Improving Early Design Processes With The Use Of Bim And Vr Technologies In The Gcc Construction Industry, Mohamed Wahid Mohamed

Theses

The early stages of construction projects play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the entire project life cycle. However, conventional early design practices have been facing significant challenges and limitations in recent times. These challenges include a lack of coordination among various disciplines, communication gaps, and poor decision-making. Unfortunately, these challenges often lead to increased costs, project delays, and change orders. To tackle these challenges, it is essential to adopt the latest technological advancements in the construction industry. This is especially important given the complexity of modern construction projects and the rapid construction growth. One of the most …

Integrating Computer Vision In Construction Progress Monitoring: A Comprehensive Analysis And Future Perspectives, Muhammad Sami Rehman

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis presents an in-depth exploration of the integration of Computer Vision (CV) in Construction Progress Monitoring (CPM), a field that has traditionally relied on manual and document-centric approaches. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potential of CV technology to transform CPM into a more efficient, accurate, and automated process. This is achieved through a series of comprehensive studies encompassing a systematic review, critical appraisal, barrier analysis, feature classification, and assessment of construction professionals' perceptions. The first segment of the thesis systematically reviews the current state of automated CV-based CPM, identifying the technological advancements and limitations …

Integrating Computer Vision In Construction Progress Monitoring: A Comprehensive Analysis And Future Perspectives, Muhammad Sami Rehman

Dissertations

This dissertation presents an in-depth exploration of the integration of Computer Vision (CV) in Construction Progress Monitoring (CPM), a field that has traditionally relied on manual and document-centric approaches. Such traditional CPM techniques lead to poor tracking of project progress, resulting in delays, cost overruns, bitter stakeholder relationships, schedule changes, and legislative proceedings to settle construction claims. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potential of CV technology to transform CPM into a more efficient, accurate, and automated process. This is achieved through a series of comprehensive studies encompassing a systematic review, critical appraisal, barrier analysis, feature …

Construing Children’S Perceptions Of Ideal Learning Spaces: Home Vs. School, Rawan Natheer Abdel Rahman

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Learning is an intrinsic aspect of human experience, predominantly shaped by interactions within the socio-physical environment, including engagements with educators, peers, and the built surroundings. The design and character of these learning spaces influence children's cognitive, perceptual, and motor development while also embodying different pedagogical philosophies. Therefore, designing these spaces to align with educational shifts and enhance learning experiences requires a deep understanding of learner’s needs and perceptions. With the COVID-19 pandemic necessitating a shift to home-learning, there arose a unique opportunity to explore children’s perception of ideal learning spaces as they experienced both home and school settings. [Aims:] This …

Designing For A Local Brand Image Of Architecture To Achieve Cultural Sustainability: Al Ain City As A Case Study, Dana Bassam Bidoun

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Cities, like Al Ain, are dynamic entities, echoing the diverse rhythms and values of their inhabitants. Urban evolution showcases a city's brand—its unique identity sculpted by historical, cultural, and local influences. A city's true essence emerges when architects collaborate with residents, blending their desires with the city's architectural legacy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a brandbased design strategy, integrating the architecture process with insights from local residents to foster a sense of identity and belonging in the built environment. Grounded in the personal construct theory, the research applied the repertory grid technique, combining both qualitative and quantitative …

Assessing Asset Management In Aec/Fm: Unveiling Limitations And Advancing Solutions With Digital Twin, Abdelmoneim Mohamed Abdelmoti

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In recent years, the concept of Digital Twins (DTs) has emerged as a transformative technological innovation with the potential to revolutionize asset management practices. A Digital Twin is a digital representation closely linked to a physical entity, enabling bidirectional information exchange and data-driven decision-making. Within the realm of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Facilities Management (AEC/FM), DTs offer a diverse array of applications for enhancing asset management.
This thesis aims to demystify the concept of DTs and explore their existing applications in asset management, particularly within the AEC/FM industry. To achieve this, the research employs a twofold approach: a systematic review of …

