Fethi Lachaal | Water Resources | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fethi Lachaal | Water Resources | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fethi Lachaal, Borj Cedria Water Research and Technology Center, Tunisia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fethi Lachaal, is a distinguished hydrogeologist with over two decades of expertise in groundwater management, hydrogeophysics, and water resources sustainability. He currently serves as Maître de Conférences at the Laboratoire de Géoressources, Centre des Recherches et des Technologies des Eaux (CERTE), under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Tunisia. Dr. Lachaal earned his Habilitation Universitaire in Geological Sciences in 2018 from the University of Carthage, focusing on sustainable aquifer management and remediation, following his PhD in Agricultural Sciences, specializing in Rural Engineering, Water, and Forests, in 2011. His academic journey also includes a Master’s degree in Hydraulic and Rural Development and a National Engineering Diploma in Geosciences. Professionally, he has held progressive roles as researcher and engineer in hydrogeology, contributing significantly to Tunisia’s water management projects and policy development. His research interests encompass groundwater modeling, solute transport, artificial aquifer recharge, marine intrusion, soil and water depollution, and the reuse of treated wastewater, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. With more than 22 scientific publications, 366 citations, and an H-index of 11, he has contributed substantially to advancing hydrogeological knowledge both nationally and internationally. His notable works include studies on drought impacts, aquifer recharge, and innovative contaminant management strategies using biochar. Actively engaged in the Laboratoire Mixte International NAÏLA, he collaborates on sustainable rural water resource management. Dr. Lachaal’s career reflects a blend of academic excellence, applied research, and international collaboration in advancing water sustainability.

Profile:  Scopus  |  ORCID

Featured Publications

Lachaal, F., Duporte, G., Leduc, C., & Gomez, E. (2025). Combining piezometry, isotopes, and emerging contaminants to assess aquifer recharge operation: Case studies of Korba and Kairouan sites (Northeast and Central Tunisia). Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 101514.

Neji, M., Chargui, S., Lachaal, F., Hammecker, C., & Grunberger, O. (2025). The effect of prolonged drought on a coastal aquifer in water scarcity regions: A case study of Lebna (Cap Bon, Northeast Tunisia). Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 101462.

Hammecker, C., Maalaoui, H., Hmaied, A., & Lachaal, F. (2024). Improvement of contaminant retention with the use of biochar in the groundwater infiltration basin of Korba (Tunisia). EGUsphere, EGU24-11014.

Lachaal, F., Azaiez, H., Bruni, R., Gabtni, H., & Bedir, M. (2023). Aquifer structuring and hydrogeological investigation in North African regions using geophysical methods: Case study of the aquifer system in the Kairouan Plain (Central Tunisia). In Regional Geology Reviews

Lachaal, F., Baudron, P., Leduc, C., Mohamed, A. S., Zeddouri, A., Hadj-Said, S., Leblanc, M., Tweed, S., & García Aróstegui, J. L. (2022). A not-so-paradoxical groundwater rise in semi-arid environments. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 486, 1–9

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi | Water Management | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi | Water Management | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer at University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi is a dedicated researcher and lecturer at Cape Coast Technical University, Ghana, specializing in Soil and Water Engineering. He holds an MSc in Agricultural Engineering from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and a BSc from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Irrigation Technology and Management, his research focuses on automated irrigation systems and hydrological modeling. With diverse experience in academia, water resource engineering, and community service, he has published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to interdisciplinary projects aimed at improving sustainable water use and agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.

📚Professional Profile

Orcid

Scopus

🎓Academic Background

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering with a specialization in Soil and Water Engineering from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where he conducted research on automated drip irrigation systems. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, focusing on soil and water management. His academic training has provided a strong foundation in irrigation technology, hydrology, and environmental systems, enabling him to apply engineering principles to real-world agricultural and water resource challenges across varied ecological settings.

💼Professional Experience

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi has a diverse professional background that spans academia, engineering, and community service. He is currently a lecturer at Cape Coast Technical University, where he teaches and supervises projects in mechanical, agricultural, and environmental engineering. He previously worked as a Water Resources Engineer at Lamba Geo-Hydro Ltd, conducting geophysical surveys and managing borehole construction and automation. His earlier roles include tutoring mathematics and science in Sierra Leone and serving as a missionary volunteer. He also worked as a research assistant at CSIR–Soil Research Institute, focusing on soil suitability assessments and irrigation feasibility studies.

🏆Awards and Honors

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi has earned recognition for his interdisciplinary research and contributions to sustainable water management and engineering education. His innovative work on sensor-based irrigation systems and numerical modeling has been published in respected journals, earning academic commendation. As a registered Professional Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghana, he is acknowledged for his professional competence and technical leadership. He is also an active member of the Ghana Society of Agricultural Engineers, reflecting his continued engagement with the engineering community. His dedication to research and education has positioned him as an emerging leader in his field.

🔬Research Focus

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi’s research centers on sustainable soil and water management, with a particular emphasis on irrigation system design, hydrological modeling, and water use optimization. His current Ph.D. work explores sensor-based automated irrigation scheduling and the simulation of water movement in heterogeneous soils under subsurface drip systems using advanced numerical models. He integrates engineering, environmental science, and data analytics to address challenges in agricultural productivity and water scarcity. His research also extends to the design of low-energy irrigation technologies and decision-support tools for smallholder farmers, contributing to climate-resilient agriculture and efficient resource utilization across developing regions.

📋Publication Top Notes

📘 Numerical Models for Predicting Water Flow Characteristics and Optimising a Subsurface Self-Regulating, Low-Energy, Clay-Based Irrigation (SLECI) System in Sandy Loam Soil
Year: 2025 | Cited by: 2

📗 Optimization of Solar and Hybrid Electric Tricycle Design Features Based on Stakeholders’ Requirements
 Year: 2023 | Cited by: 5

📙 Laboratory Determination of Compression Characteristics of Vertisols

🏷️Conclusion

Wisdom Eyram Kwame Agbesi is a forward-thinking researcher whose expertise in soil and water engineering, sensor-based irrigation systems, and numerical modeling addresses critical challenges in sustainable agriculture. His scholarly work, published in respected journals and conference volumes, reflects a blend of innovation and practical application across disciplines such as hydrology, electronics, and environmental engineering. As a lecturer at Cape Coast Technical University, he actively mentors students while contributing to the development of low-energy irrigation technologies. His diverse skillset, field experience, and dedication to community service highlight his impact both academically and socially, making him a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.