Dr. Baqer Al-Ramadan,
Acting Chairman, Department of City and Regional Planning
Chairman, Architectural Engineering Department

College of Environmental Design 
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)
Box # 663, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Tel. Off: (03) 860-4974
Fax:       (03) 860-4795 
E-Mail:   bramadan@kfupm.edu.sa
 		 New GIS Short Courses  

CRP 514: Introduction to GIS
CRP 515: Advanced Topics in GIS
 
Academic Qualifications
Certificates
Specialization
GIS Skills
 Professional Experience
 Courses Developed
 Courses Taught
 Short Courses
 Consultation
 Awards
 Recent Publications
 Professional Affiliations
 Conferences/Symposia
 Funded Research
 Professional Activities
 Technical Seminars
 Thesis Supervision

 		 Academic Qualifications

Ph.D., City and Regional Planning, 1993.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, 

Dissertation Title: "A Framework for a National Effort towards Geographic Information and Geographic Information Systems in Saudi Arabia" 

Master in City and Regional Planning, 1990
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.

Master of Urban Planning, 1987
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Bachelor with Honor in Architectural Engineering, 1983
University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Certificates
 

1.   A Certificate on “Computer-Aided Design and Drafting” through a short course offered by Architectural Engineering Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, November 18 – 20, 1989.
 

2. A Certificate on “AutoCAD”, a one-day workshop organized by Diablo Community College at Pleasant Hill, California, USA, March 1993.

 

3. A Certificate on “PC ARC/INFO 3.4D", a GIS Software, organized by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and offered at University of California at Berkeley, California, USA, March 1993.

 

4. A certificate on "Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Global Positioning Systems (GPS)", a 2-day short course organized by Saudi PROJACS, Riyadh, June 17 – 18, 1997.

 

5.  A certificate on "Effective Teaching", a 3-day workshop offered by Mechanical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, December 6 - 8, 1997.

 

6.  A Certificate on “Managing GIS Implementation", a one-day workshop organized by Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), Bahrain, October 19, 1998.

 

7.   A Certificate on "Urban Indicators for the Housing Sector: Theory and Practice", a 3-day workshop organized by Urban Indicators Programme (UIP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Bahrain, October 16 – 18, 2000.

 

8.  A Certificate on “Modeling with Geographical Information Systems”, a one-day workshop organized by Bahrain Society of Engineers, Bahrain, March 10, 2002.


Areas of Specialization & Areas of Research Interest

GIS technology and its applications in City and Regional Planning

GIS Project Supervision and Management

GIS Design, Planning, Evaluation, and Implementation in the private and public sectors

Automated Mapping/Facilities Management (AM/FM)

Land Records Management

 

GIS Skills

Experience in the following GIS packages:

ArcGIS 9.3 (a product of ESRI)

ArcGIS Extensions:

ArcGIS Spatial Analysit

ArcGIS 3D Analyst

ArcGIS GeoStatistical Analyst
ArcIMS

GeoMedia (a product of Intergraph, Inc.)

MapInfo (a product of MapInfo of MapInfo Corp.

GeoGraphics (a product of Bentley, Inc.)

Professional Experience
 

2005 - Present

Chairman, Architectural Engineering Department, KFUPM
1993 -Present:  Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning, 
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
1992-1993 Postgraduate Researcher, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, 
University of California at Berkeley, USA
1991-1992 Postgraduate Researcher, GIS Laboratory, Center for Environmental Design Research, University of California at Berkeley, USA.
1983-1984 Research Assistant, University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran
Summer 1982 Summer Training in Architectural and Structural Design of Buildings,
Flour Company, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Courses Developed  

CRP 514: Introduction to GIS
CRP 515: Advanced Topics in GIS
 CRP 507: Computer-aided planning
 CP 203: Introduction to Spatial Databases

Courses Taught
 

            ARE 221: Computer Graphics (Offered: 931 Term)

            CRP 510: Project Workshop I (Offered: 931 Term)

