Dr. Arif UR Rehman | Remote Sensing Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Arif UR Rehman | Remote Sensing Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Arif UR Rehman, Aerospace Information Research Institute, CAS, Pakistan

Arif UR Rehman, is a dedicated researcher specializing in Remote Sensing, GIS, and Forestry. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, China, where he focuses on spatio-temporal remote sensing data acquisition, processing, and developing machine learning-based tools for vegetation mapping. Previously, he worked as a Remote Sensing Analyst at CABI International under an ADB project, contributing to food security by enhancing crop classification techniques. Arif holds a Master’s degree in Forestry from Beijing Forestry University, an MPhil in Remote Sensing and GIS from the University of the Punjab, an MSc in GIS, a PGD in Remote Sensing & GIS, and an MSc in Electronics from the University of Peshawar. His academic research spans diverse topics, including forest classification, afforestation impact assessment, and land surface temperature analysis. With a strong background in scientific publications and GIS-based spatial analysis, he continues to contribute to advancements in remote sensing and environmental monitoring.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Suitability for the Best Researcher Award

Based on the provided information, Arif UR Rehman has a strong academic and research background in Remote Sensing, GIS, and Machine Learning Applications in Forestry and Agriculture. His qualifications and achievements make him a potential candidate for the Best Researcher Award, but there are some aspects to consider:

🎓 Education

📍 Master in Forestry (Professional Degree) (2019 – 2021)

  • Institution: Beijing Forestry University, China 🇨🇳
  • Field: Forest Management
  • Final Grade: A+
  • Thesis: Feasibility of combining Landsat-8 data with ancillary variables for forest types and land cover classification in mountainous terrains of northern Pakistan

📍 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Remote Sensing and GIS (2017 – 2019)

  • Institution: PUCIT, University of the Punjab, Pakistan 🇵🇰
  • Field: Remote Sensing & GIS
  • Final Grade: 72.8%
  • Thesis: Remote Sensing & GIS application for monitoring and evaluating afforestation impact – A case study of the Billion Tree Tsunami Project in Peshawar, Pakistan 🌳

📍 Master of Science (MSc) in Geographic Information System (GIS) (2015 – 2017)

  • Institution: PUCIT, University of the Punjab, Pakistan 🇵🇰
  • Field: GIS
  • Final Grade: 73.2%
  • Thesis: Analyzing the impacts of deforestation on Land Surface Temperature in Northern Pakistan 🌍🌡️

📍 Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Remote Sensing & GIS (2014 – 2015)

  • Institution: NCE in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 🇵🇰
  • Field: GIS & Remote Sensing
  • Final Grade: 73%
  • Thesis: Spatial-Temporal assessment of Land-Use and Land-Cover changes in Lahore 🏙️

📍 Master of Science (MSc) in Electronics (2013 – 2015)

  • Institution: University of Peshawar, Pakistan 🇵🇰
  • Field: Electronics
  • Final Grade: 64%
  • Thesis: Developing Hardware & Android software for Outdoor Advertisement Display 📱💡

🏢 Work Experience

🔹 Research Assistant (Feb 2023 – Aug 2024)

  • Institution: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 🇨🇳
  • Location: Beijing, China
  • Key Responsibilities:
    • Spatio-Temporal Remote Sensing data acquisition & processing 🛰️
    • Developing Machine Learning-based tools for vegetation mapping 🌿🤖
    • Scientific Publications 📚

🔹 Remote Sensing Analyst (Jun 2022 – Dec 2022)

  • Organization: CABI International; ADB Project: Strengthening Food Security 🇵🇰
  • Location: National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad
  • Key Responsibilities:
    • Capacity development of the Crop Reporting Service Department 🌾
    • Google Earth Engine for Crop Classification 🛰️
    • Seasonal Crop Classification Maps 📊

🏆 Achievements & Contributions

✔ Published multiple scientific papers in Remote Sensing, GIS, and Forestry journals 📄🔬
✔ Expertise in Google Earth Engine, Machine Learning, GIS & Remote Sensing, and Crop Mapping 🌍🌾
✔ Significant contributions to afforestation projects (Billion Tree Tsunami) 🌳✅
✔ Developed ML-based tools for vegetation mapping and land cover classification 🤖🌎

🎖 Awards & Honors

🏅 A+ Grade in Master’s at Beijing Forestry University (Highest distinction)
🏅 Recognized for contributions to afforestation monitoring in Pakistan 🌲
🏅 Key researcher in major GIS & Remote Sensing projects 📊

Publication Top Notes:

