Hi, I’m Alex.
I’ve recently graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of Queensland, majoring in Cyber Security, having previously studied towards an Electrical & Computer Engineering degree, also at UQ.
I take pride in ensuring that information is correct, complete and comprehensible, both as an inherent virtue and to empower everyone to make good decisions.
Featured Projects
Qld State Election Projection
July 2017 - present
Wrote code to perform analysis of voter preferences, to project that analysis from booth to tract level, and to reaggregate at state district level; first in Python, then in Rust. Developed swing model and implemented predictor online in JavaScript. Analysed projection and predictor performance after election.
‘Fluvial’ Transport Patronage Visualiser
2019 - present
Combined TransLink SEQ origin-destination and GTFS data to diagrammatically visualise stop-by-stop patronage for bus and ferry routes, first with Python, now with Rust.
QICA Score Preparation
2019 - 2020
Transcribed, proofread, laid out and transposed an 85-page conductor’s score, in preparation for a planned July 2020 performance.
‘Plants vs Cars’ App
August - October 2021
Developed geographic algorithms, code & user interfaces for a mobile app (Expo/React Native) gamifying public & active transport usage. Team project as part of UQ’s DECO3801 course.
Room Localisation
April - May 2015
Wrote WiFi analysis code, performing data gathering, storage and presentation on an Android device. This project was part of the CSSE4011 course, co-supervised by CSIRO researchers.
Experience
Course Tutor
University of Queensland — 2022 - 2024
Taught practicals (assisting students with their code) & tutorials (concepts, worked exercises). Marked presentations and reports. Answered student questions throughout the semester. Developed new practical assignments.
Education
Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security)
University of Queensland — 2020 - 2021
Coursework previously completed for a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Computer) from 2012 to 2016.
Skills
Technical
Data analysis (spreadsheet, spatial and programmatic). HTML5 web stack. Basic Linux server administration. Discrete analog electronics. Office software. QGIS. Python, C, SQL, Java, Rust.
Communication
Determining (and negotiating) client requirements in a services context. Meeting procedure and minuting. Report-writing. Graphic design. Social media administration.
Leadership & Community
Queensland University Musical Society
- Secretary (2021 - 2023)
- Treasurer (2018 - 2021)
- Librarian (2017)
- Fundraising Officer (2014 - 2016)
Pirate Party Australia
- Secretary (2018 - present)
- Registered Officer (2017 - 2018)
Posts
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nparty - comparing House and Senate
My original goal with n-party-preferred analysis, back in 2016-2017, was to apply One Nation’s 2016 Senate performance to state seats to get a good idea of their between-seats variation. I could then apply state-level aggregate polling numbers to estimate results in each seat.
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Effective frequency calculator
If a station gets four trains per hour, that’s one every fifteen minutes, right?
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A Queensland state election predictor using the 2022 Senate results as a basis
The same non-uniform swing model, updated for 2024 with Senate data from 2022 rather than 2016. -
Thoughts on Brisbane Metro
Brisbane’s busway network is a victim of its own success. The “Metro” project, while misleadingly named, is what’s possible as an incremental upgrade.
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Modelling SA1-booth correspondences
Elections have geographic aspects: people live somewhere and often your neighbours are similar to you socio-economically. Further, both boundaries and polling places can differ across the three levels of government, and they change over time.
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SEQ Rail: the next decades
Cross River Rail will soon be completed.
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Population and Transit Mapping
When designing a public transport system we have a number of goals. We want to (equitably) provide as many people as possible with a basic level of service. But in order to move the greatest number of people (e.g. to substitute for as many car trips as possible) we want a network design and resource that focuses service on a frequent grid-like pattern.
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Ferry extension up the Brisbane River
Something that comes up occasionally on comment sections that I see is the idea of extending the CityCat upriver from UQ. I suspect it’s not justifiable for journeys to (or past) the city but it might be worthwhile for more local trips.
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Three-Party-Preferred Graph Generator
As 3PP contests become more relevant, a need arises for analysis tools.
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Fluvial — a transit patronage visualiser
My local public transit authority, TransLink, releases origin-destination patronage data.
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Redistributions
I have authored two submissions to federal Redistribution Committees.
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Transit Maps
My favourite part of what graphic design I do is definitely the transit maps I draw.
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QLD state predictor from Senate 4PP - how'd it do?
Any predictor is not much good unless it's been tested. -
A Queensland state election predictor using the 2016 Senate results as a basis
Following on from previous work projecting the 2016 Senate results onto the new Queensland state seats, I thought I might try a non-uniform swing model. -
Queensland state projections from Federal Senate voting data
With the resurgence of One Nation, there's some need to model how they'd perform running all over Queensland in a state election. -
Music Theory
I once gave an ‘Introduction to Music Theory’ talk, on behalf of one of my choirs.
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MMP-OPV
When designing an parliamentary electoral system, there are two main considerations. First, how are people represented at the local level? Second, how are the people represented as a whole?
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DMCA Bait with randomly generated 'music'
Do some music services really scan content for infringement or do they just make a judgement call based on the metadata?