Digital Commons Network^™

Green Technology: A Systematic Review Of Ai And Iot Solutions For A Sustainable Future, Nesma Abd El-Mawla, Mohamed A. Berbar, Nawal A. El-Fishawy, Mohamed A. El-Rashidy, Mahmoud Badawy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Green technology offers a solution to the pressing environmental crisis. It can change the structure and generation of waste so as not to harm the earth, and people can become environmentally friendly. To address complex environmental challenges like climate change and pollution, innovative Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are essential. These technologies can help optimize resource use, reduce waste, and promote sustainable development. However, it's crucial to balance economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection when implementing green technologies. This survey paper systematically examines the landscape of Green Technology, focusing on its pivotal components: Measures of …

The Effect Of The Socioeconomic Variety In Greater Cairo On Transport Mode Choices, Rafik Yanni

Theses and Dissertations

In the last decade, Egypt has experienced a noticeable upgrade in its infrastructure investment, implementing a lot of transport projects, especially in the Greater Cairo region. In a city with over 20 million residents, variations lie in socioeconomic elements like income, age, gender, and neighborhood, which shape people’s choice of mobility modes based on their culture and lifestyle. The questions then become: whom are these new projects targeting? What are the barriers to using these services? And is there any willingness to change commuting habits if conditions changed? This thesis investigates how the socioeconomic variety in Greater Cairo metropolitan region …

Sustainable Architecture Practice In Indonesia : Navigating Global Standards And Local Knowledge, Dyah Kusuma Wardhani, Himasari Hanan, Firmansyah -

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates how Indonesian architects navigate between global green building rating tools (GBRTs) and context-specific design strategies across different project types and scales. Using a comparative analysis of sixteen award-winning projects by six Indonesian architects, the research combines semi-structured interviews with document review and inductive coding to map design logics against core GBRT categories. The analysis is around six themes used by GBRTs—energy efficiency, material resources and cycles, water conservation, sustainable site development, indoor health and comfort, and building resilience and adaptability—and identifies two additional themes central to Indonesian practice yet largely absent from GBRT assessment—social collaboration in the …

Assessing Flood Resilience In West Virginia Communities: Integrating Physical, Institutional, Socioeconomic, And Environmental Dimensions, Anahita Mahmoudi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Flooding is one of the most frequent and damaging natural hazards in the United States, with impacts expected to intensify under changing climate conditions. In regions such as West Virginia, complex terrain, development patterns along river corridors, and socioeconomic disparities contribute to elevated flood risk. Traditional approaches to flood risk assessment often focus on single dimensions of vulnerability or rely on binary floodplain maps, which do not fully capture the spatial variability and multidimensional nature of flood resilience.

This dissertation develops an integrated, community-scale framework for assessing flood resilience in West Virginia by combining physical, environmental, institutional, and socioeconomic dimensions …

Within The Ruin: A Modern Brewery Rebirth, Karim Asarzadeh

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project focuses on the revitalization of the historic ruins of the James River Steam Brewery in Richmond, Virginia. The project transforms the forgotten industrial structure into a modern brewery with a second-floor restaurant addition and community gathering spaces while preserving the historic masonry ruins. It showcases a holistic design approach that considers all aspects of the building, including its connection to the urban context and landscape, as well as its architecture, interiors, and furniture. The project demonstrates how a holistic design approach can create stronger spatial connections and more cohesive environments. In particular, it offers a strategy for …

Cultivating Diversity In Sustainable Food Systems: Black Farming And Lived Experience In Rural Southern Ontario, Kadeem Jerofy Morgan-Adamson Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research examines the lived experiences of Black food growers in rural Southern Ontario to understand how their perspectives challenge dominant narratives of rurality and inform broader discussions on food sovereignty in Canada. Grounded in postcolonial theory, the study highlights how historical dispossession and persistent inequities shape the access of Black communities to land and resources. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys, semi-structured interviews, and reflexive journaling within a community-based research framework, the study documents the barriers Black food growers face. These include limited land access, insufficient funding, inadequate training pathways, and experiences of racial isolation in rural contexts. …