Removal of environmental influences for estimating soil texture fractions based on ZY1 satellite hyperspectral images

Multi-Temporal Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Data for Orchards Discrimination in Khairpur District, Pakistan Using Spectral Separability Analysis and Machine Learning Classification

Estimation of above-ground biomass in dry temperate forests using Sentinel-2 data and random forest: a case study of the Swat area of Pakistan

The role of random forest and Markov chain models in understanding metropolitan urban growth trajectory

Large Scale Fish Images Classification and Localization using Transfer Learning and Localization Aware CNN Architecture

Combining Landsat-8 spectral bands with ancillary variables for land cover classification in mountainous terrains of northern Pakistan

Comparing different space-borne sensors and methods for the retrieval of land surface temperature

 

Mr. Xiaowo Xu | Remote Sensing award | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Xiaowo Xu | Remote Sensing award | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Xiaowo Xu, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 

Xiaowo Xu is a Ph.D. candidate in Information and Communication Engineering at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), where he has been honing his research skills since September 2022. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Information Engineering from Sichuan University, followed by a Master of Engineering in the same field at UESTC. His research interests focus on deep learning applications, particularly in object categorization, object detection, instance segmentation, and moving object tracking. Currently, he is dedicated to the intelligent interpretation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Xiaowo has received several prestigious awards, including the 1st Scholarship for Doctoral Candidates and the Special Scholarship for Doctoral Candidates from UESTC, along with an “Honor Academic” Award and the Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Xiaowo Xu’s research focus on deep learning applications, particularly in object detection, segmentation, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image interpretation, positions him well for the Best Researcher Award. His expertise aligns with cutting-edge areas like object categorization and moving object tracking, essential topics in remote sensing and computer vision, which are currently high-impact fields in academia and industry.

Education:

  • Sep. 2022 – Present: Ph.D. candidate in Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC).
  • Sep. 2020 – Sep. 2022: Master of Engineering in Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC).
  • Sep. 2016 – Jun. 2020: Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Information Engineering, Sichuan University (SCU).

Work and Research Experience:

  • Ph.D. Research (2022 – Present): Xiaowo Xu is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Engineering at UESTC, focusing on deep learning applications in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image intelligent interpretation. His research areas encompass object categorization, detection, instance segmentation, and moving object tracking using deep learning techniques.
  • Master’s Research (2020 – 2022): During his master’s studies at UESTC, he deepened his expertise in information and communication engineering, developing skills in Python, MATLAB, and deep learning frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow.
  • Academic Communication and Conferences (2022 – Present): Xiaowo Xu has presented his research through posters at prestigious IEEE conferences, including the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium and the Radar Conference. His work has been showcased internationally, including in the USA, Malaysia, and China.

Publication top Notes:

A Novel Multimodal Fusion Framework Based on Point Cloud Registration for Near-Field 3D SAR Perception

A Group-Wise Feature Enhancement-and-Fusion Network with Dual-Polarization Feature Enrichment for SAR Ship Detection

RBFA-Net: A Rotated Balanced Feature-Aligned Network for Rotated SAR Ship Detection and Classification

A Sparse-Model-Driven Network for Efficient and High-Accuracy InSAR Phase Filtering

Lite-YOLOv5: A Lightweight Deep Learning Detector for On-Board Ship Detection in Large-Scene Sentinel-1 SAR Images

 

Dr. Gabriela Adina Morosanu | Remote sensing Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Gabriela Adina Morosanu | Remote sensing Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Gabriela Adina Morosanu, Institute of Geography of the Romanian Academy,Romania

Gabriela Adina Morosanu is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bucharest, specializing in hydrology and river basin management. She holds a Joint International Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest and the University of Grenoble Alpes, focusing on hydro-sedimentary dynamics. Her academic background includes a Master’s in Climatology-Hydrology and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Geography and Law. Fluent in multiple languages, Gabriela is actively involved in research projects on river restoration, sediment transport, and environmental impact assessments. She has also contributed to numerous international conferences and scientific journals

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Awards: Dr. Gabriela Adina Morosanu

Gabriela Adina Morosanu is an outstanding candidate for the “Best Researcher Award” due to her impressive research trajectory and significant contributions in the fields of hydrology, environmental management, and geography. Here’s a summary of her suitability for the award:

🎓Education:

Gabriela Adina Morosanu holds a Ph.D. in Hydrology from a Joint International Program between the University of Bucharest and the University of Grenoble Alpes, where she focused on the hydro-sedimentary dynamics of the Jiu River Basin. She earned her Master’s in Climatology – Hydrology from the University of Bucharest with valedictorian honors, achieving a perfect average grade of 10/10. Gabriela completed her Bachelor’s in Geography at the University of Bucharest, also as the valedictorian with an impressive average of 9.92/10. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of Craiova. Her educational journey began at “Frații Buzești” National College in Craiova, where she graduated as valedictorian in the Mathematics – Informatics Bilingual English profile, with a high average grade of 9.97/10.

🏢Work Experience:

Gabriela Adina Morosanu has been serving as a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of Bucharest’s Centre for Water Resources and River Basin Management Research since May 2022. In addition, she has been a Collaborating Teaching Assistant at the University of Bucharest’s Faculty of Geography since October 2018. She coordinated the post-doctoral project “Field Investigation within Jiu River Basin” (COMPASS) from November 2020 to November 2021. Gabriela was also a member of the AMIPAHYR Project, which focused on methodological approaches for analyzing anthropic impacts on rivers, from August 2016 to December 2017. Additionally, she contributed to the design and development of a bibliographic database on Forest Hydrology at the FAO from December 2015 to January 2016.

🏆Awards and Recognitions:

Gabriela Adina Morosanu has been honored with several awards for her contributions to environmental research and scientific organization. She received the Young Team of Researchers Award for her research on water quality between Morii Lake and the Glina wastewater treatment plant. She was also recognized with the Scientific Congress Coordinator Award for her role in organizing the Scientific Congress of Eastern European Students titled “Energy Challenges and Transitions in Geosciences.” Additionally, Gabriela earned the European Geosciences Union General Assembly Oral Communication Award for her presentation on “Sediment Connectivity Assessment in a Romanian Catchment Affected by Coal Mining.”

Publication Top Notes:

  • Stakeholders’ Interaction in Water Management System: Insights from a MACTOR Analysis in the R’Dom Sub-basin, Morocco
    • Citations: 7
  • Assessment of Restoration Effects in Riparian Wetlands using Satellite Imagery. Case Study on the Lower Danube River
    • Citations: 5
  • Mining Hazard Risk Reduction and Resilience
    • Citations: 1
  • The use of low impact development technologies in the attenuation of flood flows in an urban area: Settat city (Morocco) as a case
    • Citations: 15
  • Integrated water resources management: An indicator framework for water management system assessment in the R’Dom Sub-basin, Morocco
    • Citations: 17

 

 

Mr. Mohammad Marjani | Remote sensing | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mohammad Marjani | Remote sensing | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Mohammad Marjani, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

Mohammad Marjani is a dedicated researcher and educator currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland, specializing in advanced remote sensing and deep learning algorithms for environmental monitoring under the supervision of Dr. Masoud Mahdianpari. He holds a Master of Science in Geospatial Information System (GIS) from K.N.Toosi University of Technology, where he graduated with a stellar GPA of 4.0/4.0, focusing on wildfire spread modeling using deep learning techniques. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Geodesy and Geomatic Engineering from the same university, where he researched 3D change detection methods in point clouds.Marjani’s research interests span deep learning, machine learning, spatio-temporal modeling, and remote sensing, with particular emphasis on natural hazards like wildfires and methane monitoring. He has accumulated valuable teaching experience as a Teaching Assistant at both the Iran National Geographical Organization and K.N.Toosi University, imparting knowledge in image processing, MATLAB, and Python programming.In addition to his academic endeavors, Marjani is a co-founder of GeoHoosh, an educational group dedicated to promoting artificial intelligence in geomatic and geospatial engineering. His commitment to advancing the field through both research and education underscores his role as a rising expert in geospatial technologies and environmental monitoring.

 

Professional Profile

🎓 EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical and Computer Engineering
📅 Sep 2023 – Present
📍 Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
🌐 Advanced remote sensing and deep learning algorithms for environment monitoring
👨‍🏫 Supervisor: Dr. Masoud Mahdianpari

Master of Science, Geospatial Information System (GIS)
📅 Sep 2020 – Nov 2022
📍 K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (KNTU)
📊 GPA: 18.58/20 (4.0/4.0)
🔥 The wildfire spread modeling using deep learning techniques
👨‍🏫 Supervisor: Dr. M.S. Mesgari

Bachelor of Science, Geodesy and Geomatic Engineering
📅 Sep 2016 – Sep 2020
📍 K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (KNTU)
📊 GPA: 16.22/20 (3.34/4.0)
📐 Thesis Title: Evaluation of 3D change detection methods in point clouds
👨‍🏫 Supervisor: Dr. H. Ebadi

