Architecture Commons^™

Crises In The Nigerian Defence Sector In The Post-Civil War Period, Hussaini Jibrin

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

History has it that post-war period in any country in the world appeared to be with many challenges of re-planning the defence system. It involves the reconstruction of pre-war institutions that are destroyed during the war for onward growth and development. Contrary to this tradition, this article explores that, in 1970 while Nigerians were celebrating about the end of the Nigerian civil war, fresh crises emerged in the country’s defence sector. Thus, General Yakubu Gowon’s government redirected its focus on addressing the crises. The crises are numerous, however, this article dwells on four only. These are demobilization exercise in the …

Performance Of Buffer Zones In Tanzania: A Case Of Maswa Game Reserve, 1950s-2010s, James Benedict Kuboja

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

National parks as core protected areas are universally regarded as the most important wildlife conservancies as they are protecting pristine nature or untouched wilderness. For this reason, global conservationists, with the assistance of colonial governments, introduced buffer zones in a bid to protect important protected areas from poaching and habitat destruction. Despite the promulgation of these buffer zones from the 1950s, scholars have not exhaustively evaluated their effectiveness in the conservation of wildlife resources within core protected areas and wildlife ecosystems at large. Using the case of Maswa Game Reserve in the Serengeti Mara Ecosystem, this article argues that internal …

Historicising Nyerere’S Presidency In The Nyakyusa Mythical Narratives, Ignas Fedeo

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

Julius K Nyerere, the founding President of Tanzania, held office from 1962 to 1985. Much has been written about Nyerere's presidency, with the literature generally falling into two categories: strong advocacy for his decisions, actions, and ideas, and pointed criticism against him. Using narrative and new historicism theories, this article examines the recreation of the history of Nyerere’s presidency in local narratives, specifically Nyakyusa myths. The myths were collected using the oral history interviews from Kyela and Busokelo districts in Tanzania. The Nyakyusa believe that Nyerere was endowed with immense mystical powers, some of which embedded in his stick and …

Śaṅkha-Dvīpa And The Swahili Littoral: Reconstructing India–East Africa Contacts Before The Common Era, Narendra Vijayasimha

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

This article is the first focused attempt to explore India–East Africa relationships in the Bronze Age and early Iron Age, approximately two to three millennia before the Common Era (3000–300 BCE) from a puranic perspective. While extensive scholarship exists on medieval and later Indo–African exchanges, the pre-Common Era period has remained underexplored. Drawing on Purāṇic cosmographies, Greco-Roman geographical accounts, African archaeology, and Indian Ocean trade studies, this research reconstructs possible networks of contact facilitated by monsoon navigation and long-distance exchange. Methodologically, the article integrates textual exegesis, comparative cosmography, and archaeological correlation. The findings suggest that Indian conceptions of Śaṅkha-dvīpa reflect …

Labour Migrancy And Ethnic Stereotypes: Experiences From Mufindi Tea Plantation, Ca. 1920s To 2000s, Hezron R. Kangalawe

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

While tea plantations brought good fortunes to some parts of Southern Highlands in Tanzania such as Mufindi and Rungwe during the British mandate, its production sites became centres of ethnic contestations in relation to work discipline. The colonial and post-colonial enterprises labelled some ethnic groups as “reliable labourers” and others “unreliable”. This article, uses the tea plantations in Mufindi district, Iringa, to debate the labour question and ethnic identity in tea plantations between 1920s and 2000s. It argues that tea plantations were practical point of colonial stereotyping whose architects were anthropologists. Interviews in Mufindi tea plantations and factories, archival and …

Collaboration In The Spread Of Missionary Christianity In Africa: The Case Of The Apostolic Church Of Nigeria, Caleb Abiodun Adeleye, Oluwasegun Peter Aluko

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

This article explores the significance of collaboration in the spread of missionary Christianity in Africa through a historical study of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria (TACN). It examines how the partnership between British missionaries and Nigerian leaders produced a hybrid mission model that combined Western ecclesiastical structure with African spirituality. Drawing on historical records, church documents, and existing scholarship, the article adopts a narrative–analytical method to trace how figures such as Pastors George Perfect, Idris J Vaughan and DO Odubanjo negotiated issues of theology, finance and cultural identity. The study finds that collaboration initially fostered institutional growth and doctrinal development …

