Prof. Arfan Ghani

Professor - Computer Engineering

School of Engineering and Computing

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

G-314

+971 7 246 8756

arfan.ghani@aurak.ac.ae

Arfan Ghani is working as a Professor in Computer Engineering at the American University of Ras al Khaimah, UAE. He gained academic qualifications and experience working in UK institutions, including Ulster, Coventry, and Newcastle. His industrial research and development experience includes working at Intel Research, University of Cambridge, and Vitesse Semiconductors, Denmark. Arfan has applied research experience and has supervised PhDs to successful completion. He has published in leading journals and conferences and secured substantial collaborative funding from EPSRC, EU FP7, Innovate UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the German Aerospace Centre. He serves as an Associate Editor of Elsevier Neurocomputing, Guest Editor, Technical Programme Committee member for several IEEE/IET conferences, and a keynote speaker. He has received several awards, including Best Paper and the European Neural Network Society award in 2007.

Arfan is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a member of the IET, and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

Prof. Ghani obtained his Master of Science degree by research in Computer Systems Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Copenhagen, and his PhD by research from the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom. During his academic tenure in the UK, he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PgCert) and a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Academic Leadership and Management from the University of Greater Manchester, UK.

Awards:

European Neural Network Society Award, 2008 (Winner and the best paper award), UK
Part of the chip design team (Breakthrough in Gigabit Technology), 2003, Exbit Technology, Denmark

Postgraduate Supervisions:

PhD successful completions (UK)
MSc. thesis supervisions (UK)
PhD thesis examination committee member (UK, Germany and Pakistan)

Selected Publications:

