Architecture Commons^™

Implementing Vertical Gardens In Educational Buildings To Reduce Energy Consumption And Achieve Low Carbon Emissions, Khloud Khalid Eldamshiry, Mohamed Esmat Elattar, Ahmed Abubakr

Architectural Engineering

Nowadays, the change of climate has been a crucial problem for architects to address since buildings consume more than half of the energy that results in carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. Vertical gardens have been proven in studies to be capable of significantly offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from building. in addition to passively cooling and insulating the structure As a result, the energy required for building operation is lowered in what appears to be a butterfly effect. The bulk of non-residential buildings in Egypt have been built without regard for energy efficiency regulations in recent years. As …

The Utilisation Of The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4ir) Technologies In E-Government Service Delivery: A Systematic Literature Review, Arnet Zitha, Noluntu Mpekoa, Sheethal Tom

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies is transforming e-Government by boosting citizen engagement and enhancing service efficiency. However, gaps still exist in understanding the various applications, impacts, and barriers to adoption. This systematic review synthesises literature from 16 studies published between 2017 and 2025, illustrating how technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things, and machine learning are employed and their effects on e-Government service delivery. The review reveals that 4IR technologies continue to play a vital role in e-Government services by addressing security threats, simplifying verification and authentication, building trust, and improving the quality and …

The Impact Of Interactive Classroom Interior Design On Student’S Perceived Well-Being: A Case Study Of Egyptian Language Schools In Cairo., Dalia Moati, Tasneem Gamal, Rodina Mostafa, Yara Farrag

Architectural Engineering

The impact of classroom interior design on students’ perceived well- being, encompassing cognitive, physical, and social aspects, is substantial. While there is increasing evidence supporting the importance of individual interior elements such as lighting, colour, and furniture, most research examines these factors separately, neglecting their combined effects. This research seeks to examine how an integrated approach to interactive classroom interior design through flexible seating areas, ergonomic furniture, natural lighting, colours psychology, acoustics, and thermal comfort influences student well- being (physical, social, and cognitive). The research explores the most effective combinations of design components in fostering a positive and supportive learning …

Utilization Of Colors, Lighting, And Materials As A Narrative Ai-Tool To Convey Human Emotions In Museums’ Interior Spaces. A Case Study Of The Museum Of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt., Dalia Moati, Rawan Medhat, Fagr Hesham, Nada Khaled, Tamer

Architectural Engineering

This study explores the relationship between museum interior design and human emotional responses, focusing on how key design elements—color, lighting, and materials—can be optimized to enhance visitor engagement and emotional well- being. Conducted at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Egypt, the research examines two critical spaces along the visitor journey: the Medicine Hall, introducing the experience, and the Writings Hall, situated toward the end of the route, where fatigue and emotional disengagement often occur. Over a nine-week period, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating structured observation, behavioral mapping, and AI-assisted image modifications to generate controlled design variations, alongside …

An Investigation Of Hydro-Morphological Changes At The Estuarine Outlet Of Kitchener Drain, Northern Coast Of Egypt, Nada Mansour, Karim Nassar, Mahmoud El-Gamal, Tharwat Sarhan

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In recent years, sedimentation and coastline erosion have occurred in the Kitchener Drain, where its outflow meets the Mediterranean Sea. Several measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of these problems. Excavation continues toward the drain's outlet, and there have been multiple stages of hard protection work, such as groins along the drain's eastern and western banks. What would happen if the working near the drain was kept, where accretion and erosion are most severe. The Coastal Modelling System (CMS) was used to find it out. The two-dimensional hydrodynamic circulation model known as the CMS is outfitted with modules …

Novel Nano-Composite Materials (Nncms) With The Designations J1, J2, And J3 For Removal Several Harmful Ions, Mohammed K. Al-Doseri, Safaa. R. Fouda, Mohamed Mossad, Mahmoud H. Mahmoud

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The most toxic material to the environment is heavy metals. remove heavy metals from wastewater is done by adsorption. Many papers have been done using different materials to take off toxic dangerous ions from wastewater. Noval Nano-composites material (NNCM)as designated as J1, J2, and J3 the most used adsorbents in this study. To conduct the experiments, synthetic wastewater was generated in the lab. Batch experiments were conducted to create the best conditions for removing these ions from the wastewater. The optimum conditions obtained were 90 min optimum contact time, and pH equal seven, optimal NNCM dose was 0.5 g/L achieving …

Intelligent System Designs For Hvac Energy Reduction In Buildings: Ai-Based Forecasting And Hybrid Active/Passive Approaches, Leena N. Alam, Rim M. Obaid, Thoraya Musa, Wegdan O. Alshateri, Passent M. Elkafrawy Prof

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

The majority of building energy utilization worldwide is related to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning) systems. Eighty percent of the energy produced in Saudi Arabia is used by buildings, and since 70\% of that energy is used for ventilation, air conditioning accounts for roughly 50\% of the nation’s electrical use. This study reviewed and compared much research that used various AI-based forecasting algorithms. Specifically, the study explored the potential of passive and active cooling methods and intelligent system designs and used this analysis to develop a hybrid model that combined AI-based forecasting with active/passive approaches for optimal energy savings. The …

Nucleus Rehabilitationcentre

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

ImprisonmentofchildjuvenilesinSaudiArabiaisontherise due totherateofcrimecommittedbythesegroupofindividual.How- ever,imprisonmentalonewillnotbeabletocorrectthementalcondition of youngchildren,andcouldevenprovokethemtocommitmorecrimes later inlife.Thus,thegovernmentofSaudiArabiaintendstoestablisha rehabilitation centerforthesegroupsofpeoplethroughitsvision2030. Hence, inthisworkaconceptualproposedondevelopinganucleusreha- bilitation centeratJeddah,SaudiArabiaispresented.Inthiswork,the estimated netareaforthecenteris13118.3m2andthetotalgrossarea is 16699.56m2.Inaddition,thecenteriscomprisedoffewzonessuchas main reception,administration,archives,healthunit,reformprogram, entertainment,residenceofteenagers,mail,visitationandservice.More- over,therehabilitationcenterisproposedtobedevelopedatatDahban cityinJeddah,whichfulfilstherequirementfortherehabilitationcen- ter. Therehabilitationcenteraimstoproduceawell-behavedgeneration and helpthembeginanewphaseoflifewiththeirlocalcommunityand society,whichisinlinewiththevision2030ofSaudiArabia.

Observatorycenter, Rim Thabit

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Humans havereliedonastronomyforanumberofthings, suchasdeterminingthedirectionsandseasonsoftheyear.InSaudi Arabia, astronomyisanessentialsciencebecauseitisgenerallyused in theirculturetodetermineRamadan,theperiodoffastingandthe celebration ofEid.Inaddition,SaudiArabiahassetvision2030and intendstobesuccessfulnationinthefieldofastronomy.Thus,inorder to achievethevision,thisworkproposesthedevelopmentofanobser- vatorycenteratSaudiArabia.Inthiswork,twocasestudiesrelatedto observatorycenterhavebeenanalysed.Basedonthecasestudies,the proposedobservatorycenterwillhaveanestimatednetareaof7,090m2. The observatorycenteriscomprisedoffewzones,suchasexhibition, planetarium, administration,learningcenterandservice.Thiscenteris proposedtobedevelopatAl-Samer,Jeddah.Thedevelopmentofthe ObservatoryCenterisexpectedtospreadawarenessofAstronomyand its importanceamongthecommunityofSaudiArabia.Inaddition,it will createafoundationforthesocietyinthefieldofastronomy.

