Throwback & Academic Service: Reflecting on My Appointment as Proceedings Chapter Editor for IGRSM 2026

Looking back at key milestones earlier this year, I was honored to receive my official appointment back in June as a Proceedings Chapter Editor for the 13th IGRSM International Conference and Exhibition on Geospatial & Remote Sensing (IGRSM 2026).

Maintaining rigorous scholarly standards and high-quality peer review is a continuous, behind-the-scenes responsibility in academia. Working alongside Chief Editor Assoc. Prof. Gs. Dr. Norizah Kamarudin and the editorial team to curate, review, and refine the conference proceedings—published under Penerbit UPM—has been a deeply fulfilling experience.

My sincere gratitude once again to Conference Chairperson Prof. Gs. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohammed Shariff and the IGRSM 2026 Organising Committee for their trust. IGRSM continues to serve as a premier flagship platform connecting researchers, academics, and industry leaders to drive the future of remote sensing and location intelligence across the region.

#Throwback #IGRSM2026 #RemoteSensing #Geospatial #ProceedingsEditor #PenerbitUPM #UTM #AcademicExcellence #ResearchPublishing #GIS

Fostering International Geospatial Synergies: Strategic Discussion with Prof. Abbas Rajabifard

Bridging global expertise is essential to advancing spatial data governance and building resilient geospatial ecosystems. I had the privilege of engaging in a highly inspiring initial discussion with Prof. Abbas Rajabifard, from Centre of Spatial Data Infrastructure and Land Administration (CSDILA), Melbourne University, to explore strategic collaborative pathways between our institutions and across borders.

Despite a brief session, the discussion was packed with valuable insights and shared vision from both sides. We explored several key areas of mutual interest:

  • Joint Research Frontiers: Pushing the boundaries of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and analyzing the multi-faceted dimensions of the Geospatial Ecosystem.
  • Capacity Building & Module Development: Co-designing specialized training programs and educational modules to enhance SDI readiness and geospatial application for both nations.
  • Multi-Sector Knowledge Transfer: Ensuring research outcomes directly translate into actionable value for universities, federal and state government bodies, and private sector stakeholders.

Prof. Abbas expressed incredible warmth and optimism for a long-term partnership, emphasizing the valuable perspectives both sides bring to the table.

Looking forward to turning these preliminary ideas into impactful initiatives that empower spatial enablement and benefit our broader community! 🚀

#Geospatial #SpatialDataInfrastructure #SDI #InternationalCollaboration #GeospatialEcosystem #CapacityBuilding #UTM #SpatialEnablement #HigherEducation

Selamat Datang Warga Baharu Geoinformatik: Bermulanya Satu Perjalanan Baru!

Suasana di Fakulti Alam Bina dan Ukur (FABU), UTM kembali meriah dengan kehadiran wajah-wajah baharu yang penuh semangat pada 5 Oktober 2026. Sesi aluan pelajar baharu Program Sarjana Muda Sains Geoinformatik dengan Kepujian kali ini cukup istimewa apabila disambut hangat oleh hampir kesemua rakan pensyarah program.

Seramai lebih kurang 90 orang pelajar baharu dari dalam dan luar negara, termasuk lepasan pelbagai latar belakang diploma, kini rasmi melangkah masuk ke dalam keluarga besar Geoinformatik UTM. Majlis dimulakan dengan kata-kata azimat dan amanat inspirasi daripada Dekan FABU, Ketua Jabatan, serta PM Dr. Faisal.

Seterusnya, Dr. Suzanna Azmy selaku Penyelaras Program memberikan penerangan komprehensif mengenai struktur pengajian dan hala tuju akademik bagi memastikan para pelajar bersedia mengemudi perjalanan mereka. Selepas sesi bergambar beramai-ramai yang merakamkan detik permulaan ini, suasana diteruskan dengan perkongsian yang lebih dekat di hati daripada Presiden Kelab Geoinfo dan alumni program, memberikan gambaran sebenar tentang kehidupan kampus serta realiti kerjaya geospatial.

Melihat kepelbagaian latar belakang dan tenaga positif para pelajar baharu ini memberikan kami di barisan akademik semangat baharu untuk membimbing mereka.