Modern Architecture Of Muqarnas In Damascus: An Original Computational Methodology, Nahed Jawad Chakouf

All Works

The research aimed to revive muqarnas using digital computational tools, drawing on the techniques of Damascene craftsmen and ancient manuscripts. It involved designing contemporary muqarnas with double-curvature vaults and large spans, incorporating new unit designs and compositional techniques. In Section I, the researcher conducted pre-design studies on four muqarnas types, each associated with one of the four Damascene architectural styles. These studies examined the geometry and behavior of muqarnas types when used on traditional domed surfaces. Section II included a design study of the Dome of the Eagle of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, using modern software tools such as …

A Comparative Study Of Green And Cool Roof Strategies In Energy Saving And Thermal Performance In The Hot-Arid Climate Of Uae, Asma Saqer Al Blooshi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The climate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is characterized by extreme hot-arid conditions, with prolonged summers, intense solar radiation, and elevated temperatures. This significantly increases the building's cooling demand. Due to the UAE's reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, reducing energy consumption in buildings is recognized as a strategic objective aligned with the UAE Vision for Sustainability. Roofs represent an essential element of a building's envelope, significantly influencing thermal absorption, particularly in low-rise villas featuring exposed flat concrete slabs. Consequently, roofing strategies such as cool and green roofs serve as a viable passive method to reduce cooling loads …

The Impact Of The Urban Dimension Of Social Housing Projects In Improving The Quality Of Urban Life For Residents Case Study (Housing Project For Neighborhood 27 In New Damietta City), Samah Sameh Zaki Al Qaqaa, Nanis Abdel Hameed Al-Sayyad, Marwa Atef Abdel Hadi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This research discusses social housing and its impact on improving the quality of life for residents. It measures the relationship between housing and quality of life indicators, in line with Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and Egypt's Vision 2030, which prioritizes urban development and slums to achieve safe housing. This is done within understanding social housing, its requirements and priorities, leading to the factors that must be present in housing to improve the quality of life for its residents. This is accomplished by assessing the impact of the urban side of projects in improving the quality of life …

Sustainable Retrofitting Strategies Of Residential Roofs To Meet Minimal Energy Consumption Targets In The Uae, Alyazia Maktoum Alsheraifi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Due to the United Arab Emirates having a hot arid climate, residential buildings experience high cooling demands. A major building element for solar heat gain through buildings are roofs. This study evaluates roof retrofitting strategies for existing low rise residential villas in Al Ain. The aim is to reduce cooling energy consumption, improve indoor thermal comfort, and support compliance with current UAE envelope performance requirements. A case-study villa (Majlis space) was monitored during the peak summer period. Indoor temperature data were recorded using a HOBO device and used to derive an operational HVAC schedule for simulation input. The baseline model …

Soft Korsi: An Embodied Spatial Interior System For Communal Warmth, Faezeh Panahandeh

Graduate Final Projects

ABSTRACT

Soft Korsi: An Embodied Spatial Interior System for Communal Warmth reconceptualizes the historic Iranian Korsi as an innovative textile-based interior system. Traditionally, the Korsi functioned not only as a heating device but also as a spatial, material, cultural, and embodied system, which brought people together around a shared warm focal point. The integration of a heat source, textile coverings, floor seating arrangements, closeness of bodies, and domestic traditions related to warmth made possible a collective experience, rather than an individual or environmental one.

This design project seeks to address the disappearance of the Korsi from contemporary domestic environments as …

Assessing Video Game Pedagogy For Civil Engineering Education And K-12 Stem Engagement, Jillian Codron, Anahid A. Behrouzi

Architectural Engineering

Traditional civil engineering education is often structured around a “theory before practice” model, where students first learn concepts in lecture and then confirm them in a laboratory setting. This paper explores an alternative approach to this, involving leveraging video games as exploratory, feedback-rich platforms for introducing K-12 students to civil engineering.

