A Saudi doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is conducting qualitative research aimed at developing innovative tools to monitor and analyse dust storms, using artificial-intelligence (AI) techniques and satellite data.
The research covers large areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sahara Desert in Africa, and the project links scientific research with environmental sustainability requirements.
Faisal AlNasser, a Saudi researcher and scholarship student from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), was awarded the MIT Open Data Prize for 2024 in recognition of his contributions to providing remote sensing data in areas lacking weather monitoring infrastructure, thereby enhancing climate monitoring capabilities in desert environments.
AlNasser has published three peer-reviewed scientific papers as part of this project. The studies examined the impact of nature reserves on mitigating dust storms. They also opened promising prospects for developing early-warning systems that contribute to protecting lives and reducing economic losses resulting from dust storms.
The project showcases the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's advanced position in utilising AI in the environmental sector and reflects its commitment to supporting applied research with direct impact. It also contributes to strengthening international research cooperation on climate change and dust storms, which affect millions of people annually.
AlNasser's research exemplifies an inspiring model for the qualitative scholarship programme, which supports young Saudi talents in providing innovative solutions to environmental challenges, in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's goals of scientific leadership and sustainable development under Vision 2030.
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