I am an Assistant Professor in Center for Peaceful and Sustainable Futures (CEPEAS) at International Development and Cooperation (IDEC) in Hiroshima University, Japan. I have been doing research on GIS and Remote Sensing Engineering domain. My area of research is City Climate Modelling, Land Use Planning, Urban Trajectories Modelling, Urban Morphological Dynamics, Surface Urban Heat Island phenomena, Carbon Sequestration, Environmental Vulnerability, Glaciers Melting, Machine Learning Application, Time Series Dynamic and Climate Change.

Research topic: Urban Resilience Assessment: A Global Analysis of Indices and Application in Vietnamese Cities 

Abstract: Urban resilience is increasingly vital as cities confront growing environmental and socio-economic challenges. My research undertakes a global analysis of existing frameworks for assessing urban resilience, offering a critical examination of their applicability across various contexts. I evaluate prominent global resilience indices, assessing their relevance to the unique urban dynamics of Vietnam. By applying an integrated resilience assessment framework to select Vietnamese cities, I aim to uncover specific strengths and weaknesses in urban planning and disaster preparedness. My research highlights the importance of context-specific adaptations of global indices to better reflect local conditions, facilitating more effective resilience strategies. Furthermore, I explore how these insights can inform policymakers in enhancing urban infrastructure, fostering community engagement, and promoting sustainable development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ultimately, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on urban resilience, providing actionable recommendations for Vietnamese cities to strengthen their resilience in the face of future uncertainties and risks.

Hobbies: Reading, Travelling, Sports and Cooking  

Research topic: Machine Learning Approach to Examine the Implications of Urban Form for Water Resilience 

Abstract:  TBW

Hobbies: Travelling, Cooking  

Research topic: Decarbonizing Urban Bangladesh 

Abstract:  TBW

Hobbies: Travelling, Biking, Cars, Cooking

Research topic: Urban Climate Gentrification 

Abstract:  Is there a relationship between the environment, climate change, and the processes of gentrification at a global level? What types of methodologies allow us to address the complexity of such intersections? Do these processes affect social life in both the Global North and Global South? Is it still possible to stop the environmental, cultural, and social collapse that these conditions may generate? In general, these are the questions I ask myself every day. My research is focused on these issues. I am a sociologist, educator, and musician. I work as a social advisor at Costa Rica's Ministry of the Environment, but I am now a PhD researcher.

Hobbies: Playing guitar, Hiking, Reading, and philosophizing about everyday life

Research topic: Spatial Representation, Quantification and Finance Landscape for Ecosystem-Based Non-Economic Loss and Damage  

Abstract:  I am a PhD researcher focusing on ecosystem-based Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD) at the intersection of climate change, spatial analysis, and climate finance. My research examines the spatial representation of NELD to map how climate-induced ecosystem degradation affects cultural heritage, biodiversity, livelihoods, and social cohesion across vulnerable landscapes. I also work on quantifying NELD using integrated geospatial, socio-ecological, and mixed-methods approaches to translate intangible losses into decision-relevant metrics. In parallel, my work critically analyzes the climate finance landscape for ecosystem-based NELD, assessing policy coherence, financial flows, and institutional readiness to support NELD-responsive adaptation and loss-and-damage mechanisms in developing countries.

Hobbies: Travelling

Research topic: Integrating urban growth models and climate change scenario making for building resilient cities in Africa

Abstract:  Africa’s urban population is projected to triple by mid-century, with much of this growth occurring in informal settlements that are disproportionately exposed to climate hazards, including extreme heat and flooding. While numerous studies examine either urban expansion or climate impacts independently, limited research integrates both dimensions in African contexts, particularly in African cities, where data gaps and informal development dynamics are most pronounced. This study will develop a coupled urban climate modelling framework that links high-resolution satellite mapping, machine learning and cellular automata based urban growth simulation, and downscaled CMIP6 climate projections to explore how alternative socio-economic (SSPs) and climate (RCPs) futures shape spatial patterns of exposure. The study will map and characterize historical trends in the expansion of formal and informal settlements, calibrating model parameters using a deep learning classification methodology. The integrated modelling will generate future land-use scenarios for 2030, 2050, and 2080, alongside spatially explicit climate projections. By producing open, planner-ready datasets and tools, this research aims to improve evidence-based urban planning and climate adaptation in rapidly growing African cities, while demonstrating the added value of a harmonized climate modelling approach over traditional non-integrated methods.

