Ahmed Abukhater, Ph.D., GISP, AICP

Dr. Ahmed Abukhater is a globally recognized authority in smart city innovation, 21st century urban development, resource access and allocation, conflict prevention and resolution, environmental planning, social justice, community design, water resources and international development planning. An award-winning author and TED speaker, he is an architect, environmental scientist, and urban and regional planner by trade, renowned for his pioneering contributions to intelligent cities, smart growth, digital twins, geospatial and navigation solutions, sustainable community development, and transboundary water resource management and conflict resolution. His groundbreaking work has been adopted by governments, corporations, and academic institutions across every continent.

With over two decades of experience spanning more than 100 countries, Dr. Abukhater has held senior and executive leadership roles in both governmental and non-governmental organizations. His past positions include Senior Product and Innovation Leadership at Boeing, Senior Director of Mapping and GIS at Trimble, Global Director of Product Management at Pitney Bowes, Global Industry Manager for Planning and Community Development at Esri, Director of PLACES (Planning, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, and Sustainability), and Senior Technical Advisor at NASA.

Dr. Abukhater holds a Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, along with executive education credentials in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School and in Executive Management, Leadership, and Innovation from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He also earned a dual Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering.

A highly sought-after thought leader, Dr. Abukhater has authored numerous publications, served on prominent governing and advisory boards, and received more than 20 prestigious awards for his contributions to the field.

Research Interests 

• Trans-boundary Water Management
• Environmental Equity, Water Scarcity, Hydro-diplomacy
• Natural Resources Planning and Sustainable Development
• Conflict Resolution and Prevention
• 21st Century Urban Development
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS/BIM)

My research interests reflect my current and previous academic and practical experience, which ranges from the technological and practical aspects of planning to public policy and implementation matters. it integrates urban design, planning and geospatial technologies to advance social equity, environmental sustainability and economic vitality. It focuses on the intersection of water resources management, conflict resolution, and social and environmental justice, by exploring how perceptions of equity can influence international water policies and treaty negotiations and formation, and a result implementation success. Using advanced GIS and geospatial modeling, my work covers a range of topics including transboundary water management, geodesign applications, and planning support systems to promote sustainable and equitable resources sharing, allocation and management.

A central theme in my research is the study of process and perceived equity in binational water treaties. I am most interested in how these dynamics shape the long-term implementation and success of international agreements over disputed natural resources. I also explore indigenous conflict resolution practices and their connection to contemporary alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods.

My ongoing research integrates geopolitical, hydropolitical, and environmental policy perspectives and has resulted in a number of publications (including books and peer reviewed papers), TEDx talks, and awards; most notably, the ACSP Marsha Ritzdorf Award for the best paper and superior scholarship on Diversity, Social Justice and the Role of Women in Planning. My most recent books include "Palestine - Peace by Piece: Transformative Conflict Resolution for Land and Trans-boundary Water Resources" published in 2019 with Springer and "Water as a Catalyst for Peace - Transboundary Water Management and Conflict Resolution," published in 2013 with Routledge.

At the University of Washington, I am committed to expanding my research through collaboration, participatory mapping, and applied community-based projects, with continued intentionality on fostering a diverse, inclusive, and practice-oriented research environment to prepare next generation planning practitioners for impactful careers in urban design, planning, and environmental management and sustainability.