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Position

Professor and Group Head : Control Systems

Qualifications 

B.Eng.(Electronics)(cum laude) (Pret) 
S.M. MIT
PhD (Electrical) Wits
MBA (Wits)

Professional status

Registered as Professional Engineer since 1990 (ECSA)

Memberships

Pr.Eng, FSAAE, FSAIEE, SMIEEE, FSAIMC, SMISA

Editorial Boards

• Editor-in-Chief of Control Engineering Practice (2005-2010) 
• Associate Editor of Control Engineering Practice (2010 to present)
• Editor: Control for the Journal of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (2001-2005) 

International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC)

• Chair of the IFAC Foundation Board
• IFAC Advisor

• Chair of the Control Engineering Practice Paper Prize Award Committee (2020-2023)

• Chair of the Publications Committee (2017-2020)

• Immediate Past President (2014-2017)
• President (2011-2014)
• President-Elect (2008-2011)
• Chair of the Election Committee (2008-2011)
• Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee (2008-2011)
• Council Member (2002-2017)
• Member of the Technical Board (1999-2002)
• Member of the IFAC Technical Committee on Mining, Metals, and Minerals processing

19^th IFAC World Congress, Cape Town, 24-29 August 2014

IFAC2014 website

IFAC2014 Synthesis Video

Members of the control systems group at IFAC2014

SABC News video aired on 25 August 2014

Channel Africa Radio Interview aired on 27 August 2014: 

 

18^th IFAC MMM Symposium, Stellenbosch, 28-30 August 2019

Members of the control systems group at IFAC MMM2019

South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC), the IFAC NMO in RSA (SACAC)

• President (1997-1999)
• Past President and Executive committee member (1999-current)

MIT Club of South Africa

• President and Founder (2003-2005)
• Executive Committee Member (2005-2010)

South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) 

• Council Member (2002-2005)
• Chair of the Publications Committee (2004-2006)

Visiting Address

Engineering Tower Building 14-21
Main Campus, University of Pretoria
0002 Pretoria
South Africa

Mailing Address

Department of Electrical Electronic & Computer Engineering
University of Pretoria
0002 Pretoria
South Africa

Telephone

+27 12 420-2172 (intl)
012 420-2172 (loc)

Research Topics

• Model-based control and optimisation in the process industries
  • Help industry to better achieve their commercial targets by making processes more efficient 
  • Help industry to meet their sustainablility (ESG) targets by saving water, energy, and reducing carbon emissions
• Model-based control of infectious diseases
  • Develop treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden in a population
  • Model-based analysis and control of the transmission of tuberculosis and covid-19

Teaching Undergraduate

• Automation EBT 410
• Control Systems EBB 320
• Circuits EBN 121
• Electricity and Electronics EBN122

Teaching Postgraduate

• Multivariable Control Systems EMB732

Honours/Awards

• Rated as an internationally acclaimed researcher by the South African National Research Foundation (2022)
• Exceptional academic achiever, University of Pretoria (2020)
• Received the Chinese Government Friensdhip Award (2019)
• Presented the 67^thBernard Price memorial lecture series of the SAIEE (2018)
• Appointed as Chief Academic Master of a Chinese Government 111 Project on "Intelligent Control and Decision Optimization for Manufacturing Process", Central South University, Changsha, China (2017)
• Appointed as IFAC Advisor (2017)
• Exceptional academic achiever, University of Pretoria (2017)
• Rated as an internationally acclaimed researcher by the South African National Research Foundation (2016)
• SAIEE President’s Award (2014)
• Exceptional academic achiever, University of Pretoria (2013)
• Rated as an internationally acclaimed researcher by the South African National Research Foundation (2011)
• IFAC Outstanding Service Award (2008)
• Elected Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering (2006)
• Certificate of merit for paper published in the Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (2004)
• Academic achiever of excellence, University of Pretoria (2002)
• Mintek Achievement Award for “Process control of ROM milling circuits” (1992)
• Dean's Prize for the best final year student in Electronic Engineering (1985)

