Shahid Nawaz Khan, PhD
Assistant Professor of Geoinformatics
Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), NUST, Islamabad
Remote Sensing · GIS · Machine Learning · GeoAI
Download CV (PDF)Assistant Professor of Geoinformatics, Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
snawaz@igis.nust.edu.pk · shahidnawazkhan.github.io · ORCID 0000-0003-2185-7276 · Google Scholar: scholar.google.com/citations?user=xC5x7P0AAAAJ
Assistant Professor of Geoinformatics
Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), NUST, Islamabad
Remote Sensing · GIS · Machine Learning · GeoAI
Download CV (PDF)Born in a small village in District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I received my early education from the same village. Later on, I got my Bachelor's degree in Geoinformatics Engineering from School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan). My undergraduate studies mainly focused on Geoinformatics, and I was mainly trained in Programming, Geographic Information Systems, and GIS Automation. I hold a Master's degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan). During Master's I focused on several advanced topics in GIS, Remote Sensing, and Web GIS. After completing my Master's I worked as Lecturer of Geoinformatics in National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan where I taught several courses.
I was admitted as a PhD student at Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA. I spent two and a half years in the Ph.D program where I studied several courses related to remote sensing, GIS, machine learning, and deep learning . I also worked on UAV remote sensing datasets with machine learning for crop yield and seed protein content estimations . In August 2023, I transferred my Ph.D program to The University of Alabama.
In August 2025, I graduated with a PhD in Geography (Remote Sensing Specialization) from the Department of Geography and the Environment, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. My doctoral research applied machine learning and deep learning to remote sensing data for county-level crop yield prediction in the US Corn Belt.
Since August 2025, I have been an Assistant Professor of Geoinformatics at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan. At NUST, I am actively engaged in both teaching and research, with a focus on GIS programming and Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI). My teaching centers on equipping students with the computational and analytical skills needed to work with spatial data, while my research explores the integration of machine learning and deep learning with remote sensing and geographic information systems to address real-world environmental and agricultural challenges, including crop yield prediction and other parameters related to food security and policymaking.
PhD in Geography (Remote Sensing Specialization)
Department of Geography and the Environment, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Dissertation: Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning to Improve County-level Crop Yield Predictions in the US Corn Belt
Advisor: Dr. Dapeng Li
MS in Geographical Information Systems
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
Advisor: Dr. Dapeng Li
MS in Remote Sensing and GIS (Concentration: GIS, Remote Sensing, & Web GIS)
Institute of Geographical Information Systems, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, Pakistan
Dissertation: Optimizing Allocations Decision in Open and Distance Learning using Agent-based Model and Spatial Decision Support Systems
Advisor: Dr. Ali Tahir
Bachelors in Geoinformatics Engineering (Concentration: GIS, Remote Sensing, Digital Image Processing, & Web GIS)
Institute of Geographical Information Systems, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, Pakistan
Assistant Professor of Geoinformatics
Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan
Graduate Research Assistant
Environmental Remote Sensing Lab, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Instructor of Record
Department of Geography and the Environment, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Geography and the Environment, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
GIS Developer
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Lecturer of Geoinformatics
Institute of Geographical Information Systems, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Institute of Geographical Information Systems, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan
Supervisor: Dr. Javed Iqbal
GIS Developer
GIS Plus, Technology Incubation Center, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan
Methods:
Machine LearningRemote SensingGIS DevelopmentSpatial DatabasesSpatial Data Analysis
Foci:
AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironmentSustainability
2026
Haq, S. I. U., Khan, S. N., Ibrahim, M., Wang, G., Song, C., Tahir, M. N., & Lan, Y. (2026). AI-enabled phenomics of combined abiotic stress: Linking field signatures to plant multi-omics. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 111820. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111820
2026
Khan, K., Khan, S. N., & Khokhar, M. F. (2026). Using Remote Sensing Data and Google Earth Engine to Quantify Regional Climate Responses to Afforestation. Remote Sensing, 18(14), 2305.
2026
Billah, M. M., Maimaitijiang, M., Kaushal, S., Millett, B., Khan, S. N., Halder, J., ... & Sehgal, S. K. (2026). Predicting wheat yield and grain quality with UAV multispectral imagery and deep learning. Frontiers in Plant Science, 17, 1812052.
2025
Haq, S. I. U., Wang, G., Khan, S. N., Song, C., Ma, C., Zhang, X., & Lan, Y. (2025). Multi-Dimensional Optical Remote Sensing in Agriculture: Spectral, Angular, and Spatial Scaling for Crop Stress Monitoring. Smart Agricultural Technology, 101583.