A. Ghani et al. Smooth robotic path planning via a hybrid improved adaptive random search optimization and cubic spline framework. Discover Internet of Things Journal (Springer), (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43926-026-00433-4
A. Ghani et al. "ECG Classification on PTB-XL: A Data-Centric Approach with Simplified CNN-VAE," 2026 International Conference on Electrical/Electronics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Informatics (ICERAI), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 2026, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/ICERAI69511.2026.11494563.
From Silicon to Synapse: CMOS-Based Multi-Chip Prototyping of Spiking Neurons for Vision, Brain Rhythms, and Synaptic Plasticity, IWAMM, Ras al Khaimah, 2026.
Ghani, A. HiLTS©: Human-in-the-Loop Therapeutic System: A Wireless-Enabled Digital Neuromodulation Testbed for Brainwave Entrainment. Technologies 2026, 14, 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies14010071
N. Abdelhaleem and A. Ghani, "Drone-Based Maze Mapping and Path Solving via Embedded Computation," 2025 International Conference on INnovations in Intelligent SysTems and Applications (INISTA), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 2025, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/INISTA68122.2025.11249670.
Ghani, A. et al. Machine Learning-Based Position Detection Using Hall-Effect Sensor Arrays on Resource-Constrained Microcontroller. Sensors 2025, 25, 6444. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25206444
Ghani A. Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification: From Pandemic Data Analysis to Environmental and Health Monitoring. Vol 3285. 1st ed. Springer; 2024:1-145
Ghani A, Aina A, Hwang See C. An Optimised CNN Hardware Accelerator Applicable to IoT End Nodes for Disruptive Healthcare. IoT. 2024; 5(4):901-921.
Ghani, Arfan. 2024. "A Proof-of-Concept Open-Source Platform for Neural Signal Modulation and Its Applications in IoT and Cyber-Physical Systems" IoT 5, no. 4: 692-710.
Tariq, M.O., Bazaz, S.A., Shakoor, R.I. Arfan Ghani. Design of a MEMS-Based Low Stiffness Accelerometer for Measuring Gravitational Anomalies. J. Vib. Eng. Technol. (2024).
Khan, S.Q., Ain, S.Q., Ghani, A. (2024). Advancements in Digital Health Diagnostics: Mathematical Modelling in the Detection of Cancer Cells. In: Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham.
Ghani, A. (2024). A System-Level Approach to Sustainable Low Power Sensing: Meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In: Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham.
Nadeem, A., Khan, S.Q., Ghani, A., Nabi, A. (2024). Embodied General AI Require Decision Support System (DSS): An Embedded Design for Electrocardiogram (ECG) Interpretation. In: Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham. 6
Ghani, A. (2024). Computer Vision-Based Automated Diagnosis for Skin Cancer Detection. In: Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham.
Tahir, R., Khan, S.Q., Ghani, A. (2024). Computer Vision-Based Human Activity Detection for Intensive Care Patients: A Case Study Based on Region of Interest (ROI). In: Innovations in Computer Vision and Data Classification. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham.
Husen A, Hasanain Chaudary M, Ahmad F, Farooq-i-Azam M, Hwang See C, Ghani A. 2023. Swarm intelligence-based packet scheduling for future intelligent networks. PeerJ Computer Science 9:e1671
Arshad, R.; Farooq-i-Azam, M.; Muzzammel, R.; Ghani, A.; See, C.H. Energy Efficiency and Throughput Optimization in 5G Heterogeneous Networks. Electronics 2023, 12, 2031.
Farooq-i-Azam, M.; Khan, Z.H.; Ghani, A.; Siddiq, A. An Investigation of the Transient Response of an RC Circuit with an Unknown Capacitance Value Using Probability Theory. Symmetry 2023, 15, 1378.
Ghani, A., Iqbal, R. (2023). Accelerating Classification of Symbolic Road Markings (SRMs) in Autonomous Cars Through Computer Vision-Based Machine Learning. In: Kerrache, C.A., Calafate, C., Lakas, A., Lahby, M. (eds) Internet of Unmanned Things (IoUT) and Mission-based Networking. Internet of Things. Springer, Cham.
Ghani, A.; Hodeify, R.; See, C.H.; Keates, S.; Lee, D.-J.; Bouridane, A. Computer Vision-Based Kidney’s (HK-2) Damaged Cells Classification with Reconfigurable Hardware Accelerator (FPGA). Electronics 2022, 11, 4234.
Rawad Hodeify, Arfan Ghani, et al, Extracellular Adenosine Triphosphate Protects Against Cytotoxicity Induced by Elevated Extracellular Calcium in Human Proximal Kidney Cells: Using Deep Learning to Predict Cytotoxicity, Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, Sep 2022, pp. 1-21, IF: 5.14 – (Q2), in press
Arfan Ghani, T Dowrick and LJ McDaid, OSPEN: An Open-Source Platform for Emulating Neuromorphic Hardware, International Journal of Reconfigurable and Embedded Systems (IJRES), Vol. 99, No. 1, Sep 2022, pp. 1-8, Scopus indexed (in press).
Arfan Ghani, Engineering education at the age of Industry 5.0 – higher education at the crossroads, World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, WIETE Vol.20, No.2, 2022. Pp 1-6 (Q2)
Suarez-Mash, D., Ghani, A., See, C. H., Keates, S., & Yu, H. (2022). Using Deep Neural Networks to Classify Symbolic Road Markings for Autonomous Vehicles. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Industrial Networks and Intelligent Systems, 9(31), https://doi.org/10.4108/eetinis.v9i31.985 (Scopus indexed)
Ghani, A.; Aina, A.; See, C.H.; Yu, H.; Keates, S. Accelerated Diagnosis of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Computer Vision with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Electronics 2022, 11, 1148. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11071148 (IF: 2.397) – Q2
An, S.; Xia, S.; Ma, Y.; Ghani, A.; See, C.H.; Abd-Alhameed, R.A.; Niu, C.; Yang, R. A Low Power Sigma-Delta Modulator with Hybrid Architecture. Sensors2020, 20, 5309. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185309 ; (IF: 3.275)– Q1
Khan, S.Q., Ghani, A. and Khurram, M. (2020) ‘Frequency-dependent synaptic plasticity model for neurocomputing applications’, Int. J. Bio-Inspired Computation, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.56–66 (IF: 3.977) – https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBIC.2020.109001 Q1
