How do you personally and professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?
My work as well as personal and professional interests are very centered on water and space (Earth observation). Having grown up in Bangladesh, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of water-related hazards, which motivated me to pursue a career in the field of remote sensing of water. My work focuses on utilizing remote sensing and geospatial modeling tools and techniques to analyze water-related challenges such as coastal erosion, riverbank shifts, drought and flooding. Space technologies, particularly satellite imagery and geospatial data, play a vital role in assessing and predicting these environmental changes at a local and national level.
Can you tell us about your current position as a research associate at MIT Media Lab?
At MIT Media Lab, my postdoctoral research is focused on addressing drought impacts in Angola using satellite data from the SMAP mission. Additionally, I am involved in a collaborative project focused on flooding in Bangladesh where we are mapping historical flood events and assessing vulnerability of the local people to flooding. By integrating satellite data, statistical modeling, and computational techniques, my work aims to develop innovative solutions to address climate and environmental justice concerns both in Angola and Bangladesh.
What is your proudest professional moment or project?
One of my proudest moments was completing my PhD from Virginia Tech. I am the first person from my family to get a PhD degree. It was also fulfilling to address a critical environmental issue in Bangladesh as part of my PhD research. My dissertation work provided critical insights into how communities are affected by coastal erosion in Bangladesh. Presenting the research findings at national and international conferences and contributing to policy recommendations reinforced the impact of my research on real-world applications.
You are from Bangladesh, a country which is heavily affected by floods. Can you elaborate on the water-related challenges the country faces?
Bangladesh faces multiple water related challenges including floods, riverbank erosion, salinity intrusion, and water pollution. Getting safe drinking water sources is a great challenge for many coastal communities. Drinking water contaminated with Arsenic is also a big issue. Ground water levels are declining in many cities, including Dhaka, the capital of the country. Even though drought is not a big issue in the country, the northern Bangladesh region is sometimes impacted by severe droughts. The combination of climate change and human activities has intensified these challenges. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, while unpredictable monsoon patterns disrupt agriculture and livelihoods.
What are the key drivers and consequences of coastal erosion and how we can monitor it using space-based technologies?
Coastal erosion is driven by natural forces such as rising sea levels, storm surges, and wave action, as well as human activities like deforestation, dam construction, and unplanned urbanization. The consequences include land loss, displacement of communities, and damage to infrastructure. Space-based technologies, such as satellite Earth observations and LiDAR, enable accurate monitoring of shoreline changes, allowing to predict erosion trends and inform adaptive strategies. Space based technologies have enabled us to monitor coastal changes on a local, regional and global scale.
You researched shoreline changes along rivers and deltas. What were your most important insights? And how reliably can we predict future shoreline changes?
One key insight from my research is that riverbank and deltaic changes are highly dynamic, and influenced by many natural and anthropogenic factors. Predicting future shoreline changes with high accuracy requires integrating multi-temporal satellite data with advanced machine learning and statistical models. Another key insight was that the accuracy of shoreline detection could be improved by using high-resolution satellite imagery. While predictions can be reliable in the short term (high accuracy), long-term forecasts remain challenging due to climate variability and human-induced modifications of the environment.
What are the consequences of riverbank erosion? How and how well can they be monitored by remote sensing or other space-based technologies?
Riverbank erosion causes multiple issues including displacement of population, agricultural land loss, and infrastructure damage. It disrupts ecosystems and economic activities, particularly in densely populated riverine areas. Remote sensing technologies, such as multi-spectral and SAR imagery, enable continuous monitoring of erosion patterns from a regional to a global scale. High-resolution satellite data combined with AI-based analysis improves the accuracy of change detection and early warning systems. Having new satellites (e.g. multi-spectral, SAR) with high spatial and temporal resolution capabilities might improve our understanding of riverbank erosion more accurately.
What can we learn from riverbank changes in the past?
Historical riverbank changes provide valuable insights into erosion trends, sediment transport dynamics, and the impact of human interventions. By analyzing past patterns using satellite imagery, we can identify high-risk zones and implement better land-use planning and flood control measures. Pinpointing areas with extreme erosion can help in prioritizing the mitigation efforts where the needs are the most.
A lot of your research focused on the Lower Meghna River Region of Bangladesh; what is your motivation to research this area? What are the challenges and gaps?
The Lower Meghna River region in Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable to intense riverbank erosion and flooding. My motivation comes from the urgent need to develop better monitoring and mitigation strategies for communities at risk. Challenges include limited high-resolution data, seasonal variability in river dynamics, and the need for more interdisciplinary approaches combining hydrology, geospatial science, and socio-economic studies.
What advice would you give to young professionals looking for a career in water management?
I would encourage young professionals to build strong interdisciplinary skills in remote sensing, data science, and environmental policy. Water management requires a combination of technical expertise and field knowledge. Staying updated with advancements in geospatial/remote sensing technologies, collaborating with researchers across disciplines, and engaging in real-world problem-solving are essential for making a meaningful impact.
Your work involves the application of remote sensing and geospatial modelling, social science, and statistical tools and techniques to analyze satellite and geospatial data, facilitating a deeper understanding of environmental changes and their consequences. What are your top three skills for someone researching water?
I would like to mention the following top three skills for the people who are researching water-related challenges.
1. Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing: Proficiency in GIS, satellite image processing, and spatial modelling.
2. Data Science & Statistical Modeling: Ability to analyze large datasets using statistical and machine learning techniques.
3. Policy Understanding: Combining technical expertise with policy knowledge to develop sustainable solutions. This is important because water management is a complex challenge, and it needs interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary collaborations among stakeholders.
What do you need to innovate?
I believe a mix of curiosity, collaboration, and access to cutting-edge technology is necessary to innovate. Having diverse perspectives through interdisciplinary research, leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and big data for environmental monitoring, and working closely with policymakers can drive impactful innovations in water and climate science.
What is your favourite aggregate state of water?
As a researcher studying water in various environmental contexts, I find the liquid state the most fascinating. It is the most dynamic, shaping landscapes through erosion, deposition, and hydrological cycles. However, solid (ice) and vapour states are equally important for the world.
