‘Call me Esmaeel.’
I’m a researcher… and my research is two folds:
The technical side of my work involves leveraging geospatial technologies, Earth Observation, and GeoAI as tools to understand our world and improve people’s lives. I focus on developing new applications and geospatial solutions across different domains. That includes:
Water Management: assessing long-term irrigation; tracking extent; irrigation volume estimation
Agricultural Resilience: Developing crop loss and risk assessment models
Disaster: Assessing the impact of drought and conflict; Wildfire risk mapping and prediction
Forest: regrowth model for above ground carbon sequestration; forest monitoring
Mapping: various mapping tools including mapping tree crops
Beyond technical, I believe that many of our world’s challenges are not purely technical. Geospatial technologies can indeed illuminate the relationships and trade-offs that connect people, environments, and decisions. My goal is to combine critical thinking with quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand the causal mechanism behind these interactions, provide clarity, and identify pathways toward better outcomes.
I am currently a third-year PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at Kent State University, working in the Sensland Lab.
At Kent State, I also teach and lead our university graduate research symposium and various programming activities as part of my role as the Programing Chair of the Graduate Student Senate.
Recently, I received a Water Diplomacy Fellowship at the Water Diplomacy Center in Amman. This connects closely to part of my dissertation work, where I use remote sensing to improve transparency and shared understanding of water needs, stressors, and agricultural practices in the Middle East.
My broader professional involvement includes serving as a journal reviewer, conference scientific committee member, and being active in several professional societies:
- Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS)
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Association of American Geographers (AAG)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI)
- Global Land Program (GLP)
Before my PhD
Prior to my doctoral studies, my work focused on applying geospatial expertise in both research and operational contexts:
Research Associate (Earth Observation Center, Malaysia): I completed my MSc in Geospatial Analysis at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). My research included airborne LiDAR, drone and field surveys, multi-sensor fusion, and satellite applications in tropical forests, studying forest structure, growth patterns, and environmental drivers, which led to a new forest re-growth model used in follow-up project.
Geospatial and GIS (International Organizations & UN Volunteer & Consulting): My practical experience involved applying skills in mapping, environmental monitoring, and development-focused projects. I also undertook several geospatial consulting projects with international, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, expertise I continue to leverage today.
Education: My background includes a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (focusing on Geotechnical Engineering), certifications in data science, remote sensing, mixed-method research, and project management.
On the side..
I write reflections on technology and society, test new research ideas, and explore experimental geospatial concepts. Some become projects; others remain in the “virtual drawer”, and that’s part of the process.
Where I’ve Been
I’ve lived and worked in several countries, and virtually in many more.
Hope, Purpose, and Partnership…
Hope is a source of meaning and a powerful driver, but it takes curiosity to explore future directions, and responsibility and discipline to sustain hope and transform it into growth. I believe people can grow, not just individually, but collectively. But what’s left? Different perspectives must coexist and prosper, and that requires kindness.
Hope, ambition, curiosity, and kindness.
I’m always open to collaborations with people who share a vision for building impactful, thoughtful, and responsible work. Want to discuss an idea, ask a question, or share something? Contact me directly
Esmaeel Adrah -- Blog & Portfolio 