Selamat datang ke UTM, manfaatkan sepenuhnya peluang yang ada, terokai dunia geospatial dengan rasa ingin tahu yang tinggi, dan bina kenangan terindah sepanjang bergelar mahasiswa!

#Geoinformatics#UTMMalaysia#FABU#Geospatial#Freshies2026#HigherEducation#AcademicLife#UniversityLife#GeoinfoFamily

Venturing into New Horizons: Bridging Geospatial Science with Smart Agriculture

For years, my research journey has been deeply rooted in the technical and collaborative dimensions of spatial data sharing—focusing on location intelligence for sustainable housing and biodiversity conservation.

While those domains remain near to my heart, it is time to expand into a new horizon: Smart Farming & Agricultural Sustainability.

Tackling this new frontier means applying proven spatial analytics and data-sharing frameworks to agricultural ecosystems; Precision Planting: Utilizing spatial data to optimize crop placement, soil health monitoring, and resource allocation. Smart Farming Solutions: Integrating data analytics to help growers streamline operations and maximize yield efficiency. Agricultural Sustainability: Driving data-backed strategies to strengthen food security and promote sustainable land management.

Stepping into an unfamiliar domain brings fresh challenges, but applying geospatial tools to real-world agritech is deeply exciting. Looking forward to learning, collaborating with industry partners, and shaping impactful solutions for the future of farming!

#NewHorizons #SmartFarming #Agritech #Geospatial #SpatialDataSharing #PrecisionAgriculture #Sustainability #ResearchImpact #UTM

Stepping Into New Frontiers: Mobilizing Action for World Antarctica Day

Stepping outside my core domain to embrace new challenges, I am excited to share that I have intived to join the organizing committee for one of the program in World Antarctica Day!

Antarctica may seem distant, but its accelerating climate changes directly impact global weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems. Currently in the early planning stages, our initiative aims to:

  • Raise Awareness: Unpack the reality and urgency of accelerating climate change.
  • Drive Action: Highlight practical, everyday steps individuals and communities can take to mitigate environmental impact.

Tackling new fields keeps us growing, especially when it centers on protecting our shared planet. Looking forward to shaping this impactful initiative as our plans unfold! This small program will focus on Secondary School Students, in one of the school nearby UTM.

#WorldAntarcticaDay #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NewFrontiers #ContinuousLearning #EnvironmentalAwareness #UTM

Life of an Academia: Navigating the Audit Season

Being an academic is often associated with delivering lectures, conducting groundbreaking research, and publishing in high-impact journals. However, every year around August and September, there is another critical ritual every lecturer knows all too well: the annual Teaching and Learning (T&L) audit preparation. Behind every successful semester lies a rigorous process of documentation that ensures our institutional quality standards remain top-notch and transparent.

During this peak time of the year, most of us are knee-deep in course files, tracking down assessment rubrics, scanning physical attendance records into digital formats, and compiling course learning outcomes for university system uploads. The reality is that most of these documents were already meticulously generated throughout the semester; it is simply a matter of taking the time to retrieve, recheck, and organize them properly for compliance.

While it requires patience and fine attention to detail amidst our regular academic duties, this quality assurance process plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of higher education. To all my fellow academicians currently balancing teaching, research, and system uploads during this audit season—hang in there and all the best! We’ve got this.

#AcademicLife #LecturerLife #HigherEducation #TeachingAndLearning #QualityAssurance #AcademicAudit #UTM #HigherEdManagement #UniversityLife

Good Luck Farihan!

Beyond lecturing, publishing, and securing research grants, one of the most rewarding dimensions of academic life is supervising and mentoring postgraduate scholars. Yesterday, I conducted a mock presentation session for my PhD student, Nur Farihan, as she prepares for her upcoming Qualifying Assessment (QA). During the session, she delivered a presentation on her doctoral research titled “A Conceptual Model of Spatial Policy in Spatial Data Sharing from Ethical Aspects”.

Conducting these mock evaluations before the formal QA is an essential step in the mentorship process. It provides a dedicated space for us as supervisors to critically evaluate whether the research depth, theoretical framing, and methodological approach meet the high bar expected at the PhD level. More importantly, it allows the student to stress-test their ideas, sharpen their defense, and gain the confidence needed before facing the official assessment panel.