Secondhand Books Industry Between Extinction And Challenges Of The New Millennium: Insights Urban And Architectural Considerations From Al-Azbakeya Book Market., Ahmed M. Selim, Heba M. Gaber, Nehal M. Elmahdy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

At the beginning of the 21st century, the printed and secondhand book industry has faced enormous challenges, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, when book consumers sought to engage directly with e-books. The Azbakeya Book Market in Egypt is one of the markets that confronts this challenge, while maintaining its distinctive historical character. This study aims to rehabilitate the secondhand book market in Al-Azbakeya district as a model that simulates the potential urban and sustainable architectural design strategies for reviving this industry. The study framework was comprised into four sections. First, "desk-based research" was conducted to discuss the secondhand book industry …

Smart Building Rating System: A Comparative Analysis Of National And International Rating Systems, Amanah Hamidah, Mohammed Ali Berawi, Mustika Sari, Gunawan Saroji

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Smart buildings have become a key part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by the need for efficient, sustainable, and adaptive built environments. Their importance is growing alongside Indonesia’s effort to develop smart cities. This study compares Indonesia’s national smart building certification system, established under Ministerial Regulation No. 10 of 2023, with two international systems: the European Union’s Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) and the SmartScore certification. The analysis uses a literature review and comparative method to examine each system’s assessment criteria, scoring method, and certification tier. The findings show that Indonesia’s regulation includes six parameters, such as cybersecurity and operational …

A Collective Micro Food Farming: Maximizing The Limited Space Of Urban Neighborhood, Arnis Rochma Harani, Fathurrahman Nur Azmi, Kelfin Ilyas Prassetyo, Cheong Peng Au-Yong

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This paper examines the concept of urban farming in residential areas with limited space to provide food security while improving the environment. The practice of cultivating food crops, vegetables, fruits, or medicinal plants in small spaces such as yards, rooftops, balconies, walls, terraces, or indoor spaces is a form of domestic adaptation with significant ecological and social impacts in urban areas. This study is part of a community service program that aims to maximize limited space for food production and green space. Three phases of the activity methodology are involved in this program, including collecting spatial data to identify potential …

Mountain Communities During A Time Of War: A Case Study Of The Hutsul Region In The Carpathian Mountains Of Ukraine, Pavlo Rybaruk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ethno-ecological technologies employed by the Hutsul people within the highland agrarian economy of the Carpathian Mountains. Over centuries, the Hutsuls have developed ethno-ecological technologies that maintain ecological integrity while supporting community livelihoods.

The study addresses three primary research questions: What are the most important ethno-ecological technologies of the Hutsul highland economy? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be applied to economic, agricultural, and tourism development in the Hutsul region? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be combined with contemporary approaches to encourage sustainable development in the region?

The research explores the devastating impact of the Russian …

Revitalizing Rural Grocery Stores In Northern New Mexico: A Community Handbook, Emily Arasim

Student Publications

Rural grocery stores are cornerstone institutions that are central to the health and well-being of their communities - not only providing food, but also serving as spaces of economic development, cultural and historic preservation, social connection, and resilience. In response to the loss of many rural stores over recent decades, the ‘Revitalizing Rural Grocery Stores in Northern New Mexico’ handbook brings together community histories, political analysis, and practical strategies to support their protection and resurgence. The handbook shares findings on the multi-faceted importance of rural grocery stores and the causal factors in their loss; maps and photographs documenting the condition …

Behavioural Approach As The Basis Of Traditional Market Redevelopment Strategies, Ajeng Regita Assyifa, Imaniar Sofia Asharhani, Adriyan Kusuma

ARSNET

This design study focuses on the redevelopment of the Kebayoran Lama traditional market using a behavioural approach. Traditional markets hold an important role in the social, economic, and cultural life of urban communities, functioning not only as centres of trade but also as spaces for interaction that shape the city's character. However, rapid urban development often creates challenges for traditional markets, reducing their competitiveness against modern shopping centres.

