Overview
Background
Dr. Thilina Halloluwa is a Teaching-Focused Lecturer in Human-Centred Computing at the University of Queensland. A SEDA-accredited educator with academic and industry experience, his expertise is in Human-Centred Software Engineering, a field where he combines his passion for technology, learning, and well-being.
His work focuses on how software systems shape human behaviour, decision-making, agency, and wellbeing, particularly as AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday tools and professional practice. As an educator, he is committed to designing engaging, authentic learning experiences that help students connect software engineering theory with real-world practice. His broader academic interests include responsible technology design, AI-assisted programming, human-centred computing, and the development of software systems that are not only technically effective, but genuinely fit for human purpose.
Thilina holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from the Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. Prior to joining UQ, he lectured at the University of Sydney and served as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Colombo, where he led large-scale teaching and digital transformation initiatives.
Availability
- Dr Thilina Halloluwa is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctoral (Research) of Computer-Human Interaction, Queensland University of Technology
- Member, Association for Computing Machinery, Association for Computing Machinery
- Member, International Federation for Information Processing, International Federation for Information Processing
Research interests
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Human-Centred Software Engineering
My research focuses on integrating human-centred design principles throughout the software development lifecycle. I investigate methods to better understand user needs and contexts to improve the usability and user experience of complex socio-technical systems. The aim is to create software that is not only functional but also intuitive and accessible for its intended users. My work bridges the gap between requirements engineering and user-centred design
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ICT for Development (ICT4D): Technology for Social and Economic Empowerment
I explore the application of information and communication technologies to address development challenges in low-resource settings. My work examines how to design sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions that foster digital inclusion and create positive social impact. I am particularly interested in co-designing systems with communities to support education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, ensuring technology is both relevant and empowering.
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Human-Centred AI
My research in Human-Centred AI focuses on deriving insights into how users perceive and interact with intelligent systems. By emphasizing explainability (XAI), I aim to make AI decision-making processes transparent and interpretable. This work seeks to build trust and foster more effective human-AI collaboration, ensuring AI is understandable and aligned with human values.
Works
Search Professor Thilina Halloluwa’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Skeptical Chatbot: A Theory-Based Design for Judgment and Decision-Making in Auditing
De Silva, Chameera, Halloluwa, Thilina, Das, Abhijit, Singh, Abhijeet and Azim, Mohammad (2026). Skeptical Chatbot: A Theory-Based Design for Judgment and Decision-Making in Auditing. Interactions, 33 (3), 48-52. doi: 10.1145/3793428
2025
Conference Publication
Nitrogen Management in Sri Lankan Rice Cultivation Using UAV-Based Multispectral Imagery and Machine Learning
Fonseka, Ishani, Hewagamage, K.P, Rathnayake, Upul, Bandara, Rmus and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Nitrogen Management in Sri Lankan Rice Cultivation Using UAV-Based Multispectral Imagery and Machine Learning. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3789692.3789858
2025
Conference Publication
BotonyBuddy: AI-Enabled Precision Plant Nursery Management for Multicrop Disease Classification and Phenology-Aware Age Estimation
Pallewatta, Pandula, Arachchi, Samantha Mathara, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Kayuni, Trapp, Aleksandr, Tinmei, Bhattarai, Aditi, Halloluwa, Thilina, Nicodemas, Kelvin A and Kyei, Williams (2025). BotonyBuddy: AI-Enabled Precision Plant Nursery Management for Multicrop Disease Classification and Phenology-Aware Age Estimation. IEEE. doi: 10.1109/agreta68375.2025.11474109
2025
Conference Publication
Advances in Bird Bioacoustics Using Deep Learning: A Comprehensive Review of Vocal Mechanisms, Acoustic Communication, and Conservation Application
Pallewatta, Pandula, Arachchi, Samantha Mathara, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Kayuni, Trapp, Aleksandr, Tinmei and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Advances in Bird Bioacoustics Using Deep Learning: A Comprehensive Review of Vocal Mechanisms, Acoustic Communication, and Conservation Application. IEEE. doi: 10.1109/slaai-icai68534.2025.11318525
2025
Conference Publication
Spiking Neural Networks and fMRI-Constrained Spiking Neural Networks for Speech Recognition and Biological Signal Processing: A Comprehensive Review
Pallewatta, Pandula, Arachchi, Samantha Mathara, Rizvan, Sanam, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Kayuni, Trapp, Halloluwa, Thilina, Aleksandr, Tinmei, Benbrahim, Khalil and Maloba, Abraham (2025). Spiking Neural Networks and fMRI-Constrained Spiking Neural Networks for Speech Recognition and Biological Signal Processing: A Comprehensive Review. IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ibitec66306.2025.11472847
2025
Journal Article
Predicting SPAD values in Sri Lankan paddy rice fields using UAV-based vegetation indices
Fonseka, Ishani, Hewagamage, K.P., Rathnayake, Upul, Bandara, R.M.U. S and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Predicting SPAD values in Sri Lankan paddy rice fields using UAV-based vegetation indices. Transactions on Informatics and Data Science, 2 (2), 55-66. doi: 10.24090/tids.v2i2.14980
2025
Conference Publication
Understanding use of large language models in healthcare: an hci scoping review
Bandara, Pradeepa, Halloluwa, Thilina and Vyas, Dhaval (2025). Understanding use of large language models in healthcare: an hci scoping review. OzCHI 2024: 36th Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Brisbane, 30 November - 2 December 2024. New York, NY, United States: Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/3726986.3727023
2025
Journal Article
Augmenting human potential: the role of LLMs in shaping the future of HCI
Halloluwa, Thilina and De Silva, Chameera (2025). Augmenting human potential: the role of LLMs in shaping the future of HCI. Interactions, 32 (2), 42-45. doi: 10.1145/3712068
2025
Conference Publication
Multitasking neural network for cricket team selection with complex dynamics
Weerakoon, Tharika and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Multitasking neural network for cricket team selection with complex dynamics. 5th International Conference on Advanced Research in Computing (ICARC), Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, 19-20 February 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/icarc64760.2025.10962897
2025
Conference Publication
Beyond the black box: an interpretable machine learning approach to student dropout prediction
Pathiranagama, Melaka, Nanayakkara, Isuru, Abeyweera, Roshan and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Beyond the black box: an interpretable machine learning approach to student dropout prediction. 2025 7th International Conference on Advancements in Computing (ICAC), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9-10 December 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/ICAC69156.2025.11361534
2025
Conference Publication
Cricket team selection based on complex dynamics using machine learning
Weerakoon, Tharika and Halloluwa, Thilina (2025). Cricket team selection based on complex dynamics using machine learning. ICEEE 2024, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 11-12 September 2024. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-9112-5_21
2024
Conference Publication
Estimating story points in scrum: balancing accuracy and interpretability with explainable AI
Gamage, Isuru Walpita, Rathnayake, R.M.U.A. and Halloluwa, Thilina (2024). Estimating story points in scrum: balancing accuracy and interpretability with explainable AI. 2024 6th International Conference on Advancements in Computing (ICAC), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12-13 December 2024. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/icac64487.2024.10850952
2024
Conference Publication
An automated model for predicting weekly tea auction prices at Colombo tea auction for specific elevations and grades
Ariyaratne, Chandika, Arachchi, Samantha Mathara, Pallewatta, Pandula, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Seneviratne, Gihan and Halloluwa, Thilina (2024). An automated model for predicting weekly tea auction prices at Colombo tea auction for specific elevations and grades. 2024 6th International Conference on Advancements in Computing (ICAC), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12-13 December 2024. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/icac64487.2024.10851051
2024
Journal Article
A dataset of unmanned aerial vehicle multispectral images acquired over a field to identify nitrogen requirements
