Professor of Computer Science • Director, RIOTU Laboratory
Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
My research programme is centred on the design of trustworthy intelligent systems for complex, data-rich, and uncertainty-prone environments. It builds on foundational work in uncertainty modelling, information fusion, and knowledge discovery from geospatial data (Ph.D., Rennes 1; HDR, Manouba), and has evolved toward scalable deep learning, computer vision, privacy-preserving AI, federated learning, and IoT security.
More recently, my work has moved toward the convergence of edge intelligence, multimodal AI, and trustworthy autonomous systems, with growing interest in agentic AI for distributed decision-making. As Director of the RIOTU Laboratory, I am advancing research integrating remote sensing, IoT, machine learning, computer vision, and language-enabled AI to develop robust solutions for precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, intelligent healthcare, and autonomous unmanned systems.
Established uncertainty-aware modelling, information fusion, and knowledge discovery from satellite and geospatial data — the methodological foundation for trustworthy AI.
Advanced distributed deep learning architectures for large-scale visual analytics in remote sensing, addressing bottlenecks in memory, scale, and modelling complexity.
Contributed to privacy-aware, federated, and secure learning pipelines for sensitive datasets in healthcare and remote sensing — showing decentralization need not compromise utility.
Developed AI-driven Red Palm Weevil detection from acoustic signals and UAV monitoring. Saudi patent (SAIP SA 18938 B1, 2024).
Research at the convergence of large language models, generative AI, edge intelligence, and autonomous unmanned systems. Complemented by widely cited survey papers consolidating emerging areas.
| Role | Project | Funder | SAR | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-PI | AI Copyright Protection for Publishing Houses | Ministry of Culture | 35K | 2026–27 |
| PI | QuadroRL: Search & Rescue Quadrupeds | PSU Seed | 30K | 2025–26 |
| PI | SkyHarvest: Palm Analytics via Domain Adaptation | PSU Seed | 30K | 2023–24 |
| Co-PI | Terrain-Aided UAV Navigation | PSDSARC | 300K | 2023–24 |
| PI | ServePalms: Smart Palm Tracking | PSU Seed | 30K | 2022–23 |
| Co-PI | Deep Big Data for Environmental Services | King Abdulaziz U. | 20K | 2022–23 |
| Co-PI | Smart Healthcare for Brain Disorders | Ministry of Education | 350K | 2021–23 |
| Co-PI | SmartWater: IoT Water Monitoring | Ministry of Education | 350K | 2020–22 |
| PI | COVID-19 Respiratory Disorder Detection | Taibah Univ. | 200K | 2020–21 |
| Co-PI | Health-Related Rumor Detection | Taibah Univ. | 200K | 2020–21 |
| Co-PI | Secure Pop-Up Networks | GCRF/SFC (UK) | 40K | 2019 |
Translational work spans national-scale BI deployment, patented AI systems, and healthcare sensing. Prior: Sungard (US), Business & Decision (France), GIZ GmbH (Germany).
BI solutions across 174 training centers of three national agencies and social security funds.
Patented acoustic + UAV system (SAIP SA 18938 B1). Under commercial field evaluation.
Portals and platforms for governmental and sectoral organizations.
Outstanding Teacher Award, CCIS, PSU (2025). Computational-thinking-driven teaching across 4 institutions since 2005.
Curriculum: Core member, AI programme committee. Designed ML and Big Data courses. Integrates IT credentialing and technology-mediated play.
Courses: ML, Big Data, AI, DL, Digital Logic, Java, Web Dev, DB Admin, Cryptography, SE, OOP, Data Fusion, Networks, Algorithms.
Training: 200+ professional sessions for banking, government, and NGO sectors.
Current: F. Yakoubi (U. Carthage, 2021–), M. Khazri (U. Manouba, 2022–), O. Belhwichet (U. Carthage, 2022–), N. Ben Ameur (UTBM / U. Tunis El Manar, 2026–)
External Examiner: 9 theses including Università di Bologna, King Saud U., King Abdulaziz U., VIT-AP University (India).
Scaled PSU's first and largest lab to 20+ members. Secured multi-agency funding, built academia-industry-government partnerships. Highest Impact Factor Research Lab (PSU, 2023).
Core member of AI programme committee at PSU — design, sequencing, ABET-aligned assessment.
General Chair of 3 conferences. 20+ special sessions at IJCNN, KES, ICCCI, IWCMC, IRICT.
Chairman of multiple committees at Taibah (2015–2021). BSc coordinator at ISAMM (2012–2015). Dept. Chair at EABA (2010–2012).
Associate Editor: Frontiers in Comm. & Networks (2022–present); Int. J. Business Data Comm. (2021–present).
Guest Editor: IEEE JBHI IF 7.7; Int. J. Remote Sensing IF 3.0; Remote Sensing IF 5.3; CMES IF 2.4; CMC IF 3.1; Frontiers; Discover IoT (Springer).
General Chair: SmartTech 2024, IPCAINT 2024, SmartTech 2022.
Session Organizer: IJCNN 2025–26, IRICT 2025, IWCMC 2023–25, KES 2023–26, ICCCI 2022–24.
Reviewer: IEEE TGRS, IEEE TCE, AI Review, Neural Comp., CVIU, KAIS, PAA, IEEE Access, Remote Sensing, Sensors.
wadii.boulila@gmail.com
Publication record
Code & projects
Professional network
riotu.psu.edu.sa
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Prince Sultan University · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia