AUS student team’s Soil Analysis App wins second place in ESGRS Challenge

A dynamic team of engineering students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) has designed an award-winning application that quickly provides farmers with estimations on the concentrations of crucial components of their soil, allowing them to better plan their agricultural activities.

The app was designed as part of the Emirati Society of Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing (ESGRS) Challenge: Earth Observation Edition 2023. The AUS team took second place in the challenge, competing against teams that included PhD students with a high level of expertise.

“We developed a novel band reduction technique that we called Effective Ranges for Bands Selection (ERBS) to reduce computational complexity, which allows farmers to get the information they need by one click. By uploading hyperspectral images, which are images captured across a wide range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, they can get accurate estimates of concentrations of soil components such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and pH levels,” said Diaa Addeen Abuhani, a computer engineering graduate student at AUS and team member.

Mentored by AUS College of Engineering (CEN) faculty Dr. Tarig Ali, Professor in Civil Engineering, and Dr. Imran Zualkernan, Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the winning team comprised computer engineering students Malik Hader and Maya Haj Hussain, computer engineering major Jawdi Alchurbaji and computer engineering graduate student Diaa Addeen Abuhani.

CEN places strong emphasis on nurturing a well-rounded skill set among students that extends beyond technical proficiency, which is what Haidar found useful during the competition. 

“The method we developed is a fast and efficient substitute for the lengthy process of sending soil samples to a lab. The technical idea was strong, but our solid communication and presentation skills also helped us shine through the competition, which I can attribute to the many courses we took at AUS including Professional Communication for Engineers (ENG 207),” said computer engineering major Hader.

Abuhani highlighted the significance of opportunities universities provide students through research channels, fostering a competitive environment and cultivating an encouraging mindset.

“It is important for universities to encourage students to participate in external competitions, which is something AUS has provided. Exposure to diverse ideas from various sources is crucial for generating innovative and competitive solutions aligned with the current needs and trends in broader research fields. In essence, engaging with external competitions enhances students' ability to think differently and contribute meaningfully to the wider research community,” said Abuhani.

CEN places strong emphasis on encouraging creativity and originality, actively promoting student participation in research initiatives, innovation projects and external conferences and competitions. The college's supportive environment and commitment to excellence have resulted in numerous accolades for students who have excelled in various competitions, enriching their university journey and preparing them for successful careers in engineering and technology.

To learn more about CEN, visit www.aus.edu/cen.