Hospice G. Gracias Avakoudjo | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hospice G. Gracias Avakoudjo | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Postdoc Researcher | Laboratory of Applied Ecology of the University of Abomey-Calavi | Benin

Hospice Gérard Gracias Avakoudjo is an esteemed agronomist and forester specializing in climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. With a PhD in Climate Change and Biodiversity, he has an extensive career focused on the impact of climate change on ecosystems and their relationship with human communities. Avakoudjo has contributed to several international research projects and consultancies, and his expertise spans across agroforestry, non-timber forest products, and dendrochronology, among others. He is dedicated to integrating climate adaptation strategies into national biodiversity policies and advancing sustainable resource management in West Africa.

Profile

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Education:

Avakoudjo holds a PhD in Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Agriculture from the University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire (2020). He earned his MSc in Forestry with a focus on Natural Resources Management from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (2015). His academic journey began with a degree in Agronomy, specializing in Natural Resources Management and Planning from the same institution in 2013. He also holds a Baccalaureate D in Mathematics and Natural Sciences from the Office of Baccalaureate in Benin (2016).

Experience: Avakoudjo has gained extensive professional experience, including his current role as a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Applied Ecology at the University of Abomey-Calavi. Here, he leads research projects, trains students, and collaborates with local communities. Previously, as a Postdoctoral Researcher, he implemented a project on the climate influence on plant growth. He has also held roles as a consultant for organizations like the African Forest Forum, where he contributed to the development of agroforestry systems and land management strategies. His leadership has extended to environmental volunteering and advisory roles in various NGOs.

Research Interests:

Avakoudjo’s primary research interests include the effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially in West Africa. His work examines the role of climate-induced biodiversity loss, adaptation strategies, and ecosystem resilience. He is particularly focused on the conservation and valorization of non-timber forest products and sustainable agroforestry practices. His expertise also extends to tropical dendrochronology, quantitative ethnobotany, and biodiversity informatics, all aimed at developing solutions for sustainable natural resource management in tropical regions.

Awards: Throughout his career, Avakoudjo has received recognition for his contributions to environmental science and climate change adaptation. Notable accolades include his involvement in the African Tree-Ring Network and his role in advancing the understanding of climate-growth relationships in tropical trees. His research on the impact of climate change on indigenous species like Strychnos spinosa has been acknowledged for its scientific rigor and its practical implications for biodiversity conservation in West Africa.

Publications:

Avakoudjo has authored several influential peer-reviewed publications, including:

  1. Degila J., et al. (2023). “Digital Agriculture Policies and Strategies for Innovations in the Agri-Food Systems—Cases of Five West African Countries.” Sustainability, 15(12), 9192.
  2. Degila J., et al. (2023). “A Survey on Digital Agriculture in Five West African Countries.” Agriculture, 13(5), 1067.
  3. Kochoni B. I., et al. (2023). “Contribution of mangroves ecosystems to coastal communities’ resilience towards climate change.” GeoJournal.
  4. Coulibaly A., et al. (2022). “Impact of climate change on the distribution of Bombax costatum Pellegr.” Trees, Forests and People, 100359.
  5. Atindehou M. M. L., et al. (2022). “Old Sacred Trees as Memories of the Cultural Landscapes of Southern Benin.” Land, 11(4), 478.
  6. Avakoudjo H. G. G., et al. (2022). “Effects of climate and protection status on growth and fruit yield of Strychnos spinosa Lam.” Trees, 1-13.
  7. Avakoudjo H. G. G., et al. (2022). “Wood anatomy and vessel characteristics of spiny monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa).” Dendrochronologia, 72:125941.

These works are widely cited for their contributions to climate change adaptation strategies and biodiversity conservation, particularly in tropical ecosystems.

Conclusion:

Hospice Gérard Gracias Avakoudjo is a leading expert in climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture with a rich academic and professional background. His research continues to shape the understanding of climate-induced biodiversity changes and their impact on ecosystems and human communities in West Africa. Avakoudjo’s commitment to practical solutions for sustainable land management, agroforestry, and the conservation of natural resources reflects his dedication to fostering resilient ecosystems and promoting environmental stewardship. His ongoing contributions to the scientific community and local communities make him a valuable asset in the global effort to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

Licheng Zhang | Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Licheng Zhang | Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Licheng Zhang | Energy – Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, China.

Zhang Licheng is a Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, specializing in traffic information engineering and control. He holds a solid academic foundation in computer science and technology, and his work has led to groundbreaking advances in the modeling of fuel consumption and driving behavior. Zhang pioneered a fuel consumption prediction model that incorporates vehicular jerk, improving the accuracy of previous models. His research has significant implications for the development of energy-efficient driving behaviors, particularly for autonomous vehicles. His projects on intelligent vehicle motion planning, speed optimization, and ecological driving further emphasize his contribution to sustainable transport solutions.

