Aviation Center of Excellence

The Aviation Center of Excellence (ACoE) was established at the University of Sharjah (UoS) in 2019 in collaboration with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and regulating all aviation-related activities in the UAE. It falls under the GCAA Professorship Chair Strategy since June 2022, which was signed between UoS and GCAA, by GCAA’s Director General, H.E. Saif Muhammad Al Suwaidi, and the previous University Chancellor, Professor Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, in the esteemed presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah.

The Center is dedicated to developing innovative open-source solutions in the aviation industry as well as making contributions to the field through research publications. It focuses on a wide range of research directions, including robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), drone forensics and security, UAV systems research and development (R&D), as well as other research in aviation, while constantly exploring newer research directions to keep up with technological advancements and their beneficial contributions to the aviation field.

The ACoE is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a skilled workforce. It has actively engaged both graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a robust research environment. Furthermore, the ACoE has established and nurtured connections and collaborations with various industrial and educational entities across the UAE and internationally.

The ACoE collaborates closely with the OpenUAE Research and Development (R&D) Group at the University of Sharjah under the leadership of Dr. Manar and Professor Qassim. We share researchers, resources, and funding across various projects.

Objectives of the Aviation Center of Excellence

The objectives of the Aviation Center of Excellence are to: 

1. Contribute to the research field in aviation: The Center is committed to conducting impactful research and disseminating its findings to enhance the aviation field's knowledge base through research publications in the form of conference and journal papers. This includes exploring state-of-the-art advancements, developing innovative solutions, and contributing to the evolution of standards and best practices in the field.
2. Foster technological advancement and innovation in aviation: The primary aim of the Center is to foster innovation and drive the advancement of cutting-edge technology within the aviation industry. It seeks to create solutions that will contribute to the improvement of aviation-related services in the UAE benefiting not only aviation professionals but also the general public.
3. Promote senior projects and theses in the field of aviation within the academic community: The Center provides support and mentorship to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students at the University of Sharjah with their senior projects and theses. It enables students to research, develop and publish aviation-related solutions and corresponding papers which enriches their academic profile.
4. Collaborate with external aviation entities: The Center has also explored collaboration opportunities with national and international aviation entities for exchanging ideas to enrich the research and development of solutions in the aviation field through their support. It is also involved in talks with the GCAA and other external organizations to establish aviation-related degrees at the University as the need for such programs is deemed necessary with the evolving needs of the aviation industry.
5. Enrich the aviation workforce: It offers research opportunities, hands-on experience, and access to UAV and aviation technology to students and researchers at different educational levels. This provides an opportunity to enrich aviation knowledge in individuals and equip them with practical skills to prepare them for prospective careers in the aviation sector which is crucial as per the demands in the aviation field.
6. Align with the UAE’s vision in aviation: Through the promotion of innovation, driving advancements in technology, and disseminating knowledge, the Center actively contributes to boosting the UAE’s position in cutting-edge aviation research, development, and the establishment of industry standards. This mission seamlessly aligns with the nation's aviation objectives and contributes to enhancing aviation operations in the industry.

The Center continues to foster research, innovation, and collaboration in the aviation industry. Through their dedication and expertise, they strive to create a secure and technologically advanced future for aviation.

 

Research at the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACoE)

The Aviation Center of Excellence (ACoE) is dedicated to conducting cutting-edge research and development in the aviation field using advanced technologies. Our research aims to drive innovation, enhance aviation safety, and contribute to the UAE’s leadership in air transport modernization.Since its establishment, the center has expanded its focus to encompass a wide range of emerging research directions, each addressing current and future challenges within the aviation ecosystem.

Core Research Directions 

1. Future Jobs in the Aviation Industry
   This direction explores how emerging technologies and evolving trends are reshaping the aviation workforce. It examines how automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation are reshaping roles, creating new opportunities, and necessitating novel skill sets within the industry
   
2. Large Language Models in Cybersecurity
   This research investigates the integration of large language models (LLMs) to enhance cybersecurity in aviation. It focuses on improving efficiency, policy compliance, and real-time threat response through intelligent text-driven systems while maintaining data privacy in sensitive aviation networks.
   