General 

1. I. Craig et al., Control in the Process Industries, in “The Impact of Control Technology”, T. Samad and A.M. Annaswamy (eds.), IEEE Control Systems Society, 2011, available at http://www.ieeecss.org/main/IoCT-report.
2. Last CEP Editorial: Craig, I.K., Valedictory editorial, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 18, No. 8, 2010, pp. 837-838.
3. IEEE CSM Interview with Ian Craig: People in Control - Model and Metal. Re, L.D.; Craig, I., IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Vol. 27, Issue 5, 2007, pp. 18-23.

Model-based control and optimisation in the process industries 

1. Burchell, J.J., J.D. le Roux, and Craig, I.K., Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Improved Water Management and Throughput Stability for Tailings Reprocessing, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 131, 2023, Article 105385.

2. Ziolkowski, L., Le Roux, J.D., and Craig, I.K., Extremum seeking control for optimization of an open-loop grinding mill using grind curves, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 114, 2022, pp. 54-70.

3. Wiid, A.J., J.D. le Roux, and I. K. Craig, Pressure Buffering Control to Reduce Pollution and Improve Flow Stability in Industrial Gas Headers, Control Engineering Practice, vol. 115, 2021, Article 104904.

4. Oosthuizen, D.J., J.D. le Roux, and I. K. Craig, A dynamic flotation model to infer process characteristics from online measurements, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 167, 2021, Article 106878.

5. Wiid, A.J., J.D. le Roux, and I. K. Craig, Pressure Measurement Location Selection in Industrial Gas Headers for Buffering Control, Computers & Chemical Engineering, 107178, 2021.

6. Wiid, A.J., J.D. le Roux, and I. K. Craig, Modelling of Methane-Rich Gas Pipeline Networks for Simulation and Control, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 92, 2020, pp. 234-245.

7. Le Roux, J.D., Steinboeck, A., Kugi, A., and Craig, I.K., Steady-state and dynamic simulation of a grinding mill using grind curves, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 152, 2020, Article 106208.

8. Viljoen, J.H., Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Hybrid non-linear model predictive control of a cooling water network, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 97, 2020, Article 104319.

9. Sun, B., Yang, C., Wang, Y., Gui, W., Craig, I., and L. Olivier, A comprehensive hybrid first principles/machine learning modeling framework for complex industrial processes, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 86, 2020, pp. 30–43.

10. Meyer, E.J., Olivier, M.C., Matumba L., and Craig I.K., Model predictive control simulation, implementation and performance assessment of a coal comminution circuit, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 144, 2019, 106024. Video describing the implementation is available from: https://www.ge.com/digital/customers/exxaro-and-wabtec-bump-throughput-coal-operation

11. Le Roux, J.D. and Craig, I.K., A plant-wide control framework for a grinding mill circuit, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 58, 2019, pp.11585–11600.

12. Botha, S., Le Roux, J.D., and Craig, I.K., Hybrid non-linear model predictive control of a run-of-mine ore grinding mill circuit, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 123, 2018, pp.49–62.

13. Viljoen, J.H., Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Dynamic Modelling of Induced Draft Cooling Towers with Parallel Heat Exchangers, Pumps and Cooling Water Network, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 68, 2018, pp.34–51.

14. Olivier, L.E. and Craig, I.K., Should I Shut down my Processing Plant? - An Analysis in the Presence of Faults, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 56, 2017, pp. 35–47.

15. Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Economic Hybrid Non-linear Model Predictive Control of a Dual Circuit Induced Draft Cooling Water System, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 53, 2017, pp. 37–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/j.jprocont.2017.02.009.

16. Le Roux, J.D., Steinboeck, A., Kugi, A., and Craig, I.K., An EKF observer to estimate semi-autogenous grinding mill hold-ups, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 51, 2017, pp. 27–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jprocont.2016.12.006.

