Education
- Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (USA), 2019 – 2025
- M.Sc., Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (USA), 2017 – 2019
- B.Sc., Electrical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia), 2008 – 2013
Biography
Amer Melebari was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1990. He received his B.S. degree in electrical and computer engineering with first-class honors from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2013. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 2019 and 2025, respectively. His Ph.D. dissertation is titled Electromagnetic Modeling and Retrieval of Soil Properties Using Signals of Opportunity Reflectometry.
He has been a researcher with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, since 2013. His research interests are modeling scattered electromagnetic waves and retrieving soil properties from radar observations. Currently, his focus is on modeling global navigation satellite system – reflectometry (GNSS-R) and retrieving soil properties, including soil moisture and vegetation water content (VWC), from GNSS-R observations and monostatic radars.
Amer Melebari has been a member of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) since 2019.
Publications
2025
Conference
- E Hodges, JD Campbell, A Melebari, T Wang, JT Johnson, M Moghaddam, “Detection and Statistical Modeling of the Effect of Mima Mounds on Bistatic Radar Scattering,” 2025 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting …, 2025 [link]
Journal
- A Melebari, JD Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Analytical Assessment of GNSS-R Delay Doppler Map Sensitivity to Land Surface Variables Using a Physics-Based Model,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2025 [link]
- A Kannan, A Melebari, G Tsagkatakis, AF Caus, K Nelson, A Kochanski, V Ravindra, S Nag, C Ruf, M Moghaddam, “Enhancements to Mapping Wildfire Burned Areas using GNSS-Reflectometry Raw Intermediate Frequency data,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2025 [link]
- K Nelson, S Roy-Singh, V Ravindra, M Moghaddam, A Kannan, A Melebari, “Integration of GNSS-R derived Soil Moisture into the USGS Wildland Fire Potential Index,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2025 [link]
- S Roy-Singh, V Ravindra, R Levinson, M Moghaddam, J M, el, A Kochanski, AF Caus, K Nelson, SA Taleghan, A Kannan, A Melebari, “Optimal planning and machine learning for responsive tracking and enhanced forecasting of wildfires using a spacecraft constellation,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.06687, 2025 [link]
2024
Conference
- G Tsagkatakis, A Melebari, R Akbar, J Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Uncertainty Quantification in Machine Learning Based Retrieval of Soil Moisture from GNSS-R Observations,” IGARSS 2024-2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2024 [link]
- S Nag, V Ravindra, R Levinson, M Moghaddam, K Nelson, J M, el, A Kochanski, AF Caus, A Melebari, A Kannan, R Ketzner, “Distributed Spacecraft with Heuristic Intelligence to Monitor Wildfire Spread for Responsive Control,” IGARSS 2024-2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2024 [link]
- A Kannan, A Melebari, G Tsagkatakis, K Nelson, V Ravindra, S Nag, M Moghaddam, “Mapping Wildfire Burned Area Using GNSS-Reflectometry in Densely Vegetated Regions with Complex Topography: A Machine Learning Approach,” IGARSS 2024-2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2024 [link]
- G Tsagkatakis, A Melebari, J Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Quantifying uncertainty in machine learning based soil moisture retrieval from gnss-r measurements,” 2024 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications …, 2024 [link]
- A Melebari, JD Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Sensitivity Analysis OF GNSS-R Delay Doppler Maps to Soil Moisture and Vegetation Using a Physics-Based Model,” IGARSS 2024-2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2024 [link]
Journal
- P Shokri, G Tsagkatakis, A Melebari, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Integrating Physics and Machine Learning for Soil Moisture Retrieval Using CYGNSS Observations,” Authorea Preprints, 2024 [link]
2023
Conference
- A Melebari, AR Silva, R Akbar, E Hodges, Y Zhao, P Nergis, DS McKague, C Ruf, M Moghaddam, “CYGNSS soilscape sites: sensor calibration and data analysis,” IGARSS 2023-2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2023 [link]
- G Tsagkatakis, A Melebari, R Akbar, J Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Deep Generative Regression Models For Soil Moisture Retrieval From GNSS-R Observations,” 2023 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications …, 2023 [link]
- A Melebari, JD Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Validation of the Improved Geometric Optics with Topography (IGOT) GNSS-R Model Using Cygnss Land Observations,” IGARSS 2023-2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2023 [link]
Journal
- A Melebari, JD Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Improved geometric optics with topography (IGOT) model for GNSS-R delay-Doppler maps using three-scale surface roughness,” Remote Sensing 15 (7), 1880, 2023 [link]