Investigating Bim Applications In Reducing Co2 Emissions In The Built Environment – Uae Context, Rua Ahmed Maali

Theses

Large amounts of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere throughout the life cycle of a building starting from the production of materials and products, in the construction phase of the building itself, in the site setting, the renovations, the later rehabilitation, and up to the final demolition. Hence, this thesis aims to investigate the potential of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in making informed decisions that can help in reducing CO₂ emissions in the life cycle of built environment projects. This study has used a mixed method approach that includes literature review, a case study and semistructured interviews. …

Assessing Asset Management In Aec/Fm: Unveiling Limitations And Advancing Solutions With Digital Twin, Abdelmoneim Mohamed Abdelmoti

Theses

In recent years, the concept of Digital Twins (DTs) has emerged as a transformative technological innovation with the potential to revolutionize asset management practices. A Digital Twin is a digital representation closely linked to a physical entity, enabling bidirectional information exchange and data-driven decision-making. Within the realm of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Facilities Management (AEC/FM), DTs offer a diverse array of applications for enhancing asset management.
/="/">This thesis aims to demystify the concept of DTs and explore their existing applications in asset management, particularly within the AEC/FM industry. To achieve this, the research employs a two-fold approach: a systematic review …

Assessment Of Design Standards For Fish Landing Centers In The City Of Aden, Abdulnasser Abdulla Alkaderi, Gawaher Khaled Fadhl

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

ABSTRACT

The existence of fishing harbors became one of the factor that implies the performance of local fishermen. Since 2015, the fishing industry in Yemen has faced increased challenges, including a significant drop in the level of production; fish processing plants halting, and the disempowerment of the Ministry of Fish Wealth. Local fish landing centers and auction squares in the city of Aden suffer from a specific problem, which lies in their lack of many important services. Based on the problem, the study purposes to facilitate handling of fish products and provide comfortable environment for sellers, and consumers. Considering the …

معايير تقييم محطات النقل التبادلية بالتطبيق على محطة الجيزة التبادلية بالقاهرة الكبرى, Rania Adham, Abeer Galal, Maha Abd El Sattar

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

يعتبر الاهتمام بترابط وكفاءة وسائل النقل العام في كل من البلدان المتقدمة والنامية من الأولويات الاستراتيجية من أجل تحقيق تنقل سلس وفعال، خاصة في المدن كثيفة التحضر والأنشطة، حيث يكون استخدام وسائل النقل المختلفة سمة أساسية في الحياة اليومية للناس. ويواجه انشاء محطات نقل الركاب بمختلف أنماطها عدة تحديات أهمها تحقيق هدف التنقل الامن للركاب بالتوافق مع معايير الاستدامة العمرانية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية والبيئية. يركز البحث على دراسة محطات نقل الركاب التبادلية وذلك من خلال استخلاص معايير لتقييم تلك المحطات من الدراسات النظرية والتجارب العالمية، ثم تطبيق تلك المعايير لتقييم إحدى المحطات التبادلية في إقليم القاهرة الكبرى. وينتهي البحث باستخلاص نتائج …

Assessing The Perceptions Of School Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Of Artificial Green Elements In Hot Arid Region, Hala Fouad Albalkhi

Theses

Recently, global statistics demonstrated a continued increase in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) worldwide, especially in Gulf countries, where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks second in terms of autism prevalence. Studies emphasized the positive effects of green elements on the academic performance and skills of school children. The presence of indoor plants can lead to benefits such as stress reduction and positive health and well-being in children with ASD. However, green elements are less utilized in Al Ain schools due to difficulty in maintaining natural plants in buildings. This study aims to examine the perceptions of children with Autism Spectrum …

The Cost Of Connectivity - Assessing The Impact Of Superblock Road Design Costs On The Distance, Directness, And Diversity Of Pedestrian Routes, Rim Ibrahim Anabtawi

