Dr. Huynh Van Luong

Humboldt Research Fellow at the Chair of Multimedia Communications and Signal Processing

Image and video coding and processing

Dr. Huynh Van Luong (Vietnam) is involved in research related to the field of image and video coding and processing. During his PhD research in Denmark, he developed a distributed video codec which requires a low encoding complexity as a solution for emerging applications such as visual sensor surveillance networks and video sensors for medical applications. Before that he developed some parallel approaches to medical image processing using a massively parallel processor array with high performance and energy efficiency.

Research at FAU (April, 2015 – present)

As a Humboldt Fellow at the Chair of Multimedia Communications and Signal Processing (FAU), he is developing a distributed sensing framework to deal with high-dimensional data for multi-view object recognition and tracking toward mobile augmented reality.

FAU is a creative and innovative place, which creates potential for our future research collaborations.

Could you give us a short description of your field of research?

My research covers theoretical foundations to emerging applications in multimedia signal analysis and communications. Some of the main applications are image and video processing and communications for distributed visual sensors and smart tiny camera systems in interactive wireless environments.

What exactly sparked your interest in that subject?

I am curious about how visual signals can answer questions of how we see the world and how visual signals are formulated, digitalized, transformed, and communicated.

What were your reasons for choosing FAU as your host institution for a research period abroad?

My first reason is that the chair that I am working with has interesting research areas that are well matched with my current research interest. The second reason is that FAU is a creative and innovative place, which creates potential for our future research collaborations.

How visible is FAU in your field of research on the international stage?

At FAU, this field in signal processing and communications has a strong international reputation. One of the most well-known achievements is the MP3 standard and our group contributes actively to video standards including MPEG4/H.264 and HEVC, as well as video transmission and analysis.

If you compare your home University/research institution to FAU: what are, from your point of view, the most evident differences?

The main differences compared to my previous university are diverse research topics, good infrastructures, and close collaboration with industry.

Could you give us a short summary of the project your research group is working on?

Our research group is working on diverse topics from signal processing to multimedia communications. In particular, my project is about how to extract, transmit, and reconstruct video signal from multiple distributed tiny devices.

What is your main task within your research group/your project?

I am in charge of conducting my own project collaborating with my research group in Erlangen which was supported by a research fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

What are the most important results of your research at FAU to date?

We have developed an efficient reconstruction algorithm and established its theoretical results, and applied it to multi-view object recognition for mobile augmented reality.

How does your research benefit or affect society?

My research is expected to develop an efficient signal processing framework for multiple visual sensors that may benefits surveillance networks, healthcare systems (such as by assisting surgeons), telemedicine, and vision systems for self-driving cars.

What were your first and subsequent impressions of the Erlangen-Nuremberg region?

My first impression was that it is a green, well-structured, bicycle-friendly region. My later impression was of helpful, international people and a unique culture.

Can you already tell us a highlight, a moment from your stay, which you find particularly memorable?

My particularly moment is the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen, which is a great time to not only taste beer but also enjoy the atmosphere and get inspired by Erlangen’s unique culture.

What are your favourite places at FAU and Erlangen-Nuremberg?

My favourite place is the Botanical Garden in Erlangen, where I feel close to nature.

Thank you for the interview!

Interview: May 2016