AM

Software developer & researcher

Alistair
Macvicar.

My work spans software development, applied AI research, and connected systems. Before computer science, I worked in telecommunications.

Areas of interest
  • Software
  • Computer vision
  • Applied AI
  • Connected systems
View résumé

Timeline.

2026

ResearchAugust 2026 Photovoltaic forecastingSSRN · preprint Comparing machine learning models for solar generation across multiple buildings and forecast horizons.View details
ResearchAugust 2026

Photovoltaic forecasting

SSRN · preprint

Preprint

A study of solar generation forecasts using data from three Flinders University buildings. The work compares temporal and graph-based models, including how models transfer to a newly added system.

This is a preprint. The August 2026 version updates an earlier July release.

Machine learningSolar energyTime series
Read the preprint (opens in a new tab)
Citation

Macvicar, A. C., Mahmud, M. A., Stephenson, M., Brinkworth, R., & Senaratne, A. (2026). Machine Learning Approaches for Multi-Horizon and Distributed System Photovoltaic Forecasting. SSRN preprint. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7369951

ResearchIn preparation · 2026 Coordinating Multi-LLM InteractionsManuscript in preparation A paper on coordinating interactions between multiple language models.View details
ResearchIn preparation · 2026

Coordinating Multi-LLM Interactions

Manuscript in preparation

In preparation

I am currently writing this paper. Publication details will be added when available.

LLMs

2025

ProjectsAdelaide Fringe · 2025 Welcome to the CaveFlinders University · The Void Technology for an interactive performance with actors, audiences, and AI characters.View details
ProjectsAdelaide Fringe · 2025

Welcome to the Cave

Flinders University · The Void

I developed technology for this theatre and research project, coordinating language-model interactions in a 3D environment.

Presented at Adelaide Fringe, the show brought two audience participants together with performers and three AI characters to solve puzzles. Flinders lists my contribution as developer.

LLMsInteractive performance3D
Flinders project record (opens in a new tab)Watch the project (opens in a new tab)
Projects2025–2026 · repository activity Vehicle telemetry dashboardFleet monitoring A dashboard prototype for exploring vehicle health, journeys, and live telemetry.View details
Projects2025–2026 · repository activity

Vehicle telemetry dashboard

Fleet monitoring

Built with Nuxt, Vue, and TypeScript, with charts for engine temperature, fuel use, speed, and distance.

The repository includes a simulated fleet and route data for demonstrating updates and diagnostics.

NuxtVueTypeScriptCharts
View the source (opens in a new tab)
ProjectsNovember 2025 · repository activity Forget-Me-NoteNotes app prototype A browser-based notes editor with local storage and cloud-sync integration.View details
ProjectsNovember 2025 · repository activity

Forget-Me-Note

Notes app prototype

An experiment in organising notes with browser storage, a local-first database, and cloud synchronisation. The code also explores embeddings for working with note content.

TypeScriptDexieNotes
View the source (opens in a new tab)
ProjectsMarch 2025 · repository activity Pixel Art ConverterImages and animated GIFs A Python tool for converting images and GIFs into pixel art.View details
ProjectsMarch 2025 · repository activity

Pixel Art Converter

Images and animated GIFs

Groups pixels into blocks and chooses representative colours, with adjustable scale and optional blur. Animated GIFs are processed frame by frame while retaining their timing.

PythonImage processingPixel art
View the source (opens in a new tab)
ResearchMarch 2025 Mining informativeness in scene graphsPattern Recognition Letters Helping computer vision models focus on relationships that carry useful information.View details
ResearchMarch 2025

Mining informativeness in scene graphs

Pattern Recognition Letters

Published paper

An image can be described as objects and the relationships between them. But more relationships do not always mean a better description.

This research studies which relationships are useful for downstream tasks. My contribution involved evaluating scene graph data and testing pruning methods, comparing model accuracy and training performance.

  • Co-author · validation and data curation
  • Pattern Recognition Letters, volume 189, pages 64–70
Computer visionScene graphsVisual question answering
Read the paper (opens in a new tab)Research tooling (GraphVQA fork) (opens in a new tab)
Citation

Neau, M., Santos, P. E., Bosser, A.-G., Macvicar, A., & Buche, C. (2025). Mining informativeness in scene graphs: Prioritizing informative relations in Scene Graph Generation for enhanced performance in applications. Pattern Recognition Letters, 189, 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patrec.2025.01.008

2024

Work2024–July 2026 Tech LeadNIIN · Innovation Central Adelaide Prototypes, connected systems, and technical support for industry collaborations.View details
Work2024–July 2026

Tech Lead

NIIN · Innovation Central Adelaide

Designed and built a smart-shopping prototype for Coles Australia, representing Innovation Central Adelaide at Cisco Live MasterTech.

Worked with Cisco specialists on vehicle telemetry and predictive-maintenance capabilities for South Australian ambulance services. Supported student industry projects with project management and technical guidance.

PrototypingTelemetryIndustry collaboration
Work2024 Control Systems EngineerSAFEgroup Automation Web portals and remote telemetry for industrial IoT systems.View details
Work2024

Control Systems Engineer

SAFEgroup Automation

Developed a web portal for monitoring the health and effectiveness of industrial IoT solutions, with role-based access and a modular approach to customer deployments.

