National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications

 

Dr. Fotis Lazarakis
Research Director

 

 

Fotis I. LAZARAKIS received his diploma in Physics in 1990, from Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and his Ph.D in Mobile Communications, in 1997, from Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. From 1991 to 1994 he was a graduate student holding a scholarship from National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" (NCSRD), Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications (IIT) where he also worked from 1995 to 1996 as a research associate. From 1999 to 2002 he was with Telecommunications Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, as a senior research associate. Since 2003 he is with NCSRD, IIT, first as a Researcher and since 2013 as Researcher Director. His research interests include 3G, 4G, 5G and WLANs, propagation models and measurements, fading channel characteristics and capacity, diversity techniques, MIMO antennas and systems, radio resource management and performance evaluation of mobile/wireless networks. During the last 10 years he has focused his research effort in link-level and system-level performance evaluation of MIMO systems, especially HSPA and OFDM-based WLANs. Besides, he has been working on the interoperability of wireless technologies for single and multiple antenna systems. Furthermore, his research focused on the analysis of diversity schemes with correlated Weibull and Nakagami-m fading channels as well as on the performance evaluation of digital systems in generalized fading channels such as the newly investigated ç-ì and ê-ì models as well as generalized Gamma and Kappa. Within that frame, diversity techniques for cooperative relay systems have been evaluated using Amplify-And-Forward protocol. Recently, he has been working on spatial modulation techniques and 5G technologies. Moreover, his research involves wearable multiple antenna systems investigating channel modeling based on extensive measurements. Finally, he is currently leading the activities in his laboratory towards the development of a MIMO test-bed at the physical layer. Dr. Lazarakis has authored or co-authored more than 90 journal and conference papers and he has received more than 500 citations by independent researchers.

 

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Since 2002, Dr. Lazarakis has been teaching to under- and post-graduate programmes at Higher Education Institutions in Greece:

·           Teaching laboratory course “Principles of Telecommunications” at the Department of Automation, Technological Education Institute of Piraeus from 2002 until 2009

·           Teaching laboratory course “Microprocessors” at the Department of Automation, Technological Education Institute of Piraeus from 2004 until 2006

·           Lectures in the frame of Postgraduate Programme of the Department of Information & Communication Systems Engineering, University of Aegean on the topics of “Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)” (years 2004-2005), “Cross-layer Optimization for Media Independent Handovers” (years 2006-2010) and “Interoperability strategies for wireless systems” (2011)

·           Teaching “Modern Networks and Services” at the Department of Computer Science, School of Science & Technology, Hellenic Open University from 2009 until today

 

Moreover, 5 PhD candidates have been successfully completed their dissertations under his supervision and awarded their PhD. Currently, he is supervising 2 PhD students.

 

 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

·           Member of the Union of Greek Physicists

·           Representative of NCSR "Demokritos" in the Greek preparation committee for World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2012

·           Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of IIT

 

 

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES/ACHIEVEMENTS

·           Member of the Organizing and Technical Programme Committee and session chair of various international conferences

·           Regular reviewer for international journals (IEEE, IET, Eurasip etc.)

·           Invited talk entitled, “System Level Performance Evaluation of MIMO HSDPA” at ACE Workshop "Smart Antennas, MIMO Systems and Related Technologies" organized within the frame of IST Mobile Summit 2006

·           Organizer of the Workshop “Research activities funded by ESA in Greece” within the frame of the 1st International Conference on Mobile Lightweight Wireless Systems (MOBILIGHT 2009)

·           Co-supervisor of 2 PhD students in a Joint PhD Programme with Loughborough University (one completed, one in progress)

·           The PhD thesis of Dr. George Alexandropoulos, entitled "Performance Study of Space Diversity Receivers over Correlated Fading Channels", which was supervised by Dr. Lazarakis, awarded the "Best PhD Thesis of 2010 Award in the area of Informatics and Telematics" in a competition organised by the Informatics and Telematics Institute (ITI) at CERTH (The Centre for Research & Technology Hellas)

·           Reviewer of EU funded research project under FP7

 

 

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Dr. Lazarakis has participated in a number of national and international R&D projects, acting as Project Co-ordinator to several of those. Sample of the projects involved are given below:

 

