Topic Review
Analysis Existing Mosque Buildings in the UAE
According to the World Economic Forum, the building sector is responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and this is expected to increase due to population growth and the subsequent impact on the environment, economy and health. To tackle the problem, countries have set new construction codes, policies and regulations for the construction of new buildings in an effort to make them greener. However, there is a need to enhance the status of the existing buildings, especially mosques, as they are the main contributors to energy usage and water consumption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • 224
  • 01 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Technologies for Built Environment
Every year, more than 4 million people are at risk of dying due to acquiring a microbial infection. As per the COVID-19 pandemic, such infections alone increase the cost and burden to the healthcare system. Therefore, mitigating the risk of microbial infection in the built environment is one of the essential considerations in preparedness for future pandemic situations. This is especially important for a dense population within urban cities and for indoor environments with higher concentrations of indoor contaminants due to poorer ventilation. The widely diverse types of built environments in public areas with their varying purpose, design, and surfaces also mean that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for every space. In order to improve the adoption and consideration of antimicrobial surfaces, the built environment industry and stakeholders could benefit from more in-depth and long-term evaluation of these antimicrobial technologies, which demonstrate their real-time impact on various built environment spaces.
  • 450
  • 19 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Application of Photovoltaic Technology in Chinese Solar Greenhouses
A Chinese solar greenhouse (CSG) is an agricultural facility type with Chinese characteristics. It can effectively utilize solar energy during low-temperature seasons in alpine regions. The low construction and operation costs make it a main facility for agricultural production in the northern regions of China. It plays an extremely important role in “Chinese vegetable basket projects”. Energy is one of the important issues faced by CSGs. The better climate resources in the northern regions of China make it possible to apply solar energy as a green and sustainable energy source in the production of CSGs. Faced with the increasingly serious environmental problems of the new century, the Chinese government has made a decision and put it into practice to improve the rate and efficiency of solar energy utilization in agricultural facilities.
  • 137
  • 18 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Apps for Enabling Disabled Individuals Accessibility in Buildings
Mobile applications have revolutionized various aspects of our lives, enhancing convenience, connectivity, and productivity.  From communication to entertainment, these apps have transformed the way we interact with the world. One crucial area where mobile apps have immense potential is in enabling accessibility for disabled individuals, particularly in buildings. 
  • 162
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Arch-Dams’ Building Risk Reduction
The are thousands of large dams over the globe. The importance of dams is rapidly increasing due to the impact of climate change on increasing hydrological process variability and on water planning and management need. This study tackles a review for the concrete arch-dams’ design process, from a dual sustainability/safety management approach. On one hand, Sustainability is evaluated through a design optimization for dams´ stability and deformation analysis. On the other hand, safety is directly related to the reduction and consequences of failure risk. For that, several scenarios about stability and deformation, identifying desirable and undesirable actions, were estimated. More than 100 specific parameters regarding dam-reservoir-foundation-sediments system and their interactions have been collected. Also, a summary of mathematical modelling was made, and more than 100 references were summarized. The following consecutive steps, required to design engineering (why act), maintenance (when to act) and operations activities (how to act), were evaluated: individuation of hazards, definition of failure potential and estimation of consequences (harm to people, assets and environment). Results show that the area to model the dam–foundation interaction is around 3.0 Hd2, the system-damping ratio and vibration period is 8.5% and 0.39 s. Also, maximum elastic and elasto-plastic displacements are ~0.10–0.20 m. The failure probability for stability is 34%, whereas for deformation it is 29%
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Architectural 3D-Printed Structures Created Using Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D printing (3DP) play considerable roles in what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, by developing data- and machine-intelligence-based integrated production technologies. In architecture, this shift was induced by increasingly complex design requirements, posing important challenges for real-world design implementation, large-scale structure fabrication, and production quality standardization.
  • 201
  • 12 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Sustainable Communities
Machine Learning (ML), a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), is gaining popularity in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector. In the interior environment, they contribute to energy management by optimizing energy usage, finding inefficiencies, and recommending modifications to minimize consumption. This contributes to reducing the environmental effect of energy generation. Similarly, AI and ML technologies aid in addressing environmental challenges. They can monitor air quality, noise levels, and waste management systems to quickly discover and minimize pollution sources. Likewise, AI and ML applications in construction processes enhance planning, scheduling, and facility management.
  • 165
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence-Based Decision Support Systems in Project Sustainability
Decision support systems (DSS) is a computer-based aid, which is designed to assist project managers in decision making when the tasks at hand are of a complex nature. Artificial intelligence (AI) is “the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages”. The use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision support systems (DSS) has been gaining in popularity. AI technologies are becoming powerful tools throughout the world for improving project management; however, the advancement of construction management is still in its infancy and is adapting to the use of AI at a much slower pace than other sectors
  • 2.5K
  • 15 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Artificial Lightweight Aggregates Made from Pozzolanic Material
Production of artificial lightweight aggregate incorporating waste materials or pozzolanic materials is advantageous and beneficial in terms of being environmentally friendly, as well as lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, additives, such as geopolymer, have been introduced as one of the alternative construction materials that have been proven to have excellent properties.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Assessing Rainwater Harvesting Potential in Urban Areas
Water scarcity has become a major problem for many countries, resulting in declining water supply and creating a need to find alternative solutions. One potential solution is rainwater harvesting (RwH), which allows rainwater to be stored for human needs. 
  • 552
  • 23 Nov 2021
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