Islamic Cultural Center, Omiema H.Alnami

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Saudi Arabia is a popular destination for the Islamic community around the globe due to its holy city of Makkah. In addition, Saudi Arabia is nation, which is rich with Islamic cultural values, and it requires a proper medium for it to be preserved for the upcoming generations. Thus, this work presents a proposal on developing an Islamic cultural centre at Makkah, Saudi Arabia. In relation to this interest, this study has examined 3 cases studies with regards to Islamic cultural centre . Based on the evaluated case studies, the estimated net area for the Islamic cultural centre is 13061 …

Kinetic Energy Harvesting From Human Footsteps: Review And Case Study, Mady Mohamed

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Kinetic energy generated from motion. Such energy is observable as the movement of an object. The heavier the object is, the faster it moves, and more kinetic energy it has. In this recent era where design and science integration are vital in architecture and energy and energy, both scientists and designers strive to push their respective fields towards achieving a more efficient built environment. Utilizing motion into the architecture to conserve energy for environmental and economic benefits is one of the recent challenges in the renewable energy (RE) field. This paper aims at comprehensively exploring the literature about the recent …

Humanizing Cities As An Approach For Solving Cities' Problems To Be More Livable, Kareem Mahrous Ali

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Most people around the world want to move from the countryside to the cities or from one city to another that provides them with all their human needs for a better life. The dream may come true for them or turn into a nightmare for reasons related to general problems facing most cities in the world, such as the high cost of living and the absence of social justice, these problems cause an increase in poor families, or the issue of refugees and the inability of some cities to welcome them, the energy crisis, and the challenges of climate change …

The Future Of The Arab Media Industry In Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Technologies: A Foresight Study (2024 To 2034), Mohammedwesam Amer, Abdullah Mohammed Atbiqa

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study explores the future of the Arab media industry from 2024 to 2034 in light of the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It identifies key media sectors likely to be affected by AI—such as content creation, news production, editing, and audience engagement—and proposes strategies for effective implementation. The study employs a descriptive survey methodology grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire from a purposive sample of 264 respondents across 18 Arab countries, including academic elites and media professionals working with Arab media institutions. Findings reveal …

Too Hot To Handle: Assessing Practitioner Climate Service Needs To Advance Heat Resilience, K. M. Archie, D. Hirschfeld, S. Meerow, J. C. Arnott, L. Keith, J. A. Vano, E. Mateo

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Extreme heat is deadly and it is disproportionately experienced by lower-income, minority, and marginalized community members. Heat practitioners are faced with the dual challenges of taking action to mitigate the level of heat experienced by local residents while preparing communities to manage unavoidable levels of elevated warming. In response to a lack of in-depth information about heat practitioner needs, this work aims to advance our understanding of how efforts to improve climate services may contribute to more effective extreme heat planning and decision-making in the United States. Through a two-round, mixed-methods approach that employed group interviews and a survey, we …

What Is Lost When Time Is Saved: Drawing In Collaboration With The Urban Periphery, Carmen Ribaudo

MFA in Visual Art

I pay attention to the overlooked spaces where land and industry meet, prompting me to wonder what can be gleaned in the oily and cracked urban periphery. With a focus on my hometown St. Louis, this industrial city is my subject matter. And so, I draw in a neighborhood bisected by a highway. I animate with sand near the river confluence on land preserved after a historic flood. I make my own bricks in this Brick City, setting up in locations of former terra cotta clay mines. I sit in the tension of what author Michael Martone calls the “midwestern …

Building Better Cities With Artificial Intelligence: A Path To Sustainability And Livability, Mona Mahrous Abdel Wahed

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The rapid acceleration of urbanization has amplified the multifaceted challenges confronting cities in attaining sustainability and ensuring livability. Artificial Intelligence technologies stand out as transformative tools with the potential to revolutionize urban development through finding innovative solutions to urban challenges. By leveraging AI, cities can optimize resource allocation, enhance decision-making processes, and create urban environments that are both livable and environmentally sustainable. Achieving this transformation requires visionary policymakers, meticulous planning, and a commitment to ethical AI deployment. Through AI's data-driven insights, urban planners can make informed decisions that align with the complex and dynamic needs of urban areas. This research …

Between Shelter And Ash: A Process-Based Study On Fire-Resilient Recommendations For Wildland-Urban Interface Zones, Sandra L. Santos

McNair Summer Research Program

With the intensifying threat of wildfires across California, evident in the destruction of over 16,000 structures during the 2025 Los Angeles fires, there is an urgent need to reconsider how residential structures are conceived in fire-prone zones. While existing building codes and guidelines have made notable progress in addressing wildfire risk, their predominant focus on “home hardening” often overlooks the potential of site planning, spatial configuration, and architectural design as agents of wildfire resilience.