17. Le Roux, J.D., Olivier, L.E., Naidoo, M.A., Padhi, R., and Craig, I.K., Throughput and product quality control for a grinding mill circuit using Nonlinear MPC, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 42, 2016, pp. 35-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.jprocont.2016.04.007.2016.

18. Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Energy Reduction for a Dual Circuit Cooling Water System Using Advanced Regulatory Control, Applied Energy, Vol. 171, 2016, pp. 287-295.

19. Olivier, L.E. and Craig, I.K., Development and application of a model-plant mismatch expression for linear time-invariant systems, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 32, 2015, pp. 77-86.

20. Meyer, E.J., and Craig, I.K., Dynamic model for a coal dense medium drum separator in coal beneficiation, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 77, 2015, pp. 78-85.

21. Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Modelling of a Dual Circuit Induced Draft Cooling Water System for Control and Optimisation Purposes, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2015, pp. 105-114.

22. Le Roux, J.D., Padhi, R., and Craig, I.K., Optimal Control of Grinding Mill Circuit using Model Predictive Static Programming: A New Nonlinear MPC Paradigm, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 24, No. 12, 2014, pp. 29-40.

23. Meyer, E.J., and Craig, I.K., Coal dense medium separation dynamic and steady-state modelling for process control, Minerals Engineering, Volumes 65, 2014, pp. 98-108.
24. Le Roux, J.D. and Craig, I.K., Reducing the number of size classes in a cumulative rates model used for process control of a grinding mill circuit, Powder Technology, Vol. 246, Sep. 2013, pp. 169-181.
25. Matthews, B., Craig, I.K., Demand Side Management of a Run-of-Mine Ore Milling Circuit, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 21, No. 6, 2013, pp. 759-768.
26. Le Roux, J.D., Craig, I.K., D.G. Hulbert, and A.L. Hinde, Analysis and validation of a run-of-mine ore grinding mill circuit model for process control, Minerals Engineering, Volumes 43–44, 2013, pp. 121-134.
27. Olivier, L.E. and Craig, I.K., Model-plant mismatch detection and model update for a run-of-mine ore milling circuit under model predictive control, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 23, No. 1, 2013, pp. 100-107.
28. Ricker, N.L, Muller, C.J., and Craig, I.K., Fuel-gas blending benchmark for economic performance evaluation of advanced control and state estimation. Journal of Process Control, Vol. 22, No. 6, 2012, pp. 968-974.  For downloadable code see: http://faculty.washington.edu/ricker/Blending_Benchmark/Benchmark.htm
29. Craig, I.K., Grinding mill modelling and control: past, present and future, Plenary Lecture, 31st Chinese Control Conference, Hefei, China, 25-27 Jul. 2012. 
30. Olivier, L.E., Huang, B., and Craig, I.K., Dual particle filters for state and parameter estimation with application to a run-of-mine ore mill, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2012, pp. 710-717.
31. Olivier, L.E., Craig, I.K., and Y.Q. Chen, Fractional Order and BICO Disturbance Observers for a Run-of-Mine Ore Milling Circuit, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2012, pp. 3-10.
32. Muller, C.J., Craig, I.K., and Ricker, N.L., Modelling, Validation, and Control of an Industrial Fuel Gas Blending System, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 21, No. 6, 2011, pp. 852-860. 
33. Meyer, E.J., and Craig, I.K., The development of dynamic models for a dense medium separation circuit in coal beneficiation, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 10, 2010, pp. 791–805.
34. Coetzee, L.C., Craig, I.K., and Kerrigan, E.C., Robust model predictive control of a run-of-mine ore milling circuit. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Vol. 18, No. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 222-229.
35. Wei, D., and Craig, I.K., Economic performance assessment of two ROM ore milling circuit controllers. Minerals Engineering, Vol. 22, No. 9-10, 2009, pp. 826-839. 
36. Wei, D., Craig, I.K., Grinding Mill Circuits - A Survey of Control and Economic Concerns, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 90, No.1-4, 16 Feb. 2009, pp. 56-66.
37. Bauer, M., and Craig, I.K., Economic assessment of advanced process control - A survey and framework, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2008, pp. 2-18.
38. Bauer, M., Craig, I.K., Tolsma, E., and de Beer, H., A profit index for assessing the benefits of process control, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 46, No. 17, 2007, pp. 5614-5623.
39. Oosthuizen, D.J., Craig, I.K., and Pistorius, P.C., Economic evaluation and design of an Electric Arc Furnace controller based on economic objectives, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2004, pp. 253-265. 
40. Craig, I.K., and Koch, I., Experimental design for the economic performance evaluation of industrial controllers, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2003, pp. 57-66. 
41. Craig I.K., and Henning, R.G.D., Evaluation of advanced industrial control projects: a framework for determining economic benefits, Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 8, No. 7, 2000, pp. 769-780.
42. Bekker, J.G., Craig, I.K., and Pistorius, P.C., Modeling and simulation of an electric arc furnace off-gas process, ISIJ International, Vol. 39, No.1, 1999, pp. 23-32.