Hobbies: Football, tennis, movies, travelling

Research topic: A global analysis of National Urban Policies and their effectiveness in promoting sustainability and resilience.  

Abstract:  Managing current and future urbanization to deliver sustainable outcomes remains a pressing concern in policy and academic circles, informing proposals to recalibrate existing urban management frameworks. I build upon this background and focus on National Urban Policies, a key output of the New Urban Agenda. The New Urban Agenda expects National Urban Policies to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action to equip them to manage urbanisation and localise sustainability goals. Despite the anticipation of the New Urban Agenda that National Urban Policies shall incorporate Sustainability Goals and Climate action, the question of which National Urban Policy incorporates these remains unexplored. Therefore, I undertake a global-scale analysis to examine whether aspects of sustainability and climate action are reflected within National Urban Policies. The study dataset comprises National Urban Policy documents from individual countries and research articles. To accomplish the study's purpose, I employ a mixed-methods approach, specifically a Systematic literature review, Natural Language processing, and Topic modelling, applied to the study dataset to address specific research questions.        The study is significant because the ineffectiveness of National Urban Policies can foster the expansion of unplanned urbanization. Consequently, unplanned urbanization shall compromise sustainability attainment through multiple pathways, such as; overwhelming capacity of existing carbon sinks, diminishing the annual 80 percent share of global Gross Domestic Product generated by urban areas and amplifying the probability of countries defaulting from international agreements that aspire for sustainability. Policy makers and practitioners could utilize findings to monitor and reinforce urban management frameworks even beyond the 2030 deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Hobbies: Farming, construction and travelling

Research topic: Strengthening food resilience through city-region food systems: A system dynamics approach

Abstract:  Rapid urbanization and the growing complexity of food supply chains have increased the vulnerability of cities to shocks and disruptions. City-region food systems (CRFS) are proposed as a way to reconnect urban areas with their surrounding and distant hinterlands, but their concrete contribution to food security and food resilience is not yet fully understood. This study investigates how the adoption and implementation of integrated CRFS strategies can enhance food security and resilience in urban areas. It first clarifies the relationships between CRFS, food security, and food resilience, and assesses the extent to which an urban area depends on surrounding regions for its food supply. Using a system dynamics approach, the study develops a model that traces how different areas contribute to meeting an urban population’s daily nutritional needs under normal conditions and under shock scenarios characterized by reduced resource consumption and localized provisioning. The model represents key features of CRFS complexity, including diversity, redundancy, connectivity, and feedbacks, and examines how these properties influence the system’s capacity to maintain food availability, access, and stability over time. By linking CRFS strategies to measurable outcomes for food security and resilience, the study aims to provide an evidence-based framework to support planning and governance decisions at the city-region scale.

Hobbies: Playing Dota 2, badminton, and watching a bushcraft video at 2x speed

Research topic: Leveraging Digital Twin Technology and AI-Based Modelling for Flood Resilience

Abstract:  Climate change, rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure are intensifying flood hazards worldwide, requiring new frameworks that go beyond static, siloed risk assessments. This research proposes an integrated, AI-driven approach that combines Digital Twin (DT) technology, Machine Learning (ML), Reinforcement Learning (RL), and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) to advance real-time flood prediction, dynamic vulnerability assessment, and community-scale resilience planning. While recent advances in hydrological modeling and remote sensing have improved flood forecasting, existing methodologies inadequately capture the adaptive behavior of individuals and communities during flood events. To address this gap, the project develops a high-resolution digital twin, continuously updated with real-time meteorological, hydrological, and behavioral data. Within this virtual environment, AI-enhanced ABM simulates human decision-making—such as evacuation choices, risk perception, and compliance with policy interventions—under evolving flood scenarios. ML models will process multisource environmental data to improve prediction accuracy, while RL will be used to optimize adaptive strategies, including evacuation routing and resource allocation. By integrating behavioral dynamics into a real-time digital twin ecosystem, the research provides an innovative framework capable of stress-testing infrastructure plans, informing policy, and guiding community preparedness. The outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to the development of resilient, climate-responsive smart cities and offer transferable insights for AI-powered disaster risk reduction in Japan and globally.

