KAUST, in collaboration with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and Meta, has launched a Terragraph Wi-Fi project to bring high-speed internet to the Modern Architectural Contracting Company (MACC) camp near KAUST. The project utilizes Meta's Terragraph technology, a gigabit wireless system operating in the 57-71GHz band, to provide a low-cost, high-speed alternative to fiber. Weather stations will monitor climate variables affecting the hybrid RF/FSO links, validating KAUST's research in extreme bandwidth communication. Why it matters: This deployment demonstrates a practical solution for delivering affordable, high-speed internet access to underserved communities in the region, leveraging advanced wireless technologies and KAUST's research capabilities.
KAUST's Terragraph Connectivity Project received second rank in the Social Project category of the Global Excellence Awards by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in Saudi Arabia. The project, in collaboration with Meta and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), provided high-speed Wi-Fi to a camp of 3000+ people outside KAUST. The deployed hybrid radio frequency and free space optics technology offers reliable internet connection to a remote community. Why it matters: The award and project showcase KAUST's contribution to bridging the digital divide in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goals for sustainable development and digital inclusion.
MBZUAI researchers introduce TerraFM, a scalable self-supervised learning model for Earth observation that uses Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery. The model unifies radar and optical inputs through modality-specific patch embeddings and adaptive cross-attention fusion. TerraFM achieves strong generalization on classification and segmentation tasks, outperforming prior models on GEO-Bench and Copernicus-Bench.
A KAUST student blog post discusses optical wireless communications (OWC) as a solution to radio frequency exhaustion. OWC uses optical frequencies to carry electrical signals, offering advantages like high data rates and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Free-space optical (FSO) communication, a type of OWC, is applicable for inter-building connections and has seen use cases such as broadcasting during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Why it matters: OWC research and deployment in the region can support high-bandwidth applications and provide cost-effective connectivity solutions, especially in challenging environments or disaster scenarios.
This paper introduces a novel approach for monitoring and analyzing the evolution of complex geographic objects in satellite image time-series. The method uses a spatiotemporal graph and constraint satisfaction problems (CSP) to model and analyze object changes. Experiments on real-world satellite images from Saudi Arabian cities demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
KAUST researchers published a paper in Nature Electronics outlining communications infrastructure enhancements for 6G to provide global internet access and bridge the digital divide. They propose innovations like aerial access networks, intelligent spectrum management, and energy efficiency improvements. In a separate IEEE paper, KAUST and Missouri S&T researchers demonstrate approaches for improving network throughput using UAVs and balloons in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. Why it matters: The research addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of universal internet access and aims to bring connectivity to underserved populations, enabling access to essential services and opportunities.
The AI and Digital Science Research Center (AIDRC) at TII collaborated with Greenerwave to conduct the first end-to-end 6G Reflective Intelligent Surface (RIS) multi-reflector trial at 27 GHz, using multiple RIS units for seamless HD video streaming. This initiative leverages multiple RIS units, aiming to foster new generation networks, as RIS is a key enabler of 6G. Greenerwave's technology enables full control of the impinging EM wave and reflects it in the right direction. Why it matters: The trial strategically positions the UAE as a leader in 6G technology development in the region and strengthens its advanced technology landscape.
TII's DERC, in partnership with Brazilian firm RADAZ, has obtained the first microwave images from their joint project on Airborne Multi-band Interferometric Microwave Imaging (A(MI)2) in Abu Dhabi. The project uses a new multiband Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating in P, L, and C frequency bands to generate terrain images. The system, which can be mounted on commercial drones, also integrates Ground Penetrating Radar capability to detect buried objects. Why it matters: This technology enhances remote sensing capabilities in the region, enabling applications in agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and search and rescue operations.