Ghani, A.; See, C.H.; Sudhakaran, V.; Ahmad, J.; Abd-Alhameed, R. Accelerating Retinal Fundus Image Classification Using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Reconfigurable Hardware (FPGA). Electronics 2019, 8, 1522. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8121522 (IF: 2.397) – Q2
A Ghani et al (2019), New level doubling architecture of cascaded Multilevel inverter, IET Power Electronics, Pp: 1-12, 2019. 10.1049/iet-pel.2018.5512 (IF: 2.611) – Q1
Arfan Ghani, Healthcare electronics—A step closer to future smart cities, ICT Express, Volume 5, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 256-260, ISSN 2405-9595, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2018.01.009. (IF: 4.317)- Q1
E. Atamuratov, Z.A. Atamuratova, A. Yusupov, A. Ghani, Characterising lateral capacitance of MNOSFET with localised trapped charge in nitride layer, Results in Physics, Volume 11, 2018, Pages 656-658, ISSN 2211-3797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2018.09.051. (IF: 3.042) – Q2
Khan, S. Q., Ghani, A., & Khurram, M. (2017). Population coding for neuromorphic hardware. Neurocomputing, 239, 153–164. doi:10.1016/j.neucom.2017.02.013 (IF: 4.072) – Q1
Muller, T, Thiemann, P, See, CH, Ghani, A & Bati, A , 2017, ‘Direct Flux Control – A Sensorless Control Method of PMSM for all Speeds – Basics and Constraints’ Electronics Letters, Vol 53, no. 16, pp. 1110-1111 https://dx.doi.org/10.1049/el.2017.1772 (IF: 1.389) – Q2
A Ghani et al (2017), Calibration Model for Detection of Potential Demodulating Behaviour in Biological Media Exposed to RF Energy, IET Science, Measurement and Technology, SMT-2017-0105, pp: 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/iet-smt.2017.0105 (IF: 1.389) – Q2
A Ghani et al (2014), Step forward to map fully parallel energy-efficient cortical columns on field-programmable gate arrays, IET Science, Measurement & Technology, 8(6), p: 432 – 440. DOI: 10.1049/iet-smt.2014.0004 (IF: 1.389) – Q2
A Ghani (2015), Neuro-inspired building blocks for parallel Implementation of Spiking Neural Networks on Reconfigurable Hardware (FPGAs), International Journal of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Vol (3)3, pp: 1-13 (Scopus)
A Ghani et al (2012), Evaluating the Generalisation Capability of a CMOS based Synapse, Elsevier Neurocomputing 1(83), pp. 188 – 197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2011.12.010 ( IF: 3.241)- Q1
A Ghani et al (2010), Computing with Biologically Inspired Neural Oscillators: Application to Colour Image Segmentation, Advances in Artificial Intelligence, pp. 1-12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/405073 (https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aai/) (Scopus)
A Ghani et al (2007), Challenges for large-scale implementations of Spiking Neural Networks on FPGAs, Neurocomputing 71 (1-3), pp. 13-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2006.11.029 (IF: 3.241)- Q1
A Ghani et al (2009), Spiking Neural Network Performs Discrete Cosine Transform for Visual Images, LNCS, Springer-Verlag, pp. 1-6.
A Ghani et al (2009), Neuro-inspired Speech Recognition with Recurrent Spiking Neurons, LNCS 5163, Springer-Verlag, pp. 513-522.
A Ghani et al (2010), Neuro-Inspired Speech Recognition Based on Reservoir Computing, Advances in Speech Recognition, pp. 1 -34
VK Viswambaran, KV Anjana, E Zhou, A Ghani, Performance analysis of FPGA based maximum power point tracking algorithms for photovoltaic applications, Electrical and Computing Technologies and Applications (ICECTA), 2017
T Mueller, C See, A Ghani, P Thiemann, Simulation of PMSM in maxwell 3D/simplorer to optimize direct flux control, Industrial Electronics (ISIE), 2017 IEEE 26th International Symposium on Modelling and simulation of maximum power point tracking algorithms & review of MPPT techniques for PV applications, UAE.
A Ghani, CH See, H Migdadi, R Asif, RAA Abd-Alhameed, JM Noras, Reconfigurable neurons-making the most of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), Internet Technologies and Applications (ITA), 2015, 475-478
M Al Yaman, A Ghani, A Bystrov, P Degenaar, P Maaskant FPGA design of a pulse encoder for optoelectronic neural stimulation and recording arrays, Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS), 2013 IEEE, 190-193
A Ghani, LJ McDaid, A Belatreche, P Kelly, S Hall, T Dowrick, S Huang, Evaluating the training dynamics of a CMOS based synapse, Neural Networks (IJCNN), The 2011 International Joint Conference on, 1162-1168
A Belatreche, LP Maguire, TM McGinnity, A Ghani, LJ McDaid, Application of biologically inspired neural oscillators to colour image segmentation, Neural Networks (IJCNN), The 2010 International Joint Conference on neural networks, pp. 1-8
A Ghani, LJ McDaid, A Belatreche, W Ahmed, Neuro inspired reconfigurable architecture for hardware/software co-design, SOC Conference, 2009. SOCC 2009. IEEE International, 287-290
A Ghani, TM McGinnity, LP Maguire, J Harkin, Neuro-inspired speech recognition with recurrent spiking neurons, International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, 513-522
A Ghani, M McGinnity, L Maguire, J Harkin, Hardware/Software Co-Design for Spike Based Recognition, arXiv preprint arXiv:0807.2282
A Ghani, TM McGinnity, LP Maguire, J Harkin, Area efficient architecture for large scale implementation of biologically plausible spiking neural networks on reconfigurable hardware, Field Programmable Logic and Applications, 2006. FPL’06.
A Ghani, Multiplier-less reconfigurable architectures for spiking neural networks, Institute of Neuromorphic Engineering, 10.2417/1200806.0055. pp. 1-3
A Ghani, TM McGinnity, LP Maguire, JG Harkin, Analyzing the framework of ‘Reservoir Computing for hardware implementation, NIPS workshop on Echo State Networks, 1-2, Canada.
A Ghani, SH Usmani, MA Chaudhairy, M Asif, Design and modeling of indigenous supercomputing facility for complex solutions, Actual Problems of Electron Devices Engineering, 2004. APEDE 2004
Arfan Ghani, Sabir Hussain Usmani, High-Speed Low Power Design in CMOS, Symposium on Topics in Semiconductors and Workshop on Nanotechnologies, 2004.