Hobbies: Fitness, Photography, Listening to music, Watching anime, Playing video games, Volleyball, and Football

Research topic: Mapping urban sprawl and its environmental impacts in African cities

Abstract: My research focuses on how urban sprawl is changing and groundwater recharge potential in African cities. African cities are expanding rapidly, often through the outward spread of low-density development that converts farmland, vegetation and bare soil into impervious surfaces. Studies have shown that between 1990 and 2014, built-up areas in the African cities studied grew by more than 5% per year, outpacing population growth of about 4% per year. With Africa’s urban population projected to double to 1.4 billion by 2050, this conversion is likely to continue. Therefore, leading to an increased expansion of impervious surfaces; reducing infiltration and increasing runoff, potentially diminishing groundwater recharge. However, this relationship remains poorly understood in African cities. I am curious in understanding where sprawl has changed land use and affected recharge potential; how recharge may change by 2050, and how much of that change would be attributed to sprawl. I also hope to examine where groundwater abstraction risks may arise, how recharge losses associated with sprawl would contribute to those risks, and which parts of each city may face the greatest risk by 2050.

Hobbies: Football, traveling and photography

Research topic: Institutionalising Ecosystem Asset Management for Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP): A Tech-Integrated Framework for Local Governance And Data Driven Planning 

Abstract: The research examines approaches to operationalizing and institutionalizing Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) at the municipal scale, with an emphasis on integrating ecosystem assets into urban measurement systems beyond the usual aggregate economic indicators. A key aspect of my research is understanding how quantitatively robust and spatially explicit data can capture ecological functions and how heterogeneous biophysical and economic data can be integrated into ecological accounts using remote sensing and urban and ecological datasets. The core of my research is exploring how ecosystem assets and services can be systematically identified, quantified, and incorporated into municipal accounting frameworks. My research further explores the scientific and technological opportunities for tools that make ecosystem services visible and actionable, standardized ecosystem accounts that inform investments and value capture, and interoperable and scalable. The expected outcomes include ecosystem asset inventories, GEP estimates, and municipal dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable urban development. 

Hobbies: Sports Enthusiast, Travelling and Curiosity-driven Reading ! 

Research topic: Adaptive Green Finance Design Under Uncertainty: Behavioral Evidence and Scenario Analysis for Energy Transitions 

Abstract: My research focuses on the role of green finance in supporting energy transitions and the ways in which financial instruments can be designed to make this process more effective. I am particularly interested in understanding why some green finance initiatives succeed while others face financial, institutional, or practical constraints, and how these challenges influence the transition towards more sustainable energy systems. A central part of my research is understanding what makes green financial instruments work in different circumstances. Beyond examining their impact on renewable energy development and broader energy-system changes, I am interested in how uncertainty, institutional conditions, and the preferences of different stakeholders shape their effectiveness. I hope to contribute to a better understanding of how green finance can move beyond simply mobilising capital towards supporting well-designed and adaptable financing arrangements for energy transitions. My broader interests lie at the intersection of sustainable finance, energy policy and development, with a particular interest in connecting academic research with practical solutions to the challenges of financing a transition to more sustainable energy systems.  

Hobbies: Travelling, Coffee, discovering new cultures, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and sustainability initiatives  

Research topic: Exploring the role of city networks for improved urban food governance

Abstract: Cities are responsible for the majority of food consumed worldwide. This share is predicted to increase. Sustainable food systems transformation hence relies on urban food governance transformation. My research interest lies in the niche of the intersection between food system transformation and glocal governance. The objective of the research is to understand the tools which cities can use individually and as part of city networks to improve urban food governance. The results visualize the current state of urban food governance and highlight potential for improvements.

