MEng Projects
The VIA research group typically offers a number of MEng project opportunities each year. Projects may be done by one or several students. Most projects involve developing algorithms for computer vision and require programming deep learning with python. Therefore, there is usually a requirement that students starting in the Fall semester also take ECE5470 at the same time to gain background knowledge in computer vision and familiarity with the programming tools.
The VIA MEng project program is in two parts with the second conditional on the first. For the first semester the student will plan the project and conduct the background research. At the end of the semester an initial report is required; the continuation of the project to the second semester will be conditional on a satisfactory report submitted at the conclusion of the first semester. If time permits the work on the project research may also be started in the Fall semester. The main activity for the second semester is to conduct the actual research and write up a final report.
Project Topics for Fall 2024
The general project theme of the VIA group is to implement fully automated computer algorithms to identify clinically relevant diseases and issues in the chest region from 3D low-dose CT images.
All projects involve exploring solutions in computer vision including deep learning methods. Projects often involve groups of several students. The following projects are being offered for 2024:
- Identification of critical anatomical landmarks and regions in CT images. This project involves the development of 3D image segmentation and detection algorithms for the diagnosis of disease with a focus on deep learning methods.
- Analysis of the pleural surface of the lungs to detect very subtle inflammation that is a indicator or a serious Asbestos related disease.
- Analysis of the lungs for evidence of lung cancer. This project has three main components: lung cancer prediction risk, nodule detection and sizing and the evaluation of cancer risk from pulmonary nodule images.
Required Skills
Self starting person, motivated, interest in computer vision and machine learning; will need to take ECE 5470 “Computer Vision” in the Fall to gain experience in image analysis tools and python.
Project Course Requirements
- Project groups will schedule a one hour weekly meeting time with A. P. Reeves for each semester. In general meetings will not be every week and typically average about eight a semester.
- Each semester each project group will be required to submit a draft report in mid-semester and a full report at the end of the semester.
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Project report deadlines:
Fall semester draft report October 18 Fall semester interim report December 12 Spring semester draft report March 5 Spring semester final report May 6
Students who are doing a two semester project will be expected to submit an Interim Project Report at the end of the first semester. Note, this report is more detailed than the requirements for the MEng program.
All students doing an MEng project will be required to submit an individual Project Report at the end of the project. Use the class project template for your report. Also review the project draft guidelines. In some cases a group may submit a single report if the indiviual effort of each group member is clearly identified in the report.
Students interested in doing an MEng project should send an email with their resume and a brief description of their interest to A. P. Reeves. The title of the email should include the words "MEng Project".
The Project Computer Server
The project computer server is rimmer.via.cornell.edu. All students doing independent projects have accounts on this server for project programming and testing and also on the ECE jhub.. The environment on rimmer is similar to that for the ECE 5470 platforms and includes jupyter lab. Project image datasets are hosted on this server.