The objectives of this work are to: (1) evaluate the educational potential of the selected games, (2) survey undergraduate structural engineering students and current practitioners to assess how gaming has shaped their interest in STEM pathways, (3) conduct interviews with faculty and educators to capture perspectives on integrating game-based …

Analysis On Thermo-Viscous Steady Fluid Motion Over An Impermeable Infinitely Stretched Horizontal Moving Rectangular Surface, P. Krishna, N. Pothanna, K. Spandana

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study presents analysis on thermo-viscous steady fluid motion over an impermeable infinitely stretched horizontal moving rectangular surface. The numerical results have been found employing R-K method of order 6 shooting techniques developed in Mathematica software ND solve for the flow adaptable equations comprising temperature and velocity. The flow behavior and the impacts of material constraints on the flow region have been analyzed and deliberated taking the help from the generated graphs. The variations of these flow fields have been studied for wide spectrum of physical characteristics which influences the nature of thermo-viscous fluid. The impact of viscosity, constant pressure …

Leveraging A Centralized Fleet Assignment Management For An Aviation Resilience, Inof Seno Acton Mr., Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Yusuf

Smart City

Since deregulation in the aviation industry, competition among airlines has intensified. This competition is shown by the increasing number of routes, service times, aircraft, and airports served. This competition causes not all flight services to meet their targets, resulting in aircraft operating less efficiently. Passenger seats are not filled, and flight delays are becoming more frequent. Obviously, this will negatively impact consumers and the airline's finances. The study focused on assigning the fleet used to serve flights to maintain existing aviation services and improve aircraft operational efficiency. This study aims to maximize profits by optimizing fleet assignments through the Centralized …

Optimization Of Sea Transportation Services In The Kepulauan Seribu Using The Vehicle Routing Problem (Vrp) Model, Darmadi Darmadi, Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Nahry

Smart City

The Kepulauan Seribu regency relies heavily on sea transportation for passenger mobility and goods distribution. However, current systems face efficiency challenges, high operational costs, and potential imbalances between demand and service capacity. This study proposes a framework to optimize sea transportation services in the Kepulauan Seribu using the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) method, especially the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem – Many Single Depot (CVRP–MSD) model with heterogeneous fleets and mixed cargo (passenger and goods). The main objective is to minimize total operating costs, which include fixed costs of using the vessel and variable travel costs, and unmet demand, both passenger …

En-Feat: An Effective Feature Selection Method Using Ensemble Approach, Sasank Nath, Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Feature selection is a crucial step in machine learning and data preprocessing, significantly influencing model performance and interpretability. This paper presents a comprehensive study and contributions in the domain of feature selection by integrating traditional learning techniques with ensemble-based, proposing an effective approach. We propose a Mutual Information-based feature aggregation approach applied to union sets of features, aiming to derive an optimal subset of features that maximizes accuracy. Then, we employ an ensemble method that utilizes forward selection over union sets to identify the optimal feature subsets through sequential feature selection. Our ensemble-based feature selection method called En-feat, is evaluated …

Adaptative And Structured Optimization Stockwell Transform For Robust Power-Quality Disturbances Detection, Moudjibatou Afoda, Séna Apeke, Filippo Gatti, Alessio Iovine, Léonce W. Tokam, Guy M. Toche Tchio, Ouro-Djobo S. Sanoussi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The monitoring of electrical power quality requires advanced analysis techniques capable of accurately detecting and localizing non-stationary disturbances. This work proposes a structured and adaptive optimization of the Stockwell Transform (ST), referred to as Two-Power Optimization (TPO). A multiparametric Gaussian window governed by four parameters (m, p, k, r), is introduced, and a genetic algorithm is applied independently to each signal to optimize these parameters. The optimization process adapts the analysis scale to the local characteristics of the signal while preserving the physical consistency of the window function. Simulation results on synthetic power quality signals demonstrate that the proposed method …

Finite Element Modelling On A Non-Linear Radiative Hybrid Nanofluid Flowing Through A Rotating Disk, N. Janaki Phani Madhuri, Md. Shamshuddin

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study develops a finite element model to investigate the MHD flow and heat transfer phenomena of Cu–H₂O and Cu–Fe₃O₄–H₂O hybrid nanofluids flow across a spinning disk modelling by the Tiwari–Das model. The governing non-dimensional momentum and energy equations account for the effects of buoyancy, nonlinear radiation, and ohmic heating. The nonlinear coupled system is solved with the element method (FEM) to find the velocity and temperature fields. Parametric studies will investigate the effects of the magnetic field, buoyancy, volume fraction of nanoparticles, and radiation. Skin friction and Nusselt number are also reported. The results show that with the hybrid …

