Essam Aboud

Scopus Publications

Gravity Data-Driven Machine Learning: A Novel Approach for Predicting Volcanic Vent Locations in Geohazard Investigation
Murad Abdulfarraj, Ema Abraham, Faisal Alqahtani, Essam Aboud
Geohazards, 2025
Geohazard investigation in volcanic fields is essential for understanding and mitigating risks associated with volcanic activity. Volcanic vents are often concealed by processes such as faulting, subsidence, or uplift, which complicates their detection and hampers hazard assessment. To address this challenge, we developed a predictive framework that integrates high-resolution gravity data with multiple machine learning algorithms. Logistic Regression, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest models were applied to analyze the gravitational characteristics of known volcanic vents and predict the likelihood of undiscovered vents at other locations. The problem was formulated as a binary classification task, and model performance was assessed using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC-ROC). The Random Forest algorithm yielded optimal outcomes: 95% classification accuracy, AUC-ROC score of 0.99, 75% geographic correspondence between real and modeled vent sites, and a 95% certainty degree. Spatial density analysis showed that the distribution patterns of predicted and actual vents are highly similar, underscoring the model’s reliability in identifying vent-prone areas. The proposed method offers a valuable tool for geoscientists and disaster management authorities to improve volcanic hazard evaluation and implement effective mitigation strategies. These results represent a significant step forward in our ability to model volcanic dynamics and enhance predictive capabilities for volcanic hazard assessment.
Advancements in Geohazard Investigations: Developing a Machine Learning Framework for the Prediction of Vents at Volcanic Fields Using Magnetic Data
Murad Abdulfarraj, Ema Abraham, Faisal Alqahtani, Essam Aboud
Geosciences Switzerland, 2024
This study investigates the application of machine learning techniques for predicting volcanic vent locations based on aeromagnetic geophysical data. Magnetic data, known to reflect subsurface geological structures, presents a valuable source of information for understanding volcanic activity. Leveraging this data, we aim to develop and validate predictive models capable of discerning the presence of volcanic vents. Through a comprehensive data analysis, feature engineering, and model training, we explore the intricate relationships between magnetic variations and volcanic vent locations. Various machine learning algorithms were evaluated for their efficacy in binary classification, with a focus on identifying areas with a high likelihood of volcanic vent presence. The Random Forest model (RFM) was adopted given its high performance metrics, achieving a prediction accuracy of 92%. Our results demonstrate the successful prediction of volcanic vent locations, with a significant correlation of 86% between the actual and predicted vent locations and a high Degree of Certainty (DC) at 97%. This research contributes to the advancement of geospatial data analysis within the field of geoscience, showcasing the potential of machine learning in interpreting and utilizing magnetic data for volcanic hazard assessment and early warning systems. The findings represent a significant step towards enhancing our understanding of volcanic dynamics and improving the predictive tools available for volcanic hazard assessment.
Thermal and imaging subsurface structure of Farasan and Dahlak Islands, southern Red Sea, derived from the interpretation of marine geophysical data
Hamdy Aboulela, Rashad Bantan, Essam Aboud, Khalid A. Almalki
Acta Geophysica, 2024
High potential geothermal areas within the Rahat volcanic field, Saudi Arabia, from gravity data and 3D geological modeling
Essam Aboud, Ema Abraham, Faisal Alqahtani, Murad Abdulfarraj
Acta Geophysica, 2024
The role of the Red Sea rift and the inherited geological structures in the seismo-volcanic activity along the rift flanks
Mohamed F. Abdelwahed, Faisal Alqahtani, Nabil N. El-Masry, Essam Aboud, Sherif El-Hady, Ahmad Faried, Murad Abdulfarraj
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2024
P05: Audio Magnetotelluric data for geothermal exploration in northwest of Saudi Arabia
Essam Aboud, Aref Lashin, Faisal Zaidi, Abdulaziz Al-Bassam, Nassir Al Arifi, Mohamed Abu Anbar, Emad Al-Homadhi
7th International Conference on Engineering Geophysics Iceg 2023, 2024
Radioactive granites and thick sedimentary rocks are located within Midyan basin, northwest of Saudi Arabia. This area is highly affected by tectonics due to its location near the Gulf of Aqaba as well as the Red Sea. In the present work, Audio magnetotelluric data is collected in order to find out the high geothermal potential within the area of interest. The aim of this research is to image the subsurface and understand the thermal regime of the area of interest.The results indicate that there are two high potentials geothermal areas: 1) high heat generating granites (HHGG) and 2) heat sedimentary basins (HSB). The HHGG are significant in terms of EGS while HSB is important for conventional geothermal system.More exploration studies are required in order to evaluate the geothermal energy and map the geothermal reservoir. Geometry and extension of the radioactive granites were identified as a results from this study.