The study began with direct observation and behavioural mapping activities at the Kebayoran Lama traditional market to understand how traders and visitors interact with the space. Findings show the current layout does …

Rewilding The Built Environment: Navigating Economic, Political, And Social Barriers To Urban Ecological Restoration, Carly E. Smith

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Urban rewilding offers a nature-based approach to restoring ecological processes in cities while advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and public well-being. Unlike conventional green infrastructure, rewilding allows ecosystems to develop with minimal intervention, emphasizing succession, complexity, and long-term adaptability. This paper examines the political, economic, and social factors that frame how rewilding is understood and implemented in urban planning. Governmental frameworks often prioritize order, predictability, and short-term results, making it difficult to accommodate the uncertainty and ecological complexity that rewilding requires. Economic models struggle to capture its long-term value, frequently overlooking ecosystem services or reconciling competing land uses. Social perceptions of …

Tangible And Design Assistance In Historic Preservation Courses To Assist Communities In The Recuperation Of Their Existing Built Cultural Resources In New Mexico, Francisco Uviña-Contreras

Faculty Publications

The presentation proposed for the NCBDS 41 Conference to be hosted at the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM) concerns the arduous work in the Historic Preservation and Regionalism (HP+R) Program in this institution. This significant opportunity to present courses in the HP+R Program aims to "exchange and disseminate information and ideas concerning preservation education and its relationship to community engagement and its connections to its historical past." This issue is particularly relevant in the context of the NCBDS 41 Conference, which touches on aspects of the "Pedagogy in Cultural Heritage through …

Land Struggles, Resistance, And Mutual Protection Along The Colorado-New Mexico Border: The Sacred Right Of Self-Preservation, José A. Rivera Ph.D

Faculty Publications

Mutual protection societies proliferated in the American Southwest during a period of rapid social change, 1870-1930, coincident with significant changes in the region’s political economy and increased competition for land and water resources. To resist encroachment and protect their natural resources, hispano communities in Colorado and New Mexico organized mutual benefit and protective associations known as mutualistas, with a large number concentrated in the San Luis Valley of Colorado as well as in many rural counties of northcentral New Mexico. The Costilla Valley of New Mexico is a prototypical hispano settlement initially established as part of the expansive Sangre …

Exploring The Role Of Localized Indigenous Knowledge In Developing Urban Water Resilience And Sustainability Strategies In Egypt, Nevine Ismail Mahmoud, Amira Fawzy Helmy Almaz, Amany Ragheb

Journal of Engineering Research

Urban areas worldwide face water challenges due to population growth, climate change, and inadequate construction. To tackle these issues, cities are experimenting with green infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater recycling, integrating local data and sustainable construction methods to mitigate water scarcity and increase resilience.

This paper discusses using natural data in urban water management to tackle water scarcity, flooding, and quality issues. It suggests that this data can improve urban practicality and human well-being by addressing shared urban areas and the physical environment. Implementing natural enhancements like water harvesting, floodplain management, and shared filtration systems can enhance water quality and …

Sustainable Planning In Gateway Natural Amenity Region Communities, Kori Ann Kurtzeborn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study used six principles of sustainability to comprehensively score general plan documents from seven Gateway Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) communities. The goal was to investigate the sustainability values of communities with public land recreation access based on the understanding that individual participation in outdoor recreation positively influences environmental concern. The study found that while strong sustainability themes are present in gateway community general plan documents, these themes don’t necessarily correspond to higher overall sustainability scores. However, GNAR community plans prioritize the Harmony with Nature principle, indicating an emphasis on ecosystem health in communities with adjacent public land recreation.

Study Of Public Space Development Based On Preservation Of Cultural Heritage Areas: Case Study Of Muara Jambi Area, Farhan Rachmanda Graha Cahyadi

Cities and Urban Development Journal

Background: The development of public spaces in cultural heritage areas has an important role in supporting the preservation of historical and cultural values, while improving the quality of life of the community around the cultural heritage.

Aims: This study aims to examine the potential for developing public spaces that are in line with efforts to preserve the Muara Jambi Cultural Heritage area.