Real-Time Iot-Enabled Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring And Automated Wastewater Recirculation In Constructed Wetlands, Sivasankar Pandiarajan, Vanitha Sankararajan, Devarinti Chandu

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Wastewater treatment is necessary for environmental conservation and combating water pollution. This study demonstrates real-time dissolved oxygen (DO) monitoring in constructed wetland treatment. The system would ensure an adequate supply of oxygen through automated water circulation whenever the level is below 4 mg/L, and shut down when it reaches the normal level. From experiments conducted, it was observed that within three automated circulation processes, it is possible to increase DO concentrations from 0.5 mg/L to 5.0 mg/L. Additionally, Total Dissolved Solids reduced from 1,380 ppm to 920 ppm. pH also stabilized from 8.38 to 7.9. In this system, data is …

Bridging Machine Learning And Climate Futures: A Framework For Explainable, Self-Directed (Agentic) Ai Models In Monitoring, Mitigation, And Governance Of Anthropogenic Climate Impacts, Vijayanandh Rajamanickam, Ketaki Kulkarni, Vishwanadham Mandala, Ozgur Kisi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Environmental and societal damage due to anthropogenic climate change demands detection and mitigation strategies that are both effective and accountable. Machine Learning (ML) appears to offer a powerful set of tools but remains unexploited in these areas. A key barrier remains its poor ability to draw causal inferences about external systems, an essential requirement for meaningful continued monitoring, acting on, and shaping of the climate. Explainable, self-directed learned models operate by attributing environmental changes and deciding how best to model the resulting dynamics—they offer a natural solution. Recent developments in computational ecology, meteorology, and ML are combined to propose a …

Development Of An Adaptive Pelican Crossing Model Using Fuzzy Logic In Mixed Traffic Conditions, Manazil Adam, Andyka Kusuma, R. Jachrizal Sumabrata

Smart City

Traffic management at at-grade pedestrian crossing facilities (pelican crossings) in highly populated areas, such as the Universitas Indonesia Station, faces significant inefficiency challenges. During peak hours, the fixed-time system is frequently disabled and replaced with subjective manual control by security personnel, thereby triggering irregular stop-and-go cycles and a high accumulation of vehicle delays. This study aims to develop a hybrid adaptive control model integrating Computer Vision, Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Fuzzy Logic to optimize intersection performance under mixed traffic conditions. The research methodology begins with the extraction of traffic and pedestrian characteristic data, calculated manually through recorded field observations. This …

Spatial Tax Intelligence: Implementing Integrated Spatial Decision Support Systems For Smart Urban Governance, Wildan R. Irfana, Haldis A. Bahar, Muhammad H. Candra

Smart City

The transition toward smart governance requires local governments to adopt data-driven policy approaches, particularly in managing urban tax capacity. However, tax administration in many developing regions remains predominantly tabular and administrative, limiting the ability to capture the spatial dynamics of economic activities. This reveals a critical knowledge gap, as integrated frameworks combining spatial and tax data to identify geographic disparities in tax performance remain limited. Consequently, areas with high economic activity but low tax compliance, referred to as tax blind spots, often remain undetected. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of integrating spatial and tax data in identifying spatial-tax …

Past Present, & Future: Bushwick Inlet Redevelopment, Aaryan Nair

Publications and Research

This report examines how ecosystem structure, hydrology, and material flows in Williamsburg, Brooklyn have changed from pre-colonial conditions to the present and how they are expected to evolve under future climate change. Prior to European colonization, the landscape functioned as a forest–wetland mosaic with high infiltration capacity, slow water movement, and strong nutrient retention. These conditions supported stable aquatic ecosystems and minimized pollutant transport to the East River.

Modern urbanization has fundamentally altered this system. Impervious surfaces and engineered drainage systems have shifted hydrology from infiltration-dominated to runoff-dominated pathways, producing rapid “flashy” flows and reducing water residence time.