Designed, programmed, and tested a remote solar and battery monitoring solution intended for more than 30 locations across Australia, using microcontrollers, satellite connectivity, and LoRaWAN.

  • Role-based monitoring portal
  • Remote solar and battery telemetry
AngularTailwind CSSIoTLoRaWAN
Education2024 Bachelor of Computer ScienceFlinders University A foundation in software, databases, and computer science. GPA 6.6.View details
Education2024

Bachelor of Computer Science

Flinders University

Completed a Bachelor of Computer Science at Flinders University with a GPA of 6.6.

Alongside my studies, I worked in teaching and research, connecting the theory to practical software and computer vision problems.

  • GPA 6.6
  • College of Science and Engineering Honours Scholarship · 2024
  • Summer Research Awards · 2023 and 2025
Computer scienceSoftware development
Projects2024–2025 · repository activity HermesMessaging app An open-source social app with one-to-one chats, group messaging, and friends lists.View details
Projects2024–2025 · repository activity

Hermes

Messaging app

One of my larger personal projects: a functioning social platform with one-to-one and group messaging and friends lists.

I built both the frontend and backend, working through the API and database design needed to connect all the moving parts.

  • Full frontend and backend
  • One-to-one and group messaging
ReactTypeScriptExpressPostgreSQL
Frontend source (opens in a new tab)Backend source (opens in a new tab)

2023

Talks2023 LLMs and academic integrityFlinders University · Tonsley A talk on using language models for productivity while maintaining academic integrity.View details
Talks2023

LLMs and academic integrity

Flinders University · Tonsley

Presented “Using LLMs for productivity while maintaining Academic Integrity” at Flinders University, Tonsley.

LLMsEducation
Talks2023 Testing LLMs through gamesPalo Alto Networks · Palo Alto A talk exploring the limits of language models through game creation.View details
Talks2023

Testing LLMs through games

Palo Alto Networks · Palo Alto

Presented “Testing the limits of current LLMs: Using AI to create games” at Palo Alto Networks in Palo Alto.

LLMsGames
Projects2023–2024 · repository activity Résumé GameAn interactive résumé A playable résumé made with Python and Pygame.View details
Projects2023–2024 · repository activity

Résumé Game

An interactive résumé

An experiment in presenting my experience through a small game, with distinct rooms, collision handling, and game state.

PythonPygameGames
View the source (opens in a new tab)
Work2023–present Research AssistantFlinders University Computer vision, AI performance, and real-world telemetry problems.View details
Work2023–present

Research Assistant

Flinders University

Conducted computer vision research with Dr Paulo Santos and Maëlic Neau through a College of Science and Engineering Summer Research Award. The work examined scene graph data for visual question answering.

Further work included coordinating multiple language models for a Flinders University and Adelaide Fringe collaboration involving audiences and improvisational actors, and vehicle telemetry work with Cisco and Innovation Central Adelaide.

Research also includes machine learning for solar power forecasting.

  • Scene graph research published in Pattern Recognition Letters
  • Multi-LLM interactions for live performance
PythonComputer visionLLMsTelemetrySolar forecasting
Work2023–present Academic TutorFlinders University Teaching relational database modelling and Java programming.View details
Work2023–present

Academic Tutor

Flinders University

Delivered tutorials and practical sessions in relational database modelling and Java programming for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Provided assessment feedback and marking across multiple topics, supporting more than 200 students.

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
  • Tutorials, practical sessions, and assessment feedback
JavaDatabasesTeaching

2021

Work2021–2023 DirectorAMSD Communications Managing a telecommunications business and delivering NBN projects.View details
Work2021–2023

Director

AMSD Communications

Designed, developed, and installed telecommunications solutions for the NBN project with multiple delivery partners.

Worked across Australia to support training, rollouts, and upgrades. Managed clients, finances, and a team of three other technicians.

  • Business operations and client relationships
  • Interstate training and telecommunications delivery
TelecommunicationsLeadershipBusiness

2017

Work2017–2021 Leading HandFulton Hogan Leading a team of more than 50 technicians on the HFC NBN project.View details
Work2017–2021

Leading Hand

Fulton Hogan

Led a team of more than 50 technicians on the HFC NBN project.

Kept working on the tools to stay close to the technology and understand what the team needed on site.

  • Team leadership
  • Hands-on technical delivery
NBNHFCLeadership
Education2017 Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial TechnicianJB Hunter Technical training for work on the NBN network.View details
Education2017

Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial Technician

JB Hunter

Completed Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial Technician training with JB Hunter for the NBN network.

HFCTelecommunications

2013

Work2013–2017 SupervisorMcDonald’s My first job became my first experience managing a team.View details
Work2013–2017

Supervisor

McDonald’s

A job I started as a teenager turned into my first management experience, learning how to support a team and keep things moving.

PeopleOperations

Outside work.

Alistair with his black-and-white dog
Me and my dog.

Contact.

Messages are sent via FormSubmit (opens in a new tab). You can also send a draft from your email app.

DETAILS