Professor of Remote Sensing at Aerospace Information Research Institute, China
Professional Profile
Summary
Professor Mohamed Elhag is an esteemed academic and environmental researcher specializing in remote sensing, geospatial technologies, and natural resources management. He currently serves as a Tenure Track Professor in the Department of Water Resources at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he holds research fellow and visiting professor positions in Greece, China, and Oman, demonstrating a strong international academic footprint. His multi-decade career reflects extensive contributions to the fields of environmental science, water management, and geoinformation technologies.
Educational Details
Professor Elhag earned his Ph.D. in Water Resource Management from the University of Thessaly, Greece (2012), focusing on GIS, remote sensing, and spatial decision support systems. He holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Management (2008) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management (2007) from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh), Greece. Earlier, he completed an M.Sc. in Plant Ecology (2008) and a B.Sc. in Special Botany (1999) from Cairo University, Egypt, in addition to postgraduate training in environmental studies and economics from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University.
Professional Experience
With over two decades of professional experience, Professor Elhag has served in leading academic and research roles across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. At King Abdulaziz University, he has progressed from Assistant Professor to Full Professor since 2013. He also serves as a Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CIHEAM/MAICh, and as Visiting Professor at the German University of Technology in Oman. Earlier roles include appointments at the University of Thessaly and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania. His work encompasses teaching, research leadership, and project coordination in ecological mapping, climate impact assessment, and sustainable land use.
Research Interests
Professor Elhag’s research is centered on geo-information technologies, remote sensing, and environmental management, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. His interests span a broad spectrum including water resource modeling, land use dynamics, soil erosion, vegetation mapping, habitat conservation, hyperspectral and microwave remote sensing, and spatial statistical modeling for decision support in natural resource governance.
Author Metrics
According to Google Scholar, Professor Elhag has amassed 1,785 citations, with an h-index of 21 and i10-index of 53 (as of 2024). His research output includes over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and international conference presentations. His work is widely published in high-impact journals such as Earth Systems and Environment, Sustainability, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, and Desalination and Water Treatment, reflecting significant academic influence across environmental science disciplines.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Professor Elhag has been actively engaged in national and international research initiatives. He has been the principal investigator or co-PI on several funded projects by King Abdulaziz University and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. His commitment to academic excellence and cross-border scientific collaboration has earned him recognition within professional societies such as the Arab Water Council, Saudi Biological Society, and Water Sciences and Technology Association, as well as affiliations with numerous international environmental research programs.
Publicaiton Top Notes
1. Assessment of Surface Deformation Patterns Using InSAR Data: Implications for Human Impacts in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia
2. Understanding Drought: Agricultural and Socioeconomic Effects in Tekeze Watershed, Northern Ethiopia
3. Assessment of Machine Learning Techniques in Mapping Land Use/Land Cover Changes in a Semi-Arid Environment
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Authors: Noamen Baccari, Mohamed Hafedh Hamza, Tarek Slama, Anis Sebei, Sarra Ouerghi, Rania Elsheikh, Naoufel Rebai, Mohamed Elhag
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Journal: Earth Systems and Environment
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Publication Date: January 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s41748-025-00620-3
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Access: ResearchGateresearchgate.net
4. Assessment of Coastal Zone Vulnerability in Context of Sea-Level Rise and Inundation Risk in Qatar
5. Comparative Assessment of Process-Based Models for Simulating the Hydrological Response of the Himalayan River Basin
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Authors: Mohit Kumar, Reet Kamal Tiwari, Kuldeep Singh Rautela, Kamal Kumar, Varun Khajuria, Ishant Verma, Sabia Safi, Mansour Almazroui, Abdulla Al Kafy, Lifu Zhang, Mohamed Elhag
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Journal: Earth Systems and Environment, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages 299–313
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Publication Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s41748-024-00441-w
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Access: ResearchGateouci.dntb.gov.ua+1researchgate.net+1researchgate.net
Conclusion
Professor Mohamed Elhag exemplifies what the Best Researcher Award aims to recognize: outstanding scholarly excellence, global academic leadership, innovation in high-impact research, and contributions to solving real-world environmental challenges. His output, citation record, interdisciplinary focus, and international presence make him a deserving candidate. With minor expansion into science communication and strategic collaborations, his profile could be even more impactful.