SA
Unit: School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Office location and address
Rice Hall, 311
85 Engineers Way
Charlottesville,
Virginia
22903
Education
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1988
M.S. Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1990
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1993
M.S. Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1990
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1993
Biography
Professor Acton’s laboratory at UVA is called VIVA - Virginia Image and Video Analysis. They specialize in biological image analysis problems. The research emphases of VIVA include tracking, segmentation, representation, retrieval, classification and enhancement. Professor Acton has over 250 publications in the image analysis area.
Publications
Sponsored Awards
AS-CHEM Non-Invasive Single-Cell Morphometry and Tracking in Living Bacterial Biofilms
Source: U.S. NIH Institute of General Medical Science
August 25, 2020 – June 30, 2025
Research Interest c. i. (2): A Deep Reinforcement Learning based Long-term Tracker for Salient Event Detection
Source: U.S. DOD - Army - Aro
June 01, 2020 – May 31, 2023
NSF IPA Agreement
Source: U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
September 03, 2019 – September 02, 2021
Innovative Technologies
Source: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
April 06, 2017 – October 10, 2020
EN-EE A Sparse Coding Approach to Spatiotemporal Saliency Detection in Image and Video Databases
Source: U.S. DOD - Army - Aro
June 08, 2015 – June 07, 2019
Contributions for Memberships in the Broadband Wireless Access & Applications Center (BWAC)
Source: Industry - Various
January 01, 2006 – December 31, 2017
EN-EE InSAR Remote Sensing for Performance Monitoring of Transportation Infrastructure at the Network Level
Source: U.S. Department Of Transportation
January 15, 2014 – July 31, 2016
ABI Innovation: Towards the Neurome - Automated Image Analysis for Neuroinformatics
Source: U.S. NSF - Directorate For Biological Sciences
May 01, 2011 – April 30, 2016
Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research
Source: Commonwealth Cancer Foundation for Research
June 01, 2002 – December 31, 2015
EN-EE Activity Detection & Retrieval for Image & Video Data With Limited Training
Source: U.S. DOD - Army - Aro
August 15, 2014 – May 14, 2015
EN-EE Prototype for Meta-Algorithmic, Content-Aware Image Analysis
Source: U.S. DOD - Air Force - Afosr
June 22, 2012 – September 30, 2014
EN-EE Historical Study of Displacements at the Approaches to the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel
Source: Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation & Re
November 18, 2013 – May 31, 2014
Image Analysis Software for Battlefield Ultrasound
Source: PocketSonics, Inc
January 14, 2013 – July 31, 2013
Sinkhole Detection and Bridge/Landslide Monitoring for Transportation Infrastructure
Source: U.S. Department Of Transportation
July 01, 2011 – June 30, 2013
Courses
Credits: 1
Student-led special topic courses which vary by semester.
Credits: 3
An introduction to the fundamental scientific principles governing information science and engineering. Topics include: definition of information; entropy; information representation in analog and digital forms; information transmission; spectrum and bandwidth; information transformation including data compression, filtering, encryption, and error correction; information storage and display; and large-scale information systems. Technologies for implementing information functions.
Credits: 1–4
A fourth-level undergraduate course covering a topic not normally covered in the course offerings. The topic usually reflects new developments in the electrical and computer engineering field. Offering is based on student and faculty interests.
Credits: 3
An introduction to digital signal processing. Topics include discrete-time signals and systems, application of z-transforms, the discrete-time Fourier transform, sampling, digital filter design, the discrete Fourier transform, the fast Fourier transform, quantization effects and nonlinear filters. Prerequisite: ECE 3750
Credits: 1–3
Under faculty supervision, students plan a project of at least one semester's duration, conduct the analysis or design and test, and report on the results. If this work is to be the basis for an undergraduate thesis, the course should be taken no later than the seventh semester. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Credits: 1–3
Under faculty supervision, students plan a project of at least one semester's duration, conduct the analysis or design and test, and report on the results. If this work is to be the basis for an undergraduate thesis, the course should be taken no later than the seventh semester. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Credits: 3
A first graduate course in digital signal processing. Topics include discrete-time signals and systems, application of z-transforms, the discrete-time Fourier transform, sampling, digital filter design, the discrete Fourier transform, the fast Fourier transform, quantization effects and nonlinear filters. Additional topics can include signal compression and multi-resolution processing.
Credits: 3
Analyzes the basic concepts of image formation and image analysis: imaging geometries, sampling, filtering, edge detection, Hough transforms, region extraction and representation, extracting and modeling three-dimension objects. Students will be assigned analytical and programming assignments to explore these concepts. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Credits: 1–6
FOR M.E. STUDENTS ONLY. A research project in biomedical engineering conducted in consultation with a faculty advisor. Includes the design, execution, and analysis of experimental laboratory work and computational or theoretical computer analysis of a problem. Fulfills the project requirement for the Biomedical Engineering Masters of Engineering degree. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission Required.
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to master's thesis research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. May be repeated as necessary.
Credits: 1–12
Master's Research
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to doctoral research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. May be repeated as necessary.