Rida Mazhar

PhD Candidate

Research title: Maximising data integration and interoperability for better regional outcomes.

Supervisors: Primary supervisor; Prof. Helen Thompson, secondary supervisor; Shoaib Riaz.

Rida Mazhar started her PhD at CeRDI in March 2024, focusing on a research project titled "Maximization of Data Integration and Interoperability for Better Regional Outcomes." The core aim of her research is to investigate the utilization of data sharing and cutting-edge smart technologies to enhance liveability, prosperity, innovation, safety, and social connectedness within the rapidly expanding City of Ballarat. By leveraging data visualization and analytics, Rida seeks to improve urban planning processes.

Rida's research specifically targets smart city dimensions such as mobility, renewable energy, and governance in regional urban contexts, with a particular emphasis on how Ballarat can advance towards achieving its smart city objectives through the application of data science and integration technologies. The anticipated outcome of Rida's research is the development of a comprehensive framework or model designed to optimize the use of municipal data and information for multiple and sustainable purposes.

Rida Mazhar's academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Geoinformatics Engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan, completed in 2015. During Rida's undergraduate studies, she interned at Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL), where she gained experience in network planning using GIS software. Rida's final year project, "Geoinformatics-Based Landslide Early Warning System for the Swat Region of Pakistan," involved the development of a system that provided real-time sensor data and landslide warnings via a website, alongside evacuation route suggestions. This project’s research interests were spatial analysis, web development, IoTs, and soil testing.

Following Rida's undergraduate degree, Rida spent a year teaching geography to higher secondary students before pursuing a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning at NUST in 2016. Rida's master’s thesis, titled "Impact of Mega Transit Projects on Formal and Informal Public Transport Systems: A Case Study of Lahore, Pakistan," entailed a comprehensive service and comparative analysis of traditional and modern bus systems. She examined the effects of newly introduced bus systems on informal transport networks in Lahore, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies using SPSS and NVIVO.

While conducting her master’s research, Rida worked as a GIS Research Associate at the Urban Unit in Lahore and served as a Research Assistant at NUST on the "Planning Support System for Peri-Urban Areas" project. After completing her master’s degree, Rida continued to expand her knowledge in smart cities, Google Earth Engine, and Python through various online resources, driven by her keen interest in integrating technologies within city planning-a pursuit that synthesizes her undergraduate and graduate expertise.

In February 2023, Rida fortuitously encountered a PhD opportunity that aligned perfectly with her research interests, leading her to apply and secure the position. Her PhD research is supported by the Destination Australia and Department of Education Stipend Scholarship through Federation University Australia.

Email: rmazhar@students.federation.edu.au
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1943-1770