The Deep Learning Laboratory (DLL) at NUST embarked on its journey in 2016 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Faisal Shafait. As part of the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), DLL focuses on pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence, with a special emphasis on machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, DLL aims to address real-world challenges in diverse fields such as healthcare, education, environment, and industry.

Since its inception, the lab has fostered collaborations with renowned international research groups and organizations, enabling the experimental validation and deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions. DLL is committed to innovating and translating computational methodologies into scalable applications that create a tangible impact.

PI’s Profile

Dr. Faisal is a Professor at School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) in National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad where he has been teaching for the past nine years. Additionally, he is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering at The University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. Dr. Shafait is also the director of Deep Learning Lab (DLL) at National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan. His research interest is in machine learning with a primary focus on computer vision and document image analysis.

Having raised funding of over 300 Million PKR, he maintains a highly active research collaborations with various funding agencies including Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and National ICT RDF. I also received the IAPR/ICDAR Young Investigator Award by the International Association of Pattern Recognition in 2019 and have recently been included in the list of the World’s Top 2% Scientists compiled by Stanford University.  In August 2023, Dr. Shafait was honored with the Pride of Performance award by the Government of Pakistan.

Vision

To redefine the future of artificial intelligence by spearheading the integration of cutting-edge computational methodologies, deep learning innovations, and a collaborative ecosystem to develop transformative, scalable, and impactful AI solutions that address global challenges and improve human lives.

Mission

To drive the frontier of artificial intelligence and machine learning by leveraging advanced computational techniques, cutting-edge research, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to:

●     Innovate and Develop AI-Driven Solutions: Create transformative technologies that address global challenges in diverse fields including healthcare, education, environment, and industry.

●     Foster Data-Driven Insights: Utilize high-quality datasets and computational methodologies to build intelligent systems that provide precise and impactful solutions.

●     Build Collaborative Ecosystems: Unify experts in AI, data science, engineering, and domain-specific fields to accelerate innovation and bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.

●     Empower Society through Knowledge Transfer: Provide comprehensive education and training to prepare the next generation of leaders in AI, ensuring widespread access to knowledge and fostering equitable growth.

●     Uphold Ethical Standards: Ensure responsible AI development by maintaining rigorous standards of fairness, transparency, and data privacy.

●     Bridge Research and Practice: Translate theoretical advancements in AI and machine learning into scalable and impactful solutions through robust validation and partnerships with industry and government stakeholders.

●     Support Sustainable Development Goals: Contribute to global efforts by developing AI solutions that promote sustainability, equity, and inclusivity across various sectors.

Projects undertaken:

1. Wearable EEG for pre-diagnostic screening of Mental Diseases in Rural Areas
2. AI-Driven Decision Support System for Pakistan Judiciary
3. Urdu Automatic Speech Recognition System (U-ASR)
4. Audio/Video Analytics (AV Analytics)
5. The Fish Biodiversity Estimation by Low-Cost Non-Destructive Video Based Sampling
6. Forest Monitoring and Change Detection using Remote Sensing Data
7. Non-destructive approach for detecting Marine life in Fresh Waters of Pakistan
8. Media News Analysis
9. Cursive Urdu Script Recognition using Deep Learning
10. iDoc: A portable, cost-effective diagnostic screening device for early dengue fever detection
11. Crop Monitoring via Remote Sensing from Earth Observation Satellites to UAV
12. Water resource estimation by Satellite Based Image analysis (WASABI)
13. Intelligent Data Extraction from Mortgage Closing Disclosure Forms using OCR and Natural Language Processing – Acrux Technologies
14. Document Image Understanding and Editing using Tesseract OCR – DocIT Solutions
15. Customized Irrigation and Climate Advisory Service through Citizen Science
16. Real Time Pose Estimation and Human Activity Recognition with Computer Vision
17. AI-Powered Chatbots for Real-Estate Portal
18. VREX: Vehicle Recognition and Verification