Methods: The method used is qualitative-descriptive with conceptual-contextual orientation. Data collection techniques are carried out through systematic literature studies, document analysis, and triangulation through stakeholder statements. Data are analyzed using thematic analysis to identify relevant key elements.

Results: …

From Concept To Community: Phased Modularity In A Participatory Public Space Design, Bramasta Putra Redyantanu, Aris Budhiyanto, Agus Dwi Hariyanto

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This paper examines the idea of modularity as an extensive framework within the participatory design approach. Modularity is explored not only as a design and construction method but also as a collaboration framework that allows architecture to evolve through collaboration. In exploring the idea, this paper elaborates modularity through a community service design project at Alun-Alun Cemara Miagan, an open space in Miagan Mojoagung, Indonesia, emphasizing a participatory approach that involved local stakeholders and architects in developing a multifunctional public space. Due to the phased funding from the government, the project adopted modular strategies to enable flexible, incremental development aligned …

Live-In Tajuk: Role-Play Model In The Co-Creation Of Community-Based Design Practices, Resza Riskiyanto, Nurul Syala Abdul Latip, Maheswara Rizky Pasopati, Brandi Orbita Imagi Putri Agung

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This article examines a collaborative project that involves diverse actors in the co-creation of community-based design within an agricultural context. This study focuses on the implementation of the role-playing model as a practice that cultivates empathy, reflexivity, and collective agency among actors. The model is implemented through several methods, including collective reading of the context, dynamic role shifting, and the negotiation of architectural program. As part of community service, this seven-day program involved four groups, each consisting of four local students and two international students, four lecturers and design practitioners, and four household units, to participate in the role-playing and …

Revisiting The Post-Tsunami Aceh School: A Community-Based Evaluation Framework For Improving Build Back Better Projects, Muhammad Naufal Fadhil, Aji Sofiana Putri, Muhammad Fadli Muslimin

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This study proposes a community-based evaluation framework to assess and improve the existing conditions of post-tsunami schools based on the occupants’ evaluations. Rapid, donor-driven reconstruction often defaults to ‘fit-for-all’ solutions that bypass community needs, resulting in facilities that are misaligned with local contexts. This project focused on Lampageu State Elementary School in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, which was reconstructed in 2009 by a German NGO after the 2004 tsunami. The project began by observing the school’s physical condition through the community engagement team, followed by a review and exploration of the school’s design needs with the school community. The community-based evaluation …

The City As The Classroom: The Case Of “Start ‘Em Young Advocacy” At Silliman University, Philippines, Novee Elarmo Maestrecampo Jr., Giovanni Tuballa Macahig

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This case study highlights the value of engaging with communities as real-world environments for practical and reflective learning. It suggests that students can develop insights and acquire knowledge through interactions with diverse groups and locations, even within urban settings. The paper presents the experience of implementing the “Start ‘em Young Advocacy,” a student-led, environment-focused, and project-based initiative within the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) at Silliman University, Philippines. In collaboration with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), CWTS students worked with thirty daycare centers. Using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory as a …

Maximising Solar Pv Potential: A Comprehensive Review Of Factors Affecting Photovoltaic Installation And Generation In A Mild Temperate Oceanic Climate, Aiza Ahmad, Niamh Power, Evan Finnegan

Publications

The urgency of addressing the climate emergency and clean energy transitions have spurred worldwide initiatives to increase utilisation of renewable energy sources. The integration of rooftop photovoltaic panels at domestic level, often underestimated, is a priority across Europe to meet targets of net-zero emissions by 2050. PV systems represent a crucial technology for renewable energy generation and mitigating climate change. However, their performance and potential are influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, building parameters and geographical factors. This paper demonstrates multiple factors that affect PV potential in mild temperate oceanic climates, using Ireland as a representative case study. Unlike …

Foundations Of Belonging, Yerim Jang

Masters Theses

In the early 1900s, hundreds of thousands of immigrants displaced by World War II sought refuge in the United States, drawn by the promise of a new life and the hope of finding community in an unfamiliar land. To navigate the challenges of a new country, these immigrants formed ethnic social clubs that provided essential support, including housing, employment, and spaces for social connection. Over time, as later generations assimilated and established new identities, these once-thriving social hubs diminished, barely operating their original functions and transitioned into bars, event halls, or restaurants. Since the early 2000s, a new wave of …

