Southern Cross University brings global pattern recognition and AI experts together to tackle real-world challenges

The science that powers everyday technology, from your phone's face ID to predicting floods and spotting pollution, is taking centre stage on the Gold Coast this week as Southern Cross University hosts the 8th Asian Conference on Pattern Recognition (ACPR 2025).

Pattern recognition is the field of artificial intelligence focused on teaching computers to identify and understand patterns in data - whether that's recognising a tumour on a medical scan, tracking wildlife from drone footage, or detecting rubbish floating down a river.

Dr Ali Reza Alaei is a Senior Lecturer in Information Technology and Computer Science at Southern Cross and the Organising Chair of ACPR 2025. Dr Alaei explains: "Pattern recognition is about giving machines the power to 'see'."

"Artificial Intelligence can help us make smarter, faster decisions - from protecting the environment to improving how we manage cities."

Dr Alaei's latest research, presented at the conference, utilises computer vision to monitor plastic waste in rivers, enabling communities and policymakers to understand how litter travels through waterways and into the ocean.

His team, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, is developing an AI system that can automatically detect and quantify plastic debris in real time - providing critical data to support cleaner, healthier waterways.

"This technology could help councils and environmental agencies pinpoint hotspots and take action before waste reaches the ocean," Dr Alaei said.

ACPR is a four-day event, supported by the International Association of Pattern Recognition (IAPR), which brings together global experts in artificial intelligence, robotics, speech and video processing, and biomedical imaging. It's one of the world's most respected forums for emerging AI and machine learning research.

"This is a chance for local students and industry to engage directly with international leaders at the frontier of AI research," Dr Alaei said.

"It's also a reminder that regional universities like Southern Cross are contributing to global solutions."

The 8th Asian Conference on Pattern Recognition (ACPR 2025) runs from 10-13 November on the Gold Coast.

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