculty members from the faculty of electrical, electronics and computer engineering (FEECE), hospitality by the Department of Electronic Engineering, volunteers, and supportive staff being engaged in making this workshop a wonderful and successful.