Welcoming Dr. Abolfazl Irani

The Water Matters Laboratory (WML) is pleased to welcome Dr. Abolfazl Irani as a Visiting Professor from Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology). Dr. Irani is a recognized expert in remote sensing and hydrodynamic modeling of inland water bodies, with extensive experience in monitoring water temperature, surface extent, and water quality dynamics. His contributions to advanced initiatives such as the Alplakes project highlight his expertise in integrating satellite observations with modeling frameworks for real-time and large-scale water system analysis. His visit to WML is within the framework of the joint research project: “Automated Real-time Monitoring Analysis Network (ARMAN): Towards Developing an Integrated Remote Sensing Platform for Inland Water Bodies in Iran.” This proposal has been jointly developed by Dr. Ostad Mirza Tehrani (Director of WML, K. N. Toosi University of Technology) and Dr. Irani. Within the ARMAN framework, Eawag contributes extensive experience in the development, validation, and application of remote sensing approaches for inland water monitoring. This includes the integration of satellite observations, in situ measurements, and hydrodynamic modeling frameworks across diverse global test sites. Through this collaboration, Dr. Irani supports WML with scientific expertise, methodological guidance, and knowledge transfer to ensure the effective implementation and long-term sustainability of the ARMAN platform. In parallel, WML at K. N. Toosi University of Technology provides a highly complementary role through its strong regional expertise, established infrastructure, and access to diverse inland water bodies across Iran. These unique test sites significantly enhance the global representativeness of ongoing research efforts and offer a robust foundation for method development, testing, and intercomparison. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to establish a comprehensive and operational remote sensing platform for inland waters, advancing both scientific research and practical applications at regional and global scales, with particular relevance to Iran. We warmly welcome Dr. Irani to WML and look forward to a productive and impactful collaboration.