This study, conducted through the McNair Scholars Program under the mentorship of Professor Daniel Lopez-Perez, ultimately develops a Wildfire-Resilient Design Guide and three connective drawings through …

Between Shelter & Ash: A Design Policy Atlas For Wildfire-Resiliency, Daisy Elizabeth Morales-Zaragoza

McNair Summer Research Program

Architectural design holds a powerful potential in the face of wildfire threats, yet remains underutilized in fire resilience strategies. This study will explore how design, at the level of the house, street, and community, can move beyond code compliance toward holistic protection. Through analysis of principal fire codes such as IWUIC, CBC Chapter 7A, and NFPA 1144, visual diagrams, precedent case studies, and original architecture proposals, the paper proposes a multiscale design framework that expands our understanding of resilience. It argues that while fire codes establish critical baselines, spatial planning, form, and materials must work in concert with social and …

08.11.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

F and A rates

ORED Research Reception

NSF Audit Final Resolution and Compliance Updates

Between Shelter & Ash, Designing Fire-Proof Resilient Neighborhoods, Arlene I. Garcia Guzman

McNair Summer Research Program

In response to the ongoing catastrophic wildfires in the U.S., especially the West Coast region, the State of California is proactively implementing the first multi-faceted legislative and regulatory framework to enhance wildfire resiliency.

During a disaster, embers are the most important contributors to wildfire, and can dictate whether homes ignite or not. Given their potent ignition source, their capacity to travel for miles, researchers have concluded that wind-blown embers are the leading cause of destruction during wildfires. Simultaneously, the purpose of the 2025 building codes is to strengthen construction methods, requiring the use of rated structural materials, such as sheathing, …

Shared Kitchens Changing The Housing Development, Agniya Seliuzhytskaya

McNair Summer Research Program

In response to the escalating housing crisis and ongoing economic disruptions, many individuals have turned to home-based food entrepreneurship as a means of financial stability. The Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) program enables residents to legally operate small-scale food businesses from their private kitchens, effectively blurring the line between domestic and commercial space. This research investigates how MEHKOs challenge conventional understandings of housing, domesticity, and zoning, and considers how shared or adaptable kitchen models might inform emerging housing typologies.

The study combines spatial and policy analysis by mapping the distribution of approved MEHKO sites in San Diego and overlaying that …

Spaces Of Empowerment: A Study On University Multicultural Spaces & Civil Rights, Keana Balalio

McNair Summer Research Program

Following the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, American universities dedicated offices and centers to multiculturalism. This project questions how identity-centered spaces for empowerment operate in relation to efforts for institutional integration. This study proposes the term space(s) of empowerment to describe identity-based areas at universities [and other institutions] that encourage gathering of historically marginalized communities, their allies, and institutional supervisory support. The concept draws on architectural literature regarding political and economic power dynamics of space. Beginning with the University of San Diego’s United Front Multicultural Commons (UFMC), study includes reproductions of floor plans and memories. Analysis draws from Michel de Certeau’s …

Where Pipes Meet The Water: Urban Infrastructure In Tijuana, Joab Barrientos

McNair Summer Research Program

Tijuana's rapid urban growth and industrial development have placed significant pressure on its water infrastructure, resulting in ongoing pollution concerns in the Tijuana River Watershed and elsewhere in and beyond the city. In many areas of the city, rapid urban growth has outpaced the building of critical infrastructure like sewage and stormwater systems. These factors have left neighborhoods at risk for a long time. At the same time, industrial growth has often relied on old infrastructure or happened without the right systems in place. Although poor water quality has been a problem for years, few studies have used spatial analysis …

Enhancing Client Intake Efficiency In The Removal Defense Program: A Nursing-Led Quality Improvement Initiative, Johnny Linares, Julia Tran Ngo, Daniel Orea, Atheana Yadira Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project focuses on optimizing the intake process for the Removal Defense Program at a nonprofit immigration legal office serving asylum-seeking clients. The existing intake relied on unstructured, phone-call-based intake interviews that gathered incomplete information, leading to inconsistent documentation, reduced efficiency, and significant client processing delays. A structured, multilingual, and multiplatform new-client admission protocol coupled with the implementation of a client-facing resource guide for waitlist clients were co-developed and implemented using the Lippitt Change Theory framework. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the study involved staff interviews and observational assessments with staff members from the program. Baseline intake process …

