Dr Rula Ihsan Ali Sharqi

PhD in Construction Built Environment

Role: Associate Professor
Section: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Email: r.sharqi@hw.ac.uk

About

Dr. Rula Sharqi, an MIT-trained Assistant Professor, holds a diverse academic background encompassing electronics engineering, construction, and psychology. With a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electronics Engineering, alongside a Ph.D. in Construction focusing on Image Processing and Automation, Dr. Sharqi brings a unique blend of technical expertise to her role. Additionally, she earned a second M.Sc. in Psychology, specializing in Business Psychology with Coaching. With 20 years of experience in university-level teaching and research, Dr. Sharqi has honed exceptional communication skills and technical problem-solving capabilities. As an Associated Professor at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, UAE, since 2009, she has developed innovative curricula for undergraduate engineering courses, conducted research in AI, and mentored countless students towards successful academic and professional paths.

Biography

Academic Leadership and Affiliations:

Dr. Sharqi also serves as the Women in Engineering Coordinator, demonstrating her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the field. Her leadership extends beyond the university, with affiliations to internal and external research networks, contributing to interdisciplinary collaborations and driving impactful outcomes.

Dr. Sharqi's dedication to bridging engineering and psychology underscores her vision for transformative advancements.

Qualifications

MSc with the School of Psychology: Business Psychology with Coaching (2022-2023).
PhD with the School of the Built Environment:
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh UK (2009-2016).
MSc in Electronics and Communication Engineering
Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad Iraq (2003-2007).
Bachelor in Electronics and Communications Engineering
AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad Iraq (2000-2003).

Research

Dr. Rula Sharqi's research portfolio showcases a dynamic intersection of engineering and psychology, evidenced through her significant contributions to both fields. As a Senior Author, she co-authored "Health and safety visualization in steel construction projects through image processing" (2014) and "Automated Health and Safety Documentation in Construction Using Image Processing" (2019), emphasizing her expertise in enhancing construction site safety through innovative technologies. Collaborating with MU Muzaffar, she delved into spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks, contributing to publications such as "Energy based Machine Learning Spectrum Sensing in 5G Cognitive Radios" (2023) and "A review of spectrum sensing in modern cognitive radio networks" (2023).

Furthermore, Dr. Sharqi's research extends to educational and industrial domains, as seen in her studies on "Building Information Management (BIM) Education in the Dominican Republic: An Empirical Study" (2017) and "Industry Preparedness for Off-Site Construction" (2019). Her expertise in image processing also facilitated "Risk Assessment Automation In Steel Construction Using Image Processing" (2014), underscoring her commitment to improving efficiency and safety in construction practices.

Beyond engineering, Dr. Sharqi explores psychological dimensions in workplace settings, as evident in her unpublished conference papers on AI-based systems for student satisfaction monitoring and employee well-being awareness. These initiatives resonate with her MSc dissertation on "Artificial Intelligence System for Employee’s Mental Health Awareness" (2023), highlighting her dedication to leveraging technology for holistic workplace enhancement.

As a doctoral graduate from Heriot-Watt University, Dr. Sharqi's dissertation, "Developing a System for Health and Safety Enhancement and Automation in Construction Sites" (2017), serves as a cornerstone in her academic journey, encapsulating her commitment to pioneering solutions that bridge engineering and psychology for societal benefit.

Publications

CONFERENCE PAPERS PUBLISHED AS PROCEEDINGS

MU Muzaffar, R Sharqi. “Energy based Machine Learning Spectrum Sensing in 5G Cognitive Radios”. Journal of Computational Intelligence and Knowledge Economy ICCIKE, 326-330, 2023.
Joint Author.

MU Muzaffar, R Sharqi. “A review of spectrum sensing in modern cognitive radio networks”. Journal of Telecommunication Systems 85 (2), 347-363, 2023. Joint Author.

RULA S, AMMAR KAKA “Automated Health and Safety Documentation in Construction Using Image Processing”. International Conference on Innovation, Technology, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ICITEE), Bahrain, 2019. Senior Author.

RULA S, “Industry Preparedness for Off-Site Construction”. International Conference on Innovation, Technology, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ICITEE), Bahrain, 2019. Senior Author.

RULA S, AMMAR KAKA. “Building Information Management (BIM) Education in the Dominican Republic: An Empirical Study”. Applied Science University, 2017. Senior Author.

RULA S, AMMAR KAKA. “Training Video on Low-Skilled Workers”, WSEAS Transactions on Computer Research 4, 46-55, 2016. Senior Author.

RULA S, AMMAR KAKA. “Risk Assessment Automation In Steel Construction Using Image Processing”, the 14th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality, 2014.Senior Author.

RULA S, AMMAR KAKA. “Health and safety visualization in steel construction projects through image processing”. Journal of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, 817-824, 2014. Senior Author.

UNPUBLISHED CONFERENCE PAPERS

RULA S. “AI Monitoring System for Student Satisfaction and Well-being” International Conference on Psychology and Allied Sciences, ICPAS, May 2024, Toronto Canada.

RULA S. “AI System for Student Satisfaction Awareness”, The 7th International Conference on Neurology and Psychology, Dubai, UAE, April 2024.

Dissertations

SHARQI. R. “Developing a System for Health and Safety Enhancement and Automation in Construction Sites”. Published Doctoral Dissertation. School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, 2017.

SHARQI. R. “Artificial Intelligence System for Employee’s Mental Health Awareness: Work Engagement Monitoring System”. Published MSc Dissertation in Business Psychology with Coaching at the School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, 2023.