Profile Verification

Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Education

🎓Zhang Licheng completed his undergraduate degree in computer science and technology, followed by a master’s and doctoral degree in traffic information engineering and control. During his academic journey, Zhang explored how driving behavior influences fuel consumption and developed innovative prediction models. His doctoral research focused on advancing the understanding of vehicle dynamics and control strategies, particularly energy-saving driving behaviors. Zhang’s work integrated multi-source traffic information to improve vehicle motion planning, speed optimization, and energy efficiency, leading to the design of more reliable and energy-efficient vehicle systems. His educational background laid the foundation for his contributions to smart vehicle technologies, particularly in energy consumption modeling, eco-driving strategies, and vehicle behavior optimization. Zhang’s research emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between computer science, engineering, and automotive technologies, to develop solutions for energy-efficient driving in modern intelligent vehicles.

Experience

Zhang Licheng is a Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, where he works on developing and optimizing energy-efficient driving behaviors for intelligent vehicles. He has actively participated in several research projects funded by both the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. Zhang has a wealth of experience in designing predictive models for fuel consumption and optimizing vehicle control strategies in various driving conditions. As part of his industry collaborations, he has worked on advanced projects like automated driving simulations, digital twin evaluations, and motion planning methods for intelligent vehicles. Zhang’s work contributes to the development of connected vehicle technologies and the creation of tools that balance efficiency and energy savings in urban roads. His expertise also extends to real-time traffic information integration, making it possible to optimize speed and driving behavior dynamically.

Research Interests

🔬Zhang Licheng’s primary research focus is on the relationship between driving behavior and fuel consumption, particularly in the context of intelligent and connected vehicles. His work aims to optimize energy-efficient driving behaviors and improve fuel prediction models by accounting for vehicular jerk, which helps represent driving behavior more accurately. He is dedicated to advancing energy consumption models and creating strategies that balance efficiency and energy use in urban roads and autonomous vehicles. Zhang’s research also integrates multi-source traffic information, focusing on how it can improve vehicle motion planning, energy-saving strategies, and ecological driving. Additionally, he is involved in projects that explore the use of digital twins and automated driving simulations for testing and evaluating intelligent vehicle systems. Zhang is working towards developing more reliable machine learning models to ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of energy-efficient driving behaviors, especially in the age of autonomous vehicles.

Awards

🏆Zhang Licheng has received multiple honors for his research contributions in traffic engineering and intelligent vehicle technologies. Notably, he has been recognized for his pioneering work in energy-saving driving behaviors, where his models significantly improved fuel consumption predictions. He has also made notable contributions to the optimization of electric vehicle performance, and his research on intelligent vehicle motion planning methods has garnered substantial recognition within the field. Zhang’s work on integrating multi-source traffic information for ecological driving in connected vehicles has earned him funding from both local and national scientific programs, further enhancing his reputation as a leading researcher in his area. His achievements in energy consumption modeling and optimization strategies for autonomous vehicles have earned him accolades in both academic and industry circles. Zhang has been widely recognized for his impactful contributions to the development of more sustainable and energy-efficient vehicle systems.

Publications

New innovations in pavement materials and engineering: A review on pavement engineering research

Authors: JE Office, J Chen, H Dan, Y Ding, Y Gao, M Guo, S Guo, B Han, B Hong, …

Citations: 151

Year: 2021

Improved watershed analysis for segmenting contacting particles of coarse granular soils in volumetric images

Authors: Q Sun, J Zheng, C Li

Citations: 60

Year: 2019

Highway constructions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Challenge, research and practice

Authors: A Sha, B Ma, H Wang, L Hu, X Mao, X Zhi, H Chen, Y Liu, F Ma, Z Liu, …

Citations: 55

Year: 2022

Material characterization to assess effectiveness of surface treatment to prevent joint deterioration from oxychloride formation mechanism

Authors: X Wang, S Sadati, P Taylor, C Li, X Wang, A Sha

Citations: 44

Year: 2019

Mechanistic-based comparisons of stabilised base and granular surface layers of low-volume roads

Authors: C Li, JC Ashlock, DJ White, PKR Vennapusa

Citations: 38

Year: 2019

Improvement of Asphalt-Aggregate Adhesion Using Plant Ash Byproduct

Authors: Z Liu, X Huang, A Sha, H Wang, J Chen, C Li

Citations: 36

Year: 2019

Morphology-based indices and recommended sampling sizes for using image-based methods to quantify degradations of compacted aggregate materials

Authors: C Li, J Zheng, Z Zhang, A Sha, J Li

Citations: 34

Year: 2020

In situ modulus reduction characteristics of stabilized pavement foundations by multichannel analysis of surface waves and falling weight deflectometer tests

Authors: C Li, JC Ashlock, S Lin, PKR Vennapusa

Citations: 34

Year: 2018

Mechanistic-based comparisons for freeze-thaw performance of stabilized unpaved roads

Authors: C Li, PKR Vennapusa, J Ashlock, DJ White

Citations: 32

Year: 2017

Influence of water on warm-modified asphalt: Views from adhesion, morphology and chemical characteristics

Conclusion

Zhang Licheng’s innovative research in energy-efficient driving behaviors and intelligent vehicle control, coupled with his strong academic background and real-world applications, positions him as a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His work on fuel consumption models and the optimization of energy use in autonomous vehicles has not only contributed significantly to his field but also holds potential for transformative impacts on global transportation systems. Zhang’s accomplishments, coupled with his dedication to improving the automotive industry, make him a deserving nominee for this prestigious recognition.