Optimal Roof Strategy For Mitigating Urban Heat Island In Hot Arid Climates : Simulation And Python-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Rehab Alaa, Amira Elbalazi, Walaa S.E. Ismaeel

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Demystifying The Discharge Coefficient For Flow Over Thin Weirs And Sills, Joseph E. Pugh, Subhas Karan Venayagamoorthy, Timothy K. Gates

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A revised derivation of the discharge coefficient for flows over thin weirs and sills in the limits of wall overflow to a free overfall is given. Using dimensional analysis, we show that the discharge coefficient, (Formula presented), in the classical weir-discharge equation is best understood as a weir Froude number, (Formula presented), which accounts for the combined effects of inertia, contraction and viscous energy losses within the flow field. A comprehensive set of experimental data from historical studies is complimented by new data from the authors, featuring both laboratory flume experiments and three-dimensional numerical simulations of weir flows. Synthesis of …

The Legal System For Influencers On Social Media Platforms: A Comparative Study, Ahmad Ibrahim Ballal, Najem Riyad Al-Rabadi, Ma’Moun Rashed Al-Huneiti

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study explores the legal regulation of social media influencers through a comparative analysis between French and Jordanian legislation. The research problem lies in the absence of a clear and comprehensive legal framework regulating influencers' growing role in shaping public opinion. Using the comparative analytical method, the study examines relevant legal texts and regulatory approaches in both jurisdictions. The findings highlight significant differences, with France enacting a specific law to govern influencer activities, while Jordan still relies on general legal provisions. The study recommends drafting a dedicated Jordanian law that outlines influencers' legal responsibilities and balances freedom of expression with …

Representations Of The Other In Hamas's Media Discourse During The "Al-Aqsa Flood" Operation: A Rhetorical Analytical Study, Enad Mamdouh Al-Zaben, Sabah Al Harahsheh

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study aimed to determine how the Hamas movement represented the "other" in its media discourse during the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation. To achieve this goal, the study relied on the qualitative analytical approach, specifically rhetorical discourse analysis. The study sample included all Hamas's media spokesman speeches, between October 7, 2023, and January 1, 2024, numbering 11 speeches. The study results showed that Hamas's media discourse focused on portraying two main groups: "us" and "them." The "us" group included the Palestinian people in all their spectra. They were referred to using terms with positive connotations such as: "the steadfast," "the one …

Measuring What Matters: Optimizing Usd’S Campus Spaces For Equity, Sustainability, And Impact, Briana Burton

McNair Summer Research Program

In alignment with Goal #3 of the University of San Diego’s Lighting the Way to 2030 strategic plan (Responsible Stewardship), the university initiated the Campus Space Study-- a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of academic and administrative space usage. This project aims to optimize resource allocation, reduce environmental impact, and improve the educational experience by leveraging cutting-edge sensor technology and strategic planning tools.

As the sole student representative on the 18-member Steering Committee, I contribute a student-focused lens to this institutional initiative. Through my McNair research, I actively participate in the implementation of the study, supporting the installation and calibration of over …

Tools We Use: Evaluating Uav And Photogrammetry Workflows For Early-Stage Site Documentation; Comparative Analysis For Small Landscape Architecture Firms, Bryant Baugus

Theses and Dissertations

Landscape architects utilize advanced technologies in the design process. Advancements in automation and data capture have opened up new opportunities for UAVs and photogrammetry to produce high-resolution imagery, contours, and 3D models. By leveraging UAVs early in the design process, landscape architects are able to maximize advantages: site analysis through computational software, 3D sectional information, and hydrology prediction. This research focuses specifically on the advantages UAVs offer compared to established workflow methods. It examines four unique workflows for early-stage site documentation: capturing the site with UAVs through photogrammetry, generating a site plan from publicly available GIS data, gathering information from …