Katia Karam, a PhD candidate, an Instructor and Laboratory Supervisor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand (UOB), has captivated audiences with her pioneering research at the 2024 IEEE 7th Advanced Information Technology, Electronic, and Automation Control Conference (IAEAC) in Chongqing, China. Held on March 16, 2024, the conference, sponsored by IEEE Beijing Section and Chongqing Global Union Academy of Science and Technology, provided a platform for leading minds to explore cutting-edge advancements in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.

Katia unveiled her paper titled "A Survey for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Smart Agriculture: Types and Modelling Perspectives." This insightful paper delves into the pivotal role of UAVs in revolutionizing the agricultural sector, particularly in Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)-based applications. It meticulously examines various mathematical modelling techniques for deriving UAV plant equations, compares parameter identification methods, and evaluates the efficiency of open-source UAV simulators in realistic scenarios.

The presented conference paper forms a crucial part of Katia’s doctoral studies conducted in collaboration with the École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA) Bretagne in France and FOE at UOB in Lebanon. Focusing on leveraging UAV technology in smart agriculture, Katia aims to develop a well-modelled, controlled, path-optimized, and self-aware system to enhance agricultural practices.

This significant contribution aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land). The full paper will soon be accessible on the esteemed IEEE website "IEEE Xplore", offering invaluable insights into the future of agriculture and technology integration for sustainable development.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Rami Abboud commended Katia for her groundbreaking research presented at the prestigious IEEE conference. He expressed confidence that Katia's achievements would inspire other faculty members and students to pursue research avenues that have a real impact on society while further establishing the Faculty of Engineering as a leader in the field of innovative engineering solutions for sustainable development.

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