52.2215° N, 6.8937° E · Enschede, Netherlands · University of Twente ITC
// Spatial Engineer · Digital Twin Developer

RakibunAthid

Urban Digital Twin & Geospatial Analytics
⚡ Energy Transition ◉ Ecological Infrastructure ◈ Social Domain

I build neighbourhood-scale Digital Twins that turn complex spatial data into decision-ready insights. My work bridges energy performance, ecological indicators, and liveability — three domains rarely connected, unified in a single interactive 3D platform.

scroll

About

Cross-Domain
Digital Twin Builder

I'm an MSc Spatial Engineering student at the University of Twente (ITC) and a thesis researcher embedded in the FutureBEEing project (Interreg NL-DE) at Provincie Overijssel. My thesis prototype — the Twekkelerveld Neighbourhood Digital Twin — is a live, deployable 3D web platform for scenario planning around sustainability.

What drives me is the intersection of domains that traditional GIS rarely connects: how a solar panel placement affects not just energy output but also tree canopy shadow, urban heat, and residents' experience of their street. I design systems that make those trade-offs visible and actionable for planners and policy-makers.

Before spatial engineering, I spent five years in disaster risk reduction and development work across Bangladesh — leading field teams, managing stakeholder coordination, and translating community needs into programme outcomes. That human-systems perspective shapes how I think about geospatial tools: technology in service of real decisions.

RoleMSc Thesis Researcher · Provincie Overijssel (FutureBEEing)
Inst.University of Twente, Faculty ITC — Spatial Engineering
StackCesiumJS · Python · QGIS · Google Earth Engine · Cloudflare
LangBengali (native) · English (professional) · Dutch (A2–B1)

⚡ Energy Transition

Solar potential analysis, Enexis grid data integration, retrofit scenario modelling, energy performance indicators for residential neighbourhoods. MCDA-based evaluation of decarbonisation pathways.

◉ Ecological Infrastructure

Urban Heat Island mapping, tree canopy analysis, shadow simulation, green space indicators, biodiversity-related metrics. Climate resilience as a spatial design problem.


Live Prototypes

Deployed Digital Twin
Platforms

Both platforms are publicly deployed — built from scratch using CesiumJS, custom spatial data pipelines, and interactive scenario controls.

LIVE
// MSc Thesis · FutureBEEing · Provincie Overijssel

Twekkelerveld
Digital Twin

Neighbourhood-scale 3D platform for sustainable scenario planning. Features solar potential analysis, UHI mapping, energy retrofit configurator, MCDA-based trade-off evaluation, and animated energy flow visualisations over a CityGML LOD2.2 building model.

CesiumJSPythonGeoTIFF/COGGeoJSONCloudflare R2MCDALOD2.2
Launch Demo
LIVE
// Interreg NL-DE · Cross-Border Sustainability

Point of Interest System
for FutureBEEing Project

Spatial POI system developed for the FutureBEEing Interreg NL-DE cross-border project. Integrates geospatial sustainability indicators across the Dutch-German border region, supporting multi-stakeholder scenario communication and ecological infrastructure planning for Overijssel.

CesiumJSQGISWMS/WFSCloudflare PagesGoogle EEGeoJSON
Launch Demo

Academic Projects

Course & Research
Project Outputs

Analytical and applied projects completed during the MSc programme — spanning energy transition, ecological systems, urban mobility, and environmental management.

⚡ Energy Transition

Zwolle Solar Dashboard

// Spatial Planning & Decision Support · University of Twente ITC

Built an interactive Streamlit dashboard for the municipality of Zwolle to track and simulate rooftop solar energy adoption at the wijk (district) level. Integrated PVGIS energy yield modelling, Enexis grid capacity data, CBS consumption figures, and financial payback calculators. Enables policymakers to test adoption scenarios by building type, roof suitability class, and adoption rate — outputting kWh generation, storage needs, investment costs, and payback periods.

Python / StreamlitArcGIS ProPVGISEnexis / CBS DataIBM SPSSFigmaScenario Modelling
Team: The Watt Watchers · 4 members
GitHub →
◉ Ecological Infrastructure

Map2Carbon — Ecosystem Services Accounting

// Spatial Analyses of Ecosystem Services · University of Twente ITC

Mapped above-ground carbon storage across the University of Twente campus using NDVI calibrated with field-collected biomass data (DBH measurements, allometric equations). Developed a Habitat Modification Index combining carbon storage, habitat quality, and runoff regulation. Conducted scenario analysis for proposed student housing at Verreveld, quantifying carbon loss, cooling demand increase, and recreational value loss. Recommended De Veldmat parking area as a lower-impact alternative.

Python (Rasterio)QGISSentinel-2 NDVILiDAR Carbon DataField SamplingHMI / MCDAEPSG 28992
Team: Map2Carbon · 4 members
// University of Twente Report
◈ Urban Mobility & Social

Green vs Fast Routes — Utrecht Replication

// Data Mastery Challenge · University of Twente ITC

Replicated Ludwig et al. (2021) — comparing green and fast cycling/walking routes — from Dresden/Heidelberg to Utrecht. Extracted OSM road network, derived a greenness index from Sentinel-2 NDVI within 30m road buffers, and built routing algorithms generating 1000 shortest vs. greenest route pairs. Key finding: green routes averaged double the distance of fast routes (6,273 m vs. 3,123 m). Full reproducible Python code published on GitHub.

