Keynotes

Abstract: Recent advances in sensor technologies has enabled wide-scale availability of high-quality imaging data (including multispectral and hyperspectral imagery) in support of earth science applications. Despite these advances, such modalities present unique challenges for effective analysis of the imagery in support of downstream tasks, including distribution shifts between training and deployment conditions, the need for learning effectively over multiple scales and across different sensors, the paucity of high-quality ground-reference data, among others. In this talk, I will cover recent advances in GeoAI that can facilitate image analysis of earth observations at scale in support of earth science. I will discuss developments in generative knowledge transfer, self-supervised learning, emerging foundation models and strategies to exploit these developments for effectively leveraging large-scale earth observation data.

Biography: Prof. Saurabh Prasad (Senior Member, IEEE) received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Mississippi State University, MS, USA, in 2008. He is currently a Full Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA, where he directs the Machine Learning and Signal Processing Laboratory. His lab focuses on advancing state-of-the-art in machine learning and signal processing with applications to remote sensing and biomedicine. His work has been recognized by two student research awards during his Ph.D. study, a best student paper award at the 2008 IGARSS conference, top-10% papers at IEEE-ICIP conference, a NASA New Investigator (Early Career) award in 2014, and the junior faculty research excellence award at the University of Houston in 2017. He has served on the editorial board of the IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing and the IEEE Signal Processing Letters. He is currently an IEEE GRSS Distinguished Lecturer.

Abstract: There are global economic challenges are facing the world, Egypt among the north Africa region faces complex environmental and developmental challenges population growth, unemployment, water stress, rapid urbanization, climate change, etc. that require innovative solutions based on knowledge and information. Egypt vision 2030 is to be one of the top 30 countries in the globe. NARSS is the pioneer remote sensing institute that is playing critical role to use the advancements in remote sensing technologies to offer the government with powerful tool for various environmental, industrial and economic development. This is based on AI, high resolution satellite data, various sensing sensors, in-situ measurements and modelling. Such integrated mechanism, enabled to provide solution to specific problems and contribute to the industrial development. For Example, these tools enabled to map, quantify and analyse the critical mineral resources for industrial development with example on calcium carbonate that are suitable for wide range of industry including pharmaceutical, paints, paper, rubber and cement. It is extended to strontium oxide that is an essential element for making phosphors since it acts as a host matrix for luminescent materials. Moreover, NARSS contributed to the extension of agriculture land to fill in the gap of the food security; this includes studying the soil properties, the climatic conditions, ground water availability and the crop suitability. This enabled to provide information for nearly 2 Million acres for new agriculture development. In addition to the smart agriculture and farm management using smart sensors. In the area of climate changes and its implications, NARSS produced an interactive atlas for the coastal zone of Egypt as well as biodiversity conservation. NARSS has also simulated the climate change scenarios over Africa Continent as one of the most affected continent of climate changes. This paper presents wide range of applications that significantly contributed in achieving the sustainable development goals and Egypt vision for social and economic growth.

Biography: Prof. Dr. Islam Abou El-Magd is currently the President of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Egypt. He is also acting the Counsellor for the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Space Technology and African Affairs. He is the former Deputy CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency and the former Vice-President of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences.

Prof. Abou El-Magd has obtained his PhD from the School of Civil Engineering and The Environment, University of Southampton, UK, where he also worked for more than 5 years, spending a total of 10 years in the UK.

Prof. Abou El-Magd is heavily involved in many international and national committees that contribute to society in policy, technology and applications. He served as Chair of the working group that prepared the Egypt file for hosting the African Space Agency. He was a Member of the Space Working Group that developed the African space policy and strategy. He was also Chair of the Committee assembled by the Prime Minister to restructure and organize the Egyptian Space Program for the Egyptian Space Agency to implement it.

He served as Co-Chair of the Implementation Plan Working Group that developed the 2016-2025 strategic implementation plan for GEO (Group on Earth Observation). He is a Member of the High-Level Policy Dialogue for EU-AU partnership in science, technology and innovation, and a Member of the STC-EST Bureau for the African Union Commission. He also served as Vice President for African Association of Remote Sensing and Environment.

Prof. Islam Abou El-Magd published nearly 100 papers in international and national peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and supervised nearly 30 MScs and PhDs students. He was awarded many projects funded from EC, NSF, WB, AUC, STDF for earth observation and geoinformatics for sustainable development and environmental related issues.

Prof. Abou El-Magd was appointed to several leadership positions, including the Vice-President of the Egyptian Space Agency as well as Vice-President of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences.