Hongtao Shi | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Hongtao Shi | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

China University of Mining and Technology | China 

Hongtao Shi is a productive researcher in photogrammetry, remote sensing, and SAR-based soil moisture retrieval, with a strong record of contributions to agricultural monitoring and polarimetric decomposition techniques. His work spans high-resolution soil moisture estimation, multi-frequency and multi-incidence radar analysis, and time-series applications integrating passive and active remote sensing products. He has authored 31 peer-reviewed documents, which have collectively received 353 citations, as recorded across 333 citing documents. His current h-index is 10, reflecting both the influence and consistency of his research output within the scientific community. He has published in high-impact journals such as Remote Sensing of Environment, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, Journal of Hydrology, and Agricultural Water Management, addressing challenges in crop monitoring, radar scattering models, and novel polarimetric decomposition approaches. In addition to journal articles, he has delivered presentations at prestigious international conferences, including IGARSS and PolInSAR, where his work on SAR observation techniques and integration with microwave products has drawn recognition. His research has advanced methods for retrieving field-scale soil moisture and improving agricultural parameter estimation by leveraging L-band, quad-pol, and time-series SAR data, reinforcing his reputation as a specialist in SAR-based environmental remote sensing.

Profile:  Orcid 

Featured Publications

1. Zhao, J., Zhang, M., Zhou, Z., Wang, Z., Lang, F., Shi, H., & Zheng, N. (2025). CFFormer: A cross-fusion transformer framework for the semantic segmentation of multisource remote sensing images. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

2. Wang, Z., Zhao, L., Jiang, N., Sun, W., Yang, J., Shi, H., & Li, P. (2025). DMCF-Net: Dilated multiscale context fusion network for SAR flood detection. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing.

3. Shi, H., Wu, Q., Lu, Z., Zhao, J., Liu, W., Zhao, T., Zhu, L., Lang, F., & Zhao, L. (2025, November). Meter-level resolution surface soil moisture estimation over agricultural fields from time-series quad-pol SAR with constraints of coarse resolution CCI data products. Agricultural Water Management.

4. Qian, J., Yang, J., Sun, W., Zhao, L., Shi, L., Shi, H., Dang, C., & Dou, Q. (2025, July 14). Multi-layer and profile soil moisture estimation and uncertainty evaluation based on multi-frequency (Ka-, X-, C-, S-, and L-band) and quad-polarization airborne SAR data from synchronous observation experiment in Liao River Basin, China. Water.

Ndy von kluge Paul | Soil Physics | Excellence in Innovation

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Dr. Ndy von kluge Paul | Soil Physics | Excellence in Innovation

University of Yaounde 1 | Cameroon

Dr. Paul Ndy Von Kluge, born on 18 May 1974 in Bibia Lolodorf, Cameroon, is a permanent lecturer and Head of Continuing Education at the University Institute of Wood Technology (IUT Bois de Mbalmayo), University of Yaoundé I. He holds a PhD in Physics with specialization in nonlinear dynamics and complex systems and is also an Engineer in Civil Engineering, combining nearly 15 years of professional expertise in hydroelectric dam construction, civil works, and structural engineering with academic research and teaching. Affiliated with the Laboratory of Mechanics, Materials and Structures at the University of Yaoundé I, his research interests span nonlinear oscillators, stochastic dynamics, seismic control of structures, spatiotemporal chaos, and the mathematical modeling of electromechanical and fluid dynamic systems. He has authored 3 scientific documents, which have collectively been cited 15 times across 14 documents, reflecting an h-index of 3. Beyond his work in Cameroon, he has contributed to academic programs at the University of Bangui in the Central African Republic, demonstrating a regional impact in higher education. His multidisciplinary background bridges physics, mathematics, and engineering applications, particularly in vibration control, geophysics, fluid mechanics, and energy microproduction, positioning him as a versatile scholar and applied researcher.

Profile:  Scopus 

Featured Publications

Fractional dynamical behavior of a new nonlinear smooth and discontinuous (SD) oscillator for vibration energy harvesting with nonlinear magnetic coupling

Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

Ana Barros | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | United States

Ana P. Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States. Her research focuses on hydrology, hydrometeorology, and environmental physics, with pioneering contributions to AI and machine learning applications in precipitation, flood, and drought prediction. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of AGU, AMS, ASCE, and AAAS, recognized globally for advancing water-cycle science, extreme event forecasting, and climate resilience.

