WIT Concludes Successful SMP’24: Nurturing Innovation Through Hands-On Research

The Centre for Water Informatics & Technology (WIT) successfully concluded its second Summer Mentorship Program (SMP’24)—a one-month initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of researchers and practitioners. The program provided students with hands-on research experience, connecting them with WIT’s expert faculty and mentors to tackle real-world challenges. Participants were selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and matched to projects aligned with their skills and aspirations. This year’s mentorship featured twelve diverse projects spanning artificial intelligence, IoT, GIS, and resource management.

One of the standout projects, “Machine Learning for Earth Sciences,” mentored by PhD student Hamza Rafique, received the Best Project Award. The project utilized RNN/LSTM models to estimate missing soil moisture data from IoT networks during sensor downtimes—addressing agricultural challenges through innovative machine learning solutions. Muhammad Ahmad, the mentee in the project, gained practical experience in Python and time-series data processing, demonstrating the program’s focus on impactful, hands-on learning.

Rida Zainab, Senior Robotic Engineer, mentored the “Open-Source GIS Platforms for Aerial Data Management” project, which evaluated platforms like GeoNode, GeoServer, and QGIS Server for managing aerial data. Farazeen Khezir assessed each platform’s functionality, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, expanding her understanding of GIS technologies in environmental monitoring.

Ali Akbar, another key mentor, supervised three impactful projects. In “Mapping Key Stakeholders in Environmental and Technological Sectors,” Ahmed Saeed, an undergraduate Physics major, developed a categorized stakeholder directory to facilitate industry connections. In “Custom Widgets Development on Thingsboard PE IoT Platform,” Fasih Ud Din, a Computer Science undergraduate student, created custom IoT widgets—including a Windrose widget for weather stations—enhancing WIT’s IoT dashboard. In the project titled “Development of a Cost-Effective IoT Camera,” Ali Hassan, also a Computer Science undergrad, prototyped a camera using ESP32 and GSM modules to support AI-driven flood detection through time-lapse photography.

Under the mentorship of Soban Hameed, students explored financial and operational efficiency in two critical areas. In “Grant and Project Management,” Samaa Waqar reviewed the grants archive, identifying unused budgets and contributing to a robust framework for future financial planning. Meanwhile, in “Asset Counting and Management,” Ammara Imran created an inventory of WIT’s assets, tracked acquisition details, and recommended software for real-time tracking.

In “SMT PCB Soldering, Fabrication, and Testing,” Kabir Khan, an Electrical Engineering student, received hands-on training from WIT’s Lab Technician, Usman Lateef, in electronics fabrication. He gained valuable experience in soldering, testing, and deploying devices for applications in water, agriculture, and robotics.

The Summer Mentorship Program culminated with participants presenting their project outcomes and submitting detailed technical reports, which were rigorously evaluated by a WIT panel. This final stage showcased the skills and innovations developed throughout the program, underscoring the real-world impact of each initiative. Through mentorship, practical training, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies, SMP’24 not only fostered technical growth but also reinforced WIT’s commitment to solving critical challenges in informatics, resource management, and sustainability.

With initiatives like SMP, WIT continues to empower the next generation of leaders in engineering, technology, and environmental stewardship—equipping them with the tools and experience to drive meaningful change.