3. AI Agents in Cybersecurity and Procurement
   The center explores the deployment of autonomous AI agents to automate and optimize tasks in cybersecurity and procurement. These agents support decision-making, reduce human error, and strengthen transparency and resilience across aviation operations.
   
4. Aviation Signals Analysis
   Research in this area applies Software-Defined Radio (SDR) and intelligent signal processing to monitor and analyze wireless aviation signals. The goal is to detect anomalies, enhance communication reliability, and improve response mechanisms during flight and emergency scenarios.
   
5. Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Data Analysis
   This direction focuses on developing frameworks for decoding, aligning, and analyzing flight and cockpit data to support air accident investigation. It enhances the speed, accuracy, and depth of post-incident analysis, introducing predictive models for aviation safety analytics.
   
6. Drone-Based Photogrammetry and UAV Systems R&D
   The center investigates drone-enabled photogrammetry for rapid and precise reconstruction of aviation accident sites. Research also extends to the development of UAV systems, including localization, AI-driven navigation, and autonomous mapping, for enhanced safety and investigation efficiency.
   
7. Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
   ACoE applies AI and RPA to automate repetitive aviation tasks and optimize decision-making processes. This includes workflow automation in administrative functions, anomaly detection in flight data, and AI-driven solutions for aviation operations.
   
8. Digital Forensics and Security
   Research in this direction involves developing open-source tools and techniques for analyzing drone data and conducting forensic analysis. It supports aviation security and accident investigation while promoting transparent, technology-driven investigative procedures.

Ongoing Research and Projects (2024–2025)

• Multimodal AI Fusion of CVR and FDR Data: Developing a unified system for predictive aviation safety analytics through multimodal fusion.
• Enhancing CVR Audio Analysis: Building tools for multi-channel voice separation, transcription, and stress analysis in cockpit recordings.
• Conversion and Analysis of Raw FDR Data: Creating decoding frameworks to transform raw binary data into engineering parameters for anomaly detection.
• AI Agents in Cybersecurity and Procurement: Implementing autonomous agents for optimizing cybersecurity and ERP processes.
• SDR-Based Aviation Signal Monitoring and Anomaly Detection: Detecting interference and anomalies in aviation frequencies using distributed SDR systems.
• Drone-Based Air Accident Investigation: Utilizing UAVs with 3D scanners and sensors for safe and accurate investigation of crash sites.
• Quantum Radar Studies: Advancing understanding of quantum radar technologies and quantum machine learning for signal detection.
• Finance Dunning Automation: Automating Dunning letter generation (D1, D2, Legal) from overdue payment lists using predefined business rules.

Research Vision

The ACoE continues to foster innovation, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination in aviation research. By integrating artificial intelligence, automation, UAV systems, and cybersecurity technologies, the center supports the UAE’s strategic goals for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable aviation future.

Research Highlights

 

 

The ACoE actively pursues collaborations with national, regional, and international aviation-related entities that include, but are not limited to:

   
• General Civil Aviation Authority: With the research center being affiliated with GCAA, most of our services are developed for their use. Notably, our RPA automated solutions have been successfully integrated into their operations.
   
• Aviation Australia: Ongoing discussions with Aviation Australia, a world-class registered training organisation, aim to foster collaboration on projects and the establishment of aviation-related majors at the university.
   
• Matesol: A project for delivering medical supplies through efficient and smart long-range drones in Dubai, along with a blockchain-powered application to manage operations and keep track of every transaction, was developed through this collaboration.
   
• Dubai Police: In 2021, H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid launched the 'Drone Boxes' project to reduce Dubai Police's response time from 4.4 minutes to 1 minute. The project developed through this collaboration utilizes a hybrid solution integrating AI algorithms with the ArcGIS environment to efficiently localize drone boxes across Dubai.