Python (osmnx, NetworkX)Google Earth EngineSentinel-2 NDVIOSM Road NetworkGeoJSONRoute Analysis
With: Nawwar F. Procheta · 2 members
GitHub →
◆ Environmental Management

Sustainable Tailings Management — Neyshabur, Iran

// Earth Observation Science · University of Twente ITC

Investigated sustainable tailings management to reduce soil contamination and water use at the turquoise mine in Neyshabur, Iran. Used NDVI time-series (2016–2024) to assess vegetation health change near mine sites with multi-ring buffer analysis. Applied weighted multi-criteria analysis across environmental, economic, local, and global perspectives across four tailings approaches — selecting Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) as optimal. Produced a spatial site suitability assessment using DEM and land use data.

ArcGIS / QGISSentinel-2 NDVIDEM HydrologyMulti-Ring BufferMCA / Weighted ScoringCost-Benefit Analysis
Team: Sustainable Mine Diggers · 4 members
// University of Twente, Nov 2024

Technical Stack

Skills & Tools

GIS & Spatial

QGISVector AnalysisRaster ProcessingSpatial JoinsQA/QCMap ProductionEPSG ProjectionsWMS / WFS

Digital Twins & 3D

CesiumJSCityGML / LOD2BlenderGISglTF / 3D TilesFME (basic)Scenario PlanningMCDAIndicator Design

Remote Sensing

Google Earth EngineRaster IndicesTime-SeriesUHI MappingSolar IrradianceShadow AnalysisGeoTIFF / COG

Programming

PythonGeoPandasRasterioJupyterGit / GitHubosmnx / NetworkXStreamlitAutomation

Web & Deployment

HTML / CSS / JSCloudflare PagesCloudflare R2Asset ManagementWeb DeploymentAPI Integration

Communication

Stakeholder ReportsNon-Technical DocsScientific WritingConference TalksPolicy AlignmentChange LeadershipMultilingual

Research & Dissemination

Publications &
Conferences

All outputs stem from the Twekkelerveld Neighbourhood Digital Twin thesis project.

● In Progress

ISPRS Journal Paper

// International Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing

Manuscript in writing stage. Focus: method development and prototype evaluation for neighbourhood-scale Digital Twins. Full paper target.

✓ Accepted · April 2026

4TU – 14 UAS Research Day

// Urban & City Planning Domain

Accepted to present findings and demonstrate the live prototype. Presentation in April 2026 — prototype showcase for a cross-university research audience.

✓ Accepted · May 2026

EGU General Assembly

// Vienna, Austria

Abstract accepted. Live in-person presentation in May 2026 on the Digital Twin methodology and cross-domain indicator framework.

✓ Abstract Accepted

IGARSS 2026

// Washington D.C., USA

Abstract accepted at the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. Sharing the Digital Twin prototype and methodology with the global remote sensing community.

◈ Strategic Outlook

GeoSofia 2026

// GATE AI Track

Planned prototype showcase in the AI & geospatial intelligence track. Connects Digital Twin work to emerging AI-driven urban analytics.

Thesis

"Digital Twin for Improvement of the Sustainability of Neighbourhoods through Scenario Planning"

// University of Twente ITC · Expected June 2026
View Live Prototype →

Timeline

Experience &
Education

Experience

Sep 2025 – Present

Intern / MSc Thesis Researcher

Provincie Overijssel · FutureBEEing (Interreg NL-DE)

Designing and deploying a neighbourhood Digital Twin for Twekkelerveld, Enschede. Integrated pipeline from municipal open data to 3D web prototype with scenario planning, MCDA, and stakeholder documentation for public-sector users.

Jan 2025 – Jan 2026

Chair – Education & Research

Green Hub Twente

Coordinated education and research activities around sustainability at the university–community interface. Supported collaborations between academic teams and civic stakeholders.

Jan 2025 – Jan 2026

Student Member – Programme Committee

University of Twente, Faculty ITC

Contributed to programme quality reviews and student–staff feedback mechanisms.

2019 – 2024

Development & DRR Professional

ActionAid Bangladesh · Solidarités International · SAJIDA Foundation

Led field teams and coordination programmes in disaster risk reduction and community development across Bangladesh. Five years of stakeholder management, technical reporting, and community-focused programme delivery.

Education

Sep 2024 – Jun 2026 (expected)

MSc Spatial Engineering

University of Twente, Faculty ITC · Netherlands
★ Top 10% — Honours Programme

Thesis: "Digital Twin for Improvement of the Sustainability of Neighbourhoods through Scenario Planning." Also completed the Master's Honours Programme in Change Leadership & Management (15 ECTS) — a selective programme exclusively open to the top 10% of students university-wide.

2020 – 2021 · GPA 3.69 / 4.00

MSc/MSS Development Studies

Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)

Cross-disciplinary focus on development policy, social systems, and research methodology. Graduated with distinction.

2015 – 2018 · GPA 3.64 / 4.00

BSS Disaster & Human Security Management

Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)

Foundation in disaster risk management, human security frameworks, and community resilience — the analytical base for later cross-domain work in spatial sustainability.


Contact

Let's Build Something
That Matters

Open to research collaborations, EngD/PhD opportunities, and GIS/Digital Twin roles. Reach out on any channel below.