Fonseka, C. L. I. S., Halloluwa, Thilina, Hewagamage, K. P., Rathnayake, Upul and Bandara, R. M. U. S. (2024). A dataset of unmanned aerial vehicle multispectral images acquired over a field to identify nitrogen requirements. Data in Brief, 54 110479, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110479
2024
Conference Publication
MangoDB - A TJC Mango dataset for deep-learning-based on classification and detection in precision agriculture
Jayaweera, Sasadara, Sewwandi, Piyumika, Tharaka, Dimuthi, Pallewatta, Pandula, Halloluwa, Thilina, Wickramasinghe, Manjusri, Karunanayaka, Kasun and Arachchi, Samantha Mathara (2024). MangoDB - A TJC Mango dataset for deep-learning-based on classification and detection in precision agriculture. 2024 4th International Conference on Advanced Research in Computing (ICARC), Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, 21-24 February 2024. New York, NY USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/icarc61713.2024.10499698
2024
Conference Publication
BellCrop - A bell pepper leaf dataset for disease classification and yield enhancement using machine learning
Pallewatta, Pandula, Halloluwa, Thilina, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Seneviratne, Gihan and Arachchi, Samantha Mathara (2024). BellCrop - A bell pepper leaf dataset for disease classification and yield enhancement using machine learning. IECON 2024 - 50th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Chicago, IL, United States, 3-6 November 2024. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/IECON55916.2024.10905325
2024
Conference Publication
Quality grading methods for greenhouse grown crops using computer vision and machine learning - a review
Pallewatta, Pandula, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Arachchi, Samantha Mathara, Halloluwa, Thilina and Seneviratne, Gihan (2024). Quality grading methods for greenhouse grown crops using computer vision and machine learning - a review. IECON 2024 - 50th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Chicago, IL, United States, 3-6 November 2024. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/IECON55916.2024.10905669
2023
Journal Article
Video based action detection for online exam proctoring in resource-constrained settings
Felsinger, Dilky, Halloluwa, Thilina and Fonseka, Ishani (2023). Video based action detection for online exam proctoring in resource-constrained settings. Education and Information Technologies, 29 (10), 12077-12091. doi: 10.1007/s10639-023-12385-1
2023
Conference Publication
Effective identification of nitrogen fertilizer demand for paddy cultivation using UAVs
Illesinghe, Rusiri, Arachchi, Shayan Wickrama, Kavikarage, Heshan, Karunarathna, Anupama, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Halloluwa, Thilina and Rathnayake, Upul (2023). Effective identification of nitrogen fertilizer demand for paddy cultivation using UAVs. IECON 2023- 49th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Singapore, Singapore, 16-19 October 2023. New York, NY USA: IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/iecon51785.2023.10312483
2023
Conference Publication
Virtual reality based approaches for post ischemic stroke rehabilitation: current practices and future perspectives
Wickramasinghe, Buddhi, Karunanayaka, Kasun, Halloluwa, Thilina and Cheok, Adrian David (2023). Virtual reality based approaches for post ischemic stroke rehabilitation: current practices and future perspectives. 2023 3rd International Conference on Advanced Research in Computing (ICARC), Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, 23-24 February 2023. New York, NY USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/icarc57651.2023.10145731
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Thilina Halloluwa is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Inclusive Requirements and Context-Driven Design
This research project focuses on creating novel methods and AI-powered tools to capture the rich, diverse realities of user communities. We aim to translate a deep understanding of users' needs, contexts, and values directly into software models and design processes, making inclusivity a core and measurable engineering practice.
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Human-Centric Engineering Practice and Education
This research project is dedicated to pioneering the future of tech education and professional practice. We will investigate, design, and evaluate novel curricula, training frameworks, and AI-powered tools to embed ethics, inclusion, and societal impact as core competencies for the next generation of software engineers.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Learning in the Digital Age: Investigating the Role of Large Language Models to Address Dropout Rates in Higher Education
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Sutton, Associate Professor Dhaval Vyas
Media
Enquiries
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