PhD Student Completes International Research Internship in the USA

Bagdat Satvaldiyev is a PhD student in the “8D07306 – Cadastre” program at the Department of Geography, Land Management and Cadastre, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. From October 3 to November 3, 2026, he completed an international research internship at Salem State University in Massachusetts, USA.

The internship was part of his dissertation research, “Assessing the Degree of Degradation of Agricultural Lands in West Kazakhstan Oblast.” Its aims were to collect, process and analyze research data, to study current international approaches to assessing the condition and degradation of pasture lands, and to master remote sensing and GIS methods. 

During the internship, he:

• reviewed international research and practice on assessing pasture land degradation;

• built a database of satellite, climate and spatial data for West Kazakhstan Oblast;

• processed satellite imagery, calculated pasture condition indicators, and carried out spatial analysis and mapping of degradation;

• strengthened his skills in ArcGIS Pro, QGIS and other spatial analysis tools;

• received research consultations from Professor Stephen Young on spatial analysis, satellite image interpretation, and modeling and forecasting of degradation processes;

• took part in research seminars and academic events.

The results of the internship will be used to refine the methodology and further develop several chapters of the dissertation. A research paper based on the findings is in preparation. The internship also strengthens the department’s international research collaboration with universities abroad.

His domestic research advisor is B.A. Rsymbetov, PhD, Assistant Professor