Professor Phil Howlett

Emeritus Professor UniSA STEM

Mawson Lakes Campus (OC1-26)
tel +61 8 830 23195

email Phil.Howlett@unisa.edu.au

Research Degree Supervisor

About me

Philip George Howlett; Professor of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, UniSA; BSc (Hons); Adelaide, 1965; PhD, Adelaide, 1971. 1965 – 1989, Tutor, Senior Tutor, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, SA Institute of Technology; 1990 – 1995, Senior lecturer, UniSA; 1996 – 2000, Associate Professor, UniSA; 2001 – 2010, Professor of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, UniSA; 2010 - present, Emeritus Professor, UniSA. Winner ASOR Ren Potts medal 2015; Winner Aust MS ANZIAM medal 2018.

UniSA STEM

Harnessing connections across science, technology, engineering and mathematics, UniSA STEM creates innovative solutions and groundbreaking developments across teaching, learning and research.

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Research

Research focus

Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mathematical Sciences
Engineering
Information and Computing Sciences

Research

Outputs

Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Books

Year	Output
2013	Avrachenkov, KE, Filar, JA & Howlett, PG 2013, Analytic perturbation theory and its applications, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia.

Chapters

Year	Output
2009	Howlett, PG, Pearce, C & Torokhti, A 2009, 'New perspectives on optimal transforms of random vectors', in C Pearce & E Hunt (eds), Optimization: structure and applications, Springer, UK, pp. 245-259.
2009	Piantadosi, J & Howlett, PG 2009, 'Analysis of a simple control policy for stormwater management in two connected dams', in C Pearce & E Hunt (eds.), Optimization: structure and applications, Springer, UK, ch. 15, pp. 273-306.

Journal Articles

Year	Output
2025	Howlett, P, Beare, BK, Franchi, M, Boland, J & Avrachenkov, K 2025, 'Granger-Johansen representation theorem for integrated time series on Banach space', Journal of Time Series Analysis, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 432-457. Open access 1 1
2025	Howlett, P, Kapsis, M & Pudney, P 2025, 'Optimal driving strategies for trains on level track with bounds on energy consumption during specified intermediate time intervals', Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, vol. 36, article no. 100550, pp. 1-18. Open access
2025	Howlett, P, Torokhti, A & Soto-Quiros, P 2025, 'Decrease in computational load and increase in accuracy for filtering of random signals', Mathematics, vol. 13, no. 12, article no. 1945, pp. 1-20. Open access
2024	Howlett, P & Torokhti, A 2024, 'Optimal approximation of a large matrix by a sum of projected linear mappings on prescribed subspaces', Electronic Journal of Linear Algebra, vol. 40, pp. 585-605. Open access 1 1
2023	Bassom, A, Howlett, P & Taylor, P 2023, 'An explicit Maclaurin series solution to a classic non-autonomous abstract evolution equation', Applied Mathematics Letters, vol. 139, article no.108537, pp. 1-8. Open access 1 1
2023	Howlett, P & Pudney, P 2023, 'The cost differential for an optimal train journey on level track', Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, vol. 26, article no. 100393, pp. 1-21. Open access 1
2023	Howlett, P, Pudney, P & Albrecht, A 2023, 'An optimal train journey with bounds on energy consumption during specified intermediate time intervals', Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, vol. 27, article no. 100391, pp. 1-18. Open access 4 3
2023	Torokhti, A & Howlett, P 2023, 'Optimal estimation of distributed highly noisy signals within KLT-Wiener archetype', Digital Signal Processing: A Review Journal, vol. 143, article no. 104225, pp. 1-10. Open access 2 2
2022	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Pudney, P 2022, 'Optimal driving strategies for two successive trains on level track with safe separation', IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 280-295. Open access 7 6
2022	Howlett, P, Pudney, P & Albrecht, A 2022, 'Optimal driving strategies for a fleet of trains on level track with prescribed intermediate signal times and safe separation', Transportation Science, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 399-423. Open access 7 5 1
2022	Howlett, P, Torokhti, A, Pudney, P & Soto-Quiros, P 2022, 'Multilinear Karhunen-Loève transforms', IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 70, pp. 5148-5163. 5 4
2020	Albrecht, A, Avrachenkov, K, Howlett, P & Verma, G 2020, 'Evolutionary dynamics in discrete time for the perturbed positive definite replicator equation', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 148-184. Open access 3 3
2020	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Verma, G 2020, 'Inversion of operator pencils on Banach space using Jordan chains when the generalized resolvent has an isolated essential singularity', Linear Algebra and Its Applications, vol. 595, pp. 33-62. Open access 6 5
2020	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Verma, G 2020, 'Inversion of operator pencils on Hilbert space', Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society, vol. 108, no. 2, pp. 145-167. Open access 5 4
2020	Howlett, P & Torokhti, A 2020, 'An optimal linear filter for estimation of random functions in Hilbert space', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 274-301. Open access 2 2
2020	Scheepmaker, GM, Pudney, PJ, Albrecht, AR, Goverde, RM & Howlett, PG 2020, 'Optimal running time supplement distribution in train schedules for energy-efficient train control', Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, vol. 14, article no. 100180, pp. 1-15. Open access 38 32 2
2019	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Verma, G 2019, 'The fundamental equations for the generalized resolvent of an elementary pencil in a unital Banach algebra', Linear Algebra and Its Applications, vol. 574, pp. 216-251. Open access 7 7
2019	Borwein, J & Howlett, P 2019, 'Checkerboard copulas of maximum entropy with prescribed mixed moments', Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society, vol. 107, no. 3, pp. 302-318. Open access 2 2
2018	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Verma, G 2018, 'Optimal splitting of Parseval frames using Walsh matrices', Poincare Journal of Analysis and Applications, vol. 2018, no. 2, SI 11, pp. 39-58. Open access 1
2018	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2018, 'The two-train separation problem on non-level track-driving strategies that minimize total required tractive energy subject to prescribed section clearance times', Transportation Research Part B: Methodological: An International Journal, vol. 111, pp. 135-167. Open access 23 21 3
2018	Howlett, P 2018, 'The two-train separation problem on level track with discrete control', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 137-174. Open access 3 3
2016	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Pudney, P 2016, 'The cost-time curve for an optimal train journey on level track', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 10-32. Open access 10 8
2016	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2016, 'An optimal timetable for the two train separation problem on level track', Pacific Journal of Optimization, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 327-353. Open access 3
2016	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2016, 'The key principles of optimal train control. Part 1: formulation of the model, strategies of optimal type, evolutionary lines, location of optimal switching points', Transportation Research Part B: Methodological: An International Journal, vol. 94, pp. 482-508. Open access 269 217 7
2016	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2016, 'The key principles of optimal train control. Part 2: existence of an optimal strategy, the local energy minimization principle, uniqueness, computational techniques', Transportation Research Part B: Methodological: An International Journal, vol. 94, pp. 509-538. Open access 207 159 4
2016	Boland, J, Howlett, P, Piantadosi, J & Zakaria, R 2016, 'Modelling and simulation of volumetric rainfall for a catchment in the Murray-Darling Basin', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 119-142. Open access 2 2
2016	Howlett, P 2016, 'A new look at the rate of change of energy consumption with respect to journey time on an optimal train journey', Transportation Research Part B: Methodological: An International Journal, vol. 94, pp. 387-408. Open access 48 40
