Victoria University Power Sensing (VUPS) group

The Victoria University Power Sensing (VUPS) group aims to pioneer the future of power systems monitoring, reliability, and protection by the research and development of innovative solutions.

We work at the cutting-edge of power systems asset management and digitisation, by harnessing advancements in edge computing, IoT, signal processing, AI, and communication.

About the VUPS Group

The Victoria University Power Sensing (VUPS) Group intends to lead the charge in revolutionising power systems with state-of-the-art research and development, focusing on enhancing monitoring, reliability, and protection.

Our strategic application of IoT, machine learning, and smart grid technologies positions us at the cutting-edge of the industry, driving advancements in renewable energy integration and grid digitisation.

We specialise in:

advanced monitoring and diagnostic solutions
grid health and performance optimisation
fault detection and localisation
industrial power system management
predictive analytics and machine learning
smart grid and IoT applications
smart grid integration with renewable energy sources
smart disaster response technologies
educational and research collaborations.

SWER Broken Conductor Detection project

Our flagship project, 'SWER Broken Conductor Detection' utlises innovative approaches in PLC and edge computing for the lasting challenge of detecting broken conductors in regional areas. The project has attracted $1.5 million in funding and demonstrates our commitment to addressing persistent issues within the power systems sector.

Currently on its third-stage of development, the group is working on bringing the developed devices to a commercial level. We're further developing capabilities to locate the conductor breakages, and monitor networks for disturbances such as high-impedance faults and other fire-igniting sources.

Our mission

The transition towards sustainable energy and the advent of smart grids necessitates profound advancements across grid digitisation, connectivity, flexibility, and monitoring.

We aim to be at the forefront of supporting these developments by leveraging core competencies in:

Power-Line Carrier (PLC) technology
hardware design
software/embedded/firmware development
data analysis/research
signal processing, instrumentation, and modelling.

Our team deeply skilled in advanced signal processing, robust hardware design for power systems, sophisticated software solutions for real-time analysis, and comprehensive data analysis and research methodologies, we're dedicated to developing smarter, more resilient power solutions.

Work with us

We're always seeking new opportunities to expand our impact, through industry collaborations and practical applications of our research.

Our previous work not only emphasises the advanced data analytics and machine learning for predictive maintenance but also the development of real-time monitoring systems that ensure grid integrity and resilience.

We aspire to facilitate partnerships that harness collective expertise, resources, and creativity across various fields. Whether it's through joint ventures, research initiatives, or co-developing technologies, we offer a wide array of opportunities for collaboration.

We've previously established partnerships with:

PowerCor
AusNet
United Energy
the Victorian Government
the Australian Research Council.

Our goal is to create synergies that not only advance our R&D objectives but also contribute to broader social benefits.

Whether you're a potential PhD student, researcher, technologist or a partner in the industry, there's a place for you at VUPS to contribute to the future of power systems technology.

Power System Innovation Lab

Our Power System Innovation Lab is a hub of activity, where ideas translate into real-world applications.

Equipped with state-of-the-art tools, the lab facilitates rigorous research and dynamic testing.

This environment supports our ongoing projects and helps in developing solutions that are practical and scalable.