CRP 590: Special Topics in CRP: Introduction to GIS (Offered: 931, 941 Terms)

CRP 530: Comprehensive Planning Project (Offered: 942 Term)

            CRP 570: Introduction to GIS (Offered: 951, 962, 981, 991 Terms)

CRP 521: Urban and Regional Land Use (Offered: 952 Term)

CRP 590: Special Topics in CRP: GIS Applications (961, 971, 982
            Terms)

CRP 540: Final Project (Offered: 972 Term)

CRP 514: Introduction to GIS (Offered: 001, 011, 021, 031, 041, 051, 061, 081 Terms)

CRP 515: Advanced Topics in GIS (Offered: 992, 042, 071 Terms)

CRP 507: Computer-aided Planning (Offered: 002, 012, and 022 Terms)

CRP 601: Final Planning Project (Offered: 022 Term)

CRP 599: Seminar (Offered: 972 and 022 Terms)
 ARC 449 Special Topics in Computer Aided Design (Offered: 042 Term)

CP 203: Introduction to Spatial Databases (Offered: 091 Terms)

 

Short Courses Coordinated

 
 1. Short Course Title: "Geographic Information Systems and Computer-Aided Planning" short course held at KFUPM, April 15 to 19, 1995.

2. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, March 23 to 27, 1996.

 3. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, Nov 13 - 17, 1999.

 4. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, June 2 -6, 2001.

 5. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, April 20 – 24, 2002.

 6. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, April 5 – 9, 2003.

 7. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" a closed short course held at KFUPM, May 31 - June 4, 2003 for the employees of the Supreme Commission of Tourism in Saudi Arabia.

 8. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, December 27 - 31, 2003 

9. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, March 12 - 16, 2005.

10. Short Course Title: "Introduction to ArcGIS" short course held at KFUPM, May 28 – June 1, 2005.

11. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, December 27 - 31, 2008.

12. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, May 16 - 20, 2009.

13. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, June 13 - 17, 2009.

14. Short Course Title: "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Technology and its Applications" short course held at KFUPM, Oct 31 – Nov 4, 2009.
 

Short Courses Participation
 

1. Short Course Title: "Computer-Aided Planning and Geographic Information Systems” short course held at KFUPM, April 23 – 27, 1994.

2. Short Course Title: " Geographic Information Systems Applications in Transportation” short course held at KFUPM, November 21 – 25, 1998.
 

Consultation

 

Worked, for one year (from January 2000 to January 2001), as a Part-time consultant for the Directorate of Urban Planning at Dammam Municipality.  The subject of the consultation was to study the potential municipality-wide use of GIS at Dammam Municipality.  A final report was submitted to the municipality and a formal presentation of the study recommendations was made at the municipality as well.

 

Awards

1. KFUPM "Best Short Course Award" for "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, Nov 13 - 17, 1999.

2. KFUPM "Best Short Course Award" for "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, April 20 - 24, 2002.

3. KFUPM "Distinguished Teaching and Advising Award" for the academic year 2002-03. 

4. KFUPM "Best Short Course Award" for "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems" short course held at KFUPM, Oct 31 - Nov 4, 2009.


List of Recent Publications
 

1.   Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Khalid Nassif. "Guidelines for GIS Planning and Implementation in Municipalities." In International Computer, Information Technology and Business Systems for Middle East Proceedings, Manama, Bahrain, 1994.

 

2.   Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Khalid Nassif. "GIS as Tools for Land Use Planning." In International Computer, Information Technology and Business Systems for Middle East Proceedings, Manama, Bahrain, 1994.

 

3.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Khalid Nassif. "GIS Evolution and their Applications in Planning: A Case Study of GIS as a Tool for Site Selection." In American Society of Civil Engineers - Saudi Arabia Section Proceedings, Manama, Bahrain, September 1994.

 

4.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Khalid Nassif. "Linking GIS with a Transportation Noise Assessment Model." In Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Middle East User Meeting Proceedings, Cairo, Egypt, January 1995.