2001 – 2003:   FITNESS: Fourth-generation Intelligent Transparent Networks Enhanced through Space-Time Systems, (FP5/IST/STREP, EC), Role: Project Co-ordinator

2003 – 2006:   ENTHRONE: (End-to-End QoS through Integrated Management of Content, Networks and Terminals, (FP6/IST/IP, EC), Role: Member of the research group

2004 – 2005:   ACE-1: Antenna Centre of Excellence, (FP6/IST/NoE, EC), Role: WP Leader

2004 – 2006:   ATHENA: Real Time Dynamic Bandwidth Optimisation in Satellite Networks, (FP6/IST/STREP, EC), Role: Member of the research group

2006 – 2007:   ACE-2: Antenna Centre of Excellence, (FP6/IST/NoE EC), Role: WP Leader

2006 – 2008:   IMOSAN: Integrated Multi-layer Optimization in broadband DVB-S.2 SAtellite Networks, (FP6/IST/STREP, EC), Role: Member of the research group

2006 – 2008:   ENTHRONE II: (End-to-End QoS through Integrated Management of Content, Networks and Terminals, (FP6/IST/IP, EC), Role: Member of the research group

2006 – 2009:   UNITE: Virtual Distributed Testbed for Optimisation and Coexistence of Heterogeneous Systems, ((FP6/IST/STREP, EC), Role: Member of the research group

2008 – 2009:   METAPATCHES: Novel Metamaterials for Patch Antennas Applications (funded by European Space Agency - ESA), Role: Project Co-ordinator

2008 – 2010:   HURRICANE: Handovers for ubiquitous and optimal broadband connectivity among cooperative networking environments (FP7/ICT/STREP), Role: Deputy Project Co-ordinator

2008 – 2010:   ADAMANTIUM: ADAptative Management of mediA distributioN based on saTisfaction orIented User Modelling, (FP7/ICT/STREP), Role: Member of the research group

2010 – 2011:   ALICANTE: MediA Ecosystem Deployment through Ubiquitous Content-Aware Network Environments, (FP7/ICT/IP), Role: Member of the research group

2011 –             GERYON: Next Generation Technology Independent Interoperability of Emergency Services (FP7/SEC/STREP), Role: Member of the research group

2011 –             SAVASA: Standards Based Approach to Video Archive Search and Analysis (FP7/SEC/STREP), Role: Member of the research group

2012 –             MAGELLAN: MAGnetoELectric materials in reconfigurabLe Antennas, ("THALIS" Research Program of Greek Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs, NSRF 2007-2013), Role: Member of the research group

2014 –             SUNNY: Smart UNmanned aerial vehicle sensor Network for detection of border crossing and illegal entrY (FP7/SEC/IP), Role: WP representative for IIT.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Journals

J1.     F. Lazarakis, G. S. Tombras, and K. Dangakis, "Average Channel Capacity in a Mobile Radio Environment with Rician Statistics", IEICE Transactions on Communications, Special Issue on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications, Vol. E77-B No. 7 pp. 971 - 977 (1994).

J2.     F. Lazarakis, A. A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, G. S. Tombras, P. Kostarakis, “Evaluation of a Terrain-Based Point-to-Point Propagation Model in the 900 MHz band,” International Journal of Communication Systems, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 65-71, 1997.

J3.     A. A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, P. Kostarakis, F. Lazarakis, “A method of accurate determination of azimuthal distribution of received RF power,” International Journal of Communication Systems, Vol. 14, March 2001, pp. 189-197.

J4.     A. A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, K. Dangakis, P. Kostarakis, A. Kourtis, “Normalization of Propagation Measurements with respect to Terrain Effect,” International Journal of Communication Systems, Vol. 14, April 2001, pp. 333-343.

J5.     T. Al-Gizawi, K. Peppas, F. Lazarakis, R. Pintenet, J. Gosteau, “Evaluation of Interoperability Criteria and mechanisms for seamless inter-working between UMTS-HSDPA and HIPERLAN\2 networks enhanced with MIMO Techniques”, Kluwer Wireless Personal Communication International Journal - Special Issue on Location Based Services and Technologies, Volume 30, Issue 2, Sep 2004, pp. 119-129.

