Dr. Aref El-Demerdash has good research experience in the area of environmental monitoring and the application of imaging in urban planning and monitoring. He has served as key member and as part of research teams for many research projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) University Research Center (NASA-URC).

 In the last two years, Dr. El-Demerdash has been a key researcher in the DOE sub-grant agreement number 633254-192-526, NSF’s HBCU-RISE grant number HRD0401587 and NASA-URC cooperative agreement number NCC9-165. In his research in applications of remote sensing data in environmental monitoring, he specifically studied scene classification of spectral imagery using image analysis techniques to describe and classify land cover and land use attributes based on Infra-Red digital satellite imagery data from the Systeme Pour l’Observation de la Terre (IR-SPOT), and analysis of ecological variables such as biomass, productivity and vegetation cover using the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites with a high temporal frequency.

 He also has good research skills in the utilization of advanced analytical instrumentation in the monitoring of air and water quality. This includes the use of Microscopic Spectroscopy [Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultra Violet (UV)-Visible/Fluorescence], Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and x-ray spectrometry.  

Furthermore he is interested in the environmental impact of transportation systems and utilization of advanced chemical analysis techniques to minimize harmful environmental effects. He is also interested in applications of remote sensing technology and spatial information and analysis for the assessment of transportation systems management involving transit operations. This includes the use of remotely sensed imagery from manned and unmanned aircraft integrated with collateral spatial information using geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze transit operations to promote efficiency and effective service.

 Dr. El-Demerdash is now a visiting professor at the Department of Transportation Studies teaching traffic signals & signal control, computer application in transportation and engineering economy for transportation majors. He also is a research advisor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology. He is currently in charge of the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) facility in the core research laboratory, and supervising several research projects as part of the NASA-URC at Texas Southern University. He received a Bachelor Degree in Electronic Engineering from Ain-shams University, Cairo – Egypt; a Master Degree in Transportation Studies from Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas; and a Ph.D. Degree in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas.

 Selected Papers in Scientific Journals and conference proceedings

El-Demerdash, A., D. Moore, R. Thomas, and B.Wilson (2005), Analysis Of Arsenic And Other Trace Metals In Drinking Water Through The Utilization Of ICP-MS. National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) news online.

 Saleh M., A. El-Demerdash, J. Jones, M. Zaher, A. Kamel, J. Blancato, and C. Dary (2000), Detection Of Malathion In Dermally Treated Rats Using Electronic Autoradiography And FT-IR Microscopy. Journal of Trace and Microprobe Techniques, 18(1),121-135.

 El-Demerdash, A., B. Wilson, and M. Saleh (2000), Applications Of Scientific Imaging In Environmental Toxicology. Texas Academy of Science annual meeting.

 Saleh M., A. Kamel, A. El-Demerdash, and J. Jones (1998), Penetration of household insecticides through different types of textile fabrics. J. Chemosphere, 36(7): 1542-1552.

 El-Demerdash A., M. Saleh, and B. Wilson (1996), X-ray elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy of non-coated fresh specimens of soil fungi. Texas Academy of Science annual meeting.

Saleh M., A. El-Demerdash, A. Kamel, and F. Abdel-Rahman (1996), Chemical microscopy and ultrastructure of citrus fruits surfaces. Texas Academy of Science annual meeting.