Tag Archives: University

H-INDEX 20: A MILESTONE I NEVER EXPECTED

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H-INDEX 20: A MILESTONE I NEVER EXPECTED

Today, while checking my Google Scholar profile, I noticed something that made me pause for a moment.

My H-index has reached 20.

To be honest, when I first started my academic journey, I never imagined I would get here. I believe at the moment I have the highest H-index in my department for GIS field of study.

Some people may say that an H-index of 20 is not particularly high. In certain disciplines, it might even be considered modest. But for me, and for the field that I work in, it is a meaningful milestone.

The research areas I have been involved in, we were once considered highly specialised and niche. The community was relatively small, and naturally, there were not many researchers working on similar topics.

Sometimes it felt like being a minority within an already small minority.

Publishing was not always easy. Finding collaborators was not always easy. Convincing others of the value of certain research directions was not always easy.

But we kept going.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with many wonderful students, colleagues, collaborators, and mentors. Every paper, citation, discussion, supervision session, conference presentation, and research project contributed to this journey.

So this milestone does not belong to me alone.

It belongs to everyone who has contributed, collaborated, cited our work, challenged our ideas, and helped shape the research community that exists today.

What makes me happiest is not the number itself.

It is seeing how much the community has grown.

Topics that once attracted only a handful of researchers are now receiving increasing attention. New ideas are emerging, new collaborations are being formed, and the research landscape has become far more vibrant and exciting than when I first entered the field.

I am grateful to have witnessed that growth and even more grateful to have played a small part in it.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.

Now, back to work. There are still many interesting questions waiting to be explored.

#ResearchJourney #GoogleScholar #HIndex20 #Geoinformatics #AcademicLife

THE COVER IS READY!

THE COVER IS READY!

Just got the cover design for my book!

GeoAI & IoT Foundations: Models, Architectures, and Platforms for Urban-Scale Intelligence explores how GeoAI and IoT can be integrated to power intelligent urban systems and smart city applications. I’m also honoured to have this work published by Springer.

Seeing it finally come together feels surreal. Can’t wait to hold the finished copy in my hands. Absolutely loving this cover and counting down the days until it’s officially out!

#BookCover #GeoAI #IoT #AcademicPublishing #Springer #Research #AuthorLife #ComingSoon

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

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER VIVA SESSION 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER VIVA SESSION 

Had the opportunity to serve as the Chairman for a Master of Philosophy viva voce session at the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, UTM.

The research by Madiha Farhani binti Mohamad focuses on the integration of technology in the documentation of heritage building measured drawings in Malaysia.

What makes this work particularly interesting is the use of LiDAR and photogrammetry technologies within the architectural and measured drawing field. These technologies are becoming increasingly important for capturing accurate spatial information, preserving heritage assets, and improving documentation efficiency compared to traditional manual approaches.

The integration of geospatial technologies with architectural conservation is something that will continue to grow in importance, especially for digital heritage preservation and future smart documentation workflows.

I would also like to acknowledge the panel involved in today’s examination session:

  • External Examiner: Prof Ts Dr Nangkula Utaberta (UCSI University)
  • Internal Examiner: Dr Aiman bin Mohd Rashid
  • Main Supervisor: Ar IDr Ts Dr Noraslinda binti Abdul Rahman
  • Assistant Chairman: Dr Mohd Amirul Hakim bin Zamri

Congratulations to the candidate and all involved in making the session successful. Wishing the candidate all the best for the next academic journey ahead.

Academic responsibility continues.

#VivaVoce #LiDAR #Photogrammetry #HeritageDocumentation #AcademicLife

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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

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

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ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

Received an invitation to join the International Board of Reviewers for the International Conference on Information Management and Technology (ICIMTech) 2026.

Peer review is often a quiet responsibility. It requires time, careful reading and fair judgment, but it plays an important role in maintaining the quality of academic work. Being part of this process is always a reminder that research is not only about publishing, but also about contributing to the broader community.

Looking forward to supporting the review process and contributing to the advancement of research in information systems and technology.

#AcademicService #Reviewer #ResearchCommunity #ICIMTech #KnowledgeSharing

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

APPOINTED BY UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA (USM)

APPOINTED BY UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA (USM)

Feeling anxious when being appointed as an External Expert for the Board of Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). An APEX university with higher ranking than UTM.

It’s truly a privilege to support the advancement of geospatial education and to collaborate with one of Malaysia’s leading academic institutions.

Thank you USM, for this trust and opportunity.

#Geospatial #GIS #AcademicLeadership #USM #APEXUniversity #HigherEducation #LifelongLearning

GEOSPATIAL INNOVATION: IGNITING SMART CITIES, ECO-SYNERGY, AND URBAN RESURGENCE

GEOSPATIAL INNOVATION: IGNITING SMART CITIES, ECO-SYNERGY, AND URBAN RESURGENCE

This book is expected to be available on October, 2025 by Springer.

This is a collaborative effort exploring how 3D City Modelling, digital twins, remote sensing, and AI can contribute to building smarter, more resilient, and sustainable cities.

Appreciate the support so far, more updates soon.

#SmartCities #GeospatialInnovation #3DGIS #UrbanResilience #DigitalTwins #EcoSynergy #SustainableDevelopment #GeoAI #RemoteSensing #SpringerBooks #ComingSoon #UrbanInnovation #CityTech

MY BOOK CHAPTER TALK IN BERLIN

MY BOOK CHAPTER TALK IN BERLIN

Besides writing journal papers, I enjoy working on books and book chapters. One example is this chapter I wrote titled “An Overview of Advances in Geoinformatics Technologies: Facilities and Utilities Optimization and Management for Smart City Applications”.

I enjoy this kind of writing because it helps raise awareness and spark new ideas about what’s possible in our geospatial science field.

Today, I’m excited that I’ve been invited to give a talk about this chapter at the Global Summit on Advances in Recycling and Waste Management in Berlin, Germany, this September 29–30, 2025.

I’m happy to know that the book has contributed to the community. I hope the session will offer something valuable and inspiring to those attending!

#Geoinformatics #SmartCities #BookChapter #AcademicWriting #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #GIS #3DModeling #SmartCitySolutions #GlobalSummit #Berlin2025 #ResearchImpact