2015	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2015, 'Energy-efficient train control: the two-train separation problem on level track', Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 163-182. Open access 51 24 1
2015	Torokhti, A, Howlett, PG & Laga, H 2015, 'Estimation of stochastic signals under partially missing information', Signal Processing, vol. 111, pp. 199-209. 4 3
2014	Albrecht, AR, Howlett, PG & Pearce, C 2014, 'The fundamental equations for inversion of operator pencils on Banach space', Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, vol. 413, no. 1, pp. 411-421. Open access 11 10
2014	Borwein, J, Howlett, P & Piantadosi, J 2014, 'Modelling and simulation of seasonal rainfall using the principle of maximum entropy', Entropy: International and Interdisciplinary Journal of Entropy and Information Studies, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 747-769. Open access 15 15
2014	Howlett, P, Pearce, C & Piantadosi, J 2014, 'A new look at urban water storage in a series of connected dams', Journal of Applied Probability, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 118-135.
2014	Howlett, PG 2014, 'The best weighted gradient approximation to an observed function', Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society, vol. 98, no. 1, pp. 54-68. Open access 1 1
2014	Torokhti, A & Howlett, P 2014, 'Estimation of noisy data: the case of partially missing information', Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematics, vol. 46, pp. 305-312.
2014	Torokhti, A, Howlett, PG & Laga, H 2014, 'Estimation of large sets of stochastic signals: the case of sparse sampling', Sampling Theory in Signal and Image Processing, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 207-230. 2
2013	Albrecht, AR, Howlett, PG, Pudney, PJ & Vu, X 2013, 'Energy-efficient train control: From local convexity to global optimization and uniqueness', Automatica, vol. 49, no. 10, pp. 3072-3078. 199 161
2013	Pudney, P, Albrecht, A, Bunker, J & Howlett, P 2013, 'Estimating the robustness of long-haul train plans', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, vol. 227, no. 5, pp. 582-590. Open access 2 1
2013	Zakaria, R, Howlett, P, Piantadosi, J, Boland, J & Moslim, N 2013, 'Modelling catchment rainfall using sum of correlated gamma variables', Jurnal Teknologi, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 85-88. Open access 2
2012	Piantadosi, J, Howlett, P, Borwein, J & Henstridge, J 2012, 'Maximum entropy methods for generating simulated rainfall', Numerical Algebra, Control and Optimization, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 233-256. Open access 13 11
2011	Albrecht, AR, Howlett, PG & Pearce, CE 2011, 'Necessary and sufficient conditions for the inversion of linearly-perturbed bounded linear operators on Banach space using Laurent series', Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, vol. 383, no. 1, pp. 95-110. Open access 8 8
2011	Piantadosi, J, Howlett, PG & Borwein, J 2011, 'Copulas with maximum entropy', Optimization Letters, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 99-125. 26 26
2010	Albrecht, AR, de Jong, J, Howlett, PG & Pudney, PJ 2010, 'Estimating the robustness of train plans for single-line corridors with crossing loops', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 51, pp. 768-783. Open access 1
2010	Howlett, P, Albrecht, A & Pearce, C 2010, 'Laurent series for inversion on linearly perturbed bounded linear operators on Banach space', Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, vol. 366, no. 1, pp. 112-123. Open access 7 6
2010	Howlett, PG, Boland, JW & Filar, JA 2010, 'Environmental Problems, Uncertainty, and Mathematical Modeling', Notices of the American Mathematical Society, vol. 57, no. 10, pp. 1286-1294. Open access 2
2010	Piantadosi, J, Howlett, PG, Bean, NG & Beecham, S 2010, 'Modelling systems of reservoirs using structured Markov chains', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Water Management, vol. 163, no. 8, pp. 407-416. 4 4
2010	Pudney, PJ, Howlett, PG, Wadhawan, IB & Piantadosi, J 2010, 'Scheduling trains with cross entropy optimisation', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 51, pp. 332-346. Open access 1
2010	Thomas, P, Piantadosi, J & Howlett, PG 2010, 'Investigating the Optimal Management of the Helps Road Drain Urban Stormwater Harvesting System within the City of Salisbury', European Water, vol. 29, pp. 11-19.
2010	Webby, RB, Boland, JW, Howlett, PG & Metcalfe, A 2010, 'Tracking a rainfall index constrained by Conditional Value-at-Risk', in A. Metcalfe, P Howlett & M Nelson, EMAC-2009, Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-14. Open access
2010	Zakaria, R, Piantadosi, J, Howlett, PG, Metcalfe, A & Boland, JW 2010, 'Using the skew-t copula to model bivariate rainfall distribution', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 51, pp. 231-246. Open access 12
2009	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P & Coleman, D 2009, 'Application of OD matrices to the design of train services', Australasian Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 95-104.
2009	Avrachenkov, K, Ejov, V, Howlett, PG & Pearce, C 2009, 'Inversion of analytically perturbed linear operators that are singular at the origin', Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, vol. 353, no. 1, pp. 68-84. Open access 15 15
2009	Colgan, L, Howlett, P & Thredgold, J 2009, 'A perturbation analysis to solve the linear equations for symmetric deformation of a deep spherical shell', Mathematical and Computer Modelling, vol. 49, no. 5-6, pp. 918-935. Open access 2 1
2009	Howlett, P & Piantadosi, J 2009, 'An application of the pump-to-fill policy for management of urban stormwater', Environmental Modeling and Assessment, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 195-207. 2 2
2009	Howlett, P, Pudney, P & Vu, X 2009, 'Local energy minimization in optimal train control', Automatica, vol. 45, no. 11, pp. 2692-2698. 397 329
2009	Torokhti, A & Howlett, P 2009, 'Filtering and compression for infinite sets of stochastic signals', Signal Processing, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 291-304. 8 6
2008	Howlett, PG 2008, 'The Best Gradient Approximation to an Observed Function', Applied Mathematical Sciences, vol. 2, no. 25-28, pp. 1365-1376.
2008	Metcalfe, A, Boland, JW, Howlett, PG & Webby, R 2008, 'Stochastic linear programming and conditional value-at-risk for water resources management', The ANZIAM Journal, vol. 48, pp. 885-898. Open access
2008	Piantadosi, J, Metcalfe, A & Howlett, PG 2008, 'Stochastic dynamic programming (SPD) with a conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) criterion for management of storm-water', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 348, no. 3-4, pp. 320-329. 44 34

Conferences

Year	Output
2015	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2015, 'Energy-efficient train control: the two-train separation problem on level track', 6th International Conference on Railway Operations Modelling and Analysis - RailTokyo2015, RailTec, paper no. 163, pp. 1-17.
2015	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2015, 'Optimal driving strategies for two successive trains on level track subject to a safe separation condition', ACC2015 American Control Conference, IEEE, pp. 2925-2929. 14 12
2014	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X, Zhou, P & Chen, D 2014, 'Using maximum power to save energy', International conference on intelligent transportation systems, IEEE Press, pp. 1205-1208. 6 3
2013	Albrecht, A, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Zhou, P 2013, 'The two train separation problem on level track', in P Gaertner et al. (eds), 22nd National Conference of the Australian Society for Operations Research, The Australian Society for Operations Research, pp. 247-253. Open access
2013	Borwein, J, Howlett, P & Piantadosi, J 2013, 'Modelling and simulation of seasonal rainfall', in P Gaertner et al. (eds), 22nd National Conference of the Australian Society for Operations Research, The Australian Society for Operations Research, pp. 300-306. Open access
2013	Torokhti, A, Howlett, P & Laga, H 2013, 'Estimation of large data sets on the basis of sparse sampling', 10th International Conference on Sampling Theory and Applications (SampTA 2013), The European Association for Signal Processing, pp. 388-391. Open access
2013	Torokhti, A, Howlett, P & Laga, H 2013, 'Filtering of large signal sets: an almost blind case', in J Terzakis, C Paleologu & T Gyires (eds), Eighth International Multi-Conference on Computing in the Global Information Technology (ICCGI 2013), International Academy, Research, and Industry Association, pp. 101-105. Open access
2013	Zhou, P, Pudney, P & Howlett, P 2013, 'In-train forces from energy-efficient driving strategies', in P Gaertner et al. (eds), 22nd National Conference of the Australian Society for Operations Research, Australian Society for Operations Research, pp. 293-299. Open access
2012	Zakaria, R, Howlett, P, Piantadosi, J & Boland, JW 2012, 'Rainfall modelling using the sum of independent gamma variables', in B Ari-Wahjoedi, R Razali & M Narahari (eds), 2nd International Conference on Fundamental and Applied Sciences 2012, ICFAS 2012, AIP - American Institute of Physics, vol. 1482, no. 1, pp. 369-372. Open access 2 1
2011	Albrecht, AR, Howlett, PG, Pudney, PJ & Vu, X 2011, 'Optimal train control: analysis of a new local optimization principle', 2011 American Control Conference, IEEE, pp. 1928-1933, article no. 5991057. Open access 28 4
2011	Piantadosi, J, Howlett, P, Borwein, J & Henstridge, J 2011, 'Generation of simulated rainfall data at different time-scales', 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation - Sustaining Our Future: Understanding and Living with Uncertainty, MODSIM2011, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, pp. 2654-2660. 2 2
2011	Pudney, P, Howlett, P, Albrecht, A, Coleman, D, Vu, X & Koelewijn, J 2011, 'Optimal driving strategies with intermediate timing points', 2011 IHHA specialist technical session : Excellence in Heavy Railroading, International Heavy Haul Association, pp. 1-4.
2010	Coleman, D, Howlett, P, Pudney, P, Vu, X & Yee, R 2010, 'Coasting boards vs optimal control', 2010 IET Conference on Railway Traction Systems, IEEE, vol. 2010, no. 13342, pp. 1-5. Open access 11
2010	Zakaria, R, Boland, JW, Piantadosi, J & Howlett, PG 2010, 'Spatial rainfall modelling using the sum of four correlated gamma variables', in Yang Dan (ed.), 3rd International Conference on Environmental and Computer Science 2010, IEEE, pp. 261-265.
2009	Albrecht, A, De Jong, J, Howlett, PG, Panton, DM & Pudney, PJ 2009, 'Assessing Australian interstate train plans', Conference on Transportation Scheduling and Disruption Handling, CTI-Monash Centre for Optimisation, pp. 1-15.
2009	Coleman, D, Stolz, C, Pudney, PJ, Howlett, PG, Vu, X & Albrecht, AR 2009, 'Using simulation to assess the benefits of energy-efficient driving strategies', 9th International heavy haul conference, China Railway Publishing House, pp. 1048-1052. 1
2009	Thomas, P, Piantadosi, J & Howlett, PG 2009, 'Simulation and analysis of the Helps Road Drain urban stormwater harvesting system in the City of Salisbury', in Allen Gale, Australian Water Association.
2008	Howlett, PG, Vu, X, Benjamin, BR & Pudney, PJ 2008, 'Freightmiser: Optimal Speed Profiles for Long Haul Trains', in Prof. Kumares C Sinha, AATT, pp. 1-12.
2008	Torokhti, A & Howlett, PG 2008, 'Optimal Data Compression and Filtering: The Case of Infinite Signal Sets', in C Ardil, World academy of science, engineering and technology, WASET, WASET, vol. 47, pp. 157-168. Open access

