- Marko Horvat

Hello, I’m Marko Horvat. I’m a tenured Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Computing, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb.

My main research focus is on artificial intelligence and machine learning. In particular, automated reasoning, knowledge representation, ontologies, information retrieval, decision support expert systems, affective computing, and the semantic web.

In this respect, I’m interested in the development of applied computer systems to foster knowledge description, integration, and discovery.

Currently, I am working on creating innovative data platform architectures for consolidation of minefield information obtained in the Non-technical Survey using data observatories, ontologies and knowledge graphs, and blockchain.

In parallel, and as a part of multi-year ongoing research, I’m investigating novel approaches based on ontologies, knowledge graphs, and semantic networks for the improvement of affective multimedia databases with different applications in mental health and wellbeing. Also, over the years I worked on a number of other scientific challenges and thought-provoking problems such as the AGI (artificial general intelligence) and SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence).

Currently (May 2022), I’m leading one project and participating in a further four. Previously, I have participated in several EU-funded research projects (H2020, COST, Erasmus+, ESF) and a number of national projects with industry and government. The research projects were concerned with the management of emotion and stress using intelligent computer systems, data mining of EEG time series data, linking of semantic and affective knowledge, and development of affective multimedia databases with tools for multifaceted document retrieval. Before my current position, I was a Senior Lecturer in computer science at the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, Zagreb University of Applied Sciences where I founded the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. There I also held the position of Vice-Dean for Science, International Collaboration, and New Study Programmes.

Before fully joining academia I was employed with domestic and foreign ICT sector companies as a software engineer, project manager, and finally department manager. In total, I have accumulated 22 years of work experience in IT and computer science.

Concerning scientific research, I’m the author of more than 80 scholarly publications including book chapters, textbooks, journal and conference articles, and given more than 50 presentations at international conferences and workshops. As a part of many formal and informal research collaborations and projects, several of them ongoing, I have developed several novel computer applications and application programming interfaces for knowledge management, automated reasoning, and document retrieval.

I am a reviewer for many respected journals and international conferences, as well as study programs and project proposals for foreign science foundations. Over the years I had the privilege to give several invited lectures, and I enjoy being actively engaged in the popularization of science.

I’m president of the Scientific Council of the Croatian Mine Action Center – Testing Center for Development and Training d.o.o. (HCR-CTRO). Also, I’m IEEE Senior Member and current Co-Chair of Technology Management Chapter (TEMS) in IEEE Croatia Section. Previously, I was Chair of Technology Management Chapter (TEMS) in IEEE Croatia Section and member of the Thematic Innovation Council for Health and Quality of Life of the Republic of Croatia.

This site showcases some of the research I’ve done, including my CV and a selection of software tools I have developed and which can be freely downloaded for academic purposes, and also (at a moment, unfortunately, a rather diminutive) blog on scientific topics that spark my curiosity.

Research interests: ontologies, knowledge representation, automated reasoning, machine learning, information retrieval, decision support systems, recommender systems, augmented cognition, affective computing, and the semantic web.

References to the selected papers in APA format (complete list):

2023

Horvat, M., Gledec, G., Jagušt, T., & Kalafatić, Z. (2023). Knowledge Graph Dataset for Semantic Enrichment of Picture Description in NAPS Database. Data, 8(9), 136.
Horvat, M., Jelečević, L., & Gledec, G. (2023). Comparative Analysis of YOLOv5 and YOLOv6 Models Performance for Object Classification on Open Infrastructure: Insights and Recommendations. In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (pp. 317-324). Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varazdin.
Akagic, A., Buza, E., & Horvat, M. Mapping RGB-to-NIR with Pix2Pix Image-to-Image Translation for Fire Detection Applications. In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (pp. 317-324). Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varazdin.
Horvat, M., Krmpotić, K., Krtalić, A., & Akagić, A. (2023). Bridging Blockchain Technology and Humanitarian Demining: A Novel Concept for Decentralized Storage of Landmine and UXO Locations. In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (pp. 369-375). Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varazdin.
Horvat, M., & Jerčić, P. (2023). A Survey on Usage of Multimedia Databases for Emotion Elicitation: A Quantitative Report on How Content Diversity Can Improve Performance. In 2023 46th MIPRO ICT and Electronics Convention (MIPRO) (pp. 1148-1154). IEEE.
Gledec, G., Horvat, M., Mikuc, M., & Blašković, B. (2023). A Comprehensive Dataset of Spelling Errors and Users’ Corrections in Croatian Language. Data, 8(5), 89.
Horvat, M., Krtalić, A., Akagić, A., Krmpotić, K., & Skender, S. Humanitarian Demining Using Data Observatories and Data Lakes. 19th International Symposium “Mine Action 2023”, 31-35.
Mekterović, I., Brkić, L., & Horvat, M. (2023). Scaling Automated Programming Assessment Systems. Electronics, 12(4), 942.

