Saad Bin-Jassas

Teams and roles for Saad Bin-Jassas

Research student
School of Geography and Planning

I am a first-year PhD student in the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University and a Lecturer in the Department of Geography at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I have been employed since 2016.

My academic background is in Geographic Information Science, GIS, cartography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis. My research and teaching interests focus on applying geospatial technologies to understand and address contemporary urban challenges, including urban growth, location suitability analysis, transport systems, environmental sustainability, and spatial inequalities. Through the integration of GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and statistical modelling, I investigate how cities evolve and how spatial data can support more effective urban planning, policy development, and sustainable urban futures.

My work applies geospatial technologies to address contemporary environmental and socio-economic challenges, with a focus on sustainable development and evidence-informed decision-making.

Across my academic work, I have used GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis to investigate a wide range of human and physical phenomena, including urban expansion, site suitability, and transport decarbonisation. These projects are linked by a common aim: using spatial data and analytical methods to understand real-world problems and support better planning decisions.

My bachelor’s research examined rapid urban growth in northern Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Conducted during a professional training placement at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the study used remote sensing and GIS-based change detection techniques to identify, quantify, and map patterns of urban expansion. It provided an objective assessment of urban change in a fast-growing part of the city and offered a basis for future work on urban growth monitoring and prediction.

My master’s research focused on spatial suitability analysis for citrus cultivation in Saudi Arabia. The project responded to national efforts to strengthen domestic agricultural production, particularly in the context of declining local citrus output. It used GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation, advanced decision-making techniques, and locally calibrated parameters to assess the suitability of different areas for citrus farming. The study produced practical recommendations to support more informed agricultural planning.

My doctoral research addresses the decarbonisation of private-car transport. It examines how private-vehicle fleets evolve across small geographic areas and how these changes affect future tailpipe CO₂ emissions. The project considers local variation in fleet composition, vehicle ageing, replacement, technology uptake, and vehicle activity to assess whether transition pathways are likely to support Net Zero targets. This focus is important because national averages can hide local areas where older and higher-emitting vehicles may remain in use for longer, creating uneven progress towards low-carbon transport.

Bachelor’s Thesis: Urban Change Detection in the Northern Area of Riyadh City Using Geospatial Technologies

Master’s Thesis: Spatial Suitability Analysis for Citrus Cultivation in Saudi Arabia

Doctoral Thesis (Ongoing): Small-Scale Geographic Analysis of Vehicle Fleet Evolution and Its Implications for Emissions

Thesis

Small-Scale Geographic Analysis of Vehicle Fleet Evolution and Its Implications for Emissions

I have taught a range of undergraduate courses in Geographic Information Science and related areas, including Principles of Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Analysis Using GIS, Building Geographic Databases, Thematic Cartography, Digital Mapping, and Geographic Information Science.

My teaching focuses on developing students’ technical and analytical skills in geospatial technologies. This includes helping students understand how spatial data can be collected, managed, analysed, visualised, and applied to real-world geographical problems.

I am a Lecturer in the Department of Geography at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since joining the university in 2016, I have developed academic and professional experience in Geographic Information Science, GIS, cartography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis.

In addition to teaching and research, I have contributed to curriculum development and programme design. This included work on updating the undergraduate Geographic Information Science programme to reflect recent developments in geospatial science, technical practice, and professional requirements.

I have also contributed to several academic and administrative committees, including the GIS and Remote Sensing Unit, the Academic Discipline Committee, the Academic Advising Committee, and the Curriculum Committee. I have also helped organise multiple editions of International GIS Day, supporting activities that promote geospatial awareness, professional engagement, and innovation.