Category Archives: Supervisions

AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN A PhD JOURNEY

AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN A PhD JOURNEY

Congratulations to my PhD student, Samantha Soo Chin Yee, on successfully passing her PhD Qualification Assessment (QA).

The Qualification Assessment is one of the most important milestones in a PhD journey. It is not simply another presentation. It is a formal assessment where the candidate must convince a panel of examiners that the research is original, scientifically sound, feasible, and has sufficient novelty to continue as a PhD project. Passing the QA means the student has demonstrated the capability to carry out independent doctoral research.

I am especially proud because Samantha achieved this milestone in just her 8th month as a PhD student.

According to the chairman, she answered the examiners’ questions confidently, and the panel acknowledged both the novelty and significance of her research. Better yet, the entire QA session was completed in only 1 hour and 20 minutes, including a 19-minute presentation, which reflects her excellent preparation and clear understanding of her work.

Looking back, it has been an incredible start to her PhD journey. Within her first year, Samantha has already:

  • Published a paper in the ISPRS Archives indexed in Web of Science.
  • Collaborated with researchers from Karabük University, Türkiye, and an industry partner from Spain.
  • Successfully passed her PhD Qualification Assessment.

These achievements did not happen by chance. They are the result of consistent effort, discipline, and a willingness to learn.

Congratulations once again, Samantha. This is only the beginning of your PhD journey, and I look forward to seeing your research continue to grow and make meaningful contributions to the geospatial community.

Keep up the excellent work. The best is yet to come.

#PhD #QualificationAssessment #Research #GeospatialScience #UTM

MOCK PRESENTATION SESSION FOR SAMANTHA

MOCK PRESENTATION SESSION FOR SAMANTHA

Behind every successful defense is a team that challenges, supports, and inspires. 🎓

Today, our lab came together for Samantha’s mock presentation session, creating an opportunity to simulate the experience of a real thesis defense. Lab members actively engaged by asking insightful questions, sharing constructive feedback, and offering valuable suggestions to help refine her presentation and strengthen her responses.

Mock presentations are an essential part of the research journey. They build confidence, sharpen critical thinking, and prepare presenters to communicate their work with clarity and confidence.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to today’s session. Your encouragement and thoughtful feedback made the session truly meaningful. We wish Samantha all the best as she takes the next step toward her defense. Keep shining, Sam! 🌟

#LabLife #Research #MockPresentation #PhDJourney #Teamwork

HARUM MANIS DAY

HARUM MANIS DAY

Holiday mood because JDT won again.

But we still came to the lab to spend time with the students.

So today’s lab session came with a special treat, Harum Manis mangoes all the way from Perlis.

Those who were fasting got one each to take home and enjoy later.

The rest? Straight away makan in the lab.

Last batch for this season…

Harum Manis, hope to see you again next year.

WFH HAS ITS PROS AND CONS 

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WFH HAS ITS PROS AND CONS 

Working from home (WFH) definitely has its advantages.

Sometimes, it gives the quiet space needed to focus deeply on research, writing, analysis, and all the “deep work” that usually requires uninterrupted concentration.

But at the same time, there is also the other side of academic life.

Sometimes students are stuck.

Sometimes they need guidance, reassurance, or just someone to discuss their research problems with. And honestly, it is hard to just leave them struggling alone.

So today, instead of staying at home, we met at a coffee shop outside campus for a quick research discussion session.

In the end, the issues were settled, the students were smiling again, and everyone got to eat good food too.

Academic life is not only about papers and deadlines.

Sometimes it is simply about being present when students need help the most.

#AcademicLife #WFH #PostgraduateLife #ResearchMentoring #CoffeeAndResearch

RESEARCH DISCUSSIONS DON’T ALWAYS HAPPEN IN LABS

RESEARCH DISCUSSIONS DON’T ALWAYS HAPPEN IN LABS

Sometimes, the best research discussions happen over coffee in campus cafés.

Today was supposed to be just a simple lunch outing by the sea. But halfway through the day, an idea suddenly came to mind. One of those moments where a research direction just clicks unexpectedly.

So we made our way back to UTM and had a quick catch-up session at ZUS Coffee with my postgraduate student, Amirah.

As researchers and supervisors, sometimes when inspiration comes, you just cannot wait too long to share it. Ideas are fragile. If not discussed early, they might disappear just as quickly as they arrive.

What I appreciate most is seeing the excitement and curiosity from students when discussing new possibilities, new methods, and future research directions. Those small moments remind us why academic mentoring matters.

Research is not only about publications, grants, or conferences.
Sometimes it is simply about conversations, guidance, encouragement, and helping students believe they can go further than they think.

You are doing well, Amirah. Keep going. One step at a time.

#PostgraduateLife #ResearchJourney #AcademicMentoring #CampusLife #ResearchDiscussion

CONTINUING TO CONTRIBUTE BEYOND MILESTONES

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CONTINUING TO CONTRIBUTE BEYOND MILESTONES

Congratulations to Wiliyan on this publication. What makes this even more meaningful is that even after completing his MPhil viva, he continues to publish and contribute to the academic world. A good reminder that research does not stop at milestones.

