On May 2, 2025, students from the GIS Center within the Department of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Balamand (UOB) participated in the prestigious Manal Sayed Award for GIS Innovation in Higher Education and won second prize. This competition recognizes pioneering projects in geographic information systems (GIS) that demonstrate outstanding innovation and impact. It took place at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Beirut.

The competition featured a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a distinguished panel of experts, including General Guevara Mouawad, Director of the Directorate of Geographic Affairs in Lebanon; Mr. Mohamed Issa, Regional Manager for the Middle East and Africa at ESRI; and Dr. Michael Gould, Global Education Manager at ESRI.

Two student teams from the Faculty of Engineering took part in the competition. The first team, composed of students Mervana Moughrabi and Ashraf Abi Hussein, was awarded Second Prize for their project on Emergency and Disaster Management. Their outstanding work earned them trophies and specialized GIS training at ESRI, Lebanon.

The second project presented by student Fouad Sleiman, focused on Tsunami Risk Assessment for Batroun, Chekka, and Hraichy Areas. Fouad was recognized for his efforts and also awarded a professional GIS training at ESRI, Lebanon. Both projects were developed as part of the students’ final Bachelor of Engineering (BE) project.

The Faculty of Engineering extends its heartfelt congratulations to the participants for their remarkable achievement. The students’ dedication, creativity, and technical excellence simply reflect the high academic standards and innovative spirit that the Faculty of Engineering instils in its students and in geospatial technologies.





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