Abstract: Floating wetland systems potentially can provide a diverse set of ecosystem services that collectively improve urban resilience. Despite the growing studies and use of floating wetlands in temperate and subtropical climates, the design of floating wetlands in tropical climates is still understudied. This paper therefore aims to identify the research gaps in landscape planning and synthesize the design typology that can be applied to tropical urban conditions. The purpose of this research is i) Identify opportunities and challenges in applying floating wetland systems for landscape planning and design, ii) synthesize the design typology that can be applied to urban tropical climate conditions and iii) demonstrate the application of ecological wetland principles for the built environment. This research uses a mixed methods approach by including both a narrative review based on 67 peer-reviewed articles as well as case studies from tropical climates. The review captures the challenges and opportunities of designing ecological floating wetlands in terms of multifunctional usage, site limitation, cost effectiveness, social benefit, and ecological habitat creation. For design typology of floating wetlands in a tropical climate, we discuss design components based on size, floating mat types, structures and materials, planting design, and additional technology. While the first case study showcased a design for an ecological floating wetland, the second case study illustrates how mathematical modeling can guide sizing and performance assessment in planning floating wetland implementation. Ecological floating wetlands can provide a positive impact to the urban environment under tropical conditions, but the main research gaps include an incomplete understanding of contaminant uptake rates associated with different plants, required maintenance of the systems, plant robustness, and community appreciation. Published on 2023-02-28 09:31:04
Abstract: Most of the electrical energy demand is consumed by urban activities. One of the renewable sources that can be used by urban communities is solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) systems. The amount of energy produced by a PV system is directly affected by the level of irradiation received by PV modules. Conventional PV systems are commonly installed with a fixed-mount system where the angle of incidence of radiation on solar modules changes over time. Solar irradiation would be optimum received by solar modules if the angle of incidence is kept at zero degrees, i.e., radiation is perpendicular to the surface of the modules. This condition can be achieved by employing a solar tracker system for solar modules. This paper studies the comparison of the energy output of PV systems between fixed-mount and without solar tracking in the urban area of Jakarta, Indonesia. The studies are carried out using Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) online simulation tools. The objective of the study is to compare and figure out the specific energy output between the optimized fixed-mount installation (without a tracking system) with solar tracking. In general, the results showed that the specific energy output PV system of a fixed-mount PV system in Jakarta is about 1379 kWh/kWp per year, while for the system with a solar tracking system, the specific energy production is about 1672 kWh/kWp. The information found is expected to be a useful reference for the development and promotion of solar energy, particularly in Indonesia. Published on 2023-01-25 10:19:00
Abstract: Green roofs are an effective way to solve many environmental problems. New cities in Egypt have recently suffered from increasing energy consumption as a result of increasing construction density resulting from population growth, which has decreased green spaces in Egyptian cities. This paper aims to improve the energy consumption of cooling and heating energy in social housing in new urban cities in Egypt, reduce high temperatures inside and outside building, and decrease the urban heat island effect. To achieve these aims, the study suggests a method that is based on modifying the traditional roof of residential construction in Egypt by converting it to a green roof. An integrated analysis model including a strategy shows the environmental and climatic benefits of using green roofs to provide the external outdoor temperature of social housing buildings. The result revealed that green roofs, which are used by 50% of green roofs in traditional buildings, were shown to be efficient in reducing annual energy consumption by 12% and decreasing the average temperature inside buildings by 2.44°C, whereas the average temperature outside was reduced by 3°C. Published on 2023-01-12 09:41:18
Abstract: Existing cities are difficult to reconfigure due to their population density and congested highways, which have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health. Sustainable urban development essentially improves people’s quality of life, preserves human health, and mitigates the global consequences of the climate change phenomena. As a result, there is a demand for sustainable cities, which are metropolitan areas powered by cutting-edge technology. This study looks at the subject of sustainable urban planning and how to apply all of the latest innovative solutions to Alexandria’s public transit systems. It focuses on the development of Alexandria as a platform for a high quality of life through a strategic urban plan that gives a future vision for reducing traffic congestion and pollution. This study offers a feasible solution to the city’s traffic problems through the use of smart infrastructure and innovative mobility solutions. The suggested sustainable design is based on the city’s green belt and new axes to establish new traffic channels that will alleviate congestion and solve the city’s traffic concerns. This plan is regarded as an important approach to a strategic urban plan for Alexandria’s transformation into a sustainable metropolis. Published on 2023-01-04 10:15:35