- E Hodges, JD Campbell, A Melebari, Alex, Bringer, JT Johnson, M Moghaddam, “Using lidar digital elevation models for reflectometry land applications,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 61, 1-9, 2023 [link]
- B Gorr, V Ravindra, A Melebari, AA Jaramillo, S Nag, M Moghaddam, D Selva, “Multi-Objective Optimization of an Intelligent Soil-Moisture-Monitoring Satellite Constellation,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 60 (4), 1284-1296, 2023 [link]
- A Kannan, A Melebari, G Tsagkatakis, K Nelson, V Ravindra, S Nag, M Moghaddam, “Mapping Wildfire Burned Area using GNSS Reflectometry with Machine Learning,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023 (781), GC51M-0781, 2023 [link]
- A Melebari, E Hodges, JD Campbell, M Moghaddam, “Surface Soil Moisture Retrieval from GNSS-R Observations Using a Physics-Based Method over Topographical Terrains,” AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023 (2272), A13I-2272, 2023 [link]
- A Melebari, R Akbar, E Hodges, D Mckague, C Ruf, A Silva, M Moghaddam, R Shrestha, C Lindsley, T Walker, B Wilson, “EOS Land Validation,” ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) dataset 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2049 …, 2023 [link]
- A Melebari, R Akbar, E Hodges, D Mckague, C Ruf, A SILVA, M Moghaddam, R Shrestha, C Lindsley, T Walker, B Wilson, “Soil moisture profiles and temperature data from SoilSCAPE sites, version 2,” ORNL DAAC, 2023 [link]
Other Publications
- M Moghaddam, A Silva, D Clewley, R Akbar, S Hussaini, J Whitcomb, R Shrestha, C Lindsley, T Walker, B Wilson, “Soil Moisture Profiles and Temperature Data from SoilSCAPE Sites, Version 2. ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA,” 2023 [link]
2022
Conference
- A Melebari, S Nag, V Ravindra, M Moghaddam, “Soil moisture retrieval from multi-instrument and multi-frequency simulated measurements in support of future earth observing systems,” IGARSS 2022-2022 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2022 [link]
Journal
- JD Campbell, R Akbar, Alex, Bringer, D Comite, L Dente, ST Gleason, L Guerriero, E Hodges, JT Johnson, S Kim, A Melebari, N Pierdicca, CS Ruf, L Tsang, T Wang, H Xu, J Zhu, M Moghaddam, “Intercomparison of electromagnetic scattering models for delay-Doppler maps along a CYGNSS land track with topography,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 60, 1-13, 2022 [link]
- A Azemati, A Melebari, JD Campbell, JP Walker, M Moghaddam, “GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval for flat vegetated surfaces using a physics-based bistatic scattering model and hybrid global/local optimization,” Remote Sensing 14 (13), 3129, 2022 [link]
2021
Conference
- JD Campbell, R Akbar, A Azemati, Alex, Bringer, D Comite, L Dente, ST Gleason, L Guerriero, E Hodges, JT Johnson, S Kim, A Melebari, N Pierdicca, B Ren, CS Ruf, L Tsang, H Xu, J Zhu, M Moghaddam, “Intercomparison of models for CYGNSS delay-Doppler maps at a validation site in the San Luis Valley of Colorado,” 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS, 2001 …, 2021 [link]
- JD Campbell, A Melebari, E Hodges, R Akbar, M Moghaddam, “Initial investigation of a GNSS-R multiscale rough surface forward model at San Luis Valley calibration/validation sites,” 2021 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications …, 2021 [link]
- A Azemati, A Etminan, A Melebari, J Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “Root-Zone Soil Moisture Retrieval from CYGNSS Over-Land Observations via Bistatic Vegetation Scattering model and Hybrid Global and Local Optimization Scheme,” 2021 International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications …, 2021 [link]
2020
Conference
- R Akbar, J Campbell, AR Silva, R Chen, A Melebari, E Hodges, D Entekhabi, C Ruf, M Moghaddam, “Soilscape Wireless in Situ Networks in Support of Cyngss Land Applications,” IGARSS 2020-2020 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium …, 2020 [link]
Journal
- JD Campbell, A Melebari, M Moghaddam, “Modeling the effects of topography on delay-Doppler maps,” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote …, 2020 [link]
2015
Conference
- A Melebari, MA Gaffar, J Strydom, “Analysis of high resolution land clutter using an X-band radar,” 2015 IEEE Radar Conference, 139-144, 2015 [link]
- A Melebari, AK Mishra, MA Gaffar, “Statistical analysis of measured high resolution land clutter at X-band and clutter simulation,” 2015 European Radar Conference (EuRAD), 105-108, 2015 [link]
- A Melebari, A Melebari, W Alomar, MA Gaffar, RD Wind, J Cilliers, “The effect of windowing on the performance of the CA-CFAR and OS-CFAR algorithms,” 2015 IEEE Radar Conference, 249-254, 2015 [link]
Other Articles
Other Publications
- G Tsagkatakis, A Melebari, JD Campbell, A Kannan, P Shokri, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, P Tsakalides, “Fusion of Forecasting and Retrieval for Uncertainty Aware Soil Moisture estimation,” [link]
- A Azemati, A Melebari, JD Campbell, E Hodges, M Moghaddam, “A Time-Series Study of Bistatic Delay-Doppler Maps Over Vegetated Terrain: Comparison of Simulations and CYGNSS Observations,” [link]
