Faizan Ahmad | Geoinformatics | Research Excellence Award Published on 24/01/202624/01/2026 by Academic Awards Mr. Faizan Ahmad | Geoinformatics | Research Excellence Award Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University | Pakistan Mr. Faizan Ahmad is a GIS and remote sensing researcher with expertise in spatial analysis, land-use change detection, habitat suitability modeling, and applied conservation science. His research integrates satellite imagery, geospatial data processing, and statistical modeling techniques (GLM/MaxEnt) to address biodiversity conservation and environmental risk assessment. He has authored a peer-reviewed article in the Journal for Nature Conservation focusing on Indian pangolin habitat dynamics in western Pakistan and has an additional manuscript under review in Ecology and Evolution examining habitat preferences and illegal wildlife trade routes. His professional profile reflects strong applied GIS capabilities supporting evidence-based environmental planning and conservation policy. Citation Metrics (Scopus) 4 3 2 1 0 Citations 0 Documents 1 h-index 0 View Scopus Profile Featured Publications Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Use and Indian Pangolin Habitat in Western Pakistan: Insights from Landsat Imagery and Generalized Linear Models – Journal for Nature Conservation, 2026 Exploring Habitat Preferences, Suitability, and Illegal Trade Routes of Indian Pangolins in Western Pakistan: Implications for Conservation – Ecology and Evolution (Under Review)
Mr. Faizan Ahmad is a GIS and remote sensing researcher with expertise in spatial analysis, land-use change detection, habitat suitability modeling, and applied conservation science. His research integrates satellite imagery, geospatial data processing, and statistical modeling techniques (GLM/MaxEnt) to address biodiversity conservation and environmental risk assessment. He has authored a peer-reviewed article in the Journal for Nature Conservation focusing on Indian pangolin habitat dynamics in western Pakistan and has an additional manuscript under review in Ecology and Evolution examining habitat preferences and illegal wildlife trade routes. His professional profile reflects strong applied GIS capabilities supporting evidence-based environmental planning and conservation policy.
Xia Zhang | Remote Sensing | Women Researcher Award Published on 20/08/202522/08/2025 by Academic Awards Prof. Xia Zhang | Remote Sensing | Women Researcher Award Prof. Xia Zhang | Aerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences | China Prof. Xia Zhang is a distinguished Chinese scientist specializing in hyperspectral remote sensing, soil monitoring, and planetary science. She earned her Ph.D. in Cartography and GIS from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, following earlier degrees in Remote Sensing and GIS from Beijing Normal University and Agricultural Meteorology from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology. Currently a Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, she has devoted her career to advancing quantitative inversion algorithms for monitoring soil properties and developing mineral detection methods for celestial bodies. Her pioneering research has provided reliable systems for monitoring soil heavy metals, organic matter, and texture, as well as mapping lunar minerals and Martian water-bearing materials. Prof. Zhang has published numerous SCI papers, authored books, secured patents, and contributed to China’s major satellite and lunar exploration projects. Her work bridges earth sciences and space exploration, making significant contributions to both environmental sustainability and planetary understanding. Publication Profile Scopus Education Prof. Xia Zhang has pursued a strong academic journey in the field of geospatial sciences, remote sensing, and meteorology, which laid the foundation for her distinguished career in research and innovation. She earned her Ph.D. in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems from the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where she specialized in advanced applications of remote sensing and geographic technologies. Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed a Master’s degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from Beijing Normal University, gaining in-depth expertise in spatial data analysis and earth observation techniques. Her academic path began with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Meteorology from the Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, where she developed a strong background in environmental monitoring, climate science, and agricultural systems. This comprehensive educational foundation enabled her to integrate meteorology, remote sensing, and geoinformatics, leading to her impactful contributions in soil monitoring, environmental sustainability, and planetary exploration. Employment Prof. Xia Zhang has built a distinguished professional career dedicated to hyperspectral remote sensing and earth observation research within the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She currently serves as a Professor at the Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Laboratory, Aerospace Information Research Institute, where she continues to advance scientific innovations in soil monitoring and planetary exploration. Previously, she held the position of Professor at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, where she contributed significantly to the development of quantitative inversion algorithms and environmental applications. Her academic journey includes long-term service at the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, beginning as a Research Assistant at the Open Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, later advancing to Assistant Professor and subsequently to Associate Professor, where she honed her expertise in satellite imaging and hyperspectral analysis. Through these progressive roles, Prof. Zhang has demonstrated remarkable leadership, consistent scientific contributions, and a strong commitment to advancing China’s capabilities in remote sensing technologies and global environmental studies. Research Focus Prof. Xia Zhang’s research primarily focuses on hyperspectral remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and precision soil assessment, placing her work at the intersection of geospatial sciences, agricultural sustainability, and planetary exploration. Her studies emphasize the development of advanced algorithms for soil property estimation, including soil organic matter, heavy metals, pH, moisture, and texture, using multi-source satellite and field spectroscopy data. By integrating hyperspectral and multispectral imagery from platforms such as GF-5, Zhuhai-1, Sentinel-2, and ZY1, she has contributed to innovative approaches for improving soil quality monitoring and land cover classification. Her expertise extends to addressing environmental complexities, mitigating data distortions, and applying machine learning and deep learning models for enhanced accuracy in spectral analysis. Beyond earth-focused applications, her research also explores mineral mapping on extraterrestrial surfaces, such as the Moon and Mars, deepening scientific understanding of planetary evolution. Overall, her contributions span soil science, environmental sustainability, and planetary remote sensing. Publication Top Notes Soil zinc content estimation using GF-5 hyperspectral image with mitigation of soil moisture influenceYear: 2025 Prediction and monitoring of soil pH using field reflectance spectroscopy and time-series Sentinel-2 remote sensing imageryYear: 2025Citations: 1 A mixed convolution and distance covariance matrix network for fine classification of corn straw cover types with fused hyperspectral and multispectral dataYear: 2024 Estimation of soil organic matter content by combining Zhuhai-1 hyperspectral and Sentinel-2A multispectral imagesYear: 2024Citations: 5 Evaluation of Soil As Concentration Estimation Method Based on Spectral IndicesYear: 2024Citations: 3 Removal of environmental influences for estimating soil texture fractions based on ZY1 satellite hyperspectral imagesYear: 2024Citations: 9 Generating surface soil moisture at the 30 m resolution in grape-growing areas based on stacked ensemble learningYear: 2024Citations: 3 Conclusion Prof. Xia Zhang stands out as an accomplished researcher whose innovations in hyperspectral remote sensing and planetary science strongly align with the goals of the Research for Women Researcher Award. With her solid track record in impactful publications, patents, and contributions to major scientific missions, she is highly suitable for this recognition, representing excellence, innovation, and leadership in women’s research.