: Featuring the Genesis GEN3i Transient Recorder, our facilities are equipped for high-speed data acquisition, enabling precise dynamic measurements critical to research in aerospace, automotive, and power systems.
This capability is key for performing advanced analysis in both lab and field settings.
: The lab contains equipment like the Bode 100 Vector Network Analyzer for electronic systems analysis.
This equipment is fundamental for assessing frequency response, signal stability, and integrity, providing essential insights into the behavior of various electronic circuits and systems.
: With the 240L Broadband Power Amplifier and TBLC08 Artificial Mains Network at our disposal, we can conduct detailed electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests and high-fidelity signal amplification across a broad spectrum.
These tools ensure that our equipment meets rigorous EMC standards and supports a wide range of research applications.
: The RTDS Technologies Real-Time Digital Simulator and OP5600 HILbox are central to our lab's ability to simulate electrical systems and control mechanisms in real-time.
These platforms are vital for studying grid dynamics, renewable energy integration, and ensuring the reliability of protective systems in a controlled environment.
: Our lab facilitates comprehensive testing of communication systems with the Omicron CMC 356, a versatile relay testing device, and the TSG 4104A signal generator.
These instruments allow for the simulation of various fault conditions and the testing of protective relays, ensuring they function accurately in real-world scenarios.
: With state-of-the-art waveform generators and the MCC 124C for partial discharge (PD) measurements, our lab is well-equipped for diagnosing the health and integrity of high-voltage equipment, contributing to the advancement of electrical metrology.
: The FS740 GPS/GNSS Time and Frequency Standard ensures our experiments and measurements are conducted with the highest precision and stability, meeting the demanding requirements of various time-sensitive research projects.
: Beyond our primary equipment, the lab's collaborative efforts with VU's specialised facilities like the Telecommunication Wireless Laboratory and the Robotics and Automation Laboratory expand our research capabilities into new and innovative domains.

Projects & selected publications

Our work has been published in high-ranking journals and featured extensively in the media – particularly our approaches to conductor breakage detection and high-impedance fault analysis.

These results not only advance technology but also provide benefits to communities by enhancing safety and sustainability.

: D. P. S. Gomes, C. Ozansoy and A. Ulhaq, "High-Sensitivity Vegetation High-Impedance Fault Detection Based on Signal's High-Frequency Contents," in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 1398-1407, June 2018.
D. P. S. Gomes, C. Ozansoy, A. Ulhaq, and J. C. de Melo Vieira Júnior, "The effectiveness of different sampling rates in vegetation high-impedance fault classification," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 174, p. 105872, 2019/09/01/ 2019.
D. P. S. Gomes, C. Ozansoy, and A. Ulhaq, "Vegetation High-Impedance Faults’ High-Frequency Signatures via Sparse Coding," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 69, no. 7, pp. 5233-5242, 2020.
H. Mahamudul and C. Ozansoy, "L-C band pass impedance matching coupling circuit for high voltage PLC applications," International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, vol. 117, p. 105639, 2020/05/01/ 2020.
C. Ozansoy and D. P. S. Gomes, "Electrical and physical characterization of earth faults for diverse bush species," Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 1109-1117, 2020/10/01/ 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2020.03.002
C. Ozansoy and D. Gomes, "Volatility Diagnosis in Phase-to-Phase Fault Detection for Branch across Wire Faults," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. PP, pp. 1-1, 04/02 2020.
D. P. S. Gomes and C. Ozansoy, "High-impedance faults in power distribution systems: A narrative of the field’s developments," ISA Transactions, 2021/02/19/ 2021.
D. P. S. Gomes and C. Ozansoy, "VeHIF: An Accessible Vegetation High-Impedance Fault Data Set Format," in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 5473-5475, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2022.3195002.
C. Ozansoy, D. P. S. Gomes and M. Faulkner, "Visibility of Vegetation High-Impedance Fault Low-Frequency and High-Frequency Signatures," in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 2236-2239, June 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2023.3265513.
: Title/description Funding body Year Amount
1 Fault Signature Analysis and Detection for Powerline Bushfire Mitigation Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) 2016 $45,000
2 Mitigation of Bushfires in Single-Wire Earth Return Protection Networks Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning & United Energy 2018-19 $305,800
3 Broken Conductor Detection in Single-Wire Earth Return Protection Networks United Energy 2019 $79,750
4 Broken Conductor Detection in Single-Wire Earth Return (SWER) Protection Networks Powercor 2020 $20,428
5 Broken Conductor Detection in SWER Protection Networks Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning & Powercor & Ausnet 2021-22 $627,780
6 Developing broken power line localisation devices with added grid sensing Australian Research Council (ARC) 2023-26 $464,044
7 Developing broken power line localisation devices with added grid sensing Powercor 2023-26 $140,199

