Dynamic Systems Modeller, iCAM/MSI
Environmental modelling, uncertainty handling and assessment in complex models of dynamical systems, identification and state estimation, postgraduate training
Phone: +61 (0)2 6125 6751
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: john.norton@anu.edu.au

BA in Mechanical Sciences, Cambridge, 1962 (MA 1966); DIC, PhD in Electrical Engineering, Imperial College, London 1967. Research Engineer, English-Electric-Leo Computers, London 1962-63. Research Fellow, UK Civil Service 1967-71. Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Electrical Eng., University of Tasmania 1971-79. Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader/Professor, Dept. of Electronic, Electrical & Computer Eng., University of Birmingham 1979-2004. Dynamic Systems Modeller (Level E), ANU 2003.

Study leave Cambridge 1974, Warwick 1978, Newcastle NSW 1983, ANU 1992, 1997, 2000, 2002. Adjunct Professor, CRES, ANU 2002.

MIREE (Aust.) 1973-77, MIEAust. 1977-79, MIEE 1980, FIEE 1996, CEng.

Research, Teaching & Professional Activities

My research interests span identification of dynamical systems (particularly time-varying systems), state estimation; uncertainty handling, and their applications to environmental modelling, target tracking and guidance, gas-turbine modelling, process industries, automotive control and biomedicine. Current activity is concentrated on sensitivity assessment of simulation models for environmental applications and application of ideas from control engineering to environmental problems. I was head of the Estimation and Control Group at Birmingham from its inception in 1985 to its absorption into the Research Centre for Communications and Interactive Systems in 2000. I have supervised over 20 PhD students working on topics in power systems, electric traction, digital communication, identification, target tracking and missile guidance, gas turbine modelling, and a range of environmental modelling areas. My 150 or so publications include An Introduction to Identification, Academic Press, 1986. I have acted as consultant for Ferranti-Thompson Underwater Systems; British Gas; Defence Research Agency, Defford; Jaguar Cars Advanced Engineering; QinetiQ, Malvern and dstl, Farnborough.

I have been Editor for Adaptive Control of Int. J. of Adaptive Control & Signal Processing, and editorial board member of that journal, IMechE J. Systems & Control Eng. and Env. Modelling & Software. I am currently a member of the International Federation of Automatic Control Technical Committee on Modelling, Identification & Signal Processing, and of the Advisory Board of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 5.11, Computers and Environment.

Selected Publications

Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A. and Norton, J.P. 2006. Ten iterative steps in development and evaluation of environmental models. Environmental Modelling and Software, 21(5): 602-614.

J. P. Norton, J. D. Brown and J. Mysiak 2006., To what extent, and how, might uncertainty be defined?, Integrated Assessment Journal, 6(1), 83-88
(http://journals.sfu.ca/int_assess/index.php/iaj/article/view/9/195).

J. P. Norton and F. T. Andrews 2005., Sensitivity and structure assessment of a software tool to gauge the ecological impact of flow scenarios, J. of Hydrology, available online 13 December 2005 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.10.035).

J. P. Norton and J. G. Chanat 2005., Linear time-varying models to investigate complex distributed dynamics: a rainfall-runoff example, Maths. & Computers in Simulation 69, 1-2,123-134.

J. P. Norton 1999. Translation of bounds on time-domain behaviour of dynamical systems into parameter bounds for discrete-time rational transfer-function models, Maths. & Computers in Simulation 48, 4-6, 469-478.

P. F. Weston and J. P. Norton 1997. Detection and estimation of abrupt changes in input or state, Int. J. of Control 67, 5, 699-711.

D. Maksarov and J. P. Norton 1996. State bounding with ellipsoidal set description of the uncertainty, Int. J. of Control 65 5, 847-866.

J. P. Norton 1996. Roles for deterministic bounding in environmental modelling, Ecological Modelling 6,157-161.

J. P. Norton, T. Chen and A. J. Jakeman 1995. Estimation of unmodelled behaviour as time-varying model-input correction: application to rainfall evapotranspiration, Environment International 5 5,533-537.

S. M. Veres and J. P. Norton 1993. Predictive self-tuning control by parameter bounding and worst-case design, Automatica 29, 911-928.

S.M.Veres and J.P.Norton 1991. Structure selection for bounded-parameter models: consistency conditions and selection criterion, IEEE Trans. on Autom. Control AC-36, 474-481.

J.P.Norton and S. H. Mo 1990. Parameter bounding for time-varying systems, Maths. & Computers in Simulation 32, 527-534.

M.J.Chen and J.P.Norton 1987. Estimation technique for tracking rapid parameter changes, Int. J. of Control 45 4, 1387-1398.

J.P.Norton 1987. Identification and application of bounded-parameter models, Automatica 23 4, 497-507.

J.P.Norton 1980. Structural zeros in the modal matrix and its inverse, IEEE Trans. on Autom. Control AC-25 5, 980-981.

J.P.Norton 1980. Normal-mode identifiability analysis of linear compartmental systems in linear stages, Math.Biosci. 50, 95-115.

J.P.Norton 1975. Optimal smoothing in the identification of linear time-varying systems, Proc. IEE 122 6, 663-668.