Dr Naeima Hamed

(she/her)

BSc (Hons), MSc (Dist), PhD, AFHEA

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

 My research addresses real-world challenges by creating ontologies, building knowledge graphs, and applying automated reasoning to achieve practical solutions.

• The Forest Observatory Ontology (FOO): One of my key projects is the Forest Observatory Ontology (FOO) (ontology.forest-observatory.cardiff.ac.uk), developed with input from domain experts and wildlife data provided by Danau Girang Field Centre - Cardiff University.   FOO brings together diverse wildlife datasets into an ontology-based knowledge graph. This knowledge graph was used in training deep learning models and enabling semantic reasoning. Using historical GPS sensor data collected from collars fitted around elephants’ necks,I trained a deep learning model using Google's TensorFlow and Keras framework to predict their movements with 99.04% accuracy, outperforming traditional methods such as linear regression (90.95%) and vector autoregression (91.64%). Semantic reasoning rules were also applied to predict potential poaching incidents.

• The Internet of Things (IoT) datamarket places: I generalised my semantic data integration approach to a different domain, specifically IoT data marketplaces. This approach allowed data consumers, instead of purchasing sensor datasets in bulk, to buy only the specific data needed for tasks such as training AI models. For this project, I developed an ontology with input from domain experts and populated it with data from six heterogeneous sensors, where each sensor maintained its own knowledge graph. Semantic reasoning rules were applied to these knowledge graphs to address practical use cases. The semantic data integration approach was evaluated using three configurations, where portions of each sensor’s knowledge graph were stored on resource-constrained edge devices, and federated SPARQL queries were executed to retrieve data from these devices. The experiments measured accuracy and response times across the configurations. The findings demonstrated that decentralised knowledge graphs, stored on edge devices with embedded reasoning rules, responded more efficiently to federated SPARQL queries. This configuration was recommended as the optimal setup for future IoT data marketplace deployments. 

To explore my research more in depth please visit my publications tab.

Teaching

From September 2023 to June 2025, I was a graduate tutor, supervising undergraduate group projects (CM2305) and supporting teaching for Informatics (CM2203).

Biography

Education and Qualifications

PhD - School of Computer Science and Informatics
Cardiff University, 2024

MSc in Data Science and Analytics (Distinction) - School of Mathematics  
Cardiff University, 2019 

BSc in Computer Engineering
The Future University, Khartoum, Sudan, 2000

Research Focus and Contributions

• Addressing data silos through the use of semantic web technologies and artificial intelligence.

• Designing frameworks for data sharing, interoperability, and analysis based on ontologies and knowledge graphs.

• Building decision-support dashboards that integrate heterogeneous data analyses and visualise results in a narrative-driven manner, supporting decision-makers in addressing complex data challenges and making informed decisions.

• Generalising these approaches to broader contexts, with results published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Honours and awards

• Best Research Presentation 2023: 1st Prize (Year 3) - January PGR Workshop (Presentations and Posters), Awarded by Cardiff University based on PGR Student Scoring.
• Nominated twice for PGR Graduate Tutor of the Year, as well as for Most Outstanding Learning Experience and Most Outstanding Use of the Learning Environment at the Enriching Student Life Awards 2025, Cardiff University.

Professional memberships

Academic positions

Jan 2025 - Present: Postdoctoral Reasearch Associate at Cardiff Univeristy

September 2023- June 2025: Graduate Tutor at Cardiff University 

PhD Student Representative (Voluntary Role)
2022–2024

• Volunteered to represent PhD students and communicate their concerns to the School.

• Advocated on matters including desk and office allocation, workstation setup, mentorship, thesis submission, and access to school academic services.

• Collected and synthesised student feedback and signposted students to relevant academic support services.

Speaking engagements

• [International Research Visit] Dr Omar, Engineer Bryce, and I visited Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) (cardiff.ac.uk/danau-girang-field-centre), Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, where we installed soil and air quality sensors. We also undertook ethnographic fieldwork alongside wildlife researchers during data collection activities, and conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups to support semantic data integration for wildlife datasets within the Forest Observatory project (forest-observatory.org). I also delivered a talk on semantic data integration for forest observatory applications.
  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xorzNF-qUVI ,  July 2022.

• [Conference] Presented our book chapter FOO: An Upper-Level Ontology for the Forest Observatory at the European Semantic Web Conference (ESWC), Hersonissos, Crete, Greece, May–June 2023.

• [Invited talk] Semantic Data Integration for Forest Observatory Applications, PlaceNET Researcher-led Initiative (CARBS), Cardiff University, July 2025.

• [Lightning talk] Semantic Data Integration for Forest Observatory Applications, Cardiff University and GW4 AI & Data Science Event Series, University of Bath, July 2025.

• [Conference] Presented our journal paper FOODS: Ontology-Based Knowledge Graphs for Forest Observatories, ACM COMPASS, Toronto, Canada, August 2025.

• [Research visit & talk] Data integration and decision-support dashboards for diverse data analytics, CLEETS-UK Team Meeting, University of Birmingham, January 2026.

• [Guest Lecture] Legal, Social, Ethical, Professional Issues (LSEPIs), Abacws, Cardiff University, March 2026
• [Research Talk] CLEETS-SMART: Sustainable Mobility and Resilient Transport, CLEETS-UK Team Meeting, Cardiff University, April 2026
• [Guest Talk] CLEETS-SMART: Sustainable Mobility and Resilient Transport, Cardiff University, Business School, May 2026

News articles

How AI can help prevent elephant poaching

24 February 2025

A new AI predictive system can help prevent elephant poaching in Malaysia