2025
Vafaeinejad, A., Sharifi, A., & Khan, S.N. (2025). Robust County-Level Corn Yield Estimation Using Ensemble Machine Learning and Multi-Source Remote Sensing. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing doi:10.1109/JSTARS.2025.3585779
2025
Khan, K., Khan, S.N., Ali, A., Khokar, M.F.*, & Khan, J.A. (2025). Estimating Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Sequestration in Afforestation Areas Using Optical/SAR Data Fusion and Machine Learning. Remote Sensing doi:10.3390/rs17050934
2025
Khan, S.N.*, Iqbal, J., Khan, M.R., Malik, N.A., Khan, F.A., Khan, K., Khan, A.N., & Wahab, A. (2025). Using remotely sensed vegetation indices and multi-stream deep learning improves county-level corn yield predictions. European Journal of Agronomy doi:10.1016/j.eja.2024.127496
2024
Khan, K., Khan, J.A., Khokar, M.F., Khan, S.N., & Iqbal, J. (2024). Estimating afforestation related forest cover change using data fusion and machine learning. Environmental Research Communications doi:10.1088/2515-7620/ad88e0
2024
Khan, S.N., Li, D., & Maimaitijiang, M. (2024). Using gross primary production data and deep transfer learning for crop yield prediction in the US Corn Belt. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation , 131, 103965. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2024.103965 [pdf]
2024
Kaushal, S., Gill, H. S., Billah, M. M., Khan, S.N., Halder, J., Bernardo, A., ... & Sehgal, S. K. (2024). Enhancing the potential of phenomic and genomic prediction in winter wheat breeding using high-throughput phenotyping and deep learning. Frontiers in Plant Science , 15, 1410249. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1410249 [pdf]
2023
Farmonov, N., Amankulova, K., Khan, S.N., Abdurakhimova, M., Szatmári, J., Khabiba, T., ... & Mucsi, L. (2023). Effectiveness of machine learning and deep learning models at county-level soybean yield forecasting. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin , 72(4), 383-398. doi:10.15201/hungeobull.72.4.4 [pdf]
2023
Khan, S.N., Khan, A. N., Tariq, A., Lu, L., Malik, N. A., Umair, M., ... & Zawaideh, F. H. (2023). County-level corn yield prediction using supervised machine learning. European Journal of Remote Sensing , 56(1), 2253985. doi:10.1080/22797254.2023.2253985 [pdf]
2022
Ketchpaw, R. A., Li, D., Khan, S.N., Jiang, Y., Li, Y., & Zhang, L. (2022). Using structure location data to map the wildland-urban interface in Montana, USA. Fire, 5(5), 129. doi:10.3390/fire5050129 [pdf]
2022
Khan, S.N., Li, D., & Maimaitijiang, M. (2022). A Geographically Weighted Random Forest Approach to Predict Corn Yield in the US Corn Belt. Remote Sensing, 14(12), 2843. doi:10.3390/rs14122843 [pdf]
2021
Ahmad, W., Iqbal, J., Nasir, M. J., Ahmad, B., Khan, M. T., Khan, S.N., & Adnan, S. (2021). Impact of land use/land cover changes on water quality and human health in district Peshawar Pakistan. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-14. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96075-3 [pdf ]
2020
Khan, K., Iqbal, J., Ali, A., & Khan, S.N. (2020). Assessment of Sentinel-2-Derived Vegetation Indices for The Estimation of Above-Ground Biomass/Carbon Stock, Temporal Deforestation and Carbon Emissions Estimation in the Moist Temperate Forests of Pakistan. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 18(1), 783-815. doi:10.15666/aeer/1801_783815 [pdf]
2018
Khan, S.N., Mir, K., Tahir, A., Awan, A., Nisa, Z. U., & Gillani, S. A. (2018). Allocation of Tutors and Study Centers in Distance Learning Using Geospatial Technologies. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 7(5), 185. doi:10.3390/ijgi7050185 [pdf]
2024
Janjua, U. U. R., Maimaitijiang, M., Millett, B., Yabwalo, D., Dilmurat, K., Khan, S.N., Billah, M.M., Shires, M., Sehgal, S.K., & Ali, S. (2024). "Wheat Fusarium Head Blight Disease Severity Estimation using UAS Multispectral Imagery and Machine Learning". In 2024 International Conference on Frontiers of Information Technology (FIT) (pp. 7-12). IEEE.
2024
Khan, K., Khokar, M.F., Khan, S.N., & Khan, J.A. (2024). "Characterizing Forest Cover Dynamics in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Region Using Remote Sensing". In 2024 International Conference on Frontiers of Information Technology (FIT) (pp. 7-12). IEEE.