🔬 RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Deep Learning 🧠
  • Machine Learning 🤖
  • Spatio-temporal Modeling 🌍
  • Wildfire 🔥
  • Remote Sensing 🛰️
  • Natural Hazards 🌪️
  • Wetland Monitoring 🌿
  • Methane Monitoring 🌱

💼 EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistantships, Faculty of Iran National Geographical Organization
🖥️ Image Processing
📅 Sep 2019 – Jan 2020

  • Taught MATLAB programming language 💻
  • Prepared lectures 📝
  • Graded course assessments 🧾
  • Defined assignments 📚

Teaching Assistantships, K.N.Toosi University of Technology
🖥️ Computational Intelligence
📅 Sep 2022 – Jan 2023

  • Taught Python programming language 🐍
  • Prepared lectures 📝
  • Graded course assessments 🧾
  • Defined assignments 📚

Co-Founder of GeoHoosh
🌐 Educational Group
📅 Sep 2023 – Present

  • One of the four founders of GeoIntelligence Education Group, named GeoHoosh in Persian 🇮🇷
  • Aims to educate Artificial Intelligence in the Geomatic/Geospatial engineering sub-fields 🧭

Publications Notes:📄

Application of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Wildfire Spread: An ASPP-Enabled CNN Approach

CNN-BiLSTM: A Novel Deep Learning Model for Near-Real-Time Daily Wildfire Spread Prediction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assoc Prof Dr. Dericks Shukla | Remote Sensing | Excellence in Research

Assoc Prof Dr. Dericks Shukla | Remote Sensing | Excellence in Research 

Assoc Prof Dr. Dericks Shukla, IIT Mandi, India

Dr. Dericks Praise Shukla, born on January 2, 1982, is an esteemed Associate Professor with a robust academic and research background in Remote Sensing and GIS. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Electronics, and Mathematics from Ewing Christian College, Allahabad University, completed between 1999 and 2002. He then pursued a Master of Science degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from Jiwaji University, which he obtained from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Shukla further advanced his expertise by earning a Ph.D. in Remote Sensing and Environmental Hydro-Geology from the University of Delhi, where he studied from 2006 to 2012.Dr. Shukla’s professional career has been marked by significant contributions to both teaching and research. Since December 2019, he has been associated with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, where he is involved in teaching, research, and administrative duties. Prior to this, from January 2015 to November 2019, he also held similar responsibilities at IIT Mandi. From August 2011 to January 2015, Dr. Shukla worked at Ram Lal Anand College and the Department of Geology, where he continued his dedication to teaching and research. His professional journey began at J.M EnviroNet Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, where he served as a Functional Area Expert for EIA as a consultant in Remote Sensing and GIS from November 2009 to August 2013.

Professional Profile

Degrees Conferred

  • B.Sc.: Ewing Christian College, Allahabad University 🏛️
    • Fields: Physics, Electronics, and Mathematics (1999-2002) 🧮
  • M.Sc.: Jiwaji University 🌍
    • Fields: Remote Sensing and GIS (2002-2004) 🌐
  • Ph.D.: University of Delhi 🏫
    • Fields: Remote Sensing, Environmental Hydro-Geology (2006-2012) 🌎

Research/Training Experience

  • December 2019 – Present: Indian Institute of Technology Mandi 🏔️
    • Roles: Teaching, Research, Administrative Work 📖
  • January 2015 – November 2019: Indian Institute of Technology Mandi 🏔️
    • Roles: Teaching, Research, Administrative Work 📚
  • August 2011 – January 2015: Ram Lal Anand College and Department of Geology 🏫
    • Roles: Teaching, Research, Administrative Work 📝
  • November 2009 – August 2013: J.M EnviroNet Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon 🏢
    • Role: Functional Area Expert for EIA as Consultant in Remote Sensing and GIS 🌐

Major Scientific Fields of Interest

  • Remote Sensing & GIS (RS&GIS) 🌐
  • Natural Hazards 🌪️
  • Multispectral and SAR Remote Sensing 🌈
  • Himalayan Geology 🏔️

 

Publications Notes:📄

Discriminative Spectral–Spatial Feature Extraction-Based Band Selection for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Effect of scale and mapping unit on landslide susceptibility mapping of Mandakini River Basin, Uttarakhand, India

Identifying Geotechnical Characteristics for Landslide Hazard Indication: A Case Study in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India

Deciphering the role of meteorological parameters controlling the sediment load and water discharge in the Sutlej basin, Western Himalaya

Band Selection Using Combined Divergence–Correlation Index and Sparse Loadings Representation for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Spatial distribution of uranium and chemo-radiological assessment in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India