Postgraduate Scene at Northern Technical University

The President of Northern Technical University, Prof. Dr. Alia Abbas Ali Al-Attar, participated as a member and supervisor in a Master’s thesis defense titled:

“Rockfall Risk Assessment Along Main Roads Using LiDAR Techniques and Simulation Models – A Case Study of Duhok City in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”

The College of Engineering Technical – Kirkuk hosted the defense of the Master’s thesis submitted by the student Sarab Waad Aouni. The study examined rockfall risk along the Barzan Road in Duhok Governorate through the integration of Mobile LiDAR surveying techniques and artificial intelligence to identify critical hotspots posing direct threats to road users’ safety.

The research adopted a comprehensive scientific framework combining advanced geomatics technologies with computational physical simulation. A mobile laser scanning device (Stonex X120Go) equipped with SLAM technology was utilized to generate a high-resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM). In addition, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and supporting climatic datasets were incorporated into the analytical process.

A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm was developed to classify land cover with an accuracy of 97.40%, enabling precise differentiation between exposed rock surfaces, vegetation cover, and infrastructure. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), with expert participation, was applied to determine the relative weights of influencing factors, leading to the production of a Rockfall Susceptibility Index map.

At an advanced stage, a three-dimensional physical simulation engine was developed using Python to model rock movement as rigid bodies. A fourth-order Runge-Kutta (RK4) integrator was employed to ensure numerical stability and precision. The results indicated kinetic energy values reaching 903 kJ, with bounce heights exceeding 16 meters.

Findings revealed that 26.31% of the road corridor lies within very high-risk zones, particularly in sharply engineered cut slopes, necessitating reinforced protective measures. The study recommended installing high-energy-absorption flexible barriers (1000 kJ capacity) and adopting slope revegetation strategies, which reduced rock rebound distances by 56%.

This research represents one of the pioneering works at the regional level, presenting an open-source digital model to support engineering decision-making and enhance the safety of mountainous road infrastructure.

The examination committee consisted of:

* Prof. Dr. Qahtan Ahmed Mohammed – Chair
* Asst. Prof. Dr. Abbas Mohammed Nouri – Member
* Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Abdulkhaleq Kamal – Member
* Prof. Dr. Alia Abbas Ali – Member and Supervisor
* Asst. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Reda Muz’al – Member and Supervisor