Owheo Building, Room 245
Phone: +64 3 479 8501
Email: steven@cs.otago.ac.nz
I received my BSc (Hons) and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Otago, and completed my studies 2000. After working for a short time in Christchurch as a software developer I took up a lectureship at The University of Nottingham. In 2006 I returned to New Zealand and worked in commercial research and development at the Geospatial Research Centre and then Areograph Ltd before returning to the Computer Science Department as a lecturer in 2011.
My research interests are in computer vision, and particularly in the reconstruction of 3D scenes from multiple views. While there are a number of outstanding issues, recent advances mean that a wide range of scenes can be reconstructed from images alone. Applications of this technology include terrain modelling from aerial imagery, construction of architectural models, and generation of realistic environments for games and entertainment. I am also interested in related fields such as motion analysis, stereo vision, and image based rendering, as well as applications of computer vision and image processing to the analysis of scientific imagery.
For more information, please see my research pages.
Publications
Baker, L., Ventura, J., Langlotz, T., Gul, S., Mills, S., & Zollmann, S. (2023). Localization and tracking of stationary users for augmented reality. Visual Computer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00371-023-02777-2
Venn, L., & Mills, S. (2023). A VR tool for labelling 3D data sets. In W. Q. Yan, M. Nguyen & M. Stommel (Eds.), Image and vision computing: 37th International Conference IVCNZ 2022 revised selected papers: Lecture notes in computer science (Vol. 13836). (pp. 262-271). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-25825-1_19
Liu, J., Mills, S., & McCane, B. (2022). RocNet: Recursive octree network for efficient 3D processing. Computer Vision & Image Understanding, 103555. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.cviu.2022.103555
Park, N., Regenbrecht, H., Duncan, S., Mills, S., Lindeman, R. W., Pantidi, N., & Whaanga, H. (2022). Mixed reality co-design for indigenous culture preservation & continuation. Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality & 3D User Interfaces. (pp. 149-157). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/VR51125.2022.00006
Zollmann, S., Langlotz, T., Regenbrecht, H., Button, C., Lo, W. H., & Mills, S. (2022). Augmented reality for sports spectating and coaching. In V. Tzankova & M. Filimowicz (Eds.), Interactive sports technologies: Performance, participation, safety. (pp. 96-111). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003205111-7
Venn, L., & Mills, S. (2023). A VR tool for labelling 3D data sets. In W. Q. Yan, M. Nguyen & M. Stommel (Eds.), Image and vision computing: 37th International Conference IVCNZ 2022 revised selected papers: Lecture notes in computer science (Vol. 13836). (pp. 262-271). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-25825-1_19
Chapter in Book - Research
Zollmann, S., Langlotz, T., Regenbrecht, H., Button, C., Lo, W. H., & Mills, S. (2022). Augmented reality for sports spectating and coaching. In V. Tzankova & M. Filimowicz (Eds.), Interactive sports technologies: Performance, participation, safety. (pp. 96-111). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003205111-7
Chapter in Book - Research
Botterill, T., Signal, M., Mills, S., & Green, R. (2016). Design and calibration of multi-camera systems for 3D computer vision: Lessons learnt from two case studies. In F. Huang & A. Sugimoto (Eds.), Image and video technology: 7th Pacific Rim Symposium on Video and Image Technology (PSIVT) 2015 Workshops, revised selected papers: Lecture notes in computer science (Vol. 9555). (pp. 206-219). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-30285-0_17
Chapter in Book - Research
Fu, X., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Albert, M. (2015). NOKMeans: Non-Orthogonal K-means hashing. In D. Cremers, I. Reid, H. Saito & M.-H. Yang (Eds.), Computer Vision: 12th Asian Conference on Computer Vision 2014, revised selected papers, part 1: Lecture notes in computer science (Vol. 9003). (pp. 162-177). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-16865-4_11
Chapter in Book - Research
Fourie, J., Mills, S., & Green, R. (2010). Visual tracking using harmony search. In Z. W. Geem (Ed.), Recent advances in harmony search algorithm: Studies in computational intelligence (Vol. 270). (pp. 37-50). Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-04317-8
Chapter in Book - Research
Bartie, P., Mills, S., & Kingham, S. (2008). An egocentric urban viewshed: A method for landmark visibility mapping for pedestrian location based services. In A. Moore & I. Drecki (Eds.), Geospatical vision: New dimensions in cartography: Selected papers from the 4th National Cartographic Conference. (pp. 61-85). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Chapter in Book - Research
Baker, L., Ventura, J., Langlotz, T., Gul, S., Mills, S., & Zollmann, S. (2023). Localization and tracking of stationary users for augmented reality. Visual Computer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00371-023-02777-2
Journal - Research Article
Liu, J., Mills, S., & McCane, B. (2022). RocNet: Recursive octree network for efficient 3D processing. Computer Vision & Image Understanding, 103555. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.cviu.2022.103555
Journal - Research Article
Yan, X., Mills, S., & Knott, A. (2021). A neural network model for learning 3D object representations through haptic exploration. Frontiers in Neurorobotics, 15, 639001. doi: 10.3389/fnbot.2021.639001