Profiles

Scopus

Orcid

Summary

Dr. Barros has made landmark contributions to hydrological and environmental sciences through innovative methodologies that integrate observational data, remote sensing, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. Her leadership in research, academia, and international scientific organizations highlights her as a thought leader in climate change resilience, flood prediction, and water-cycle science.

Education

Dr Ana P Barros holds a PhD in Civil Engineering with a major in Hydrology and a minor in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington Seattle She earned an MSc in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology OHSU She also completed an MSc in Hydraulics with a specialization in Ocean Engineering from the University of Porto Portugal and obtained a Diploma in Civil Engineering with a double major in Structures and Hydraulics from the University of Porto Portugal.

Experience

Dr Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign She is also the Founding Director of the Center for Secure Water at UIUC and a Fellow at NOAA CIROH Previously she served as the Edmund T Pratt Jr School Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University where she also held roles as James L Meriam Professor and Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences She has been on the faculty of Harvard University Penn State University and the University of Porto She has served in numerous leadership and advisory roles including the Space Studies Board the Water Science and Technology Board the Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the US National Committee for the UNESCO International Hydrology Program.

Research Focus

Dr Barros’s research is centered on climate change hydrology hydrometeorology and extreme event prediction with emphasis on multiscale water cycle processes and land atmosphere interactions She investigates orographic precipitation processes precipitation microphysics aerosol cloud precipitation dynamics vegetation soil water interactions and regional climate variability Her work integrates field and laboratory experimentation remote sensing computational and data driven modeling AI based forecasting and environmental sustainability solutions She is deeply engaged in advancing risk assessment tools for extreme precipitation floods and droughts and in developing strategies for climate change adaptation and resilient infrastructure.

Skills

Her expertise spans hydrology hydrometeorology and environmental physics with advanced skills in satellite based remote sensing computational modeling AI and machine learning applications and environmental informatics She is recognized for pioneering early AI and ML applications for precipitation flood and drought estimation as well as long lead forecasting She has strong skills in developing coupled AI and physical modeling frameworks for predicting extreme precipitation floods and drought risk in complex terrain regions.

Awards

Dr Barros is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union American Meteorological Society American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science She is a senior member of IEEE and has received major honors including the AIH Ray K Linsley Award the ASCE Ven Te Chow Award the Borland Hydrology Award the NASA Group Achievement Award the NASA Robert H Goddard Award the NSF CAREER Award and the NASA New Investigator Award She has also been recognized with the Lorenz G Straub Award the AMS Sigma Xi Distinguished Lectureship and the Prize Foundation A Almeida for top national student in Civil Engineering.

Publications

  • Toward optimal rainfall for flood prediction in headwater basins – improving soil moisture initialization to close the water budget within observational uncertainty
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (2025)

  • Modeling Celerity‐Discharge Behavior and Riverbank Storage for Improving Flood Simulations in Headwater Basins
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • Thank You to Our 2024 Reviewers
    Authors: Alberto Montanari; Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; Marc Bierkens; Sharon Billings; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2025)

  • Multi‐Physics Data Assimilation Framework for Remotely Sensed Snowpacks to Improve Water Prediction
    Authors: Prabhakar Shrestha; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • The role of root dynamics on the climate sensitivity of ecohydrological processes of over- and understory in a semi-arid groundwater-dependent ecosystem
    Authors: Qiyue Liu; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Frontiers in Environmental Science (2024)

  • Thank You to Our 2023 Peer Reviewers
    Authors: Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; Tissa Illangasekare; Sarah Kang; Alberto Montanari; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2024)

  • Toward Building a Virtual Laboratory to Investigate Rainfall Microphysics at Process Scales
    Authors: Lihui Ji; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (2024)

Conclusion

Dr. Ana P. Barros stands out as an exemplary candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her pioneering scientific achievements, leadership in global hydrological research, and commitment to advancing knowledge for societal benefit strongly align with the award’s vision. While opportunities exist to strengthen cross-disciplinary engagement and policy translation, her impact on the field is both profound and far-reaching, making her highly deserving of this recognition.