Theses

Superblocks have been massively constructed and cover a remarkable amount of Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape. Recent research has shown that Abu Dhabi’s superblocks promote car dependency, which dominates approximately all local transportation, and results in increases in fossil fuel consumption, increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and negative impacts on air quality. This thesis, along with multiple recent studies, addressed this issue, looking at the different designs of internal road networks of residential superblocks in order to better understand their connectivity. The evaluation of different network designs used in the city’s superblocks has provided valuable insights by which to support and …

Energy Performance Of Double Skin Façade For High-Rise Residential Building In Abu Dhabi, Narmeen Tariq Abu Hilal

Theses

The hot climate of the UAE generates unique challenges for architects and building engineers looking for energy efficiency in high-rise residential buildings. The use of glass building facades has been increased; this type of façade usually comes with a high air-conditioning cost due to the higher heat gain. To design energy-efficient buildings, it is essential to adapt the principles of sustainability and innovative transparent glass façade design into practice as the building facade is a major element in determining the amount of energy used in buildings. Construction details, methods, and materials of the residential building facade play an important role …

Adaptive Façades’ Technologies To Enhance Building Energy Performance And More, Kawther Ahmed Hameedaldeen, Ahmed Omar M.S. Mostafa

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

With the increased enrolment the digital technologies and modern computer applications in AEC industry, a parallel increase and upgrade happened in the work competition leading to new benchmarks in such fields. The importance of these technologies increased with their investment of improving energy consumption in buildings, which represents a world crisis. The problem got worse in hot arid desert zones, as the case of some regions in KSA, where most users tend to spend most of their time in internal air-conditioned spaces, which led to the increase of the consumption of cooling energy, that reach 40% of the total Energy …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Ieq And Energy Consumption In Uae University Building: Impact Of Thermal And Lighting Comfort On Energy Usage, Salama Abdulla Al Ghaithi

Theses

The Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) of buildings becomes increasingly critical as people spend more than 90% of their time inside buildings based on the National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS) (Klepeis et al., 2001). The quality of the indoor environment in a building has been shown to have a significant impact on users' productivity and energy consumption. Further, if tenants are working in a comfortable indoor environment, absenteeism rates and incidental expenses, such as medical expenses, will be reduced. For instance, a comfortable workplace increases productivity by 10-15% and reduces absenteeism by 2.5% (Leyten & Boerstra, 2003). According to the …

“Top Trends And Challenges Of Digital Technologies To Enhance The Efficiency Of Building Thermal Insulation And The Reality Of Its Application In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia”, Abrar Nasser Hamdi, Ahmed Omar M.S. Mostafa

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

تشكل التقنيات الرقمية إحدى أهم مظاهر التقدم الحضاري في القرن الحادي والعشرين والتي اثرت بشكل كبير علـى النتاج المعماري تصميماً وانشاءً سواء على مستوى تقنيات المواد، أو تقنيات التطبيقات الرقمية أو تقنيات الأجهزة الإلكترونية الرقمية التي تساعد في تحسين أداء المباني عموماً ورفع كفاءة أداء العزل الحراري على وجه الخصوص. وعلى الرغم من انتشار تطبيق تقنيات مواد البناء في العديد من المجالات التي ترتبط بالعزل الحراري الى جانب تطبيقها وقياس ادائها باستخدام بالتقنيات الرقمية في أغلب الدول المتقدمة، الا انها لم تصل الى المستوى المأمول في السوق المحلي بالمملكة وهو ما يمثل إشكالية البحث الرئيسية. ويهدف البحث إلى استكشاف أهم …

Trends And Challenges Of Parametric Design Techniques In Design Concepts Evaluation & Development, And Its Application In Riyadh, Albaraa Ibraheem Ghabban, Ahmed Omar M.S. Mostafa

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The continuous development and transformation of modeling and design techniques and tools lead to the emergence of more efficient techniques that support the architects through the design process. In light of that, the parametric design field is considered a state-of-art of such techniques that could support architects in making the most suitable and effective design decisions in early design stages by testing a large number of design solutions and alternatives using computational models. When considering the tendency of KSA, within its vision 2030, to digital transformation and increase the digital applications in all fields, the lack of sufficient data about …

