The Alumni Association is proud to present an interview with the two winners of Premi di studio “Aqva”, Hamidreza Eshaqi and Urooj Qayyum, who are making significant strides in the field of civil engineering and water resource management.

Learn about their academic journeys, groundbreaking research, and visions for a sustainable future.

Dear Hamidreza and Uroji, thank you for your time!
Introduce yourself and tell something about yourself..

H: My name is Hamidreza, and my background is in Civil Engineering and Geomatics Engineering. My academic journey has been marked by a deep interest in water resources, geomorphology, and hydrology, with a focus on addressing water-related issues in data-scarce regions.
Beyond academics, I am driven by a passion for using innovative technologies, such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence, to solve pressing environmental challenges.

U: I am Urooj Qayyum, originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I am a Civil Engineer by profession and moved to Italy in 2022 to pursue a master’s in Water and Geological Risk Engineering. I was fortunate to be awarded the Padua International Excellence Scholarship for my master’s studies.
Prior to this, I worked as a Project Engineer in Geotechnical Engineering for two years in Pakistan. During my master’s, I completed a five-month thesis internship at Hydro Nova, focusing on enhancing water resilience in Somaliland.

Can you provide a brief overview of your thesis project and what inspired you to focus on this particular area of research?

H: We use satellite imagery to study rivers in Africa, with a focus on the Sourou River in Burkina Faso. The research aims to analyze flooding patterns to develop early warning systems that mitigate flood impacts.

Additionally, it seeks to determine the number of days the river operates at full capacity, supplying water to the downstream reservoir essential for hydro-power generation. I chose this area because many communities lack the tools to monitor and manage water resources effectively, and I want my work to contribute to addressing these critical challenges.

U: My thesis focuses on developing and applying sustainable Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) strategies in data-scarce regions, with a case study in the Darar-weyne Basin of Somaliland. This region faces significant challenges related to water scarcity, exacerbated by a lack of hydrological and hydrogeological data, land degradation, and climate-related pressures.
To address these issues, I explored three nature-based solutions: sand dams, semi-circular soil bunds, and increased vegetation cover, using hydrological modeling through HEC-HMS and global datasets.

My inspiration came from the urgent need to enhance water management in vulnerable regions, where the lack of access to clean water severely impacts rural communities. Witnessing the challenges faced by such communities and recognizing the role of innovative, data-driven solutions in sustainable development drove me to contribute to this critical area.

What are some of the key challenges you anticipate in implementing your proposed measures in the regions you are studying?

H: The biggest challenges are the lack of local data to confirm my findings, limited resources and infrastructure in these areas, and the need to educate local communities about the new technologies. It’s also important to ensure my solutions can work in different environments and conditions.

U: One of the major challenges is the lack of reliable and localized hydrological data, which is critical for accurate modeling and decision-making. The implementation of MAR techniques like sand dams or soil bunds may also face difficulties such as limited funding, logistical constraints in rural and remote areas, and the need for community engagement and acceptance.

Additionally, the effectiveness of these solutions depends on climatic and environmental conditions, which are becoming increasingly unpredictable due to climate change. Overcoming these challenges requires strong institutional support, investment in capacity-building, and the use of adaptive management approaches.

Looking ahead, how do you think your findings could influence water management policies and sustainability efforts in the regions you are studying?

H: Our work could help governments and organizations use satellite data and open-source tools like Google Earth Engine (GEE) to better monitor rivers and manage reservoirs for both flood prevention and hydro-power generation.

By understanding flooding patterns and the number of days the river operates at full capacity, organizations managing the hydro-power plant can more accurately predict how much energy they can produce for the community. This research also highlights the importance of developing policies that integrate water resource management with energy production, ensuring sustainable and efficient use of resources to support local communities.

U: The findings from my research can provide evidence-based insights for policymakers to adopt nature-based solutions for sustainable water management.

For instance, demonstrating the benefits of increased vegetation cover in improving aquifer recharge and base flow can encourage reforestation and land restoration programs. Moreover, highlighting the cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability of MAR techniques could lead to their integration into regional water resource planning.
These strategies could help enhance resilience against water scarcity and promote sustainable development in rural communities, serving as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.

Hamidreza, what long-term impact do you hope your research will have on the field of hydrology and water management, particularly in West Africa?

I hope this research will demonstrate how satellite technology, combined with open-source tools like Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools like QGIS, can solve water-related challenges in data-scarce regions. These tools are essential because they provide cost-effective and accessible platforms for analyzing large datasets, enabling detailed monitoring of rivers and flood patterns.

For West Africa, this approach could lead to better protection against floods, improved reservoir management for hydro-power and water supply, and stronger resilience to climate change.

By making these methodologies accessible, I aim to empower local researchers and policymakers to adopt innovative, sustainable solutions in water and energy management.

Uroji, what are your long-term career goals, and how does this project align with your vision for the future in the field of water and environmental engineering?

My long-term goal is to contribute to research and development in sustainable water resource management, focusing on innovative solutions for water-scarce regions.

I aspire to work with international organizations to implement resilience projects that address global water challenges, ensuring equitable and sustainable access to water resources.
This project aligns with my vision by equipping me with the skills and insights needed to bridge the gap between research and practical application.

Find out more about Premi di studio “Aqva”