MSI Lab

Monash Smart Infrastructure Lab

Monash VISTA is based in the Monash Smart Infrastructure (MSI) Lab at Monash Innovation Labs, giving the team access to advanced technology and support.

Digital Twin · Monash Innovation Labs 3D scan digital twin of the Monash Innovation Labs building
01.About the Lab

About the MSI Lab

The MSI Lab enables organisations to design, test, and deploy intelligent systems that operate in real environments.

The lab integrates building blocks for applied R&D delivery across Embedded Systems Engineering, Computer Vision and Perception, AI and Machine Learning, IoT and Edge Infrastructure, Data Platforms and Pipelines, and Digital Twins and Analytics.

MSI projects are delivered through structured, milestone-driven engagements, with a focus on technical validation, system integration, and deployment-ready outcomes, a process which Monash VISTA also follows.

VISIT THE MSI LAB ↗
VISTA · In the Lab
VISTA members working at the detection screens in the MSI Lab
02.Digital Infrastructure

What we build on

The lab's digital infrastructure gives VISTA a live building to develop, test and deploy in.

  1. IoT Sensory Infrastructure

    Hundreds of sensors deployed across the building, including cameras, LiDAR, radar and environmental sensors. New sensors can be developed and integrated, with actuation added where required.

  2. Digital Infra & Data Platform

    A vendor-agnostic edge/cloud data platform that integrates real-time data from heterogeneous sources for dashboards, analytics and digital-twin applications.

  3. Edge Compute Infrastructure

    Edge AI testbeds run models close to the devices, from perception models to compact edge-optimised models, with small language models explored where suitable. Privacy and compliance stay at the forefront.

  4. Communications Infrastructure

    Wired, wireless and hybrid networks, including LoRaWAN, sub-GHz Zigbee and 4G, selected to balance coverage, latency, reliability, security and scale.

  5. 3D Visualisation & Digital Twins

    Live or near-live data is connected to dashboards, 2D/3D digital representations and other visual interfaces for operations and analysis.

100+ SENSORS DEPLOYED IN LIVE ENVIRONMENTS
  • Environmental sensor
    ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR
  • Occupancy sensor
    OCCUPANCY SENSOR
  • People counter
    PEOPLE COUNTER
  • AI edge camera mounted on a building rail
    AI EDGE CAMERA
  • LiDAR sensor
    LIDAR
03.Lab Projects

Applied R&D in industry

The MSI Lab has built domain-specific smart infrastructure across different operating environments. The following examples capture how the technology the lab is developing around VISTA can be assembled into applied R&D solutions for councils, building operators, manufacturers, healthcare, and many other sectors.

Smart-City Asset and Hazard Assessment
Aerial map of a residential area with hazard locations flagged in red, and a site photo marking a damaged nature strip and footpath obstruction Excavator beside a damaged footpath, flagged for attention Skip bin and loose fencing on the footpath, flagged for attention Mud and debris across a driveway and footpath, flagged for attention Lab vehicles used for roadside data capture Map dashboard popup showing an assessed address with severity and hazard ratings Flagged for Attention

Smart Cities

The MSI Lab's Smart City R&D solutions connect sensing, location analytics, geospatial data and visualisation to support urban asset monitoring, assessment and protection. Pilots demonstrate how these capabilities can help councils understand asset condition, prioritise maintenance and improve urban infrastructure management.

Digital Twin of Monash Innovation Labs
Digital twin of Monash Innovation Labs showing a temperature heatmap and live environmental sensor readings

Smart Buildings

The MSI lab's Smart Building R&D solution integrates diverse IoT sensors, edge AI cameras, data platforms and 3D digital twins to reveal how spaces are used and how people, devices and robots interact. It supports applied research and validation of solutions for safer environments, more efficient operations and building services that respond to occupancy and environmental conditions.

AI Edge Pose Estimation Linked with a Digital Twin
3D digital twin of the Monash Innovation Labs floor
Pose estimation recognising a person walking
Walking
Pose estimation recognising a person drinking water
Drinking
Pose estimation recognising a person touching their leg
Touching Leg

Healthcare & Human-Centred Environments

The MSI lab's privacy-aware people mobility framework uses pose estimation to analyse movement without identifying individuals. It has demonstrated recognition of over 40 activities relevant to general mobility, factories and warehouses, aged care, healthcare, occupational health and disability support. The framework also supports applications such as activity-aware posture monitoring and feedback.

Manufacturing Quality Assurance Assessment
Computer vision detecting two truck ratchets, with confidence scores of 0.92 and 0.87
Rebar production line inside a steel manufacturing plant

Smart Factories

Computer vision has been applied to automated rebar quality assessment and truck-ratchet verification, with outputs designed for integration into business intelligence dashboards and operational applications. The solution can be extended to additional use cases, including assembly verification, defect detection and equipment condition monitoring.

Partnering with Monash VISTA means working with the Monash Smart Infrastructure Lab's people, infrastructure and experience too.

Partner with us