Egyptian Government Actions To Implement A Green, Smart, Secured And Sustainable City In Africa, Egypt To Host Cop27, Enas Samir, Eman Metwally

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Smart cities are essential for addressing globalization, urban overpopulation, and urban growth. This paper discusses the Egyptian government's strategies, policies, and procedures for transforming Sharm-Elsheikh city into a green, smart, safe, secured, and sustainable city. The research aims to learn from COP28 and export an action plan to convert the city from a touristic to a smart green, secure, and sustainable city. The main research question is how COP27 in Egypt will become the COP of implementation, and the hypothesis is that the current mindset for managing economic files may not be suitable for the new economic orientations.

The Exchange Square — Redevelop Decaying Shopping Malls Into A Walkable Micro City, Justin R. Monzon

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Once the heart of suburban life, shopping malls across America are now fading relics: oversized, underused, and disconnected from the communities they once served. This thesis explores a bold new vision: The Exchange Square, a redevelopment model that transforms these forgotten spaces into vibrant, walkable micro-cities built for how we live today. Focusing on the Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw, Georgia, the project repositions the traditional mall as a mixed-use urban hub: complete with modular housing, a multi-story food hall, entertainment venues, and community-driven programs. It prioritizes people over parking lots, reconnecting neighborhoods through public space, transit access, and …

Building Bridges: Weaving Culture And Community Through A Museum-Housing Hub In South Downtown Atlanta, Tony Vu

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the architectural potential of a facility that combines a museum and affordable housing, focused on revitalizing South Downtown Atlanta. This historically significant district, rich in African American culture, has faced neglect due to urban sprawl and economic challenges. By addressing the needs of the unhoused population alongside the area’s diminished cultural vibrancy, the design proposes a strategic intervention through urban infill and the adaptive reuse of vacant parking lots. The project envisions an inclusive museum alongside supportive housing and vocational training facilities, aimed at facilitating the reintegration of the unhoused into society while providing affordable housing units …

Empow{Her}: Architecture As A Tool For Healing, Dignity, And Collective Power In Underserved Communities, Miciah Norman

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis investigates the role of architecture as a catalyst for empowerment, healing, and social transformation within underserved communities, with a specific focus on the lived experiences of Black women. Empow(her) centers Black women as co-victims — individuals who are often forced to carry the emotional and economic weight of losing loved ones to gun violence, a crisis perpetuated by systemic neglect and ineffective gun legislation. These women, frequently overlooked in policy and design conversations, navigate generational trauma in environments that fail to support their healing or acknowledge their pain. Through the lens of feminist, trauma-informed, and justice-oriented design, this …

Raising Families, Restoring Communities Through Adaptive Re-Use Design: Housing For Single Parents In New York, Laila S. Smith

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the transformative potential of adaptive reuse in addressing New York’s growing housing crisis, with a focus on creating affordable, high-quality housing communities for single-parent families in Yonkers. As the population of New York continues to rise, housing affordability remains a pressing issue, particularly for low- and moderate-income families. Over half of renters in the region are rent-burdened, spending more than 35% of their income on housing, which leaves limited financial capacity for essential needs such as childcare, healthcare, and food. Single-parent households are especially vulnerable, often struggling to find stable, supportive housing in safe and resource-rich neighborhoods. …

Living With Historic Architecture, Jenil A. Thornton

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

In recent decades, the awareness of history and heritage has permeated the state of our built-environment. In this line of thought, preserving, conserving, and restoring historic buildings have become a major approach in architecture. Further, with growing interests of a sustainable future, preservation, conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse gives possible avenues for sustainable designs. Preservation is to create an environment to protect and prolong the buildings’ life, while Restoration is to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historic value, the aura, of the space. Conservation is the combination of both preservation and restoration. Overall, they relate to interests in experiencing …