PhD Student Profile
Arif Rahman
Federation University Australia
Traditional methods for measuring soil organic carbon content are costly, time-intensive, and environmentally hazardous, rendering them impractical for field-level application. My PhD research focuses on developing machine learning models to estimate soil organic carbon content that are cost-effective, rapid, and non-invasive.
While numerous global efforts are underway in this area, my research uniquely adheres to Green AI principles. It aims for energy efficiency, ensuring that the machine learning models operate with a minimal carbon footprint without compromising accuracy, unlike typical modern machine learning models.
PhD Title: “Data-driven methods for soil organic carbon estimation”
PhD start date: November 2021
Supervisors: Professor Shyh Wei Teng (Federation University Australia), Professor Manzur Murshed (Deakin University), Professor Manoranjan Paul (Charles Sturt University), Mr David Brennan (Wimmera Catchment Management Authority)
What interested you about this sort of research?
The opportunity to enhance my machine learning skills and explore their applicability to a demanding real-world problem was the initial motivating factor for this type of research.
What do you love about soil?
Besides soil being essential for life on Earth, what I really find fascinating is how it interacts with light. It is like a silent communicator, reflecting different wavelengths of light to give us insights into its composition. It is remarkable to see how something so ordinary can hold so much hidden detail.
What do you love about your PhD?
My greatest passion is mathematics, the foundation of machine learning. The aspect I love the most about my PhD is the opportunity to enhance my skills in these areas while addressing a real-world problem. Successfully solving this problem could have a significant global impact, which is incredibly motivating and fulfilling.
How will your PhD help to make a difference for farmers or other end or next users?
A rapid and feasible method for measuring soil organic carbon will significantly benefit farmers by providing them with a concrete understanding of the soil health of their land, crucial for making informed treatment decisions. Additionally, it will facilitate their participation in carbon emission abatement schemes.
What do you want to do when you finish your PhD?
After finishing my PhD, I intend to continue enhancing my research skills through a postdoctoral position, preferably related to an area where I can extend the work I have been doing during my PhD, especially around hyperspectral imaging.
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