Prof. Xia Zhang is a distinguished Chinese scientist specializing in hyperspectral remote sensing, soil monitoring, and planetary science. She earned her Ph.D. in Cartography and GIS from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, following earlier degrees in Remote Sensing and GIS from Beijing Normal University and Agricultural Meteorology from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology. Currently a Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, she has devoted her career to advancing quantitative inversion algorithms for monitoring soil properties and developing mineral detection methods for celestial bodies. Her pioneering research has provided reliable systems for monitoring soil heavy metals, organic matter, and texture, as well as mapping lunar minerals and Martian water-bearing materials. Prof. Zhang has published numerous SCI papers, authored books, secured patents, and contributed to China’s major satellite and lunar exploration projects. Her work bridges earth sciences and space exploration, making significant contributions to both environmental sustainability and planetary understanding. Publication Profile Scopus Education Prof. Xia Zhang has pursued a strong academic journey in the field of geospatial sciences, remote sensing, and meteorology, which laid the foundation for her distinguished career in research and innovation. She earned her Ph.D. in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems from the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where she specialized in advanced applications of remote sensing and geographic technologies. Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed a Master’s degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from Beijing Normal University, gaining in-depth expertise in spatial data analysis and earth observation techniques. Her academic path began with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Meteorology from the Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, where she developed a strong background in environmental monitoring, climate science, and agricultural systems. This comprehensive educational foundation enabled her to integrate meteorology, remote sensing, and geoinformatics, leading to her impactful contributions in soil monitoring, environmental sustainability, and planetary exploration. Employment Prof. Xia Zhang has built a distinguished professional career dedicated to hyperspectral remote sensing and earth observation research within the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She currently serves as a Professor at the Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Laboratory, Aerospace Information Research Institute, where she continues to advance scientific innovations in soil monitoring and planetary exploration. Previously, she held the position of Professor at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, where she contributed significantly to the development of quantitative inversion algorithms and environmental applications. Her academic journey includes long-term service at the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, beginning as a Research Assistant at the Open Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, later advancing to Assistant Professor and subsequently to Associate Professor, where she honed her expertise in satellite imaging and hyperspectral analysis. Through these progressive roles, Prof. Zhang has demonstrated remarkable leadership, consistent scientific contributions, and a strong commitment to advancing China’s capabilities in remote sensing technologies and global environmental studies. Research Focus Prof. Xia Zhang’s research primarily focuses on hyperspectral remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and precision soil assessment, placing her work at the intersection of geospatial sciences, agricultural sustainability, and planetary exploration. Her studies emphasize the development of advanced algorithms for soil property estimation, including soil organic matter, heavy metals, pH, moisture, and texture, using multi-source satellite and field spectroscopy data. By integrating hyperspectral and multispectral imagery from platforms such as GF-5, Zhuhai-1, Sentinel-2, and ZY1, she has contributed to innovative approaches for improving soil quality monitoring and land cover classification. Her expertise extends to addressing environmental complexities, mitigating data distortions, and applying machine learning and deep learning models for enhanced accuracy in spectral analysis. Beyond earth-focused applications, her research also explores mineral mapping on extraterrestrial surfaces, such as the Moon and Mars, deepening scientific understanding of planetary evolution. Overall, her contributions span soil science, environmental sustainability, and planetary remote sensing. Publication Top Notes Soil zinc content estimation using GF-5 hyperspectral image with mitigation of soil moisture influenceYear: 2025 Prediction and monitoring of soil pH using field reflectance spectroscopy and time-series Sentinel-2 remote sensing imageryYear: 2025Citations: 1 A mixed convolution and distance covariance matrix network for fine classification of corn straw cover types with fused hyperspectral and multispectral dataYear: 2024 Estimation of soil organic matter content by combining Zhuhai-1 hyperspectral and Sentinel-2A multispectral imagesYear: 2024Citations: 5 Evaluation of Soil As Concentration Estimation Method Based on Spectral IndicesYear: 2024Citations: 3 Removal of environmental influences for estimating soil texture fractions based on ZY1 satellite hyperspectral imagesYear: 2024Citations: 9 Generating surface soil moisture at the 30 m resolution in grape-growing areas based on stacked ensemble learningYear: 2024Citations: 3 Conclusion
Prof. Xia Zhang stands out as an accomplished researcher whose innovations in hyperspectral remote sensing and planetary science strongly align with the goals of the Research for Women Researcher Award. With her solid track record in impactful publications, patents, and contributions to major scientific missions, she is highly suitable for this recognition, representing excellence, innovation, and leadership in women’s research.