The University of Texas at Dallas

M Shahriar Sonet

Doctoral Candidate in Geospatial Information Sciences researching natural hazards, hydrology, remote sensing, and GeoAI to advance climate resilience and sustainable land-use decisions.

Richardson, Texas, USA [email protected]
Portrait of M Shahriar Sonet
M Shahriar Sonet, Doctoral Candidate at UT Dallas.

About

A geospatial researcher bridging Earth observation and policy.

I am a doctoral candidate at The University of Texas at Dallas. I hold an MS in Geography & the Environment from Texas Tech University, and my work combines radar and satellite remote sensing with machine learning to study natural hazards, land cover dynamics, hydrology, and climate trends.

Before my PhD, I worked on climate and health projects with the WHO and the Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs under Johns Hopkins, and in the remote sensing division at the Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh.

Research Interests

Earth observation for resilience & sustainability.

  • Natural Hazards

    Tropical cyclones, floods, and community vulnerability assessment using change-detection.

  • Land Cover Dynamics

    Urban expansion, LULC change, and land surface temperature in rapidly growing cities.

  • Hydrology

    Spatiotemporal climate trends, precipitation forecasting, and groundwater quality assessment.

  • Remote Sensing

    Sentinel, Landsat, Kompsat imagery; Google Earth Engine workflows at regional scale.

  • Wildfire

    Fire behavior, recovery dynamics, and risk modeling in arid and semi-arid landscapes.

  • GeoAI

    Machine-learning techniques applied to geospatial problems for prediction and pattern discovery.

Education

Academic background.

  1. 2024 – 2029

    PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences

    The University of Texas at Dallas

  2. 2022 – 2024

    MS in Geography & the Environment

    Texas Tech University

  3. 2020 – 2021

    MSS in Disaster & Human Security Management

    Bangladesh University of Professionals

  4. 2016 – 2019

    BSS in Disaster & Human Security Management

    Bangladesh University of Professionals

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications.

  1. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies cover

    Sonet, M. S., & Reygadas, Y. (2025). Unveiling four decades of spatiotemporal climate trends in Texas (1981–2023). Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 60, 102539.

  2. Theoretical and Applied Climatology cover

    Sonet, M. S., Hasan, M. Y., Kafy, A. A., & Shobnom, N. (2025). Spatiotemporal analysis of urban expansion, land use dynamics, and thermal characteristics in a rapidly growing megacity using remote sensing and machine learning techniques. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 156(2), 79.

  3. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction cover

    Sonet, M. S., Hasan, M. Y., Chakma, S., & Al Kafy, A. (2024). Assessing tropical cyclone impacts in coastal Bangladesh: a change detection analysis on cyclone Bulbul using geospatial analysis and remote sensing techniques. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 112, 104726.

  4. Environmental Earth Sciences cover

    Altuwaijri, H. A., …, Sonet, M. S. (2025). Biophysical parameters and land surface temperature dynamics in arid urban environments: A comprehensive machine learning approach. Environmental Earth Sciences, 84, 434.

  5. Science of the Total Environment cover

    Hasan, M. Y., …, Sonet, M. S., et al. (2025). Hydrogeochemical characterization and human health risk assessment for heavy-metal contamination in coastal aquifers: a case study in Satkhira District, Bangladesh. Science of the Total Environment.

  6. Theoretical and Applied Climatology cover

    Sonet, M. S., Hasan, M. Y., Kafy, A. A., & Altuwaijri, H. A. (2026). Machine learning-enhanced precipitation forecasting in arid regions: advancing climate-modelling techniques in Lubbock, Texas. Theoretical & Applied Climatology, 157, 308.

Conference Presentations

  1. MS Sonet. Geospatial big data for environmental resilience: integrating synthetic aperture radar and optical data for wildfire assessment in transitional biomes. AAG Annual Meeting 2026.

  2. MS Sonet. Forecasting rainfall anomalies in arid landscapes: a machine-learning approach for enhanced environmental management in Lubbock, Texas. AAG Annual Meeting 2024.

  3. MS Sonet, S. Chakma. Impact assessment of community vulnerability in Cyclone Bulbul and analyzing change-detection impacts by geospatial techniques. AAG Annual Meeting 2023.

  4. N. Jahan, MS Sonet, A. Nayan. Natural hazards-triggered early marriage: a case study on Kajipur Upazilla, Sirajganj. Chittagong University Research & Higher Study Society, 2022.

Professional Experience

Roles & responsibilities.

  1. Jan 2026 – Present

    Instructor, Digital Earth (GISC 2307)

    The University of Texas at Dallas

  2. Aug 2024 – Present

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Geospatial Information Sciences, UT Dallas

  3. May 2024 – Aug 2024

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University

  4. Aug 2022 – May 2024

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University

  5. Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

    Program Officer

    Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs | Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Project with Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs and World Health Organization

  6. May 2020 – Dec 2021

    Research Consultant, Remote Sensing Division

    Ministry of Water Resources | CEGIS, Bangladesh

Teaching

Courses instructed.

UT Dallas

Instructor of Record

  • GISC 2307: Digital Earth

Teaching Assistant

  • GEOG 3331: Smart & Sustainable Cities
  • GISC 4384: Health & Environmental GIS
  • GEOS 2302: The Global Environment
  • GISC 6336: Fundamentals of Sustainability

Texas Tech University

Teaching Assistant

  • GEOG 1401: Global Environmental Science
  • GIST 5300: Introduction to GIS
  • GIST 5304: Exploring Spatial Database
  • GIST 5312: Web Mapping & Geovisualization (WebGIS)

Awards & Certifications

Recognition.

  • Larry McIver Memorial Scholarship in Geography2023–2024 Texas Tech University
  • Department of Geosciences Scholarship2023–2024 Texas Tech University
  • Department of Geosciences Fellowship2022–2023 Texas Tech University
  • Geography Excellence Scholarship2022–2023 Texas Tech University
  • Bangladesh Sweden Trust Fund Travel Grant2022–2023
  • Three Dean’s Merit Lists2019–2020 Bangladesh University of Professionals

Certifications & Training

Graduate Certificates UT Dallas

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 2025
  • Remote Sensing 2025
  • Spatial Data Science 2025

Other Certificates & Training

  • Geographic Information Science & Technology CertificateTexas Tech University 2023
  • Geospatial Information Technology in Fragile ContextsUN Satellite Centre 2021
  • Nature-based Solutions for Disaster & Climate ResilienceUN Environment Programme 2021
  • Disaster Response Exercise & ExchangeU.S. Army & Bangladesh Gov. 2019

Service

Editorial & review.

Editorial Board

  • Earth Sciences Journal | e-ISSN 2328-5982

Journal Reviewer

  • Elsevier: Journal of Hydrology, Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing, City & Environment Interactions
  • Taylor & Francis: International Journal of Digital Earth, City & Environment Interactions
  • Springer: Theoretical & Applied Climatology, Urban Sustainability, Environmental Monitoring & Assessment, Journal of Coastal Conservation, Discover Sustainability, Discover Cities
  • Wiley: Geo: Geography & Environment, SPG: American Journal of Remote Sensing

Skills

Technical toolkit.

Programming

  • Python
  • Java
  • R
  • SQL

GIS & Remote Sensing

  • ArcGIS Pro
  • ArcPy
  • QGIS
  • ENVI
  • Google Earth Engine
  • SAR
  • SNAP

Data & Databases

  • PostgreSQL
  • MS Access
  • SPSS
  • STATA
  • Tableau

Field & Web GIS

  • Survey123
  • Field Maps
  • Kobo Toolbox
  • Story Maps

Other

  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • LaTeX

Languages

  • English (Native)
  • Bangla (Native)
  • French (Limited Working)

Contact

Let’s collaborate.

I welcome conversations on research, teaching, and collaborations in geospatial sciences, natural hazards, hydrology, and GeoAI. The fastest way to reach me is by email.