 

5.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Khalid Nassif. "GIS Applications in Environment Protection" In Environment Rehabilitation Symposium, Kuwait, April, 1996.

 

6.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer. "Introduction to GIS technology and its Applications: In Eight Annual Meeting of the Saudi Umran Society Proceedings, Hofuf, May 1998.

 

7.   Al-Ramadan, Baqer. "GIS Applications in Environmental Protection: A Case Study of GIS as a Tool for Site Selection", In First Middle East International GIS Conference Proceedings, Manama, Bahrain, October 1998.

 

8.   Al-Ramadan, Baqer. “GIS Education at KFUPM: the Case of CRP, KFUPM”, a Technical Report presented at the First Middle East GIS Education Workshop, Doha, Qatar, April 16-17, 2000

 

9.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer. “Introduction to GIS Technology and its Applications”. A chapter in CED Review Book, 2002.

 

10.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer. “Introduction to GIS Technology and its Applications”. Al-Mohandis Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, Jan. 2002.

 

11.  Al-Ramadan, Baqer. "GIS Applications in the Municipal Sector: Difficulties and Challenges”, a Chapter in a book to be published by King Saud University in March 2004.
 

      12. Al-Ramadan, Baqer and Yusuf Aina. "GIS Applications in Optimum Site Selection
           for Tourist Sites: Texas as a Case Study". In Third International  GIS Conference
           Proceedings (GIS - 2004), Manama, Bahrain, September 27 - 29, 2004.

      13. B. Al-Ramadan and Yusuf Aina, “Site selection for Landfill Facility: A GIS-Based Spatial
            Analysis”, International Gulf GIS Conference, Feb. 5 – 7, 2005, Kuwait.

      14. B. Al-Ramadan, “Assessment of GIS Acquisition in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and
           Opportunities”, GIS Conference in the Gulf - 2nd Kuwait-ESRI User’s Group Conference,
           April 6 – 7, 2005, Kuwait.

       15. Report about the "First National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in
           Khobar, Nov. 21 – 23, 2005.  The report was published at Arabian Journal of GIS, Vol. 1,
            No. 2, 2007.

       16. “GIS Adoption in Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Challenges”, PetroGIS Conference,
            Crowne Plaza, March 28 – April 1st, 2009, Bahrain.

 

Professional and Academic Association Memberships 

1. American Planning Association (APA)

Web site: http://www.planning.org/ 
2) Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)

Web site: http://www.urisa.org

 3) Saudi Umran Society

Web site: http://www.umran.org.sa/


4) Geospatial and Information Technology Association (GITA)
 

Conferences, Symposiums, and Workshops Attended
 

1. Geographic Information Systems / Land Information Systems (GIS/LIS '90) conference, Anaheim, California, USA, November 7 – 10, 1990.

2. "Teaching GIS" workshop offered by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), Anaheim, California, USA, November 6, 1990.

3. International Computer, Information Technology and Business Systems conference for Middle East at Manama, Bahrain, May 30 – June 2, 1994.

4.  American Society of Civil Engineers - Saudi Arabia Section conference at Manama, Bahrain, September 18 - 20, 1994.

5.   Seminar on "Geographical Information Systems (GIS) – City Sustainability and Environment", organized by United Nations and Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC), December 9 – 14, 1995, Cairo, Egypt.

6. Environment Rehabilitation Symposium, organized by Kuwait Environment Protection Society at Kuwait, April 8 - 10, 1996.

7.  Seventh Annual Meeting of the Saudi Umran Society, Medina, November 26 – 28, 1996.

8.   GIS/Global Positioning System (GPS) 97 Conference, organized by the Centre of Geographic Information Systems, Doha, Qatar, March 2 – 4, 1997.

9.   Advanced GIS/Global Positioning System (GPS) short course, organized by PROJACS Inc., Riyadh, June 17 – 18, 1997

10. Development and Environmental Impact Conference, organized by Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Riyadh, September 21 – 23, 1997.