Research

Patents

Details	Registry	Status
Improving timekeeping and energy efficiency for trains Pudney, Peter John; Howlett, Philip George; Albrecht, Amie Renee	WO	Filed
System for improving timekeeping and saving energy on long-haul trains Howlett, Philip George; Pudney, Peter John	WO	Filed

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Organisation	Country
Beijing Jiaotong University	CHINA
Costa Rica Institute of Technology	COSTA RICA
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)	NETHERLANDS
Dutch Railways (Netherlands)	NETHERLANDS
Flinders University	AUSTRALIA
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	UNITED KINGDOM
INRIA Sohpia Antipolis	FRANCE
Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica	COSTA RICA
King Abdulaziz University	SAUDI ARABIA
National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology	FRANCE
Queensland University of Technology	AUSTRALIA
Sapienza University of Rome	ITALY
TTG Transportation Technology	AUSTRALIA
University of Adelaide	AUSTRALIA
University of Malaysia Pahang	MALAYSIA
University of Melbourne	AUSTRALIA
University of Newcastle	AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia	AUSTRALIA
University of Sydney	AUSTRALIA
University of Tasmania	AUSTRALIA
University of Twente	NETHERLANDS
University of Western Australia	AUSTRALIA
Utrecht University	NETHERLANDS

External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition	Year
ANZIAM Medal Australian and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics	2018
Ren Potts Medal The Australian Society for Operations Research	2015

Teaching & student supervision

Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title	Student status
Computational methods for the inversion of matrix pencils	Current
Managing peak power demands for a fleet of trains	Current
Markov models and computer simulations of water management in connected dams with an application to a stormwater system in the City of Salisbury	Completed
Mathematical modelling of rainfall in the Murray-Darling Basin	Completed
Optimal transforms of random vectors	Completed
Pickup and delivery with queueing	Completed
Stochastic dynamic programming and conditional value-at-risk to evaluate water management policies	Completed
Train scheduling on long haul railway corridors	Completed

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Professor Phil Howlett

About me

About me

UniSA STEM

About me

Professional Associations

Experience

Qualifications

Work history

Research

Research focus

Projects

Outputs

Books

Chapters

Journal Articles

Conferences

Patents

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

ANZIAM Medal

Ren Potts Medal

Teaching & student supervision

Courses and programs

Research degree supervision

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