Evaluation of geological structures and geothermal resources in the North Tanzania Volcanic area using remote sensing and gravity data analysis
Albano Mahecha, Nureddin Saadi, Essam Aboud, Akira Imai, Kotaro Yonezu
Visnyk of V N Karazin Kharkiv National University Series Geology Geography Ecology, 2023
Problems Statement and Purpose. Northern Tanzania Volcanic terrain has been a subject of evaluation for geothermal potential in the last four decades. The region is characterized by Neogene to Recent volcanic and tectonic activities. This preliminary study based on remote sensing, water chemistry, gravity data, geological structures and volcanic centers distribution reports the geothermal manifestations identified and discusses the implications on geothermal fluid pathways. Oxygen-hydrogen isotope data from water samples indicate that there were involved in the hydrothermal system. Tectono-Volcanic Structures. The Northern Tanzania Divergence (NTD) area characterized by Neogene to Recent volcanic and tectonic activities. Recent volcanic and tectonic activities are ash cone and lava dome eruption at the floor of Meru crater a century ago, dyke intrusion and volcanic eruption south of Gelai volcano, and Oldoinyo-Lengai volcano, respectively. Fumarolic activities and hot springs are dominant in a relatively young volcanic area to the north-eastern and northern part of the NTD. Data and Methods. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) image, water isotope analysis and gravity data were used to extract and analyze the surface and subsurface geological lineaments and map the hydrothermal alteration zones in the study area. The hydrothermal alteration is used to evaluate and identify the permeable structures. Analysis and interpretation of the length and trends of extracted lineaments were used to investigate the tectonic evolution. Geological map of a study area was digitized from the existing geological maps and the age of rocks to delineate volcanic activity and associated lineaments based on the age of the lithological domain. Digital image processing was applied to enhance the visual interpretation. Gravity data were used to give insight into the subsurface structure in the study area. Results and Discussion. The higher δ 18O values and large deviation from meteoric water lines suggest that is due to the interaction of fluids with host rocks at elevated temperatures. These are consistent with open structures that act as conduits for fluid flow. The potential field gravity data reveal a basin-like structure trending in the NNW direction. The gravity data show that the basement units gradually deepen towards the central part and that it is controlled by two main fault systems that trend N-S and NW-SE respectively. The gravity data presented here provides new constraints on the tectonic evolution and geothermal resources of the study area.