 

​Model-based control of infectious diseases

1. Strydom, D., J.D. le Roux, and I. K. Craig, State Estimation for Non-linear State-space Transmission Models of Tuberculosis, Risk Analysis, 2023, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 339-357. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13901.
2. Olivier, L.E., Botha, S. and Craig, I.K., Optimized lockdown strategies for curbing the spread of COVID-19: A South African case study, IEEE Access. Vol. 8, 2020, pp. 205755-205765.  10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3037415
3. Olivier, L.E., and Craig, I.K., An epidemiological model for the spread of COVID-19: A South African case study, 2020. https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.08012 .
4. Küsel, R.R., Craig, I.K., and Stolz, A.C., Modelling the airborne infection risk of tuberculosis for a research facility in eMalahleni, South Africa, Risk Analysis, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2019, pp. 630-646.
5. du Toit, E.F. and Craig I.K., Selective pinning control of the average disease transmissibility in an HIV contact network, Physical Review E, Vol. 92, 012810, 2015.
6. du Toit, E.F. and Craig, I.K., Quantifying the Impact of Two Pinning Control Strategies on HIV Incidence, IFAC Proceedings Volumes, Volume 47, Issue 3, 2014, pp. 7511-7516. DOI: 10.3182/20140824-6-ZA-1003.01005
7. Craig, I.K., HIV/AIDS therapy as a control engineering problem, Plenary Lecture, 2nd International Conference on Advances in Control and Optimization of Dynamical Systems, Bangalore, India, 16-18 Feb. 2012.
8. Jeffrey, A.M., Xia, X., and Craig, I.K., Structured Treatment Interruptions: A control mathematical approach to protocol design, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 17, No. 7, 2007, pp. 586-590. 
9. Doyle III, F.J., Jovanovic, L., Seborg, D.E., Parker, R.S., Bequette, B.W., Jeffrey, A.M., Xia, X., Craig, I.K., and Mc Avoy, T.J., A tutorial on biomedical process control, Journal of Process Control, Vol. 17, No. 7, 2007, pp. 571-572.
10. Craig, I.K., and Xia, X., Can HIV/AIDS be controlled?, IEEE Control Systems Magazine, February 2005, pp. 80-83. 
11. Craig, I.K., Xia, X., and Venter, J.W., Introducing HIV/AIDS Education into the Electrical Engineering Curriculum at the University of Pretoria, IEEE Transactions on Education, Vol. 47, No. 1, 2004, pp. 65-73. This paper is used extensively as a Progressive Analysis and Design Problem in the textbook “Control Systems Engineering” by Norman S. Nise, 5th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2008. 
12. Jeffrey, A.M., Xia, X., and Craig, I.K., When to Initiate HIV Therapy: A Control Theoretic Approach, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol.50, No. 11, 2003, pp. 1213- 1220.