Meet our team

: Dr. Cagil Ozansoy is currently an Associate Professor and researcher at Victoria University.
He is highly capable researcher with expertise in power systems protection, distributed generation, control systems, safety instrumented systems, and process control networks. His research focuses on areas such as vegetation high-impedance fault detection, safety integrity level determination and verification methods, and frequency response in power systems with distributed generation. He has authored over 50 publications detailing his work and contributions.
Dr. Ozansoy's proficiencies span power system stability, intelligent control, smart energy applications, and engineering education. His project management skills and ability to raise funding for innovative research were responsible Stages 1 and 2 of the 'SWER Broken Conductor Detection' project.
He has diverse skill set and extensive experience, making him adept at conducting impactful research in the field of electrical power engineering.
Areas of expertise:
Power system protection
IEC 61850 standard
PLC applications in MV networks
electrical metrology
MV coupler design
project management.
Contact: [email protected]
: Dr. Douglas Pinto Sampaio Gomes is an engineering researcher with expertise in power engineering, signal processing, data analysis, and machine learning. He is currently an Industrial Research Fellow at Victoria University.
Dr. Gomes specializes in developing innovative solutions for power distribution systems, focusing on detecting and locating high-impedance faults, such as broken conductors and vegetation faults. His research involves advanced signal processing techniques, data analytics, and machine learning deployed on embedded systems and cloud-based frameworks. He has programming experience in Python, C++, C, and MATLAB, and has developed to microcontrollers, DSPs, and FPGAs.
Dr. Gomes also has experience applying machine learning for research and enterprise problems and employing computer vision techniques, such as object detection and segmentation with deep learning.
He has published in high-ranking journals, collaborated with industry partners, and secured competitive research grants. He was successful at securing an ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship that allowed continuation of the 'SWER Broken Conductor Detection' project to its third stage (pre-commercialisation).
Areas of expertise:
Signal processing and machine learning applications for classification
embedded software and cloud development
data analysis and visualisation.
Contact: [email protected]
: Mike Faulkner is an Emeritus Professor in Telecommunications at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
He is an expert in wireless communications, with research capabilities spanning radio propagation measurements, MIMO systems, transceiver algorithms, architectures and circuits, physical layer signal processing, and modulation techniques.
He has extensive experience in amplifier linearisation, low energy wireless transmitters, and the application of signal processing to correct radio frequency circuit imperfections.
His research also focuses on cognitive radio, flexible transceiver design, and mm-waves for future wireless systems.
Professor Faulkner has previous experience in HV power line sensing. He led the theory and conceptualisation of the technology behind the 'SWER Broken Conductor Detection' project and guided the signal processing techniques developed.
He has authored over 100 publications, is well-connected with the wireless industry, and has been involved in IEEE 802.11 (WLAN) standardisation and commercialization activities.
Areas of expertise:
decades of research in telecommunication
expert in signal processing with applications in radio propagation measurements
transceiver algorithms
architectures and circuits
physical layer signal processing
modulation.
Contact: [email protected]
: Kristi Beqirllari is an accomplished research engineer with extensive experience in electrical, electronic, and mechatronic engineering.
He possesses strong expertise in circuit layout, automated test systems, PCB design using Altium Designer, and 3D modelling using SolidWorks.
Beqirllari has demonstrated proficiency in developing coupling circuits, firmware, and signal analysis for reliable signal transmission using advanced signal processing techniques. His research focuses on powerline communication systems, particularly in the development of protection schemes and low-attenuation coupling circuits for single wire earth return networks. Beqirllari excels in theoretical modeling, adaptation of modulation approaches, and hardware development of transmitter and receiver systems.
His work has resulted in the successful design, simulation, and implementation of innovative coupling solutions for medium-voltage power networks. Kristi was crucially instrumental in producing the PCBs, design circuits, and developing hardware and interfacing in the ‘SWER Broken Conductor Project’.
Areas of expertise:
advanced PCB design and embedded systems development
utilising tools such as Altium Designer for high-speed, multi-layer PCBs, high-power motor controllers, low-power IoT devices, and battery management circuits with an emphasis on signal integrity and EMC compliance.
Contact: [email protected]

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