1. Curriculum Vita
ALIREZA GHAFFARI (PhD)
# 83 Formosa Drive, 416 409 7871
Richmond Hill, alireza.ghaffar@utoronto.ca
Ontario, L4S 1T1
ACADEMIC QULIFICATION
PH.D. in Physical Geography Nottingham University 2006
M.Sc. in Water Resource Management ITC 1998
B.Sc. in Agriculture Eng., Soil science Tehran University 1988
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Over 15 years experience in remote sensing, data processing, spatial modeling, and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
 Extensive experience in planning, coordination, supervision, and evaluation of research
projects in natural resource, watershed management, land cover change detection mapping,
soil and water pollution detection, Emergency Management and flood disaster management
 Highly qualified in designing and maintaining spatial modeling and digital map visualization
 Research assistant in Disaster and Emergency Management Group at York University School of
Administrative Studies
RESEARCH/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
* International Institute For Geo-Information science and earth Observation
** Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Center
 Instructor (Contract) University of Toronto 2015-2016
 Instructor (Contract) UofT Mississauga 2014-2016
 One year Assistant professor Brock University 2012-2013
 Research Assistant York University 2012-2013
 Postdoctoral York University 2010-2012
 Instructor (Contract) Wilfrid Laurier University 2009-2013
 Instructor (Contract) University of Toronto 2011-2012
 Instructor (Contract) Lakehead University 2011-2012
 Research Assistant York University 2007-2009
 GIS specialist City of Toronto 2007-2008
 Tutor and Demonstrator (Contract) Nottingham University 2002-2006
 Assistant lecturer (Contract) ITC* 2000-2001
 Researcher of Remote Sensing and GIS Dept. SCWMRC** 1998-2001
 Manager of Soil Conservation Dept. SCWMRC 1994-1996
 Researcher Watershed Management Dept. SCWMRC 1992-1994
 Assistant Researcher Member in River Engineering Dept. SCWMRC 1988-1992

2. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
ResearchExperience
 Postdoctoral Fellow at Faculty of Environment Studies of York University to investigate
Global warming Potential (GWP) reductions associated with full transition to organic agriculture
using Agent Based Modeling (ABM) approaches
 Launched and Implemented an Agent Based Model in open source platform called Repast to
Investigate GWP in agricultural sub-watershed
 Combined GIS modules and ABM as a Loosely-Coupled GIS and ABM (GIS-ABM) to
Evaluate GWP reduction is associated with full transition of conventional to organic
agriculture
 Implemented and Developed Spatial Autoregressive Models and Spatial Modeling for real-
time predication of fatalities, damaged cost, and personal responding to the fire event in
Real-time Multi-criteria Spatial Decision Support Systems (MCSDSS), Improving Fire
Response in Canadian Communities research project funded by GeoIDE, The School of
Administrative Studies (SAS), Disaster& EmergencyManagement at YorkUniversity
 Launched Flood Disaster Management research project to simulate a event using Fuzzy
Petri Net technique in GIS environment to response to the flood events in some part of
Toronto as part of postdoctoral research at Earth and Space Science Engineering of York
University
 Directed a team of 6 specialists in the research of soil erosion and flooding to control soil
erosion and to assess the risk of flooding to produce flooding hazardous map of the basin
in a regional area of approximately 5000 square kilometers
 Budgeted research projects related to the soil conservation and disaster management
Researchand Consultant
 Supervised a team of 3 specialists to use Landsat data to map land cover change detection and
test the accuracy of detection techniques
 Coordinated field monitoring to measure soil erosion and establish a GIS based database
 Initiated land use planning research to map the most optimum land use for government
 Categorized and processed geographic information layers for spatial modeling to map soil
erosion hazards
Data Management and Visualization
 Created and maintained automatic Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using ASTER data to
map drainage systems, reduce field surveying, save time and costs at least 40%

3. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
 Produced 3-Dimensional model of land surface to calculate volume of soil loss
 Extracted and digitally mapped various land surface features with the highest accuracy using
remote data, like mapping gully erosion instead of field monitoring
Technical Analysis
 Designing a dynamic Spatiotemporal Agent Based Model by Repast platform to run for
environmental studies, physical geography, and emergency management
 Writing decision making algorithm in Spatiotemporal Agent Based Model to study the decisions
of agents in both spatial and temporal changes
 Used a combination of GIS, RS, pattern recognition techniques and Decision Support
Systems (DSS) to classify and visualize geomorphology units
 Analyzed and applied texture features of image to increase the accuracy of image
interpretation and classification
 Piloted and developed Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Decision Tree (DT), Linear
Mixture Modeling (LMM), Fuzzy Logic and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) to perform digital
mapping of land use, land surface features and geomorphology
 Programmed an interface link between GIS software, RS data and mathematical programs in
a VB environment to analyze thematic layers for various aims such as image classification
and pattern recognition
 Web map designed and on line services using VWD and SQL Server for City of Toronto
INSTRUCTION/SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE
Teaching Experience
 Teaching Communicating with Maps (GGR380H5S), Geography Department at University of
Toronto Mississauga, Fall 2015-2016
 Teaching Communicating with Maps (GGR380H5S), Geography Department at University of
Toronto Mississauga, Summer (July & August) 2015-2016
 Teaching GIS II (GGR 273 H1S), Geography Department at University of Toronto, Winter
2015-2016
 Teaching Communicating with Maps (GGR380H5S), Geography Department at University of
Toronto Mississauga, Winter 2015-2016
 Teaching Natural Hazards (JGE378H5), Geography Department at University of Toronto
Mississauga, Winter 2014-2015
 Teaching Map Design and production (3P04) and Advanced Cartography (4P03), Geography
Department at Brock University, Winter 2013-2014
 Teaching Geographic Information System (3P05) and Advanced Geographic Information System

4. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
(3P95), Geography Department at Brock University, Fall 2012-2013
 Part time Instructor to teach Risks & Disasters (GG231OC) in Geography and Environmental
Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Summer 2012-2013
 Part time Instructor to teach Advanced Geographic Information System in Department of
Geography and Program in Planning at University of Toronto, Fall 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Maps and Aerial photo Interpretation in Interdisciplinary
Studies at Lakehead University, Fall 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Geographic Information and Mapping I in Department of Geography
and Program in Planning at University of Toronto, Summer 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Maps and Aerial photo Interpretation in Interdisciplinary
Studies at Lakehead University, Winter 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Physical Geography (GG101) in Geography and Environmental
Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Winter 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Intro. Environmental Studies (ES101OC2) in Geography and
Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Winter 2011-2012
 Part time Instructor to teach Intro. Environmental Studies (ES101OC) in Geography and
Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Fall 2010-2011
 Part time Instructor to teach GIS_I (GG369) in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid
Laurier University, Fall 2010-2011
 Part time Instructor to teach Geographic Information Analysis (GG254) in Geography and
Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Fall 2010-2011
 Part time Instructor to teach Natural Hazards (GG396) in Geography and Environmental
Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Winter 2009-2010
(Course outline: http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=149&doc_id=39008)
 Part time Instructor to teach GIS_I (GG369) in Geography and Environmental Studies at
Wilfrid Laurier University, Fall 2009-2010
 GIS Guess Speaker for Master Students in Geography Department, York University, at
Winter semester 2008
 Supervised master students in analyzed spatial distribution of public schools, stealing and
burglary risk assessments in residential areas School o Geography, Nottingham University, UK, and
gully erosion change detection, and flood risk hazardous assessments to perform a comparative
analysis of the risk factors of each area At Tehran University, Iran
 Trained up to 15 students in the techniques and use of both basic and advance GIS, RS,
ILWIS, Watershed Management, Geomorphology, and Aerial photo interpretation for land use
mapping at ITC, Join MSc program
 Prepared and delivered course modules for Interpreting Geographical Data, Spatial Analyses
and GIS using Visual Basic Programming, River Morphology and field work on physical
geography, In School of Geography, Nottingham University, UK

5. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
GIS and RS Software
ERDAS,
IDRISI,
PCI Geomatica,
ENVI,
OrthoEngine and OrthoBase modules,
ArcGIS,
ArcGIS Server,
ArcSDE
MapInfo,
REST and SOAP Services
Repast
NetLogo
Statistical and
Hydrological software
SPSS
MATLAB
WEKA
HEC-1
HEC-2
HECRAS
Programming
Languages & other
software
Python, Java, VB, Fortran 7.7
SQL Server 2008 Express Edition
Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition (VWD)
NetBeans, Sun Java Studio Creator
Operating Systems
and Applications
Window 95/98/XP/2003, UNIX
WebCT

6. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
PUBLICATIONS
Ghaffari, A., Bunch, M., MacRae, R. and Zhao J., (2015) Socio-economic Support Optimization for
Transition from Conventional to Organic Farming Using a Spatiotemporal Agent-based Model. THE
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES. Volume 8,
Issue 3-4, pp.13-25.
Ghaffari, A., Bunch, M., MacRae, R. and Zhao J., (in review) Agent Based Modeling to Estimate
GHG Emission in an Agricultural Watershed in Transition to Organic Agriculture. Ecological
Modeling.
MacRae, R.J, Bunch, M., Ghaffari, A., and Zhao, S., (in review) Supporting the transition to organic
farming: quantifying drivers of organic adoption to support agent-based modelling of wholesale
transition. Agricultural Systems.
Ghaffari, A., Bunch, M., MacRae, R. and Zhao J., (2012) Simple Scenarios of Transition to Organic
Farming Using Geospatial and Agent Based Modeling: implications for greenhouse gas mitigation
Canadian Association Geographers (CAG), May 28-Jun.2, 2012, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Ghaffari, A., Bunch, M., MacRae, R. and Zhao J., (2012) Tools for Geospatial and Agent Based
Modeling to Evaluate Climate Change in an Agricultural Watershed in Transition to Organic
Agriculture Canadian Organic Science Conference, Feb. 21-23, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Asgary Ali, Ghaffari Alireza, and Levy Jason, (2010) "Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Structural
Fire Incidents and Their Causes: Case of Toronto", Fire Safety Journal.
Ghaffari, A., Asgary, A., (2009) Spatial Autoregressive Modeling of Predicting Damaged in Fire
Events. Twenty-nine Annual ESRI International User Conference, Jul 13-17, San Diego, USA.
Asgary, A., Ghaffari, A., Kong, A., (2009) Enhancing Emergency Response to Oil and Gas Pipelines
Incidents using a Fuzzy JESS Method. Thirtieth Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Jun 22-25,
Alberta, Canada.
Asgary, A., Kong, A., Ghaffari, A., (2009) Use of Web-services for Emergency Response to Oil and
Gas Pipeline incidents. Thirtieth Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Jun 22-25, Alberta,
Canada.
Ghaffari, A., Asgary, A., (2008) Geo-statistical and Modeling of Structural Fire Risks in Toronto.
CAGONT/ETDAAG Annual Meetings, Oct. 17-19, Brock University, St Catharines, Canada.
Ghaffari, A., Asgary, A., (2008) Distance Effectiveness on Fire Response in Toronto: A GIS
Approach for Emergency Management. 5th Canadian Risk and Hazards Network (CRHNet)
Symposium, Nov. 5-9, St. John’s, Canada.
Ghaffari, A., Cheng, Q. (2008) Fuzzy Petri Net: New Approach to Simulate Infrastructure
Interdependency for Disaster Management. 4th International Symposium on Flood Defense, May 6-8,
Toronto, Canada.

7. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
Wahadj, R., Karimi, S., Adl, M., Ghaffari, A., Onagh, A., Mohammadnejad, Sh. (2007) Evaluation of
Landscape Structure in Eram Park Using GIS. International Journal of Environmental Research, V. 1,
No. 3, Summer 2007, p 258-263.
Ghaffari, A., Cheng, Q. (2007) GIS base Multi Criteria Analysis to evaluate land degradation in
Southern Italy. Proceedings of Geomathematics and GIS Analysis of Resources, Environment and
Hazards, Aug. 26-31, Beijing, China.
Ghaffari, A., Priestnall, G., Clarke, M. (2006) Artificial neural networks and decision tree classifier
performance on medium resolution ASTER data to detect gully networks in southern Italy.
Proceedings of Electronic Imaging, Jan. 15–19, San Jose, California USA.
Ghaffari, A., Clarke, M.L., Mather, P., Priestnall, G. (2006) Remote Sensing of Gully Networks: The
Application of ASTER Imagery in Southern Italy. Proceedings of the 14th Conference of the
International Soil Conservation Organisation (ISCO), May 14-19, Marrakech, Morocco.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Asgary Ali, Levey Jason, Ghaffarr Alireza, (2011), "Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Arson and
Vandalism Fires: Case of Toronto", on press, Sensors Journal.
Ghaffari, A., Clark, M. L., Priestnall, G. (2008) Decision tree performance on medium resolution
ASTER data to detect and map gully network in Southern Italy. Full paper is submitted to
Geomorphology Journal (It is under correction).
Ghaffari, A., Clark, M. L. (2008) Interpreting of soil loss from gully erosion: A GIS and Remote
sensing approach. Full paper is submitted to Land surface Process journal (It is under correction).
PEER-REVIEW
“Extracting Urban Subzonal Land Uses through Morphological 1 and Spatial Arrangement Analyses
using GIS Data and Remotely Sensed Imagery” for the Journal of Urban Planning and Development.
April30, 2012.
"Perception of Pattern and Process in Seabird Distributions: an Assessment of the Impact of
Alternative Visualization Methods" for the International Journal of Geographical Information
Science. March 12, 2009.
“Estimation of Risk Priority Number Using Fuzzy Logic to minimize the failures in Product Industry”
for the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems Proof. September 1, 2013.
“Contingency Mitigation , Assessment and Optimistic Alternative Selection Using Fuzzy Logic” for
the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems Proof. September 7, 2013
“iFriend: Personal Relationship Management over Social Networks based on Linguistic Concepts” for
the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems Proof. September 20, 2013
“Extracting Urban Subzonal Land Uses through Morphological and Spatial Arrangement Analyses
using GIS Data and Remotely Sensed Imagery” for the Journal of Urban Planning and

8. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871
Development. September 20, 2013
“A Communication-Aware Framework for Parallel Spatially Explicit Agent-Based Models” for the
International Journal of Geographical Information Science. September 25, 2013
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
The Canadian Association Geographers (CAG)

9. ALIREZA GHAFFARI Phone No. 416 409 7871