Machine Learning Techniques in Predicting Bottom Hole Temperature and Remote Sensing for Assessment of Geothermal Potential in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Faisal Alqahtani, Muhsan Ehsan, Murad Abdulfarraj, Essam Aboud, Zohaib Naseer, Nabil N. El-Masry, Mohamed F. Abdelwahed
Sustainability Switzerland, 2023
The global demand for energy is increasing rapidly due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, as well as to meet the desire for a higher standard of living. However, environmental concerns, such as air pollution from fossil fuels, are becoming limiting factors for energy sources. Therefore, the appropriate and sustainable solution is to transition towards renewable energy sources to meet global energy demands by using environmentally friendly sources, such as geothermal. The Harrat Rahat volcanic field, located in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), gets more attention due to its geothermal potential as a viable site for geothermal energy exploration due to its high enthalpy. The prime objective of this study is to present up-to-date and comprehensive information on the utilization of borehole temperature and remote sensing data to identify the most prospective zones with significant geothermal activity favorable for exploration and drilling. A brief description of the selected wells and the methodology used to determine the petrophysical parameters relevant to the geothermal potential assessment are presented. Special emphasis is given to gamma-ray ray and temperature logs for calculating heat production and the geothermal gradient. The effectiveness of various machine learning techniques are assessed throughout this study for predicting the temperature-at-depth to evaluate the suitability of employing machine learning models for temperature prediction, and it is found that XG Boost provided excellent results. It can be observed that some linear anomalies can be traced in the NW, trending on the west side of the Harrat volcanic field based on magnetic data interpretation. The land surface temperature in 2021 exhibited higher temperatures compared to 2000, suggesting potential volcanic activity in the subsurface. It is concluded that the integration of remote sensing data with subsurface data provides the most reliable results.
The geothermal magmatic system at the northern Rahat volcanic field, Saudi Arabia, revealed from 3D magnetotelluric inversion
Essam Aboud, Tarek Arafa-Hamed, Faisal Alqahtani, Hossam Marzouk, Samah Elbarbary, Murad Abdulfaraj, Nabil Elmasry
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2023
Harrat Rahat (HR) volcanic field is one of the most prominent volcanic areas in western Saudi Arabia, as it is a promising site for geothermal energy. HR has been intensively studied from a geologic point of view. Detailed inspections distinguished 12 stages of volcanic eruption with characteristic volcanics and age intervals. The area is seismologically active and suffered a swarm of earthquake events in 1999. Magnetotelluric measurements were conducted across the northern HR for deep electrical imaging to provide a comprehensive image of the geothermal source and its impact on volcanic eruptions and seismicity. Acquisition sites (65 in total) provided a square grid with ∼5 km intervals. The recording at each site continued for 20 h on average and covered a broad band of frequencies from 1 mHz to 300 Hz. Phase tensor representations and the calculated skew angles indicated three-dimensional subsurface structures. 3D inversion was then carried out using a start model of half space with 100Ωm. The inverted model shows a main magma chamber with very low resistivities in its interior (3 Ωm). Protrusions branch upwards, or first laterally and then upwards, from the main magma reservoir. They represent magma pathways to the surface and account for various eruption locations and stages. The magma chamber is overlain by a continuous zone of higher resistivity (>500 Ωm) that depicts the cooled-down lava sheets. The tabulated and spatially mapped historical eruptions are projected on the results of the 3D MT inversion in the form of slices cut at various depths to obtain clues about the details observed in the model. The epicenters of the 1999 swarm showed no direct spatial matching with features of the inverted model. Similarly, the foci positions are concentrated in the subsurface away from the geothermal source. This confirms the model, as the epicenters usually exist at zones of faults and fractures in the crust, even if the source of stresses that induce seismicity originates away from them. The rocks near the thermal source are ductile and cannot be a source of an elastic rupture. We conclude that the thermal magma reservoir is shallow (10–25 Km), of a large spatial extent (∼1000 km2), impacts surface features and induces earthquake activities.