Storm events …

Transforming Dredged Sediment Into Reactive Clay: Critical Review Of Calcination, Reactivity, And Sustainable Valorization As Supplementary Cementitious Material, Seongho Han, Sanghwon Wi, Koochul Ji, Keun Hyeok Yang, Farshad Rajabipour, Kamal H. Khayat, Jinyoung Yoon

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dredged sediment (DS) is generated worldwide in large volumes through routine port and waterway maintenance, yet its disposal presents environmental and economic challenges. Recently, calcined dredged sediment (CDS) has emerged as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), offering a viable alternative to traditional SCMs, such as fly ash and slag cement. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of raw DS and pretreatment strategies aimed at dewatering, organic matter removal, and contaminant stabilization. The effects of calcination on the production of reactive amorphous aluminosilicates are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on physicochemical changes revealed by experimental …

Evaluating The Impact Of Early Contractor Involvement On Enhancing The Performance Of Construction Projects In Egypt, Samah Saleh Abdelraof, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Lamees Mostafa Ahmed

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The construction industry constitutes a critical pillar of Egypt’s national economic growth and sustainable development. Despite its strategic importance, the sector continues to face persistent challenges, including chronic cost overruns, schedule delays, and inadequate coordination among stakeholders. These inefficiencies are largely attributed to the dominance of the traditional Design–Bid–Build (DBB) system, which enforces a rigid separation between design and construction, fostering adversarial relationships and project disputes, which highlights the need for alternative procurement approaches. This research investigates the impact of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) as a collaborative procurement alternative to enhance project performance. Case studies show that ECI improves early-stage …

Characteristics Of Social Capital In Informal Housing Settlements, Lena Parsons

University Honors Theses

Many cities see growth of informal housing settlements as urban populations rise across the globe. Residents of informal settlements are observed to use robust networks of social capital to support themselves in an environment of resource scarcity and marginalization. This review synthesizes research examining characteristics of social capital in informal housing settlements, finding that (1) social capital influences residents' acquisition of basic needs, (2) the structure of social capital networks depend on the context of the settlement, and (3) the built environment of informal settlements has a cyclical relationship to their social capital networks. This synthesis concludes that formal solutions …

Desert Dichotomies: Climatic Imaginaries Of The Arid+[Ant]Arctic, Amanda Aman

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources

Desert Dichotomies is a research-based architecture design studio that examines the impacts of climate change across arid and polar desert environments, revealing unexpected parallels between landscapes often understood as environmental opposites. Focusing on Antarctica, Arctic Alaska and the Sonoran Desert, the project investigates how climate change, resource extraction and human systems of control are transforming ecological processes, water systems and cultural landscapes. While arid deserts face increasing drought and water scarcity, polar deserts are experiencing accelerated warming, ice loss, permafrost thaw and flooding. Despite these contrasting conditions, both regions exhibit similar consequences, including declining water quality, biodiversity loss, infrastructural vulnerability …

Diagnosis Of Covid-19 Impact On The Construction Employment: Decline And Recovery, Anil Baral, Abdullah Alnuaimi, Yunping Liang, Baabak Ashuri, Mohsen S. Shahandashti

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) had an unprecedented impact on U.S. construction employment. The assessment of employment declines and recoveries across various construction sectors, workforce demographics, and geographic regions helps develop inclusive long-term plans to overcome the setbacks of natural hazards, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing methods for quantifying the employment decline from sudden shocks do not consider trends and seasonality of construction employment under normal conditions. Hence, it is not clear whether the employment declines are due to the impact of a disaster or associated with trends and seasonal patterns of employment. The objective of this research is …

Assessment Of The Readiness Of Architectural Design Companies To Adopt Eco-Friendly Nanotechnologies In Sustainable Building Design, Ashwaq Essa Al Khalil

Dissertations and Theses

Nanotechnology is emerging as a promising innovation in sustainable architectural design, although its adoption remains slow. Research highlights the advantages of incorporating nanotechnologies in architecture, including improved material performance, enhanced thermal efficiency, reduced energy consumption, improved durability, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These advantages make nanomaterials a promising solution for sustainable building design, particularly in hot-climate regions where energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with conventional building design practices remain major concerns.

Despite this potential, nanotechnology adoption in architecture faces several challenges, including limited real-world applications, slow diffusion in practice, and persistent organizational, economic, and regulatory barriers. …

Corrigendum To " Computational Investigation Of Cavitation Inception In Centrifugal Pumps"

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Abstract is not required.