On April 28, 2026, the Electrical Engineering Department in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication Systems and Sensing (IRC-CSS), hosted a seminar titled “Towards Turbulent Channel Modeling for Underwater Optical Wireless Communication,” delivered by Dr. Abdullah Nafis Khan, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication Systems and Sensing at KFUPM.

The seminar introduced a novel framework for modeling turbulence effects in underwater optical wireless communication systems. The proposed approach offers a compact and efficient representation of optical beam propagation under varying oceanic conditions, addressing the impact of turbulence on beam spreading and signal degradation.

Dr. Khan explained how the framework simplifies the characterization of underwater optical channels compared to conventional methods that rely on multiple environmental parameters. The model provides accurate characterization across weak-to-strong turbulence regimes, enabling more efficient system analysis and design.

The seminar also highlighted the practical implications of this research for enhancing system performance, improving real-time adaptation, and supporting the development of high-speed underwater optical communication networks. Participants gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in underwater wireless technologies and advanced channel modeling techniques.

The following are the highlights of the event: