Associate Professor
2007: Ph.D. Environmental Eng. Cornell University, USA.
2001: M.Sc., Remote Sensing, Department of Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York.
Bio
Dilkushi Pitts is an Associate Professor in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Zayed University. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Eng. from Cornell University, USA. Her primary area of interest is studying system dynamics across various domains, from surface dynamics using satellite data to social dynamics using agent-based modeling. She is interested in intellectual conceptual frameworks that combine research and practice beyond disciplinary perspectives.
Throughout her career, Dr Pitts has worked on several projects related to economics, sociology, sustainability, and computer systems. For example, she has used AI models to predict housing prices in the UK, modeled diseases and disaster recovery analysis, analyzed water security-related issues, modeled endangered species, and studied the Great Lakes hydrodynamics and the Mekong River basin hydrology. One of her significant interests is modeling food and water security, which involves creating a network of researchers to investigate direct and indirect drivers of change in land use and socio-economic conditions across different geographical scales.
Office
Abu Dhabi - Khalifa City, MF3-2-029
Phone:
+971 2 599 3450
Email:
Kurumkula.Pitts@zu.ac.aeTeaching Areas
* Integrating spatial data (RS, GIS) into mathematical models and validation strategies: Agent-Based Modelling, Species Distribution Modelling, Hydrological Modelling, Hydrodynamic Modeling
* Spatial-temporal data cube analysis: Carrying out multi-dimensional analysis based on space-time cube operations. Tracking similarities and differences within the data to enable understanding of causes and effects.
* Geocoding and Dynamic Segmentation, path analysis and network applications, spatial interpolation, viewshed and watershed analysis.
* The use of Machine Learning algorithms in spatial data.
Research and Professional Activities
E. Hanna, K. Aplin, H. Bjornsson, R. G. Bryant, J. Cappelen, R. Fausto, X, Fettweis , E. Graham, R. G. Harrison, T. Jonsson, J. Penman, D. de Alwis Pitts and A. J. Bilton, Meteorological effects and impacts of the 10 June 2021 Solar eclipse over the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland." Weather 7 (6), 2022, https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wea.4175
H. E. Moore, T. G. Mercer, D. de Alwis Pitts, S. Beagley, M. Naura, and A. Bryden, “Assessing the progress of river restoration in the UK: Has biophysical condition improved over two decades of intervention?” River Research and Applications 37(10), 2020 pp.1494-1509.
de Alwis Pitts, Dilkushi A., and Emily So. "Enhanced change detection index for disaster response, recovery assessment and monitoring of accessibility and open spaces (camp sites)." International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation 57 (2017): 49-60.
de Alwis Pitts, Dilkushi A., and Emily So. "Enhanced change detection index for disaster response, recovery assessment and monitoring of buildings and critical facilities” A case study for Muzzaffarabad, Pakistan." International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation 63 (2017): 167-177.
