Distinguished Professor Biswajeet Pradhan, born in 1975, is an internationally established scientist renowned for his pioneering work in geospatial information systems and remote sensing technologies. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, where he has held this position since September 2017, and as the founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geo-spatial Information Systems (CAMGIS). Prior to his appointment at UTS, he was a Full Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia from 2016 to 2017 and served as an Associate Professor there from 2010 to 2016. His academic credentials include a PhD in Geographical Information Systems and Geomatics from Universiti Putra Malaysia (2006), a Master of Technology in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Dresden University of Technology (2000), a Master of Science from IIT Bombay (1998), and a Bachelor of Science with Distinction from Berhampur University (1995).
Professor Pradhan has established an exceptional research portfolio characterized by over 550 scholarly publications and the successful acquisition of more than $7 million in research funding for innovative projects at the intersection of geospatial science and artificial intelligence. His groundbreaking work encompasses development of ensemble modeling algorithms for landslide prediction in Malaysia, creation of data-driven evidential belief function models for groundwater zonation mapping, and pioneering the integration of machine learning techniques with satellite data for environmental monitoring applications. Notable research initiatives include credit risk assessment using machine learning (2019-2020), machine learning modeling for medical data analysis including imaging and text-based reports (2021-2022), and operational remote sensing tools for mapping and mitigating mass movements. His significant contributions to the field have been recognized through 55 awards since 2006 for excellence in research, teaching, and service.
As the founding Director of CAMGIS, Professor Pradhan leads a dynamic multi-disciplinary research team that advances the frontiers of spatial modeling, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence applied to natural hazards and environmental challenges. His leadership extends to mentoring numerous postgraduate students and fostering international collaborations that have significantly influenced approaches to environmental risk assessment globally. The practical applications of his research have transformed methodologies for disaster prediction and mitigation across multiple countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. Currently, his research continues to evolve with cutting-edge projects that merge data science, satellite surveillance, and geospatial models to address pressing issues in environmental monitoring, urban planning, and public health, cementing his position as a thought leader shaping the future direction of geospatial information science worldwide.