Geothermal Exploration Using Remote Sensing, Surface Temperature, and Geophysical Data in Lunayyir Volcanic Field, Saudi Arabia
Faisal Alqahtani, Essam Aboud, Muhsan Ehsan, Zohaib Naseer, Murad Abdulfarraj, Mohamed F. Abdelwahed, Nabil El-Masry
Sustainability Switzerland, 2023
Energy consumption worldwide has undergone a recent shift, with hydrocarbons, coal, and new energy sources taking center stage. However, fossil fuels face criticism due to their negative impacts on the environment through air pollution. Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable, and eco-friendly alternative that can be harnessed for power generation. The Lunayyir volcanic field is located in the western part of Saudi Arabia and has been identified as a potential geothermal resource. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the gravity, magnetic, and land surface temperature data collected over the study area is conducted to investigate the geothermal potential. The gravity data are processed using standard techniques to correct for instrument drift, diurnal variations, and topographic effects and to filter out high-frequency noise. The magnetic data are processed using standard procedures. Analysis of the gravity data shows that the Lunayyir volcanic field is characterized by a series of gravity anomalies, which can be interpreted as indicative of the presence of subsurface geologic structures that are similar in geothermal areas, such as faults, fractures, and intrusions. The magnetic data, on the other hand, show that the volcanic field has a relatively low magnetic susceptibility, which is consistent with the presence of volcanic rocks implying shallow heat sources. Landsat satellite data are utilized to calculate the land surface temperature through the use of GIS software. Additionally, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is calculated using the near-infrared and red bands of the Landsat satellite. The land surface temperature of the year 2007 shows the relatively high temperature at the surface as compared to 2000 and 2021, which is an indication of volcanic activities in the subsurface. It is suggested that these structures may provide conduits for hot fluids, which could potentially be exploited for geothermal energy production. The obtained results emphasize the importance of combining different geophysical datasets to obtain a better understanding of underground geology and geothermal systems. In general, this study improves the assessment of the Lunayyir volcanic field in the western part of Saudi Arabia for geothermal energy.
Geothermal Imaging of the Saudi Cross-Border City of NEOM Deduced from Magnetic Data
Essam Aboud, Faisal Alqahtani, Murad Abdulfarraj, Ema Abraham, Nabil El-Masry, Helmy Osman
Sustainability Switzerland, 2023
Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of the Ediacaran Post-Collisional Granitoid Rocks in the Midyan Terrain, Northern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia
Aref Lashin, Mohammed Abu Anbar, Essam Aboud, Faisal Zaidi, Abdulaziz Al-Bassam, Nassir Al Arifi, Emad Al-Homadhi
Minerals, 2023
Audio Magnetotelluric and Gravity Investigation of the High-Heat-Generating Granites of Midyan Terrane, Northwest Saudi Arabia
Essam Aboud, Aref Lashin, Faisal Zaidi, Abdulaziz Al-Bassam, Nassir Al Arifi, Mohamed Abu Anbar, Emad Al-Homadhi
Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2023
Integrated approach using petrophysical, gravity, and magnetic data to evaluate the geothermal resources at the Rahat Volcanic Field, Saudi Arabia
Faisal Alqahtani, Muhsan Ehsan, Essam Aboud, Murad Abdulfarraj, Nabil El-Masry
Frontiers in Earth Science, 2023
Role of an advanced gravity data analysis in improving the geologic understanding of the northern Tebessa region, Northeastern Algeria
Mohammed Hichem Bencharef, Djamel Boubaya, Essam Aboud, Simge Ayfer
Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2022
Silica geothermometry and multi indices approach to characterize groundwater from Midyan region in Northwestern Saudi Arabia
