Areij Abdel Maguid and Ammar Raj, 4th-year students in the Architecture department, won third place in the GEO HUB Award Initiative during UAE Innovation Month 2025. This award recognizes their outstanding research on urbanization’s impact on wildlife over time. Competing against top entries, their project stood out for its innovative use of geospatial analysis to assess environmental change.

The Awards Ceremony took place at Palazzo Versace, celebrating groundbreaking contributions to geospatial sciences and innovations. This research was integrated into the GIS course taught by Dr. Hadeel El Naggar, Assistant Professor of Architecture, during Spring 2025, emphasizing AUD’s commitment to sustainability and data-driven urban planning.

"Exploring the intersection of urban growth and ecological shifts through GIS was an eye-opening experience. Our research demonstrates how geospatial technology can inform sustainable urban development,” shared Areij and Ammar. Their study mapped urban expansion trends and their effects on biodiversity, offering insights for future city planning.

This achievement highlights Areij and Ammar’s dedication and Dr. Hadeel El Naggar's mentorship. It also reflects the impact of AUD’s industry collaborations in advancing geospatial research.