Title: GeoAI and Infrastructure Interdependency: Building Intelligent and Resilient Infrastructure Systems for a Changing World
Short biography:
Dr. Rifaat Abdalla is a geospatial scientist and Associate Professor specializing in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, GeoAI, critical infrastructure resilience, and disaster risk management. With more than three decades of international academic, research, and industry experience across Canada, the Middle East, and Africa, his work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with Earth observation and spatial analytics to support evidence-based decision-making.
Professor Abdalla has authored and edited numerous books and scholarly publications and has led research and capacity-building initiatives in collaboration with universities, government agencies, and international organizations. His recent research explores GeoAI-driven infrastructure interdependency, combining remote sensing, machine learning, digital twins, and network analysis to model cascading failures and enhance the resilience of interconnected infrastructure systems under natural and human-induced hazards. Through innovative geospatial technologies, his work bridges science and practice, enabling governments and infrastructure operators to better anticipate risks, strengthen preparedness, and support sustainable and resilient development.