Hobbies: Cooking, editorial work, bouldering

Research topic: Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Water Management and Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract: Rapid urbanization and climate change have increasingly challenged urban water management systems worldwide. Traditional engineered solutions, while effective, often fall short in providing sustainable, resilient, and adaptive strategies, especially in cities like Kabul, Afghanistan, where research is limited. This study focuses on investigating the role of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in managing urban water and mitigating climate change impacts in Kabul and other cities. Through a systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews, field monitoring, and hydrological modeling, the project aims to assess the efficiency, scalability, and resilience of NBS under extreme weather scenarios. The outcomes will offer critical insights into enhancing climate adaptation strategies through NBS, with implications for future applications in Kabul and similar urban environments. By bridging gaps between global research and local needs, this work supports sustainable urban development, policymaking, and climate resilience building.

Hobbies: Books, Hiking, Football

Research topic: Revitalizing Small and Medium-Sized Japanese Cities: Strategies for Sustainable Development in the Context of Depopulation

Abstract: This study will focus on identifying and developing strategies for repurposing underutilized and abandoned spaces in Kure, Japan. A systematic literature review will be conducted to determine how underutilized spaces can best be repurposed along with how the 15-minute city concept can be utilized in a depopulating society. Spatial analysis using GIS will be conducted on Kure City to run a network analysis in the constraints of a 15-minute city concept, map the locations of abandoned and underutilized properties, identify areas of the city that have dangerous slope conditions, and then overlap the three to produce an overarching map that can be used with the local government.  

Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, drinking coffee

Research topic: Feasibility and Impact Analysis of Installing Solar Panels on Electric Three-Wheelers (easy-bikes) in Bangladesh

Abstract: TBW.

Hobbies: Playing and listening to music; watching football, cricket and movies; reading books; being in nature and -most importantly- spending time with family and friends.

Research topic: Siting Optimization of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: A Case Study of Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract: Vietnam is regarded as a fast-growing market for electric vehicles (EVs). However, the lack of charging infrastructure has hindered EV adoption in this country. This study aims to propose an integrated model combining Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and Multi-Objective Optimization to implement an optimal location strategy for EVs charging stations in Ho Chi Minh City. The framework provides planners with a scientifically grounded decision-making tool while simultaneously minimizing investment costs for relevant stakeholders.

Hobbies: Pickleball, Tennis, Yoga

Research topic: Green Building Certification in Sri Lanka: Current Status and Barriers to Adoption

Abstract: Sri Lanka has a small but growing green-building sector driven by a domestic rating system (GREENSL) and an active national body (Green Building Council of Sri Lanka) that together provide standards, accreditation and a directory of certified projects. GREENSL is modeled on international systems but tailored to Sri Lanka’s tropical context, sets performance criteria across energy, water, materials, indoor environment and social/cultural factors and issues Silver/Gold/Platinum awards. Adoption to date is uneven: several high-profile commercial and industrial projects have attained international LEED and local GREENSL ratings, but overall market penetration remains limited outside major developers and export-oriented manufacturers.

Hobbies: Playing Cricket, Listening Music and Cooking

Research topic: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Urban Master Plans in Regulating Urban Growth: A Spatiotemporal Study of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Abstract: To be Written

How has Colombo’s urban form and land use changed over the past century?

To what extent have Colombo’s master plans achieved their intended spatial outcomes?

Hobbies: Creating artwork and designs

Research topic: TBD

Abstract: TBW

Hobbies: Spending time in nature, at the dog/cat shelter, getting to know different places & people

Research topic: An index-based assessment of resilience at Upazila (sub-District) level in Bangladesh

Abstract: TBW

Hobbies: Reading, Travelling and Gardening 

Research topic: Analyzing the effectiveness of the Juba Strategic Plan from a Land Use Land Cover perspective

Abstract: TBW

Hobbies: Watching movies, Travelling and seeking new experiences 

Research topic: TBW

Abstract: TBW

Hobbies: Walking in nature, Poetry, Painting and Drawing , Archery, Cricket, Reading Ancient books