Faisal K. Zaidi, Aref Lashin, Essam Aboud, Nassir Al Arifi, Abdulaziz Al-Bassam, Emad Al-Homadhi, Mohamed Abu Anbar
Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2022
Two-Dimensional Gravity Inversion of Basement Relief for Geothermal Energy Potentials at the Harrat Rahat Volcanic Field, Saudi Arabia, Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Faisal Alqahtani, Ema Michael Abraham, Essam Aboud, Murad Rajab
Energies, 2022
Subsurface Structure of Saudi Cross-Border City of NEOM Deduced from Magnetic Data
Essam Aboud, Ahmed Ismail, Faisal Alqahtani
Advances in Science Technology and Innovation, 2022
Radiological environmental studies of Al Aziziah area and vicinity, Al Madinah Al Monawarah, Saudi Arabia
Helmy S. O. Abuelnaga, Hussein M. Harbi, Faisal A. Alqahtani, Abdullah O. M. Bamousa, Essam Aboud
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2021
Geothermal Resources Database in Saudi Arabia (GRDiSA): GIS model and geothermal favorability map
Essam Aboud, Atef Qaddah, Hussein Harbi, Faisal Alqahtani
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2021
Delineating flood hazards using the interpreted structural setting and GIS in Attaif, western Saudi Arabia
Helmy S. O. Abuelnaga, Essam Aboud, Hussein M. Harbi, Faisal A. Alqahtani, Atef A.Z. Qaddah
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2020
Subsurface structural imaging of Ceboruco Volcano area, Nayarit, Mexico using high-resolution aeromagnetic data
Rashad Sawires, Essam Aboud
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2019
Aeromagnetic constraints on the structural framework of umm farwah fault system and associated neoproterozoic accretion domains of the asir terrane; the biljurshi area, arabian shield
Taher Zouaghi, Essam Aboud, El-Sawy Kamal El-Sawy
Annals of Geophysics, 2019
Magnetotelluric Imaging of Subsurface Structure in Rahat Volcanic Field, Madinah City (Saudi Arabia)
Essam Aboud, Peter Wameyo, Faisal Alqahtani, Mohammed Rashad Moufti
Advances in Science Technology and Innovation, 2019
Geothermal Resources Database in Saudi Arabia (GRDiSA)
Essam Aboud, Atef Qaddha, Faisal Alqahtani, Hussein Harbi
Advances in Science Technology and Innovation, 2019
Imaging subsurface northern Rahat Volcanic Field, Madinah city, Saudi Arabia, using Magnetotelluric study
Essam Aboud, Peter Wameyo, Faisal Alqahtani, M.R. Moufti
Journal of Applied Geophysics, 2018
MicroGravity mapping for King Abdulaziz University campus: imaging subsurface
Essam Aboud, Nabil El‐Masry, Sabahuddin Ahmed
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2018
Using a 3D gravity inversion technique to image the subsurface density structure in the Lunayyir volcanic field, Saudi Arabia
Essam Aboud, Adel Shareef, Faisal A. Alqahtani, Saad Mogren
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2018
Seismicity and major geologic structures of Tiran and Sanafir islands and their surroundings in the Red Sea
Hamdy A. Aboulela, Essam Aboud, Rashad A. Bantan
Environmental Earth Sciences, 2017
Relationship between Curie isotherm surface and Moho discontinuity in the Arabian shield, Saudi Arabia
Essam Aboud, Abdulrahman M. Alotaibi, Ramzi Saud
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2016
Introduction to special section: Near-surface imaging and interpretation
Sherif M. Hanafy, John W. Lane, Mohamed M. Gobashy, Essam Aboud, Julian Ivanov, Mark Everett
Interpretation, 2016
Curie point depth from spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data for geothermal reconnaissance in Afghanistan
H. Saibi, E. Aboud, J. Gottsmann
Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2015
The use of magnetotelluric to exploration the groundwater in central of Saudi Arabia
RA ALmutairi, Y.A.A. almutairi, H.H.G. ALGHTANI, K.H.D. ALDAMEGH, E.S.S. ABOUD
8th Congress of the Balkan Geophysical Society Bgs 2015, 2015
Mapping the depth to magnetic basement using inversion of pseudogravity: Application to the Bishop model and the Stord Basin, northern North Sea
Ahmed Salem, Chris Green, Samuel Cheyney, J. Derek Fairhead, Essam Aboud, Simon Campbell
Interpretation, 2014