Evaluation Of The Proliferation Of Electromagnetic Radiation In Smart Indoor Environment And Subsequent Absorption On Human Head By Simulation And Factorial Analysis, Reshna Raveendran

Dissertations

Smart buildings using 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) acknowledge themselves as one of the undeniable byproducts occasioned from the fifth Industrial Revolution and are seen as the best solution adopted by the built environment. Smart buildings are publicized to carry a spectrum of benefits for building occupants ranging from actively saving electricity, ensuring operational efficiency to facilitating health support, wellness and productivity. Conversely, the negative aspects associated with smart buildings are often marginalized, and the limited research produced so far makes them seemingly non-existent. Literature review informs us that a smart building being subjected to external and artificial radiation …

The Impact Of Light Rail Transit On The Urban Development In Dubai, Uae, Dhabia Nasser Alhazmi Alefari

Theses

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has seen significant growth in urban development over the past two decades. To overcome the implication of this development, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has called for sustainable transport development at all levels, including the Light Rail Transit (LRT), which is a friendly mass transit system to satisfy the requirements of urban mobility, environmental sustainability, and green power efficiency. The shift towards sustainable mass transport systems has become the ideal choice to overcome the challenges accompanying the growth and development facing cities such as Dubai and to convert them into sustainable environmentally friendly places. …

Gated Communities In The Uae: From A Social Sustainability Barrier To A Catalyst, Marwa Salem Al Jaberi

Theses

Gated communities are commonly defined as residential areas with restricted access, where commonly public spaces are privatized. The main characteristic of gated communities, based on the physical aspect of the development, involves gates, walls, guards, and closed-circuit surveillance. Scholarly studies have focused on the phenomenon of gated communities through covering its implications on the society and the city, where the benefits of this type of development have been frequently questioned. Gated communities have been linked with their negative impacts on the communities as socially segregated areas form the surrounding urban context. Nonetheless, several other studies advocated paradoxical theories related to …

Investigating The Factors That Cause Cost And Time Overrun In The Residential Construction Projects In The Uae: Project Managers Perspective, Enas Jamal Abu Namous

Theses

The construction industry is considered an essential element to stabilize countries economically. In the UAE, this sector has received a lot of attention and development since the discovery of oil. This has enhanced the continuous expansion in construction activities. Recently, the construction projects in the UAE and KSA together reached 60% of the whole projects in the Middle East region, and the majority of it was in Dubai, which in 2018 enhanced its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reach 14.5%. Therefore, the decision-makers apply multiple methods at different projects in order to achieve the prime factors for project success which …

An Appraisal Of The Arab City Experience In Running Urban Observatories, Tahar Ledraa, Abdullah Althabt, Majed Hallawani

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The paper sets out to evaluate the Arab city experience in running urban observatories (UOs). As Arab states face the challenges of staggering rates of urbanization (i,e; Kuwait 100%, and Qatar 99.2%), their cities require the provision of more services and more efficient urban management. As the world is witnessing some drastic changes such as the shift from government to governance and the rise of the civil society, the Arab city cannot be immune to such transformations. Some have lately adopted urban observatories (UOs) as a tool to cope with these changes. The government observatory type has been embraced as …

Thermal Energy Assessment Of New Constructed Bio-Based Insulation Material Applied In Buildings, Abeer Fuad Othman Dar Saleh

Architectural Engineering Theses

The building sector is moving towards energy-efficient design "low energy consumption". The development of bio-based thermal insulation materials contributes strongly to this approach. The implantation of these materials in the new designed buildings will have an excellent impact in reducing the energy consumption and subsequently saving the non-renewable resources depletion and in decreasing the waste generation.

In this research, the energy performance of a new bio-insulation material prepared from rice will be evaluated. Focusing on its physical and thermal properties such as thermal conductivity and fire reaction evaluation. The developed insulation sample has been made by heating a fixed quantity …

Exploring Conscious And Unconscious Emotional Affordances Of Traditional Versus International Architectural Styles, Ala’ Faleh Ahmad Albdour

Architectural Engineering Theses

This thesis is concerned with investigating the effect of contemporary architectural styles on the human emotion both conscious and unconscious. In particular, it looks at the traditional visual context versus the international visual context within the built environment. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the countries that has applied little restrictions on the adoption of the architectural styles, the case that makes it an appropriate place to conduct this kind of studies. The main aim of this thesis is to investigate the emotional affordance of a number of participants when they observe a visual context of a ‘Brand Image’ …

Building Integrated Photovoltaics: Barriers And Drivers In The United Arab Emirates, Daniel Efurosibina Attoye

Dissertations

Buildings consume about 40% of the total annual energy produced globally; however, under the extreme hot climate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this reaches almost 80%. From an architectural perspective, this study focuses on Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) as a multi-functional, innovative solar technology that provides on-site renewable energy. Researchers affirm that BIPV has the potential to convert the building from a consumer of energy, to a producer of renewable energy while advancing net-zero targets, and maintaining building aesthetics, functionality, and structural stability. Along with other technical and economic benefits, BIPV can also contribute towards advancing the global energy …

Social Media Impact On Urban Awareness In Saudi Arabia: An Empirical Study, Nahar Bahij, Mohammad Alghamdi

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most active countries in social media, as it is leading the world in the number of active users on Snapchat and on the way to top the number of users on Instagram. Recently, many local and Arab influencers have launched accounts on social media platforms to create urban awareness among the public, which makes it a new phenomenon that needs to be studied.

This research aims to study the impact of social media platforms and applications on urban awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research used the methodology of …

Construction Waste Management Practices In Abu Dhabi; Investigation And Evaluation, Batoul Yousef Hittini

Architectural Engineering Theses

In 2012, the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi has reported that 6.9% of the total Green House Gases were emitted by the waste sector emitting 92% by solid waste disposal in the landfills. In 2016, about 4.55 million tons of waste was generated by the construction and demolition industry, representing 47% of the total non-hazardous waste produced. This increased by 62.92% compared to the amount in 2015. The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi has set its goal towards waste management starting by first using a reduction approach. Estidama has mandated a diversion of 30% of construction generated waste by reusing …

Establishing An Information System For Documenting Valuable Buildings By Using Gis In Egypt, Mona Mahrous Abdel Wahed

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Valuable heritage buildings are the history of nations, and history forms the identities of these nations. Many of these buildings are exposed to deterioration, destruction and distortion. Therefore, it is essential to protect and maintain these buildings to protect history. Effective documentation of valuable buildings is necessary to guide and assist stakeholders in making decisions regarding valuable buildings. Documentation requires robust and scientific methods. Therefore, it is important to utilize new technology in general and geographic information system GIS in particular in documenting valuable buildings. GIS has the potential to contribute and deal with valuable buildings at various stages and …

Daylight Illuminance In Classrooms Adjacent To Covered And Uncovered Courtyards Under The Clear Sky Of Najran City, Saudi Arabia, Abdultawab M. Qahtan

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Daylight penetrating the classrooms makes students efficient, improves overall health and increases energy efficiency. In the hot regions, the concept of courtyards in buildings is deeply linked to the architecture as a sustainable solution to daylight indoors without negatively affecting the building cooling loads in the summer. Najran University has existing courtyards in college buildings. Recently, the university covered the courtyards using PVC canvas. This study aims to investigate and compare the daylight illuminance in classrooms adjacent to covered and uncovered courtyards. A case study of four classrooms in the College of Engineering was investigated under the clear sky of …

Augmented And Virtual Reality Technologies In Contemporary Architectural Design, Osama Altamimi

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Technological developments and the digital revolution have succeeded in integrating many technological applications and launching them into applications that are more complex and penetrated into all aspects of technology that affect architecture. The most important of these is the technology of augmented and virtual reality, which unleashed the architects' freedom of thought and creativity without restriction, High flexibility; they transferred architecture to the virtual reality world. The role of the computer in architecture is no longer limited to presentation and imagination, but a main shift in the traditional standards of the design process and the transformation of the computer into …