11. First Saudi-Japanese Symposium on Application of Remote Sensing, sponsored by the Saudi Center for Remote Sensing and Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, October 19 – 21, 1997.

12. Local Architecture in Architecture Education, organized by College of Architecture and Planning, King Saud University, Riyadh, November 26 - 27, 1997.

13.  Eight Annual Meeting of the Saudi Umran Society, Hofuf, May 25 – 26, 1998.

14. First Middle East International GIS Conference, organized by the Bahrain Society of Engineers, Manama, Bahrain, October 19 – 21, 1998.

15. "Managing GIS Implementation" workshop organized by Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), Manama, Bahrain, October 19, 1998.

16.  First Saudi Arc/Info User Conference, Riyadh, November 28, 1998.

17. Ninth Annual Meeting of the Saudi Umran Society, Riyadh,
      May 9 – 11, 1999.

18. "First Middle East GIS Education Workshop" organized by Centre of GIS Doha, Qatar, April, 16 – 17, 2000.

19.  "Strategies of Urban Development in Arabian Cities Symposium", April 9 – 12, 2000, Riyadh.

20.  "Housing Sector Indicators: Theory and Practice" workshop, organized by Urban Indicators Programme (UIP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Bahrain, April 16 – 18, 2000.

21. Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) 7th Seminar on "GIS Applications in Planning and Sustainable Development", Cairo, February 13 – 15, 2001.

22.  "Urban Strategic Planning in GCC Countries" workshop, organized jointly by Medina Municipality and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Medina, January 22 – 23, 2002.

23. GIS 2002 International Conference, organized by Bahrain Society of Engineers, Manama, Bahrain, March 11 – 13, 2002.

24.  "GITEX Dubai", Dubai, October 13 – 17, 2002.

25.  "Urbanization in Arid Regions and Associated Problems" symposium organized jointly by the Saudi Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Council of Arab Ministries of Housing and Development, Riyadh, November 2 – 4, 2002.

26.  "Managing GIS Projects", a 5-days short course, Beirut, Lebanon, July 12 -16, 2003.

27.  "GITEX Dubai", Dubai, October 19 – 23, 2003.

28. The First Planning Symposium on the Development of Academic Programs and Professional Practice in Saudi Arabia, organized by City and Regional Planning Department at KFUPM, Oct. 14-15, 2003, Dhahran.

29. “GIS 2004 International Conference”, Bahrain Sep 27 - 29, 2004.

30. A 3-Day Workshop on WebCT organized by DAD, KFUPM.

31. “Gulf - 2nd Kuwait-ESRI User’s Group Conference held in Kuwait”, held in Kuwait April 6 – 7, 2005.

32. “Map Middle East 2005 Conference” held in Dubai April 23 - 25, 2005.

33. “International Conference on Remote Sensing” held in Riyadh May 7 – 11, 2005.

34. A workshop on GIS organized by GeoTech Corp. held in Riyadh on May 12, 2005.

35. Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Design Sciences” symposium held at King Abdulaziz University, May 24 -25, 2005.

36. 5-days short course on “Students Study Skills” held at KFUPM July 9 – 13, 2005.

37. "First National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, Nov. 21 – 23, 2005.

38. "ESRI's Middle East User Conference" held at Amman, Jordan, October 29 – 31, 2006.

39. "Second National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 23 – 23, 2007.

40. "ESRI's Middle East User Conference" held at Muscat, Oman, October 29 – 31, 2007.

41. A one day workshop titled "GIS Day" organized by Jeddah Municipality on Nov. 14, 2007, Jeddah.

42. “Middle East Spatial Technology (MEST 2007) 4th GIS International Conference” held in Bahrain Dec 10 - 12, 2007. 

43. "Third National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 7 – 9, 2008.