Abstract: Reinforced concrete is currently the most used material in construction, posing a significant environmental concern as GHG emissions and problems related to durability and recycling. Therefore, governments have started to encourage the usage of traditional buildings which offer interesting advantages. However, due to poor mechanical and technical performance, as well as a lack of regulations and know-how their usage is limited. The research work carried out on eco-materials has improved their mechanical performance as well as their water resistance. Despite the importance of this study, it is clear that the proposed ecological models cannot yet compete with modern constructions in terms of mechanical performance, rate of construction and economic efficiency. To combine the advantages of these two construction methods: the modern one with its better mechanical performance and economic efficiency, and the traditional one with its insulating power, ecological and bioclimatic aspects, it is proposed to investigate the aspects of the concept “hybrid building technology” which is less polluting, competitive and capable of reducing the impact of the construction on the environment. This article’s goal is to define the concept of hybrid construction technology via an analysis of two modern construction trends: sustainable construction techniques and reinforced concrete buildings. Furthermore, the article discusses several hybridization techniques in the building sector and offers some examples of hybrid construction technology models. Future prospects and recommendations for developing a hybrid building research field are also provided. As a conclusion, this third way in construction will allow for good outcomes in the reconciliation of construction, economics, and man with the environment. Published on 2022-12-08 10:27:54
Abstract: In 2003, new building regulations were introduced in the city of Dubai. In 2012, the municipality requested a survey of every building that existed prior to that year. This paper documents the method used for this significant undertaking, not performed by any other large city. The survey was conducted using a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled photography and field visits. Multiple images were taken of every street, resembling progressive film imagery, with every building recorded multiple times in the image sequence. The location-tagged images were superimposed on a city map and compared to historical satellite maps of the city from Google Earth history timelines. Whenever the photographic data was not enough to adequately classify a building, field visits were conducted. That was necessary for around 10% of the city structures. The fieldwork was conducted by two teams, each comprising two engineers, and took four weeks to complete. The results showed that, in 2003, there were around 37,000 buildings in the city. Of those, almost 89%, were low-rise (1–2 floors) and largely single-unit residential houses. Nearly all buildings were found to be built after the mid-1980s, and in very good structural condition. The system described in this paper may be applied to any other large-scale city building survey. Published on 2022-11-29 11:32:34
Abstract: Urban sprawl has been a persistent sustainability impediment caused by its associated low urban density that led to heavy reliance on private cars. To overcome this problem, urban densification, as a sustainable planning approach, has been widely advocated. Al Ain, one of the most affected cities by urban sprawl in the United Arab Emirates, has recently adopted an urban densification process through its Al Ain Plan 2030 and started applying it by 2010 in a pioneering redevelopment project in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood. This research aims at studying the impacts of the applied urban densification measures and tools on social sustainability in this neighborhood. The research adopts a qualitative case study method utilizing field observations as the main source of primary data collection, while the analysis of CAD drawings, census data, land-use plans, and Google Earth maps forms a secondary source of data for this study. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that urban densification through its two applied measures, the Intensification and the Infill Development, have enhanced social sustainability in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood but with various degrees of success for each of the social sustainability principle and indicators. While mixed use and accessibility principles have been partially enhanced in the study area, density, mobility, social capital, quality of life, sense of belonging, and safety and security have been weakly enhanced. Accordingly, a proposed set of guidelines have been initiated to inform decision-makers in the city, and maybe in other cities in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region, to help them revise the applied urban densification process in a way that helps achieve more socially sustainable urban communities. Published on 2022-10-10 11:15:33
