Current Organizations / Institutes

The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article


Sheraz Alam has a total of 41 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:


Latest Publications

  • Open Access

    Energy Efficiency Maximization for CR-NOMA based Smart Grid Communication Network

    by Mubashar Sarfraz, Sheraz Alam, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Asad Mahmood

    Managing massive data flows effectively and resolving spectrum shortages are two challenges that Smart Grid Communication Networks (SGCN) must overcome. To address these problems, we provide a combined optimization approach that makes use of Cognitive Radio (CR) and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) technologies. Our work focuses on using user pairing (UP) and power allocation (PA) techniques to maximize energy efficiency (EE) in SGCN, particularly within Neighbourhood Area Networks (NANs). We develop a joint optimization problem that takes into account the real-world limitations of a CR-NOMA setting. This problem is NP-hard, nonlinear, and nonconvex by nature. To address the computational complexity of the problem, we use the Block Coordinate Descent (BCD) method, which breaks the problem into UP and PA subproblems. Initially, we proposed the Zebra-Optimization User Pairing (ZOUP) algorithm to tackle the UP problem, which outperforms both Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) and non-optimized NOMA (UPWO) by 78.8\% and 13.6\%, respectively, at a SNR of 15 dB. Based on the ZOUP pairs, we subsequently proposed the PA approach, i.e., ZOUPPA, which significantly outperforms UPWO and ZOUP by 53.2\% and 25.4\%, respectively, at an SNR of 15 dB. A detailed analysis of key parameters, including varying SNRs, power allocation constants, path loss exponents, user density, channel availability, and coverage radius, underscores the superiority of our approach. By facilitating the effective use of communication resources in SGCN, our research opens the door to more intelligent and energy-efficient grid systems. Our work tackles important issues in SGCN and lays the groundwork for future developments in smart grid communication technologies by combining modern optimization approaches with CR-NOMA.

  • Open Access

    A Review of Multi-UAV Task Allocation Algorithms for a Search and Rescue Scenario

    by Sajjad A. Ghauri, Mubashar Sarfraz, Rahim Ali Qamar, Muhammad Farhan Sohail, Sheraz Alam Khan

    Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play a crucial role in enhancing search and rescue (SAR) operations by accessing inaccessible areas, accomplishing challenging tasks, and providing real-time monitoring and modeling in situations where human presence is unsafe. Multi-UAVs can collaborate more efficiently and cost-effectively than a single large UAV for performing SAR operations. In multi-UAV systems, task allocation (TA) is a critical and complex process involving cooperative decision making and control to minimize the time and energy consumption of UAVs for task completion. This paper offers an exhaustive review of both static and dynamic TA algorithms, confidently assessing their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. It provides valuable insights into addressing research questions related to specific UAV operations in SAR. The paper rigorously discusses outstanding issues and challenges and confidently presents potential directions for the future development of task assignment algorithms. Finally, it confidently highlights the challenges of multi-UAV dynamic TA methods for SAR. This work is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of multi-UAV dynamic TA algorithms and confidently emphasizes critical open issues and research gaps for future SAR research and development, ensuring that readers feel informed and knowledgeable.


  • Open Access

    Automatic Modulation Recognition Based on the Optimized Linear Combination of Higher-Order Cumulants

    by Asad Hussain, Sheraz Alam, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Mubashir Ali, Husnain Raza Sherazi, Adnan Akhunzada, Iram Bibi, Abdullah Gani

    Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) is used in various domains—from general-purpose communication to many military applications—thanks to the growing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and related communication technologies. In this research article, we propose an innovative idea of combining the classical mathematical technique of computing linear combinations (LCs) of cumulants with a genetic algorithm (GA) to create super-cumulants. These super-cumulants are further used to classify five digital modulation schemes on fading channels using the K-nearest neighbor (KNN). Our proposed classifier significantly improves the percentage recognition accuracy at lower SNRs when using smaller sample sizes. A comparison with existing techniques manifests the supremacy of our proposed classifier.


  • Open Access

    Capacity Optimization of Next-Generation UAV Communication Involving Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access

    by Mubashar Sarfraz, Muhammad Farhan Sohail, Sheraz Alam, Muhammad Javvad Ur Rehman, Sajjad Ahmed Ghauri, Khaled Rabie, Hasan Abbas, Shuja Ansari

    Unmanned air vehicle communication (UAV) systems have recently emerged as a quick, low-cost, and adaptable solution to numerous challenges in the next-generation wireless network. In particular, UAV systems have shown to be very useful in wireless communication applications with sudden traffic demands, network recovery, aerial relays, and edge computing. Meanwhile, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been able to maximize the number of served users with the highest traffic capacity for future aerial systems in the literature. However, the study of joint optimization of UAV altitude, user pairing, and power allocation for the problem of capacity maximization requires further investigation. Thus, a capacity optimization problem for the NOMA aerial system is evaluated in this paper, considering the combination of convex and heuristic optimization techniques. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using multiple heuristic techniques and deployment scenarios. The results prove the efficiency of the proposed NOMA scheme in comparison to the benchmark technique of orthogonal multiple access (OMA). Moreover, a comparative analysis of heuristic techniques for capacity optimization is also presented.