44. A 3 days work shop titled "Digital GIS" Organized by Saudi Standards Organization in Riyadh, May 10 – 12, 2008.

45. A one day workshop titled "GIS Day" organized by Jeddah Municipality Nov. 2008, Jeddah.

46. Training course titled "Advanced Analysis Using ArcGIS", Amman, Jordan, Aug. 26 – 28, 2008.

47. "Fourth National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at the Chamber of Commerce, May  4 – 6, 2009.
 

Funded Research Projects:

KFUPM GIS-based Master Plan Project, a two month KFUPM Funded Project, June – Aug, 2005’ Co-Investigator.
 

Professional Activities

1. Member of the "Middle East GIS Active Group in GIS Education".  The GIS Active group in Middle East consists of 25 members across the Middle East. The “National GIS Centre in Qatar” selects the members of this group annually.  This group is charged with devising a unified policy towards GIS teaching and training in the Middle East.

2. Member of the Editorial Board of the Arabian Journal of GIS published by King Saud University.

3. Member of the Scientific Committee and Saudi Arabia Country Coordinator of the “GIS 2004 International Conference” held in Bahrain Sep 27 - 29, 2004. 

4. Chaired a Technical Session at “GIS 2004 International Conference” held in Bahrain Sep 27 - 29, 2004.

5. Chaired a Technical Session at “First International ASCAAD Conference on E-Design in Architecture” held at KFUPM Feb. 22 - 24, 2005.

6. Chaired a Technical Session at “Gulf - 2nd Kuwait-ESRI User’s Group Conference” held in Kuwait”, April 6 – 7, 2005.

7. Member of the Organizing Committee of “Map Middle East 2005 Conference” held in Dubai April 23 - 25, 2005.

8. Chaired a Technical Session at “Map Middle East 2005 Conference” held in Dubai April 23 - 25, 2005.

9. Member of the Scientific Committee of the “ITI 6th Arab Conference on GIS (arabmap 2005)" held in Cairo Sep 12 - 13, 2005. 

10. Refereed 24 papers presented at “ITI 6th Arab Conference on GIS (arabmap 2005)" held in Cairo Sep 12 - 13, 2005. 

11. Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Member of the Organizing Committee of “The First National GIS Symposium” held in Khobar Nov 21 - 23, 2005.

12. Chaired the Plenary and Keynote Session as well as the Final Discussion Panel of the "First National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, Nov. 21 – 23, 2005.

13. Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Member of the Organizing Committee of the "Second National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 23 – 25, 2007.

14. Chaired the Plenary and Keynote Session as well as the Final Discussion Panel of the "Second National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 23 – 23, 2007.

15. Member of the Scientific Committee and Saudi Arabia Coordinator of the “Middle East Spatial Technology (MEST 2007) 4th GIS International Conference” that held in Bahrain Dec 10 - 12, 2007.

16. Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Member of the Organizing Committee of the "Third National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 7 – 9, 2008.

17. Chaired the Plenary and Keynote Session "Third National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, April 7 – 9, 2008.

18. Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Member of the Organizing Committee of the "Fourth National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at the Chamber of Commerce, May  4 – 6, 2009.

19. Chaired the Plenary and Keynote Session "Fourth National GIS Symposium in Saudi Arabia" held at Meridian Hotel in Khobar, May 4 - 6, 2009.
 

Technical Seminars & Presentations

1. A Technical Presentation titled “Assessment of GIS Status Quo in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities” sponsored by Project Management Institute (PMI), March 28, 2005, Dhahran International Hotel.

2. A Technical Presentation titled “GIS, Web Map Publishing, and Location Based Services” as part of CED IT Show Case, May 9, 2005, KFUPM.

3. A Technical Presentation titled “Future View of GIS Education”, Dec. 23, 2008, Department of Geography - Girls College of Arts – King Faisal University.
 

Thesis and Dissertation Supervision

External Examiner, Mohamed Saleh Al-Jabor, Naif Arabic University for Security Sciences
The Role of GIS in Crime Prevention: Riyadh Region as a Case Study", Mater Thesis, March 2004 – July 2006.