Waqas is a PhD candidate at UNSW Canberra, specialising in remote sensing, coastal geomorphology, and geospatial analysis. He completed his Master’s degree in Remote Sensing and GIS, where he developed strong expertise in satellite image analysis, spatial modelling, and coastal vulnerability assessment. His doctoral research focuses on long-term shoreline dynamics, coastal landform evolution, and land–water interactions using multi-source satellite imagery, digital elevation models, and advanced geospatial techniques. His work integrates multi-verse open-source datasets to quantify coastal change and improve understanding of coastral geomorphological process and the factors associated with those landscape transformation processes.

Before commencing his PhD, Waqas worked in Hong Kong on several applied geospatial and environmental research projects. His work included remote sensing–based detection of floating marine plastic pollution, assessment of urban spatial factors associated with air pollution, and field-based data collection for vegetation health monitoring and biomass estimation. He also contributed to coastal and marine environmental surveys, integrating field observations with satellite data to support environmental assessment and monitoring. These experiences strengthened his ability to combine field measurements with Earth observation data to address real-world environmental challenges.

Waqas’s research interests span coastal urban change analysis, coastal vulnerability assessment, urban environment, and the application of remote sensing, GIS, and GeoAI techniques for environmental monitoring and sustainable coastal management. His overarching research goal is to advance the application of Earth observation technologies to support coastal hazard assessment, environmental management, and evidence-based decision-making in response to future environmental pressures.