2023
Khan, S.N., Maimaitijiang, M., Millet, B., Paheding, S., Li, D., Caffé, M., & Kovács, P. (2023). "Simultaneously Estimating Crop Yield and Seed Composition Using Multitask Learning From UAV Multispectral Data". 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS doi: 10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10282273
2023
Maimaitijiang, M., Millet, B., Paheding, S., Khan, S.N., Dilmurat, K., & Kovács, P. (2023). "Estimating Crop Grain Yield and Seed Composition Using Deep Learning from UAV Multispectral Data". 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS doi: 10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10281802
2022
"Drone technology reaches new heights at SDSU". Keloland Media Group, September 05, 2022. (Reporter: Ariana Schumacher). [Video]
2022
"South Dakota State researchers using drones to aid precision agriculture". Dakota News Now, September 15, 2022. (Reporter: Cooper Seamer). [News Link]
2019
Khan, S,N. “GeoInformatics Serves the Belt and Road”. International Summer School, Central South University, Changsha, PRC.
2023
Khan, S.N. “Simultaneously Estimating Crop Yield and Seed Composition Using Multitask Learning From UAV Multispectral Data”. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (2023) , Pasadena, California, U.S.A.
2022
Khan, S.N.“Spatially explicit machine learning to predict county-level corn yield in US Corn Belt”. Black Hills Digital Mapping Conference (October 17th 2022) , Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.A.
2022
Khan, S.N.“County-level Crop Yield Prediction Using Machine Learning”. AAG Annual GPRM Meeting (October 15th 2022) , Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
2022
Khan, S.N, Li, D. Maimaitijiang, M.“Corn yield prediction using geographically weighted machine learning”. 53rd Geography Convention (March 31st - April 1st 2022) , Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.A.
2022
Khan, S.N. Li, D. “County-level Corn and Soybean Yield Prediction Using MODIS-derived Primary Production and Deep Learning”. Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), USGS, Poster Competition (November 16th 2022) , Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.A.
2022
Khan, S.N, Maimaitijiang, M, Li, D.“Corn yield prediction with machine learning using remote sensing, climate, and soil data ”. 53rd Geography Convention (March 31st - April 1st 2022) , Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.A.
UG = undergraduate, MS = master's
| Fall 2026 | Web GIS MS · Spatial Decision Support System UG |
| Spring 2026 | GIS Programming UG · Introduction to Data Science UG |
| Fall 2025 | Web GIS MS · Spatial Data Analysis UG |
| Spring 2025 | Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) (Instructor of record) |
| Summer 2024 | Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) (Instructor) |
| Fall 2023 – Fall 2024 | Geographical Information Systems · Remote Sensing I (Teaching Assistant) |
| Fall 2020 | CS-471 GIS Programming · GIE-306 Cartography and Map Production · CS-340 Web Technologies |
| Spring 2020 | CS-471 Machine Learning (co-taught with Ms. Quratulain) · GIE-409 Spatial Databases |
| Fall 2019 | GIE-471 GIS Programming · CS-250 Data Structures and Algorithms |
| Spring 2019 | CS-212 Object Oriented Programming · GIE-409 Spatial Databases |
| Fall 2018 | CS-110 Fundamentals of Programming · GIE-321 Database Management Systems |
2023
First place in Graduate Students Poster Competition, Geography Convention (March 31st to April 01, 2023), South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
2022
First place in Graduate Students Poster Competition, Geography Convention (March 31st to April 01, 2022), South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
2024
Graduate School Travel Award, The University of Alabama (For attending the AGU 2024 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC)
2024
Department of Geography and the Environment Travel Award, The University of Alabama (For attending the AGU 2024 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC)
2023
Travel Award for attending 2023 South Dakota Water Conference October 9 - October 11, held in Brookings, SD
2023
Graduate School Travel Award (For attending and presenting at 2023 IGARSS Conference in Pasadena, CA)
2023
American Association of Geographers (AAG) Travel Award (For attending AAG 2023 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO)
2019
Young Teacher Travel Award, Central South University, Changsha, China
2021
Higher Education Commission Scholarship for PhD Studies in USA under US Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program
2021
Graduate Research Assistantship, South Dakota State University, USA
2016
ICT R&D Scholarship for high achieving Master's Students at NUST, Pakistan
2012
Scholarship for Undergraduate studies in NUST, Pakistan
2023
Best Graduate Student of the year, Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University
2025
David C. Weaver Memorial Award, Awarded by Department of Geography and the Environment, The University of Alabama.
Programming Languages
PythonC/C++R
GIS/Remote Sensing Tools
ArcMapArcGIS ProArcPyENVIERDAS IMAGINEQGISGoogle Earth Engine
Machine Learning/Deep Learning
Scikit-learnKerasPandasNumpyGeoPandas
Open Source Geospatial Tools
GDAL/OGROpenToolsPROJ.4RasterIOArcPy
WebGIS Development
OpenLayersLeafletGeoServerPostGIS
Database Skills
PostgreSQL/PostGISSQL ServerDB2MySQL
Agent-Based Modeling
GAMA Platform