Journal - Research Article
Cappuccio, F., Toy, V. G., Mills, S., & Adam, L. (2020). Three-dimensional separation and characterization of fractures in x-ray computed tomographic images of rocks. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 529263. doi: 10.3389/feart.2020.529263
Journal - Research Article
Chakraborti, T., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Pal, U. (2020). Distance Metric Learned Collaborative Representation Classifier (DML-CRC). IEEE Letters of the Computer Society, 3(2), 34-37. doi: 10.1109/LOCS.2020.2997647
Journal - Research Article
Moore, A., Daniel, B., Leonard, G., Regenbrecht, H., Rodda, J., Baker, L., Ryan, R., & Mills, S. (2020). Comparative usability of an augmented reality sandtable and 3D GIS for education. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 34(2), 229-250. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2019.1656810
Journal - Research Article
Regenbrecht, H., Park, J.-W., Ott, C., Mills, S., Cook, M., & Langlotz, T. (2019). Preaching voxels: An alternative approach to mixed reality. Frontiers in ICT, 6, 7. doi: 10.3389/fict.2019.00007
Journal - Research Article
Young, J., Langlotz, T., Cook, M., Mills, S., & Regenbrecht, H. (2019). Immersive telepresence and remote collaboration using mobile and wearable devices. IEEE Transactions on Visualization & Computer Graphics, 25(5), 1908-1918. doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2019.2898737
Journal - Research Article
Chakraborti, T., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Pal, U. (2018). LOOP Descriptor: Local Optimal Oriented Pattern. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 25(5), 635-639. doi: 10.1109/LSP.2018.2817176
Journal - Research Article
Feng, H., Eyers, D., Mills, S., Wu, Y., & Huang, Z. (2018). Principal component analysis based filtering for scalable, high precision k-NN search. IEEE Transactions on Computers, 67(2), 252-267. doi: 10.1109/TC.2017.2748131
Journal - Research Article
Shen, X.-l., Dou, Y., Mills, S., Eyers, D. M., Feng, H., & Huang, Z. (2018). Distributed sparse bundle adjustment algorithm based on three-dimensional point partition and asynchronous communication. Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, 19(7), 889-904. doi: 10.1631/FITEE.1800173
Journal - Research Article
Williams, J. N., Toy, V. G., Massiot, C., McNamara, D. D., Smith, S. A. F., & Mills, S. (2018). Controls on fault zone structure and brittle fracturing in the foliated hanging wall of the Alpine Fault. Solid Earth, 9, 469-489. doi: 10.5194/se-9-469-2018
Journal - Research Article
Botterill, T., Paulin, S., Green, R., Williams, S., Lin, J., Saxton, V., Mills, S., … Corbett-Davies, S. (2017). A robot system for pruning grape vines. Journal of Field Robotics, 34(6), 1100-1122. doi: 10.1002/rob.21680
Journal - Research Article
Green, D., Rodger, C. J., Brundell, J. B., Mills, S., & Brook, P. (2015). Scientific reification. Junctures, 16, 21-33.
Journal - Research Article
Johnson, R., Szymanski, L., & Mills, S. (2015). Hierarchical structure from motion optical flow algorithms to harvest three-dimensional features from two-dimensional neuro-endoscopic images. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 22(2), 378-382. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.08.004
Journal - Research Article
Khan, N., McCane, B., & Mills, S. (2015). Better than SIFT? Machine Vision & Applications, 26(6), 819-836. doi: 10.1007/s00138-015-0689-7
Journal - Research Article
Tang, X., Huang, Z., Eyers, D., Mills, S., & Guo, M. (2015). Scalable multicore k-NN search via Subspace Clustering for Filtering. IEEE Transactions on Parallel & Distributed Systems, 26(12), 3449-3460. doi: 10.1109/TPDS.2014.2372755
Journal - Research Article
Botterill, T., Mills, S., & Green, R. (2013). Correcting scale drift by object recognition in single-camera SLAM. IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, 43(6), 1767-1780. doi: 10.1109/tsmcb.2012.2230164
Journal - Research Article
Mills, S., & McLeod, P. (2013). Global seamline networks for orthomosaic generation via local search. Journal of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, 75, 101-111. doi: 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2012.11.003
Journal - Research Article
Bartie, P. J., Reitsma, F., & Mills, S. (2011). A combined GIS and stereo vision approach to identify building pixels in images and determine appropriate color terms. Journal of Spatial Information Science, 2, 59-83. doi: 10.5311/JOSIS.2011.2.6
Journal - Research Article
Bartie, P., Reitsma, F., Kingham, S., & Mills, S. (2011). Incorporating vegetation into visual exposure modelling in urban environments. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 25(5), 851-868. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2010.512273
Journal - Research Article
Botterill, T., Mills, S., & Green, R. (2011). Bag-of-words-driven, single-camera simultaneous localization and mapping. Journal of Field Robotics, 28(2), 204-226. doi: 10.1002/rob.20368
Journal - Research Article
Bartie, P., Reitsma, F., Kingham, S., & Mills, S. (2010). Advancing visibility modelling algorithms for urban environments. Computers, Environment & Urban Systems, 34(6), 518-531. doi: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2010.06.002
Journal - Research Article
Fourie, J., Mills, S., & Green, R. (2010). Harmony filter: A robust visual tracking system using the improved harmony search algorithm. Image & Vision Computing, 28(12), 1702-1716. doi: 10.1016/j.imavis.2010.05.006
Journal - Research Article
