Raziyeh Pourdarbani | Artificial Intelligence | Best Paper Award

Prof. Raziyeh Pourdarbani | Artificial Intelligence | Best Paper Award

Faculty Membr | University of Mohaghegh Ardabili | Iran

Dr. Raziyeh Pourdarbani is a Professor of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili and an internationally recognized researcher in precision agriculture, image processing, machine vision, artificial intelligence, and hyperspectral imaging. Her research is dedicated to developing advanced computational approaches that enhance automation, sustainability, and non-destructive assessment within agricultural production systems. She has established a strong scholarly footprint through extensive publications that explore cutting-edge deep learning architectures, including the application of 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks, majority voting ensemble strategies, hybrid neural networks, and metaheuristic optimization techniques for quality evaluation and decision-making in crop and fruit management. Her studies have significantly advanced non-destructive methodologies for detecting bruises, internal defects, and ripening stages in fruits, as well as monitoring excessive nitrogen consumption and estimating chemical and physicochemical properties in plant leaves using hyperspectral, visible, and near-infrared spectral data. In addition to agricultural sensing and classification research, she has contributed impactful work on sustainable bioenergy, including biomethane production from agricultural residues, biodiesel engine performance enhancement using nanomaterials, and advanced exergy and life-cycle analysis of hybrid geothermal–solar power systems. She has authored multiple academic books addressing renewable energy and intelligent grading technologies and has led numerous research projects involving automated fruit identification algorithms, orchard-based robotic systems, video-based fruit maturity estimation, spectral wavelength optimization, agricultural development modeling, and geothermal heating-system design. Dr. Pourdarbani actively disseminates her findings through national and international conferences and contributes to the scientific community through reviewing and collaborative roles in multidisciplinary research initiatives. Her work is widely acknowledged for its scientific value and practical relevance in improving agricultural resource efficiency, enhancing food-quality monitoring, and promoting environmentally responsible production strategies. As a leading figure in the integration of computational intelligence with agricultural engineering, she continues to shape research directions that support global progress toward smart, sustainable, and technologically empowered agriculture.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publication

Alibaba, M., Pourdarbani, R., Manesh, M. H. K., Ochoa, G. V., & Forero, J. D. (2020). Thermodynamic, exergo-economic and exergo-environmental analysis of hybrid geothermal–solar power plant based on ORC cycle using emergy concept. Heliyon, 6(4).

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Kalantari, D., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2019). A computer vision system based on majority-voting ensemble neural network for the automatic classification of three chickpea varieties.

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., García-Amicis, V. M., García-Mateos, G., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2019). Automatic classification of chickpea varieties using computer vision techniques. Agronomy, 9(11), 672.

Ebrahimi, S., Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Rohban, M. H., & Arribas, J. I. (2023). From harvest to market: Non-destructive bruise detection in kiwifruit using convolutional neural networks and hyperspectral imaging. Horticulturae, 9(8), 936.

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Rohban, M. H., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2021). One-dimensional convolutional neural networks for hyperspectral analysis of nitrogen in plant leaves. Applied Sciences, 11(24), 11853

Yihew Biru Woldegiorgis | Ecology | Editorial Board Member

Mr. Yihew Biru Woldegiorgis | Ecology | Editorial Board Member

Researcher | Gullele Botanic Garden | Ethiopia

Yihew Biru is a wildlife ecologist and conservation scientist serving as a faculty member at a leading Ethiopian higher-education institution, specializing in animal ecology, human–wildlife interactions, and biodiversity conservation. He holds advanced degrees in biology and ecology with specialization in wildlife management, complemented by professional training in conservation planning and ecological monitoring. His experience spans academic teaching, field-based research, community-centered conservation projects, and leadership roles in collaborative initiatives addressing biodiversity loss, ecosystem health, and sustainable natural-resource management. His research focuses on the ecology of large mammals, avian diversity, insect biodiversity, zootherapeutic knowledge, and human–wildlife conflict, producing widely cited publications on elephant feeding ecology, pastoralist perceptions of wildlife, bird species composition in wetlands and community-managed conservation areas, butterfly diversity, zootherapeutic animal use, and conservation challenges across multiple Ethiopian landscapes. He has contributed to capacity-building programs, interdisciplinary conservation platforms, and stakeholder-engagement efforts within protected areas and community-based conservation projects. His achievements have earned him institutional recognitions for academic excellence, merit-based research awards, and invitations to serve as reviewer and editorial contributor for reputable ecological and biodiversity journals. He is an active member of national and international professional societies in ecology and conservation biology and holds certifications in ecological field methods, data analysis, and community-based conservation approaches, demonstrating sustained commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and supporting evidence-based biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia.

Profile : ORCID

Featured Publications

Biru, Y. (2012). Food habits of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Ethiopia. Tropical Ecology.