George Economides | Digital Twins | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. George Economides | Digital Twins | Best Researcher Award

Head of Digital Twins | Department for Transport | United Kingdom

Dr. George Economides MChem EMBA FCIHT FRSA MCMI MIET is an accomplished professional recognized for his leadership in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable transport innovation. As Head of Digital Twins at the UK Department for Transport, he leads national strategies that integrate digital twin systems, AI, and data-driven technologies into transport policy and infrastructure planning. His expertise spans intelligent mobility, systems thinking, and ethical AI, with impactful contributions to digital twin governance, smart infrastructure, and resilience modeling. Dr. Economides’s work bridges science, technology, and policy, positioning him as a key figure in advancing data-centric decision-making and digital innovation within public institutions. His research is featured in leading journals including Buildings, Building and Environment, and Sustainability, reflecting his focus on digital twin applications and sustainable mobility frameworks. A frequent keynote speaker at international forums and an active member of multiple academic and industry boards, he contributes to shaping standards and policies in emerging technologies. He has received several honors, including the TaaS Future Mobility Champion of the Year Award and the Josef Pliva Award for scientific excellence, underscoring his influence in both academic and policy circles. His professional fellowships and memberships further highlight his commitment to innovation, collaboration, and ethical leadership in digital engineering and intelligent transport systems. He has 1 citation, 2 publications, and an H-index of 1.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

1. Economides G., A quantum state metanalysis of the dynamic inconsistency effect. Quantum Behav. Econ. Conf. Proc., 2025, Accepted.

Dr. George Economides’s work drives the integration of digital twins and artificial intelligence into national transport systems, advancing data-driven policymaking and sustainable infrastructure development. His leadership bridges science, technology, and governance, fostering global innovation in resilient, ethical, and intelligent mobility solutions.

MARUF AHMAD | Urban Planning | Excellence in Research Award

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Mr. MARUF AHMAD | Urban Planning | Excellence in Research Award

MARUF AHMAD | Xi’an Jiaotong University | China

Dr. Maruf Ahmad serves as an Assistant Director at the Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura, currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, under the Chinese Government Scholarship. He holds an MPhil and Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Dhaka, specializing in public sector governance, public-private partnerships (PPP), and rural development policy. With extensive professional experience in research, training, and project management at RDA, he has coordinated development initiatives focused on poverty reduction, local governance, and gender inclusion. His research explores governance, sustainable development, and urban resilience, contributing to leading journals such as Sustainable Development, Evaluation and Program Planning, Heliyon, and the American Journal of Health Promotion. Dr. Ahmad has authored a research book and several book chapters on rural development and policy innovation. His academic excellence has been recognized with the Best Poster Presentation Award at the XJTLU-UoL-XJTU Postgraduate Research Symposium. In addition to his scholarly work, he serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals including Heliyon, Journal of Planning Education and Research, and American Journal of Health Promotion. A lifelong member of professional organizations and a certified trainer in public service innovation, Dr. Ahmad exemplifies academic leadership and commitment to sustainable rural transformation. He has 3 published documents with 4 citations and an h-index of 2.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Ahmad M., Du J., Rashid M.J., Urban Green Space and Mental Health: Mediating Roles of Physical Activity and Social Cohesion. Am. J. Health Promot., 2025, 10.1177/08901171251388878.

2. Ahmad M., Du J., Unlocking Financial Potential for Urban Nature‐Based Solutions: A PRISMA‐Based Systematic Review. Sustain. Dev., 2025, 10.1002/sd.70243.

3. Ahmad M., Ferdous J., Effectiveness of Emergency Food Assistance Programs during COVID-19 at Union Parishad: Mediating Role of Political Neutrality. Eval. Program Plann., 2025, 111, 102566, 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102566.

4. Sifullah M.K., Sohel M.S., Hossain Sarker M.F., Islam M., Ahmad M., Mapping Out the Vulnerabilities of Migrant Women in the Informal Sector: A Qualitative Investigation in Dhaka City. Heliyon, 2023, 9(10), e20950, 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20950.

5. Ahmad M., Financial Autonomy of Union Parishad: A Study of Model Union Parishad. Bangladesh Rural Dev. Stud., 2021, 24(1), 61–72.

