Suneela Ahmed | Urban Studies | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor,Indus valley school of Art and Architecuture

Dr. Suneela Ahmed is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture at Indus Valley School (IVS), Karachi. She holds a PhD in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University, a Master’s in Urban Management from the University of Canberra, and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from IVSAA, Karachi. With over two decades of academic and professional experience, she has served at NED University and as Principal Architect at MAK Architects. Her research focuses on urban resilience, informal settlements, and architectural pedagogy. She has authored books and peer-reviewed publications on Karachi’s urban landscape and sustainability. A sought-after speaker, she contributes to international conferences, research collaborations, and advisory roles in urban planning. She integrates critical regionalism and sustainability into her teaching and practice. Dr. Ahmed’s work bridges the gap between academia and practice, making her a significant voice in Pakistan’s architectural discourse.

profile

scholar

🎓 Education

PhD (Urban Design) (2016) – Oxford Brookes University, UK Master’s in Urban Management (2004) – University of Canberra, Australia Bachelor’s in Architecture (2000) – Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi

💼 Work Experience

Head of Department / Associate Professor (2022-Present) – Indus Valley School (IVS), Karachi Associate Professor / Post Graduate Coordinator (2021-2022) – NED University, Karachi Assistant Professor (2010-2021) – NED University, Karachi Adjunct Faculty (2019-2022) – Indus Valley School, Karachi Adjunct Faculty / Research Assistant (2004-2010) – NED University, Karachi Principal Architect (2005-Present) – MAK Architects Assistant Architect (2001-2002) – ASA (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi

🏆 Awards & Honors

Recognized expert in urban planning and architectural research Published multiple books and peer-reviewed journal articles Speaker at international conferences on urban design & resilience Contributor to major urban research collaborations Active reviewer for academic journals in architecture and planning Awarded funding for research projects and urban development studies

🔬 Research Focus

Urban resilience – Studying adaptation in informal settlements Sustainable urban design – Integrating sustainability into city planning Architectural pedagogy – Innovations in architectural education Housing policies – Impact of rental laws on urban housing Heritage preservation – Documenting Karachi’s architectural history Public space transformation – Evaluating city design changes Social resilience – Exploring informal networks in urban settings

🏅 Conclusion

Dr. Suneela Ahmed’s extensive research, academic leadership, and professional expertise make her a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her contributions to urban design, sustainable architecture, and cultural heritage preservation have had a lasting impact in Pakistan and beyond. Strengthening international collaborations and increasing the global reach of her work could further solidify her standing as a leading researcher in the field.

publication

How People Face Evictions – Y Cabannes, SG Yafi, C Johnson – 33 citations

Planning for High Density in Low-Income Settlements: Four Case Studies from Karachi – A Hasan, A Sadiq, S Ahmed – 23 citations

Examining Challenges Experienced by Street Vendors in the Global South: Case of Karachi – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, SU Ahmed – 8 citations

Planning for High Density in Low-Income Areas: A Case Study from Karachi – A Hasan, A Sadiq, S Ahmed – 5 citations

Predicaments and Possibilities Experienced by Homeless in Karachi – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, S Ahmed – 4 citations

Loss of Intrinsic Qualities of Urban Form and Local Social Processes in the Face of Globalisation: Case of Karachi’s Old Town – S Ahmed – 3 citations

Why Integrated Solid Waste Management is So Elusive – Learning from Africa and Asia – J Beall, M Ali, S Ahmed, S Ahmed, H Desta, E Gebremariam, NF da Cruz – 2 citations

Impacts of Judicial Verdicts on Land Acquisition Practices for Real Estate in Pakistan – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, S Ahmed – 2 citations

Examining the Usage of City Walls for Wall Chalking: Cases from Karachi, Pakistan – N Ahmed, S Ahmed – 2 citations

Urban Morphologies, Design Qualities, and the Decision-Making Process in Relationship to Maqamiat: Case of Karachi, Pakistan – S Ahmed – 2 citations

Dr. Chixin Xiao | Smart Grid | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Xiangtan University China

Chixin Xiao is a Professor of Computer Science at Xiangtan University, China, with extensive experience in computational intelligence and power engineering. He has held academic roles at the University of Essex, the University of Newcastle, and Hong Kong Cyberport, and his work focuses on smart grid resilience and electricity market optimization.

Publication profile

Education 🎓

Chixin earned his Master’s degree in Computer Science from Xiangtan University in 2004, his first Ph.D. in Computer Application Technology from Central South University in 2009, and his second Ph.D. in Power Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia, in 2021.

Experience 💼

Chixin Xiao has served in various academic positions at leading institutions, including the University of Essex and the University of Newcastle, Australia. Currently a professor at Xiangtan University, he continues his research and teaching despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Awards and Honors 🏆

As a Senior Member of IEEE, Chixin Xiao has been recognized for his contributions to computational intelligence and power engineering, earning accolades for his research on smart grid systems and power system modeling.

Research Focus 🔬

Chixin’s research centers on computational intelligence, focusing on smart grid resilience, power system planning, and optimization in electricity markets. His work aims to improve energy efficiency and the reliability of power systems.

Publication

Blockchain-based Anonymous Authentication and Data Aggregation for Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Smart Grid
- Authors: T. Pei, Z. Hou, J. Zhou, C. Xiao, J. Zou
- Published In: International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, 2024
- Citations: 0

Online Sequential Extreme Learning Machine Algorithm for Better Predispatch Electricity Price Forecasting Grids
- Authors: C. Xiao, D. Sutanto, K.M. Muttaqi, K. Meng, Z.Y. Dong
- Published In: IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2021
- Citations: 17

Multi-period Data Driven Control Strategy for Real-time Management of Energy Storages in Virtual Power Plants Integrated with Power Grid
- Authors: C. Xiao, D. Sutanto, K.M. Muttaqi, M. Zhang
- Published In: International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 2020
- Citations: 12

Hierarchical Data-Driven Optimization Scheme Compatible with the Conception of Solid-State Power Substation for Real-time VPP Management
- Authors: C. Xiao, D. Jiang, B. Shu, M. He
- Published In: 2023 IEEE International Conference on Energy Technologies for Future Grids, 2023
- Citations: 0

A Hybrid of Multidisciplinary Design and Multi-Objective Optimization for Solving Combined Heat and Power Environmental Economic Dispatch
- Authors: C. Xiao, Z. Hu, Z. Piao, D. Jiang
- Published In: 2023 IEEE IAS Global Conference on Emerging Technologies, 2023
- Citations: 0

Decision Making Based on Tradeoff Solving for Economic Emission Dispatch in Combined Heat and Power Environment
- Authors: C. Xiao, D. Jiang, Z. Hu
- Published In: IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 2022
- Citations: 0

Minimizing Immune Costs in Social Networks Through Reinforcement Learning
- Authors: H. Nie, P. Li, Y. Zhou, X. Wang, C. Xiao
- Published In: Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2022
- Citations: 0