2022

Horvat, M., Jelečević, Lj., & Gledec, G. (2022). A comparative study of YOLOv5 models performance for image localization and classification. In Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (pp. 349-356). Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varazdin.
Horvat, M., Doljanin, D., & Jagušt, T. (2022). Quantitative measures for classification of human upper body posture in video signal to improve online learning. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2570, No. 1). AIP Publishing.
Horvat, M., Jović, A., & Burnik, K. (2022). Investigation of relationships between discrete and dimensional emotion models in affective picture databases using unsupervised machine learning. Applied Sciences, 12(15), 7864.
Horvat, M., Stojanović, A., & Kovačević, Ž. (2022). An overview of common emotion models in computer systems. In 45th Jubilee International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2022), pp. 1152-1157.
Stojanović, A., Horvat, M., & Kovačević, Ž. (2022). An overview of data integration principles for heterogeneous databases. In 45th Jubilee International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2022), pp. 1264-1269.
Horvat, M., Jagušt, T., Prce Veseli, Z., Malnar, K., & Čižmar, Ž. (2022). An Overview of Digital Game-Based Learning Development and Evaluation Models. In 45th Jubilee International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2022), pp. 781-786.
Horvat, M., Krtalić, A., Bajić, M., Muštra, M., Laura, D., & Gold, H. (2022). MINEONT: A proposal for a core ontology in the aerial non-technical survey domain. In Book of Papers of 18th International Symposium Mine Action 2022, pp. 47-52.

2021

Vasilj, M., Skender, S., & Horvat, M. (2021). Model for improvement of nonprofit student organizations funding by machine learning and digital transition to blockchain. In 32nd Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (CECIIS 2021), pp. 229-236.
Horvat, M., Jović, A., & Burnik, K. Assessing the Robustness of Cluster Solutions in Emotionally-Annotated Pictures Using Monte-Carlo Simulation Stabilized K-Means Algorithm. Mach. Learn. Knowl. Extr. 2021, 3, 435-452. https://doi.org/10.3390/make3020022
Bajić, M., Gold, H., Horvat, M., Krtalić, A., Laura, D., & Muštra, M. (2021). The novel paradigm for a decision support system of the aerial non-technical survey. In Book of Papers of 17th International Symposium Mine Action 2021, pp. 62-68.
Doljanin, D., Pranjić, L., Jelečević, Lj., & Horvat, M. (2021). Adaptive Intelligent Agent for e-Learning: First Report on Enabling Technology Solutions. In 44th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2021), pp. 1945-1949.
Vasilj, M., Skender, S., Jurdana, M., & Horvat, M. (2021). DESPRO: Decentralized Business Platform for Student Non-profit Organizations. In 44th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2021), pp. 1934-1938.

2020

Horvat, M., & Jagušt, T. (2020). Emerging opportunities for education in the time of COVID-19: Adaptive e-learning intelligent agent based on assessment of emotion and attention. In 31st Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (CECIIS 2020).
Horvat, M. (2020). StimSeqOnt: An ontology for formal description of multimedia stimuli sequences. In 43rd International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2020), pp. 1378-1383.
Horvat, M., Jović, A., & Ivošević, D. (2020). Lift Charts-Based Binary Classification in Unsupervised Setting for Concept-Based Retrieval of Emotionally Annotated Images from Affective Multimedia Databases. Information, 11(9), 429.
Filjar, R., Sklebar, I., & Horvat, M. (2020). A Comparison of Machine Learning-Based Individual Mobility Classification Models Developed on Sensor Readings from Loosely Attached Smartphones. Communications-Scientific letters of the University of Zilina, 22(4), 153-162.

2019 and older

Fuzul, E., & Horvat, M. (2019). Formal model of student competencies in higher education and required skills in the job market. In 30th Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (CECIIS 2019) (pp. 43-49).
Horvat, M., Dobrinić, M., Novosel, M., & Jerčić, P. (2018). Assessing emotional responses induced in virtual reality using a consumer EEG headset: A preliminary report. In 41st International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2018) (pp. 1175-1179).
Horvat, M. (2017). A Brief Overview of Affective Multimedia Databases. In 28th Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems (CECIIS 2017) (pp. 3-11).
Dunđer, I., Horvat, M., & Lugović, S. (2017). Exploratory study of words and emotions in tweets of UK startup founders. In Communication Management Forum 2017 (CMF2017).
Horvat, M., Vuković, M., & Car, Ž. (2016). Evaluation of keyword search in affective multimedia databases. In Transactions on Computational Collective Intelligence XXI (pp. 50-68). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Horvat, M., Jednoróg, K., & Marchewka, A. (2016). Clustering of Affective Dimensions in Pictures: An exploratory analysis of the NAPS database. In 39th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2016) (pp. 1496-1501).
Dunđer, I., Horvat, M., & Lugović, S. (2016). Word occurrences and emotions in social media: Case study on a Twitter corpus. In 2016 39th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2016) (pp. 1284-1287).
Horvat, M., Kukolja, D., & Ivanec, D. (2015). Retrieval of multimedia stimuli with semantic and emotional cues: Suggestions from a controlled study. In 38th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2015), 1399-1402.
Horvat, M., Kukolja, D., & Ivanec, D. (2015). Comparing affective responses to standardized pictures and videos: A study report. In 38th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2015), 1394-1398.
Horvat, M., Bogunović, N., & Ćosić, K. (2014). STIMONT: a core ontology for multimedia stimuli description. Multimedia tools and applications, 73(3), 1103-1127.
Kukolja, D., Popović, S., Horvat, M., Kovač, B., & Ćosić, K. (2014). Comparative analysis of emotion estimation methods based on physiological measurements for real-time applications. International journal of human-computer studies, 72(10-11), 717-727.
Horvat, M., Popović, S., & Cosić, K. (2013). Multimedia stimuli databases usage patterns: a survey report. In 36th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2013), 993-997.
Horvat, M., Grbin, A., & Gledec, G. (2013). Labeling and retrieval of emotionally-annotated images using WordNet. International Journal of Knowledge-based and Intelligent Engineering Systems, 17(2), 157-166.
Horvat, M., Popović, S., & Ćosić, K. (2012). Towards semantic and affective coupling in emotionally annotated databases. In 2012 Proceedings of the 35th International Convention MIPRO (pp. 1003-1008). IEEE.
Horvat, M., Nakić, A., & Otočan, I. (2012). Impact of technological synchronicity on prospects for CETI. International Journal of Astrobiology, 11(1), 51-59.
Ćosić, K., Popović, S., Kukolja, D., Horvat, M., & Dropuljić, B. (2010). Physiology-driven adaptive virtual reality stimulation for prevention and treatment of stress related disorders. CyberPsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13(1), 73-78.
Horvat, M., Popovic, S., Bogunovic, N., & Cosic, K. (2009). Tagging multimedia stimuli with ontologies. In 32nd International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO 2009) (pp. 203-208).
Horvat, M. (2006). Calculating the probability of detecting radio signals from alien civilizations. International Journal of Astrobiology, 5(2), 143-149.

Please feel free to contact me regarding research cooperation, project opportunities, and other common professional topics.