Abstract: A Circular Economy is usually seen as achieving ‘zero waste’ and closing the material flow loops. However, multiple governance, economic, legal, socio-spatial, cultural, and behavioural barriers may easily hamper the transition. This study summarises the lessons learned from the waste flow analysis and living lab (LL) of a case study from the H2020 REPAiR project. It shows how the results of a waste flow analysis created for an urban area can help decision-makers to co-create new place-based eco-innovative solutions and hence shift the city towards circularity. At the same time, during the living lab process, it became clear that the decision support method alone is not enough to co-create or co-design new innovations, in addition the regulatory environment and the peculiarities of governance may also present multiple obstacles. The centralised governance in Hungary and the centralisation tendency in waste management and secondary resource use hamper efficient local resource management. The work in the LL showed that a centralised governance structure hinders not only the co-creation of new solutions but also the transfer of good practices from other peri-urban areas. This is important because a society that is generally less innovative and less developed at the beginning of sustainability transition is innovating for the first time via the transfer of eco-innovative solutions. Our paper shows that the governance structure of a given spatial unit (i.e. a city region) may be a significant factor in the successful or unsuccessful adoption of good practices and for the circular transition, as may system adaptability, the level of local technological development, the level of integration of actors, strategies, interests, and policy interventions. Published on 2022-09-13 10:09:25
Abstract: The goal of architecture is changing in response to the expanding role of cities, rapid urbanization, and transformation under changing economic, environmental, social, and demographic factors. As cities increased in the early modern era, overcrowding, urbanization, and pollution conditions led reformers to consider the future shape of the cities. One of the most critical topics in contemporary architecture is the subject of the future concepts of living. In most cases, domed cities, as a future concept of living, are rarely considered, and they are used chiefly as “utopian” visions in the discourse of future ways of living. This paper highlights the reviews of domed cities to deepen the understanding of the idea in practice, like its approach in terms of architecture. The main aim of this paper is to provide a broad overview of the need for domed cities in the face of pollution as one of the main concerns in many European cities. As a result, the significance of the reviews of the existing projects is focused on their conceptual quality. This review will pave the way for further studies in terms of future developments in the realm of domed cities. In this paper, the city of Celje, one of the most polluted cities in Slovenia, is taken as a case study for considering the concept of Dome incorporated due to the lack of accessible literature on the topic. This review’s primary contribution is to allow architects to explore a broad spectrum of innovation by comparing today’s achievable statuses against the possibilities generated by domed cities. As a result of this study, the concept of living under the Dome remains to be developed in theory and practice. The current challenging climatic situation will accelerate the evolution of these concepts, resulting in the formation of new typologies, which are a requirement for humanity. Published on 2022-09-07 11:25:18
Abstract: Industrial processes and the building sector (e.g., for space and water heating) are responsible for the majority of the total energy consumed for heat. Although fossil fuels remain to dominate the heating sector, renewable heating technologies have been lately widely deployed. Thermochemical energy storage (TES) can be a promising advanced technology in addressing the mismatch between renewable energy supplies and the end-user’s demand. In this paper, a novel Vermiculite-based Solar Thermochemical Heat Storage (VS-THS) system was proposed for domestic space heating applications, which could also overcome the intermittency challenges and realise long-term solar energy storage. A small-scale prototype was set up to evaluate the energy storage performance of the proposed system using a patented ChainStore panel to accommodate vermiculite-based composite. The unique design of the ChainStore arrangement offers great heat and mass transfer and good flexibility for system resizing in the case of varying the building energy demand. Due to the low regeneration temperature (63 °C) and high energy storage density (253.8 kWh/m3) of the vermiculite-based adsorbent impregnated with MgSO4 and CaCl2, it was chosen as the THS composite in the experiments. The experimental results showed that the proposed VS-THS is feasible for domestic space heating, with the highest space heating supply temperature of 37.6 °C, and the system COP in the reaction process is 7.9–10.4. In addition, the results also demonstrate that the composite of vermiculite impregnated with MgSO4 and CaCl2, with a good water adsorption performance. This proposed concept of VS-THS could be sized for different building applications. Published on 2022-05-27 10:58:48
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