  • Open Access

    A Cumulants-Based Human Brain Decoding

    by Raheel Zafar, Muhammad Javvad Ur Rehman, Sheraz Alam, Muhammad Arslan Khan, Asad Hussain, Rana Fayyaz Ahmad, Faruque Reza, Rifat Jahan

    Human cognition is influenced by the way the nervous system processes information and is linked to this mechanical explanation of the human bodys cognitive function. Accuracy is the key emphasis in neuroscience which may be enhanced by utilising new hardware, mathematical, statistical, and computational methodologies. Feature extraction and feature selection also play a crucial function in gaining improved accuracy since the proper characteristics can identify brain states efficiently. However, both feature extraction and selection procedures are dependent on mathematical and statistical techniques which implies that mathematical and statistical techniques have a direct or indirect influence on prediction accuracy. The forthcoming challenges of the brain-computer interface necessitate a thorough critical understanding of the complicated structure and uncertain behavior of the brain. It is impossible to upgrade hardware periodically, and thus, an option is necessary to collect maximum information from the brain against varied actions. The mathematical and statistical combination could be the ideal answer for neuroscientists which can be utilised for feature extraction, feature selection, and classification. That is why in this research a statistical technique is offered together with specialised feature extraction and selection methods to increase the accuracy. A score fusion function is changed utilising an enhanced cumulants-driven likelihood ratio test employing multivariate pattern analysis. Functional MRI data were acquired from 12 patients versus a visual test that comprises of pictures from five distinct categories. After cleaning the data, feature extraction and selection were done using mathematical approaches, and lastly, the best match of the projected class was established using the likelihood ratio test. To validate the suggested approach, it is compared with the current methods reported in recent research.


  • Retracted
    Open Access

    A Weighted Cluster Head Selection Algorithm for Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks

    by Syed Asif Ali, Mubashar Sarfraz, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Asad Mahmood, Shahid Basir, Teweldebrhan Mezgebo Kebedew, Sheraz Alam

    The wireless sensor networks (WSNs) lifetime is mainly dependent on the RE of the sensor nodes (SeN). In recent years, energy minimization in a WSN has been a prominent research topic, and numerous solutions have been proposed. This research focuses on the energy minimization of the SeNs where firstly, K-medoid clustering algorithm is applied to create clusters. Second, a weighted cluster head selection technique is used to choose a cluster head (CH) by integrating three independent weights associated with an SeN: energy, distance from the centroid, and distance from the sink node (SN). According to the energy level and distance from the SN and clusters centre, each node is assigned a constant weight. The simulation results are compared to existing methodologies, and the results show that the suggested networks lifetime enhances.


  • Open Access

    Random Graph-Based M-QAM Classification for MIMO Systems

    by Mubashar Sarfraz, Sheraz Alam, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Asad Mahmood, M. Nadeem Akram, M. Javvad Ur Rehman, M. Farhan Sohail, Teweldebrhan Mezgebo Kebedew

    Automatic modulation classification (AMC) has been identified to perform a key role to realize technologies such as cognitive radio, dynamic spectrum management, and interference identification that are arguably pivotal to practical SG communication networks. Random graphs (RGs) have been used to better understand graph behavior and to tackle combinatorial challenges in general. In this research article, a novel modulation classifier is presented to recognize M-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals using random graph theory. The proposed method demonstrates improved recognition rates for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and single-input single-output (SISO) systems. The proposed method has the advantage of not requiring channel/signal to noise ratio estimate or timing/frequency offset correction. Undirected RGs are constructed based on features, which are extracted by taking sparse Fourier transform (SFT) of the received signal. This method is based on the graph representation of the SFT of the 2nd, 4th, and 8th power of the received signal. The simulation results are also compared to existing state-of-the-art methodologies, revealing that the suggested methodology is superior.


  • CSA-Assisted Gabor Features for Automatic Modulation Classification

    by Syed Ihtesham Hussain Shah, Antonio Coronato, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Sheraz Alam, Mubashar Sarfraz


  • Open Access

    A Novel Hybrid Cuckoo Search- Extreme Learning Machine Approach for Modulation Classification

    by Syed Ihtesham Hussain Shah, Sheraz Alam, Sajjad A. Ghauri, Asad Hussain, Faraz Ahmed Ansari

    This paper presents a novel hybrid Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) with Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) for the classification purposes of the digitally modulated signals such as Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). Nine modulation schemes having different orders have been considered for this research work. First, the Gabor filter is used to extract the key features from the received signal which are then optimized by CSA. Finally, ELM is used to classify the modulation schemes using these optimized features. Our proposed CSA-ELM approach is not only fast convergent and robust but also manifests improved percentage classification accuracy at low SNRs and lower sample size for both AWGN and Rayleigh fading channels.