Nur Farihan handled the session impressively, demonstrating a strong grasp of her research gap and proposed framework. Guiding passionate researchers as they navigate the complexities of spatial policy and data ethics is a privilege, and I look forward to seeing her research make a tangible impact in the field. All the best for the official QA presentation!

#Academia #PhDSupervision #SpatialDataGovernance #GeospatialEthics #ResearchMentorship #HigherEducation #UTM #SpatialPolicy #DoctoralJourney

Stepping Up: Thrilled to Join the Technical Program Committee for AGERS 2026!

Having served as a reviewer for various academic conferences over the years, I am excited to step into a new role on the organizer side! I have officially accepted the invitation to serve as a Technical Program Committee (TPC) Member for the 2026 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Geoscience, Electronics and Remote Sensing Technology (AGERS 2026).

Moving from reviewing individual papers to helping shape the technical agenda, review framework, and scientific quality of a major regional conference is a thrill and a meaningful milestone in my academic journey.

What AGERS 2026 is all about:

  • Cutting-Edge Research: Bringing together leading experts in geoscience, electronics, and remote sensing technology across the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Fostering Innovation: Evaluating groundbreaking work that leverages Earth observation, spatial analytics, and sensor technology for real-world impact.
  • Global Collaboration: Building stronger academic and technical networks within the IEEE community.

I look forward to reviewing inspiring submissions and working alongside the AGERS 2026 committee to deliver an impactful conference program!

#IEEE #AGERS2026 #TPCMember #RemoteSensing #Geoscience #Geospatial #AcademicMilestone #ResearchLeadership #UTM

Balancing Academia & Community Service: Welfare at Masjid Taman Sri Pulai

True contribution extends beyond university walls. Alongside my daily duties at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), staying actively engaged with local residential communities ensures that our skills and efforts remain grounded where they matter most.

I am honored to serve as the Secretary (Setiausaha) for Khairat Kematian Masjid Taman Sri Pulai. Tonight, I was on duty facilitating our committee meeting to address key welfare matters and strengthen our local management frameworks.

Key Discussion & Highlights:

  • Streamlining Funeral Management: Reviewing operational procedures (pengurusan jenazah) to ensure dignified, efficient, and compassionate support for local families during times of bereavement.
  • Digital Transformation for 2027: Evaluating the proposal for a dedicated Khairat Member Management System. This system aims to digitize membership records, automate administrative tracking, and improve overall service delivery, with a targeted rollout in 2027.

Bringing structured organizational workflows and technology into local grassroots governance is a deeply fulfilling experience.

Grateful to my fellow committee members at Masjid Taman Sri Pulai for their continuous dedication to serving the community!

#CommunityService #MasjidTamanSriPulai #UTMCares #KhairatKematian #CommunityGovernance #DigitalTransformation #SocialResponsibility #LocalWelfare

Advancing National Security: Integrating GeoAI into Modern Crime Investigation with PDRM 👮‍♂️🌐

Honored to be invited as a speaker at the Seminar Aplikasi AI dalam Siasatan Jenayah Moden dan Keselamatan Negara, organized by Maktab PDRM at Dewan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Maktab PDRM Cheras.

My presentation focused on “Integrasi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) & GeoAI dalam Siasatan Jenayah & Keselamatan Awam,” exploring how geospatial data paired with artificial intelligence can transform law enforcement and public safety operations.

Key Highlights from the Session:

  • Foundations of GeoAI: Unpacking the synergy between spatial analytics, location intelligence, and artificial intelligence.
  • Why Location Intelligence Matters: Demonstrating how spatial context (“where”) unlocks critical insights beyond traditional data during crime analysis.
  • Real-World Applications: Sharing practical use cases of GeoAI in crime hot-spot mapping, predictive spatial modeling, and resource optimization for public safety.
  • Future Horizons: Outlining strategic directions for adopting next-generation GeoAI tools to bolster national security.

It was an incredible experience engaging with the officers at Maktab PDRM. Sincere thanks to the organizers and leadership for the warm welcome and fruitful discussions. Bridging academic innovation with frontline policing is essential to building a safer, digitally resilient Malaysia.

#GeoAI #AI #NationalSecurity #PDRM #MaktabPDRM #CrimeInvestigation #PublicSafety #Geospatial #LocationIntelligence #SpatialDataScience #UTM