J6.     D. I. Axiotis, T. Gizawi, C. Peppas, E. N. Protonotarios, F. I. Lazarakis, C. Papadias, P. I. Philippopoulos, “Services in Interworking 3G and WLAN Environments”, IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine - Special Issue on Applications and Services for the B3G/4G era, Vol. 11, No.5, Oct. 2004, pp. 14-20.

J7.     Kostas Peppas, Angeliki Alexiou, Fotis Lazarakis, Tareq Al-Gizawi, and Dimitrios I. Axiotis, “Performance Evaluation at the System Level of Reconfigurable Space-Time Coding Techniques for HSDPA”, EURASIP Journal on Applied Signal Processing - Special Issue on System-Integration-Oriented Transceiver Designs for Wireless Networks Beyond 3G, Volume 2005, No.11, July 2005, pp. 1656-1667.

J8.     Tareq Al-Gizawi, Kostas Peppas, Dimitrios I. Axiotis, Emmanuel N. Protonotarios, and Fotis Lazarakis, “Interoperability Criteria, Mechanisms, and Evaluation of System Performance for Transparently Interoperating WLAN and UMTS-HSDPA Networks”, IEEE Network - Special Issue on Wireless Local Area Networking: QoS Provisioning and Resource Management, Vol. 19, No.4, July/August 2005, pp. 66 – 72.

J9.     E.S. Angelopoulos, A.Z. Anastopoulos, D.I. Kaklamani, A.A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, and K. Dangakis, “A Novel Wideband Microstrip-Fed Elliptical Slot Array Antenna for Ku-band Applications”, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Wiley, Vol. 48, No. 9, September 2006, pp. 1824-1828.

J10.   E.S. Angelopoulos, A.Z. Anastopoulos, D.I. Kaklamani, A.A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, and K. Dangakis, “Circular and Elliptical CPW-Fed Slot and Microstrip-Fed Antennas for Ultrawideband Applications” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 5, 2006, pp. 294 – 297.

J11.   T. Zervos, K. Peppas, F. Lazarakis, A. A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, C. Soras, “Channel Capacity Evaluation for a MIMO Terminal in the Presence of User’s Hand”, IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, vol.1, no.6, December 2007, pp. 1137-1144.

J12.   V. N. Christofilakis, P. Kostarakis, A. A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, K. Dangakis, “ Increasing Direction-of-Transmission Resolution in Digital Time-Delay BeamformersInternational Journal of Electronics and Communications (AEU), vol.62, no.1, 2008, pp. 49-56.

J13.   C. K. Datsikas, N. C. Sagias, F. I. Lazarakis, G. S. Tombras, “Outage Analysis of Decode-and-Forward Relaying over Nakagami-m Fading Channels”, IEEE Signal Processing Letters, vol.15, 2008, pp. 41-44.

J14.   K. Peppas, F. Lazarakis, D. I. Axiotis, T. Al-Gizawi, A.A. Alexandridis, “System Level Performance Evaluation of MIMO and SISO OFDM-based WLANs”, Springer Wireless Networks, Vol. 7, Issue 7, Oct. 2009, pp. 859-873 (DOI 10.1007/s11276-007-0079-9).

J15.   G. C. Alexandropoulos, N. C. Sagias, F. I. Lazarakis, K. Berberidis, “New Results for the Multivariate Nakagami-m Fading Model with Arbitrary Correlation Matrix and Applications”, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2009, pp.245-255.

J16.   K. Peppas, F. Lazarakis, A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, “Error Performance of Digital Modulation Schemes with MRC Diversity Reception over ç-ì fading channels”, IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications, vol. 8, No. 10, Oct. 2009, pp. 4974-4980.

J17.   Ch.Ê. Datsikas, K.P. Peppas, F.I. Lazarakis, G.S. Tombras, “Error rate performance analysis of dual-hop relaying transmissions over generalized-K fading channels”, International Journal of Electronics and Communications (AEU), Vol. 64, Issue 11, Nov. 2010, pp 1094-1099 (doi: 10.1016/j.aeue.2009.09.005, Available online 23 October 2009).

J18.   N. Sagias, F. Lazarakis, A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, G. Tombras, “Higher order capacity statistics of diversity receivers”, Springer Wireless Personal Communications, Vol. 56, Issue 4, Feb. 2011, pp. 649-668 (DOI 10.1007/s11277-009-9837-6, Available online 5 November 2009).

