Rifaat Abdalla

By Rifaat Abdalla

Substantial work has been done by Geospatial Information and Communications Technology (GeoICT) and Disaster Management communities to evaluate and develop tools and applications that integrate the complex interrelationships that are required for adequate preparedness, planning, mitigation, response, and recovery from extreme situations. GeoICT technologies have contributed and are contributing to saving life and property throughout the globe. Over the past decade, extensive research has resulted in more advanced GeoICT technologies. This has helped to maximize the demand for these tools, with a noticeable pattern of adoption and expanding user community. This chapter provides an overview of selected rising stars in GeoICT technology and their applications in disaster management. This discussion evaluates the trends in technology development, with emphasis on data collection, processing, and visualization.

Part of the book: Crisis Management

By Rifaat Abdalla and Salim Al-Harbi

The fast pace of technology development and voluntary adoption of international standards requires interdisciplinary and skill-based education. This chapter presents an approach for the development of an interdisciplinary, internationally recognized geomatics program, at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), using a multilevel approach that combined the international guidelines with the local stakeholders’ needs being in line with the global demand for professionals in this field. The methodology of this study consisted of interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs), students survey and operational analysis, and observation was used to analyze the program challenges and opportunities. Results obtained showed that the transferability of the approach adopted in this research, along with the commonality of lessons learned from the process, contributes to faster execution for similar programs in various parts of the world. The program was successful to secure to international recognition within 10 years of its inception. The quality of learning outcomes supported by the high employability of graduates was among the key socioeconomic impact of the program.

Part of the book: Trends in Geomatics

By Rifaat Abdalla

Part of the book: Trends in Geomatics

By Mohammed El-Diasty and Rifaat Abdalla

The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) can be created using airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), Image or Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) mapping techniques. The direct georeferencing of the DEM model is conducted using a GPS/inertial navigation system. The airborne mapping system datasets are processed to create a DEM model. To develop an accurate DEM model, all errors should be considered in the processing step. In this research, the errors associated with DEM models are investigated and modeled using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the least squares method. The sensitivity analysis of the DEM errors is investigated using PCA to define the significant GPS/inertial navigation data components that are strongly correlated with DEM errors. Then, the least squares method is employed to create a functional relationship between the DEM errors and the significant GPS/inertial navigation data components. The DEM model errors associated with airborne mapping system datasets are investigated in this research. The results show that the combined PCA analysis and least squares method can be used as a powerful tool to compensate the DEM error due to the GPS/inertial navigation data with about 27% in average for DEM errors produced by the direct georeferenced airborne mapping system.

Part of the book: Time Series Analysis