This paper, titled “Semantic Enrichment of 3D City Models for Sustainable Cooling Analysis,”focuses on integrating building physics and thermal parameters into 3D city models. By enriching CityJSON-based models with attributes such as window-to-wall ratio, solar absorptivity, thermal transmittance and local climate data, the study enables more accurate estimation and visualisation of cooling demand in urban environments.

The work highlights how semantically enriched 3D models can support better energy analysis, planning and decision-making, especially in tropical cities where cooling demand is a critical issue.

The paper was presented at an IEEE conference and is indexed in Web of Science, marking another strong contribution from the team.

Well done, Wiliyan. Keep going.

#NewPublication #3DCityModels #UrbanClimate #GeospatialResearch #AcademicJourney

STRUCTURAL TOPIC MODELLING WORKSHOP – DAY 2

STRUCTURAL TOPIC MODELLING WORKSHOP – DAY 2

Back in action for Day 2 of our Structural Topic Modelling (STM) workshop, and this time I was able to join the team. It was great to engage directly in the session and see how everyone has progressed with this powerful analytical technique.

A special moment during the session was a surprise celebration for our August birthday babies. A simple gesture, but one that made the atmosphere even more lively and connected. We had chocolate cake, nasi dagang, pizza and coffee (its a mixed generations). 

Workshops like this are not just about technical knowledge, but also about building a strong and supportive research culture. Grateful for the spirit and effort everyone brought into the room.

Huge thanks again to Usman Mehmood for leading the training with clarity and depth. Here’s to more sessions that grow both our minds and our bonds.

#structuraltopicmodelling #stmworkshop #researchculture #academiclife #postgradtraining #geospatialresearch #labcommunity #birthdaycelebration #datascience #utmresearch

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STRUCTURAL TOPIC MODELLING WORKSHOP – DAY 1

STRUCTURAL TOPIC MODELLING WORKSHOP – DAY 1

Kicked off a two-day Structural Topic Modelling (STM) workshop organized by our 3D City Modelling research lab. This is our lab’s initiative to sharpen our research skills. 

Today’s session was led by Usman Mehmood, one of our talented lab members who’s been hands-on with this analytical method.

Unfortunately, due to other urgent commitments, I couldn’t be part of the session today, but the learning continues regardless. I’m proud to see the team step up and take the lead in building knowledge together.

This workshop focuses on enhancing our research with data-driven topic modelling using STM, a powerful approach for uncovering themes and trends from textual data. It’s part of our commitment to always push forward with innovative techniques in geospatial and data science.

Here’s a short video from today’s session, just a glimpse of what’s happening. Stay tuned, more updates will follow!

#StructuralTopicModelling #STMWorkshop #GeospatialResearch #ResearchLabLife #KnowledgeSharing #PostgradResearch #DataScienceInResearch #AcademicGrowth #UTM

CONGRATULATIONS TO USMAN ON HIS SUCCESSFUL PHD VIVA DEFENSE

CONGRATULATIONS TO USMAN ON HIS SUCCESSFUL PHD VIVA DEFENSE

I am proud to share that my PhD student, Usman, has successfully defended his viva presentation this morning and passed with flying colors. The entire session, from the start of his presentation to the final verdict, took only 1.5 hours, making it one of the fastest viva sessions recorded.

His research focuses on the development of a 3D spatio-temporal management model for high-rise building maintenance, offering innovative solutions for efficient and data-driven maintenance planning in urban environments.

In addition to the swift and confident defense, his thesis was recommended for Merit by both internal and external examiners. This distinction reflects the highest level of academic recognition and speaks to the outstanding quality of his research.

Congratulations once again, Dr. Usman, on this remarkable achievement. Your dedication, perseverance, and excellence throughout your PhD journey have truly paid off.

#PhDViva #DrUsman #3DSpatioTemporal #BuildingMaintenance #SmartCityResearch #HighRiseInnovation #ResearchExcellence #MeritAward #ProudSupervisor

SUCCESS BUILT ON HUMILITY, EFFORT, AND OPENNESS


SUCCESS BUILT ON HUMILITY, EFFORT, AND OPENNESS

Sharing a small but meaningful success story. A paper by my former postgraduate student has been accepted for presentation.

He is the kind of person who truly shows what learning looks like: staying humble, staying curious, asking questions, welcoming suggestions, even asking for corrections when needed, and always ready to brainstorm and refine ideas together. Before the submission, we discussed, shared thoughts openly, and turned ideas into a real and solid piece of work.

And the result? You can see it yourself. A total knockout.

This reminds me that it is not just talent that makes a difference. It is attitude, hard work, and the willingness to grow that truly set people apart. Congratulations. This success is fully earned.

As for me, I have always believed in giving advice sincerely but never forcing it. I will say it once. Whether you choose to listen or not is entirely up to you. We are all responsible for our own paths. I do not gain or lose anything either way. For those who choose to listen and grow, the rewards are theirs to reap.

#DengarCakap #SiapaUntung #TumpangGembira #Mentorship #Gratitude #ResearchJourney #3DModelling #GrowthMindset