J19.   K. Peppas, F. Lazarakis, A. Alexandridis, K. Dangakis, “Cascaded Generalized-K Fading Channel”, ÉÅÔ Communications, vol. 4, No.1, Jan 2010, pp. 116-124.

J20.   Peppas K, F. Lazarakis, T. Zervos, A. Alexandridis and K. Dangakis, “Sum of Non-Identical Independent Squared ç-ì Variates and Applications in the Performance Analysis of DS-CDMA Systems”, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 9, 2010, pp. 2718-2723.

J21.   Kostas Peppas, Fotis Lazarakis, Charalambos Skianis, Antonis A. Alexandridis, and Kostas Dangakis, “Impact of MIMO Techniques on the Interoperability between UMTS-HSDPA and WLAN Wireless Systems”, IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials, Volume 13, Issue 4, pp. 708-720, 2011.

J22.   Kostas P. Peppas, George C. Alexandropoulos, Christos K. Datsikas and Fotis I. Lazarakis, “Multivariate Gamma-Gamma Distribution with Exponential Correlation and its Applications in Radio Frequency and Optical Wireless Communications”, ÉÅÔ Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, Feb. 2011, vol. 5, issue 3, pp. 364-371.

J23.   T. Zervos, A.A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, M. Pissas, D. Stamopoulos, E.S. Angelopoulos, K. Dangakis, “Design of a polarization reconfigurable patch antenna using ferrimagnetic materials”, ÉÅÔ Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, Volume 6, Issue 2, pp. 158-164, 2012, doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2011.0224.

J24.   Kostas Peppas, Fotis Lazarakis, Antonis Alexandridis, and Kostas Dangakis,  “A Simple, Accurate Formula for the Average Bit Error Probability of MIMO Optical Wireless Links over Negative Exponential Atmospheric Turbulence Channels”, OSA Optics Letters, 2012, Early Posting access, available online at http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ol/upcoming_pdf.cfm?id=165281

J25.   A. Michalopoulou, A.A. Alexandridis, K. Peppas, T. Zervos, F. Lazarakis, K. Dangakis, “On-body channel statistical analysis based on measurements in an indoor environment at 2.45 GHz”, IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 6, Iss. 6, pp. 636–645, 2012 doi: 10.1049/iet-map.2010.0513

J26.   Michalopoulou, A., Alexandridis, A., Peppas, K., Zervos, T., Lazarakis, F., Dangakis, K., Kaklamani, D., “Statistical Analysis for On-Body Spatial Diversity Communications at 2.45 GHz”, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, Issue: 8, 2012, pp. 4014-4019, doi: 10.1109/TAP.2012.2201073

J27.   K.P. Peppas F. Lazarakis A. Alexandridis K. Dangakis, “Moments-based analysis of dual-hop amplify-and-forward relaying communications systems over generalised fading channels”, IET Communications, vol. 6, Issue: 13, 2012, pp. 2040-2047, doi: 10.1049/iet-com.2011.0231

J28.   G. Bournaka, J. Tang, S. Lambotharan and F. Lazarakis, “A Coordinated Multiuser Relaying Technique through Interference Precoding at the Base Station”, IEEE Communication Letters, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 1176-1179, June 2013

J29.   G. Bournaka, K. Cumanan, S. Lambotharan and F. Lazarakis, “Transmitter receiver and relay optimisation for spectrum sharing multiple-input and multiple-output peer-to-peer users”, IET Signal Processing, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 411-419, July 2013

J30.   Martin Zamkotsian, Kostas P. Peppas, F. Lazarakis and Panayotis G. Cottis, “Hierarchical Multilevel Space Shift Keying for Unequal Error Protection under Rician Fading", IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 17, no 12, pp. 2217-2220, 2013

J31.   Kostas P. Peppas, Martin Zamkotsian, F. Lazarakis and Panayotis G. Cottis, “Unified Error Performance Analysis of Space Shift Keying Modulation for MISO and MIMO Systems Under Generalized Fading", IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, vol. 2, no 6, pp.663-666, 2013

J32.   Martin Zamkotsian, Kostas P. Peppas, F. Lazarakis and Panayotis G. Cottis, "Layered Offset Hierarchical QAM Modulation for Intersymbol Interference Reduction", IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 2176–2179, 2013