J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak | AI for Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak | AI for Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award

Professor | University of Greenwich | United Kingdom

Dr. Juan A. Coca-Stefaniak is a Professor of Tourism and Urban Futures at the University of Greenwich, specializing in sustainable tourism, consumer behavior, and the impacts of global crises on travel and hospitality. He holds advanced degrees in business, management, and tourism studies, with a doctoral specialization in urban futures and destination management. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in academia and industry, contributing to projects on sustainable urban regeneration, destination branding, and crisis resilience in tourism. His research has advanced understanding of authentic tourism experiences, corporate social responsibility in hospitality, consumer behavior shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and leadership responses to global crises, with numerous publications in leading journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, International Journal of Tourism Research, and Current Issues in Tourism. Dr. Coca-Stefaniak has served as an editor, reviewer, and member of editorial boards for high-impact journals, and he actively contributes to international professional associations and policy advisory bodies. Recognized for his research excellence and leadership, he has received multiple academic honors, invited keynote lectures, and fellowships that highlight his impact on shaping the discourse of sustainable and resilient tourism development worldwide, with his scholarly contributions reflected in over 4,900 citations, an h-index of 33, and an i10-index of 46.

Profile: ORCID | Scopus | Gooogle Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Paulauskaite D., Powell R., Coca-Stefaniak A., Living Like a Local: Authentic Tourism Experiences and the Sharing Economy. Int. J. Tourism Res., 2017, 553.

2. Mao Y., He J., Morrison J.A., Alastair M., Coca-Stefaniak J.A., Effects of tourism CSR on employee psychological capital in the COVID-19 crisis: from the perspective of conservation of resources theory. Curr. Issues Tourism, 2020, 480.

3. Li J., Nguyen T.H.H., Coca-Stefaniak J.A., Coronavirus impacts on post-pandemic planned travel behaviours. Ann. Tourism Res., 2020, 426.

4. Li J., Hallsworth A.G., Coca-Stefaniak J.A., Changing grocery shopping behaviours among Chinese consumers at the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Tijdschrift Econ. Soc. Geogr., 2020, 111(3), 574-583, 295.

5. Zhang J., Xie C., Wang J., Morrison A.M., Coca-Stefaniak J.A., Responding to a major global crisis: the effects of hotel safety leadership on employee safety behavior during COVID-19. Int. J. Contemp. Hosp. Manag., 2020, 32(11), 3365-3389, 245.

Maryam Sadeghi | Smart Cities and Architecture | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Maryam Sadeghi | Smart Cities and Architecture | Best Researcher Award

Full-time Faculty Member at Islamic Azad University, Iran.

Maryam Sadeghi is an accomplished researcher and faculty member in Electrical Engineering, specializing in smart grids, distributed control, and intelligent energy systems. She has served as a full-time instructor at the Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch, where she has also chaired the Power Engineering Department. Over the years, she has successfully combined teaching, supervision, and leadership with impactful research contributions. As a PhD candidate at the Iran University of Science and Technology, her doctoral work has advanced the field of power systems with an emphasis on adaptive and intelligent control. Beyond academia, she has actively collaborated with national research and industrial centers, particularly in areas such as SCADA applications, FPGA development, and distributed automation. Her career demonstrates a consistent focus on renewable energy integration, intelligent universal transformers, and advanced automation, positioning her as a thought leader in the evolving landscape of modern electrical engineering.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Maryam Sadeghi’s educational background reflects a strong and progressive journey through electrical engineering disciplines. She earned her B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Electronics from the Islamic Azad University, Tehran Central Branch. She further specialized in Control Systems at the M.Sc. level from Islamic Azad University, Tehran South Branch, where she explored adaptive control methodologies. To expand her expertise in the energy sector, she pursued doctoral studies in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Power Systems at the Iran University of Science and Technology. Her PhD research, with defense approved, focuses on advanced power system automation and intelligent control strategies, including adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems and multi-agent approaches for smart grids. Through this academic journey, she has built deep expertise in intelligent systems, renewable integration, and distributed energy automation, forming the backbone of her subsequent teaching, research, and industry collaborations in both traditional and emerging power engineering domains.

Experience 

Maryam Sadeghi has built a multifaceted career blending academia, research, and industry collaboration.  She has been a full-time faculty member at the Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in power systems and control. As Head of the Power Engineering Department for four years, she led curriculum development, faculty coordination, and student mentorship. Her industry-linked research experience includes a decade as Senior Researcher at Novin Ray Control Co., where she worked on solar energy monitoring, SCADA systems, and energy management integration. She has also contributed to telecommunication research through FPGA-based SDH system design, and to control systems development in distributed automation protocols, particularly IEC 61499. These roles reflect her ability to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Her experience across teaching, applied research, and leadership showcases her as a versatile expert committed to advancing both education and innovation in intelligent energy systems.

Research Focus

Maryam Sadeghi’s research is centered on intelligent power systems, with a focus on adaptive control, fuzzy logic, and distributed automation for modern grids. Her work on Intelligent Universal Transformers (IUTs) has introduced innovative control methodologies using fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks, and genetic algorithms to optimize distribution automation. She has also contributed to decentralized multi-agent coordination frameworks for smart distribution restoration, enabling resilience and flexibility in power networks. Her studies in renewable energy integration—particularly inverter-based distributed generation and wind turbine inverters—highlight her commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, she has advanced methodologies in GPS-based time synchronization and IEC 61499-based distributed control systems. By combining advanced algorithms with real-world applications such as SCADA and EMS, she bridges the gap between theory and practice. Her research trajectory demonstrates a consistent pursuit of scalable, adaptive, and intelligent solutions for next-generation power grids within the context of smart cities and sustainable development.

Awards and Honors

Maryam Sadeghi has received recognition for her academic and research contributions at both institutional and national levels. She has been nominated for the ARCH Best Researcher Award, reflecting her impactful body of work in power systems and control. Her multiple ISI-indexed publications in smart grids, intelligent automation, and renewable energy integration demonstrate her influence in advancing knowledge in her field. As a contributor to national research centers in Iran, she has played a significant role in developing and implementing control solutions aligned with national energy and telecommunication priorities. Her leadership as Head of the Power Engineering Department also underscores her recognition as an academic mentor and innovator. The combination of research excellence, teaching distinction, and industrial collaboration has positioned her as a respected figure within the engineering community. These honors highlight her dedication to advancing intelligent energy solutions and promoting the integration of innovative methodologies into modern power systems.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Time Synchronizing Signal by GPS Satellites
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: This paper simulates GPS-based synchronization in MATLAB to achieve high-precision timing. It highlights GPS as a reliable solution for communications and distributed automation systems.

Title: Fuzzy Logic Approach in Controlling the Grid Interactive Inverters of Wind Turbines
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: The study applies fuzzy logic to enhance grid-connected wind turbine inverter performance. Results show improved stability and efficiency under varying wind conditions.

Title: Advanced Control Methodology for Intelligent Universal Transformers Based on Fuzzy Logic Controllers
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: The authors propose fuzzy logic controllers for Intelligent Universal Transformers (IUTs). The approach improves adaptability and response in advanced distribution automation.

Title: A Novel Distribution Automation Involving Intelligent Electronic Devices as IUT
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: This paper presents IUTs as intelligent devices for distribution automation. It demonstrates improved grid reliability and fault management.

Title: Fully Decentralized Multi-Agent Coordination Scheme in Smart Distribution Restoration: Multilevel Consensus
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Kalantar
Summary: The research introduces a decentralized multi-agent consensus method for smart distribution restoration. It enhances system resilience and scalability without central control.

Title: Developing Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System for Controlling the Intelligent Universal Transformers in ADA
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: An ANFIS-based controller is developed for IUTs to improve adaptability and precision. The hybrid method outperforms conventional control strategies.

Title: Genetic Algorithm Optimization Methodology for PWM Inverters of Intelligent Universal Transformer for the Advanced Distribution Automation of Future
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: The study uses genetic algorithms to optimize PWM inverters in IUTs. It reduces harmonic distortion and improves inverter efficiency.

Title: Optimized Control Strategy to Adjust the Intelligent Universal Transformer for Integrating Distributed Resources to Grid
Authors: M. Sadeghi, M. Gholami
Summary: This work introduces an optimized control strategy for IUTs to integrate distributed energy resources. It ensures stable and flexible grid operations.

Conclusion

Overall, Maryam Sadeghi is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her research reflects both depth and breadth in intelligent power systems, with practical applications that align with the future of energy distribution and smart grid technologies. With her combination of academic leadership, teaching excellence, and impactful research, she demonstrates qualities that merit recognition. By expanding her international reach and enhancing visibility through broader collaborations and higher-impact publications, she can further solidify her position as a leading researcher in her domain.