Stowers, J., Bainbridge-Smith, A., Hayes, M., & Mills, S. (2009). Optical flow for heading estimation of a quadrotor helicopter. International Journal of Micro Air Vehicles, 1(4), 229-239. doi: 10.1260/175682909790291474
Journal - Research Article
French, A. P., Mills, S., Swarup, R., Bennett, M. J., & Pridmore, T. P. (2008). Colocalization of fluorescent markers in confocal microscope images of plant cells. Nature Protocols, 3(4), 619-628. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2008.31
Journal - Research Article
Dharmasiri, S., Swarup, R., Mockaitis, K., Dharmasiri, N., Singh, S. K., Kowalchyk, M., … Mills, S., … Estelle, M. (2006). AXR4 is required for localization of the auxin influx facilitator AUX1. Science, 312(5777), 1218-1220. doi: 10.1126/science.1122847
Journal - Research Article
Park, N., Regenbrecht, H., Duncan, S., Mills, S., Lindeman, R. W., Pantidi, N., & Whaanga, H. (2022). Mixed reality co-design for indigenous culture preservation & continuation. Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality & 3D User Interfaces. (pp. 149-157). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/VR51125.2022.00006
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Gul, S., Baker, L., Boult, R., Mills, S., & Zollmann, S. (2021). Expert sample consensus applied to camera localization for AR sports spectators. Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ54163.2021.9653307
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Ott, C., John, S., Zwanenburg, S., Stanger, N., & Mills, S. (2021). Is this degree for me? Exploring computing students' study decisions. Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Computing Education Conference (ACE). (pp. 96-105). New York, NY: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3441636.3442310
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Zareei, S., Kelbe, D., Sirguey, P., Mills, S., & Eyers, D. M. (2021). Virtual ground control for survey-grade terrain modelling from satellite imagery. Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ54163.2021.9653389
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Baker, L., Mills, S., Zollmann, S., & Ventura, J. (2020). CasualStereo: Casual capture of stereo panoramas with spherical structure-from-motion. Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces. (pp. 782-790). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/VR46266.2020.1581313146787
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Baker, L., Ventura, J., Zollmann, S., Mills, S., & Langlotz, T. (2020). SPLAT: Spherical Localization and Tracking in Large Spaces. Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces. (pp. 809-817). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/VR46266.2020.00105
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Chakraborti, T., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Pal, U. (2020). CoCoNet: A collaborative convolutional network applied to fine-grained bird species classification. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ51579.2020.9290677
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Chakraborti, T., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Pal, U. (2020). PProCRC: Probabilistic collaboration of image patches for fine-grained classification. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ51579.2020.9290537
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Liu, J., Mills, S., & McCane, B. (2020). RocNet: Recursive octree network for efficient 3D deep representation. Proceedings of the International Conference on 3D Vision (3DV). 1, (pp. 414-422). doi: 10.1109/3DV50981.2020.00051
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Liu, J., Mills, S., & McCane, B. (2020). Variational autoencoder for 3D voxel compression. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ51579.2020.9290656
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Petrie, F., & Mills, S. (2020). Real time ray tracing of analytic and implicit surfaces. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ51579.2020.9290653
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
van Sint Annaland, Y., Szymanski, L., & Mills, S. (2020). Predicting cherry quality using siamese networks. 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ51579.2020.9290674
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Baker, L., Zollmann, S., Mills, S., & Langlotz, T. (2019). SoftPOSIT for augmented reality in complex environments: Limitations and challenges. Proceedings of the International Conference Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ.2018.8634761
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Bennani, H., & Mills, S. (2019). A light in dark places: 3D reconstruction from stereo views with a moving light source. Proceedings of the International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ48456.2019.8961003
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Chakraborti, T., McCane, B., Mills, S., & Pal, U. (2019). Fine-grained collaborative K-means clustering. Proceedings of the International Conference Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ.2018.8634796
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Clark-Younger, H., Mills, S., & Szymanski, L. (2019). Stacked hourglass CNN for handwritten character location. Proceedings of the International Conference Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ.2018.8634694
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Park, J.-W., Mills, S., Whaanga, H., Mato, P., Lindeman, R. W., & Regenbrecht, H. (2019). Towards a Māori telepresence system. Proceedings of the International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). doi: 10.1109/IVCNZ48456.2019.8961016
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