Application of spectral analysis technique on ground magnetic data to calculate the Curie depth point of the eastern shore of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt
El Sayed Ibrahim Selim, Essam Aboud
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2014
Gravity analysis for geothermal reconnaissance in Costa Rica
Hakim SAIBI, E. Aboud
2nd International Conference on Engineering Geophysics, 2013
Detection of subsurface faults with seismic and magnetic methods
Sherif M. Hanafy, Essam Aboud, H. S. A. Mesbah
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2012
Gravity data analysis of Ungaran Volcano, Indonesia
Hakim Saibi, Essam Aboud, Agus Setyawan, Sachio Ehara, Jun Nishijima
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2012
Analysis and interpretation of gravity data from the Aluto-Langano geothermal field of Ethiopia
Hakim Saibi, Essam Aboud, Sachio Ehara
Acta Geophysica, 2012
Determination of sedimentary cover and structural trends in the Central Sinai area using gravity and magnetic data analysis
El Sayed Selim, Essam Aboud
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2012
Curie depth map for Sinai Peninsula, Egypt deduced from the analysis of magnetic data
Essam Aboud, Ahmed Salem, Mahmoud Mekkawi
Tectonophysics, 2011
Gravity and magnetotelluric investigations to elicit the origin of Hammam Faraun hot spring, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Mohamed Abdelzaher, Jun Nishijima, Gad El-Qady, Essam Aboud, Osama Masoud, Mamdoh Soliman, Sachio Ehara
Acta Geophysica, 2011
Contribution of gravity and magnetic data in delineatingthe subsurface structure of hammam faroun area, gulf of Suez, Egypt
Essam Aboud, El Sayed Selim, Ahmed El Bishlawy
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2011
Extended tilt depth - A fast depth imaging method using local wavenumbers of magnetic data
72nd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2010 A New Spring for Geoscience Incorporating SPE Europec 2010, 2010
Integration of DEM, ETM+, geologic, and magnetic data for geological investigations in the Jifara Plain, Libya
N.M. Saadi, E. Aboud, K. Watanabe
IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 2009
Structural analysis using landsat TM, gravity data, and paleontological data from tertiary rocks in yogyakarta, Indonesia
Memoirs of the Faculty of Engineering Kyushu University, 2009
Contribution of gravity and magnetic data in delineating the subsurface structure of Hammam Faroun area, Gulf of Suez
Subsalt Imaging Workshop 2009 Focus on Azimuth, 2009
Integrating data from remote sensing, geology and gravity for geological investigation in the tarhunah area, Northwest libya
N.M. Saadi, E. Aboud, H. Saibi, K. Watanabe
International Journal of Digital Earth, 2008
Integrated gradient interpretation techniques for 2D and 3D gravity data interpretation
Hakim Saibi, Jun Nishijima, Sachio Ehara, Essam Aboud
Earth Planets and Space, 2006
North Atlantic paleoceanography: The last five million years
Ruediger Stein, Toshiya Kanamatsu, Carlos Alvarez‐Zarikian, Sean M. Higgins,, Jim E. T. Channell, Essam Aboud, Masao Ohno, Gary D. Acton, Kazumi Akimoto, Ian Bailey, Kjell R. Bjørklund, Helen Evans, Simon H. H. Nielsen, Nianqiao Fang, Patrizia Ferretti, Jens Gruetzner, Yohan J.B. Guyodo, Kentaro Hagino, Robert Harris, Kentaro Hatakeda, Jens Hefter, Shelley A. Judge, Denise K. Kulbanek, Futoshi Nanayama, Harunur Rashid, Francisco J. Sierro Sanchez, Antje Voelker, Quimin Zhai
Eos, 2006
Subsurface structural mapping of Gebel El-Zeit area, Gulf of Suez, Egypt using aeromagnetic data
Essam Aboud, Ahmed Salem, Keisuke Ushijima
Earth Planets and Space, 2005
Structural mapping of Quseir area, northern Red Sea, Egypt, using high-resolution aeromagnetic data
Ahmed Salem, Essam Aboud, Abuelhoda Elsirafy, Keisuke Ushijima
Earth Planets and Space, 2005
Interpretation of aeromagnetic data of Gebel El-Zeit area, Gulf of Suez, Egypt using magnetic gradient techniques
Memoirs of the Faculty of Engineering Kyushu University, 2003

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