ABSTRACT. Infrastructure projects have greatly affected the economy of countries, as they have contributed to supporting all economic sectors by providing them with many executive and operational projects. Despite the important role of infrastructure projects in Khartoum State, they are exposed to problems at various stages due to the Covid-19, which led to the failure to complete these stages. This study aimed to identify the extent of the impact of the Covid-19 on infrastructure projects in Khartoum state and its relationship to claims and construction contracts in terms of costs, time and risks, and who bears and how to distribute the burden of additional costs and losses resulting from this pandemic, and how to contain and overcome the crisis and how to avoid the emergence of conflicts. The survey descriptive approach was adopted by designing a questionnaire and distributing it to the affected sample. The questionnaire was collected and analyzed using the statistical analysis program and Excel. The results showed revenue losses for the public and private sector by 63.1%, and the Covid-19 also affected infrastructure projects in financial terms by 55%, and the prices of construction materials and direct and indirect costs by 50%, and the cash flow of projects by 49.2%. Based on these results, proposed solutions have been developed to improve the current situation, by standardizing the project cost in dollars to avoid exchange rate hesitation and following FIDIC contracts and formulating it to redress the damage in all sectors. Which helps in improving the performance of projects in Khartoum state, which is trying to pass this unprecedented period.

ABSTRACT. Construction is, by its nature, complex and uncertain. Changes and variations are inherently part of many construction projects, which require serious efforts to overcome. Project delay is a construction problem resulting in contractual claims, increased project cost, and decreased end-user satisfaction. This study investigates the root causes of project delay in public works authority construction projects and gathers different perceptions on the causes of delay to propose a solution matric that mitigate the effect of those delays and prevents its reoccurrence in future projects. A sample of over two-handed projects in 2021 has been granted an extension of time to its original completion date have been studied to identify and analyse the root causes of project delay and the risk relevant to the project delivery being prolonged. For these reasons, a categorization of delay has been adopted, and every cause of delay has been coded. The method adopted to identify the top root causes of project delay was the Pareto Analysis (Pareto analysis is premised on the idea that 80% of problems can be traced to 20% of the causes.). The results of the study were the development of a holistic solution matrix to address the root causes of delay. The solution consists of two parts, (1) identify the relevant corrective, immediate and preventive actions, and (2) develop a responsibility matrix for the implementation of those solutions to ensure its governance.

ABSTRACT. The construction project's delay is still one of the biggest challenges that concern practitioners in the construction industry. The success or failure of construction projects is usually measured by the building team's achievement of the project's goals and objectives (ex., time and cost). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as one of the largest construction industries in the MENA region, is suffering significant delays in the construction industry for different reasons. The major causes of delays in building completion in construction projects in the KSA and how sensitive it is to healthcare projects usually differ from one project to another. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify construction project-specific causes of delay in the healthcare sector. This study investigates the influencing factors that lead to delaying projects in healthcare. The results of this study will help project managers reduce the risks of delays in the projects by identifying the influencing factors and their local context, monitoring them, and finding the proper way to mitigate their impacts.

ABSTRACT. Project Management tools and techniques are simply the process of coordinating the contractor’s resources to achieve the Employer genuine results. Each project has it is own level of project management tailored to the project unique case. In Project initiation stage, various inputs drive the main project key assumptions relevant to Project Scope, Duration, Cost and Stakeholders. Those same Assumptions could impose a reason for the contractor not to meet project completion date and to be tilted as causes of delay or Delay Events. Some might understand that since the topic is Time Extension Claim, so we focus on project timeline, this could be true! However, we will expand to “Project Programme of Work (Baseline)” where assigned resources, cost, quantities, and sequence of work will drive Project Progress. This will illustrate why the contractor need to secure agreed Baseline. Regardless the debate whither or whither not the Baseline is a contractual document, require approval or not. In Fact, we will just in this paper assume that; the contractor has signed contract, approved programme, and the contractor managed to comply with all contract clauses to submit a proper extension of time claim. Hence, in this Paper we will tickle the Contract Administrator action upon receiving this claim, methods of delay analysis, and determination report contents.

ABSTRACT. Contracts in the construction industry are structured in a manner that splits the risks between different contracting parties; hence risk allocations within the contract affect the price and operation. As most Construction Contracts are long-term contracts; therefore, it is essential to consider having provisions to mitigate foreseeable and unforeseeable risks which may reduce the positive economic prospects and gains if not properly evaluated, managed, and considered under the contract. For those reasons and many others, the Force Majeure (FM) or the act of God clauses are included in almost all construction project contracts. This paper will provide an analysis of the FM clause in the Public Works Authority (PWA) General Conditions of Contracts (GCoC) for 2018 in terms of the meaning of FM, a list of examples, and the consequences of invoking the FM clause and others. Moreover, the FM clause in PWA GCoC 2018 will be compared with other drafts of the FM clause in other forms of contracts that are used internationally, such as the International Federation of Consulting Engineers General Conditions of (FIDIC) Red Book 1999 and 2017, and others. This comparison was conducted by taking into consideration scholarly opinions and existing literature on the topic. Finally, the paper addresses the gaps in the existing PWA GCoC FM clause and the applicability of the FM clause in cases such as COVID-19 and then recommends some amendments that could be considered in future contracts.

ABSTRACT. Businesses may gain from implementing Blockchain-based technology in terms of profitability, productivity, and efficiency, which may cause them to re-evaluate their current business strategies. However, because the technology is still evolving and there needs to be more study on the effects of the various Blockchain networks (such as public, private, and consortium), their significance in developing new business models needs more consideration. In this article, we identified the potential risks/opportunities associated with Blockchain adoption in the state of Qatar through the standard technique of Qualitative Risks Analysis suggested by the Project Management Institution (PMI) using a standard (5 x 5) probability impact diagram (PID) with seven areas of impact namely Cost / Budget, Schedule, Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Business Continuity or Service Disruption, Governance & Compliance, and Environment. We found that circa 84% (i.e. 10 risks) of the most significant risks are related to the organisational and environmental risks, while only 16 % (2 risks) are related to the technology itself. Our research highlights the benefits of Blockchain advancements to decision-makers for strategic planning.

ABSTRACT. The massive development in the State of Qatar to fulfil the Qatar National 2030 Vision requires efforts to direct the construction sector towards reducing economic, social and environmental impacts through the application of more sustainable construction techniques. The Public Works Authority, Qatar (Ashghal) has acknowledged that using available domestic sources to produce quality aggregate by recycling pavements, construction and demolition waste, and industry by-products is beneficial when natural sources are getting depleted. One of the projects exploring the possibility of utilizing the recycled concrete waste as surround backfill material is Contract C853/1 named the Wakrah-Wukair Drainage Network Branches (WWDNB). This is an ongoing mega drainage project associated with the construction of 67 number of shafts and approximately 17 km of sewer pipes at a maximum depth of 48m below ground level. The proposed material would be replacing the conventionally used materials such as graded limestone, gabbro aggregate and foamed concrete. This paper assesses the feasibility of utilizing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) for backfilling of permanent shafts whilst satisfying the requirements of the Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS). A number of laboratory tests were therefore conducted, and the proposed material was found to be of acceptable quality. Additionally, mock-up tests are scheduled to confirm the field attributes before implementation on site for shafts in non-traffic areas. Using RCA as shaft backfill is more beneficial from a sustainability perspective as it will decrease the carbon footprint by 70% when compared with using traditional backfill materials. The goal of the study is to introduce an industrywide application which is both sustainable and economical.

ABSTRACT. Corrosion is a common condition encountered by steel reinforcing bars which has a considerable negative impact on the structural integrity of concrete structures. Nowadays, applying anti-corrosive composite materials such as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars as reinforcing bars instead of steel bars is a major area of interest among researchers. The current study presents an investigation on the influence of surface treatment of the basalt (B) FRP reinforcing bars on the shear strength of one-way high-strength concrete slabs. Two types of BFRP bars were tested, one with a sand-coated surface and the other with a ribbed surface. The testing results showed that the ribbed BFRP bars resulted in a slightly higher shear strength than the slab reinforced with sand-coated bars. The ultimate shear capacity in the ribbed bars reinforced slab was recorded as 95.65 kN, whereas it was recorded as 90.08 kN in the sand-coated bars reinforced slab. Moreover, in comparison to the slab with sand-coated bars, the first flexural crack was delayed in the slab with ribbed bars. Also, reinforcing the one-way slab with ribbed BFRP bars has shown higher stiffness represented by lower midspan deflection at all loading stages compared to the sand-coated bars. As a result, this has induced lower stresses on the ribbed bars, which caused lower midspan strain values in the ribbed bars than the sand-coated bars.

ABSTRACT. Reinforced concrete (RC) infrastructure in Arabian Peninsula is subjected to harsh climatic conditions of high temperatures, humidity, and airborne chlorides and there is a high concentration of salts in seawater and soils. These factors instigate corrosion of reinforcing steel in RC infrastructure at the early stages of the service life. To overcome the durability issues of RC infrastructures, corrosion-resistant reinforcing bars are employed. In this study, a comparison of microcell and macrocell corrosion of mild steel (MS) and two types of corrosion-resistant rebar namely the high chromium (HC) and stainless steel (SS) was established. Nine concrete block samples of 20×10×350 mm were cast with top rows of reinforcements, the top row consists of MS, HC, or SS, and the bottom row contained only SS. Blocks were conditioned under 3.5% NaCl for 2 years and linear polarization resistance and macrocell currents were evaluated to compare the corrosion performance of mild and corrosion resistant steel rebars. It was observed that SS is the most corrosion-resistant steel rebar, where high chromium steel showed up to three times more corrosion resistance than mild steel under chloride attack

ABSTRACT. In this study, bio-self-healing concrete was manufactured using a natural phenomenon called microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). The bacillus cereus bacteria isolated from Qatari soil was used for this purpose. These bacteria have endured the harsh weather of high temperatures, humidity, and alkaline soil conditions. Hence, are a potential candidate for long-term self-healing in concrete structures that are subjected to the climate of the Middle Eastern region. The bacteria were encapsulated in sodium alginate beads, then the beads were added to the cement-sand mortar. The nutrients for bacteria such as urea, calcium nitrate, yeast extract, and calcium chloride were mixed in mortar as dry constituents. After curing for 28 days, cracks were artificially induced in the prismatic samples which were reinforced with steel rebars at the tensile side. Samples were placed in water to instigate self-healing. It was observed that the bacteria healed the cracks up to 0.70 mm. It is concluded that the used bacteria are viable in the alkaline concrete matrix and capable of producing calcium carbonate.

ABSTRACT. This paper presents a study about the bond durability of basalt fiber reinforced polymers (BFRP) bars embedded in concrete incorporating basalt macro fibers (BMF) when conditioned in harsh saline environment at 60 °C. A total of 24 pullout specimens were tested to investigate the influence of concrete type (plain concrete and fiber reinforced concrete) and duration of conditioning (30, 60 and 90 days). The basalt-macro fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) incorporated BMF at 0.5% fiber volume fraction. The BFRP bars used had helically wrapped surface treatment. Moreover, the bond durability was assessed based on bond-slip behavior, bond degradation, and service life predictions of bond strength retentions after 50 years of service life. The experimental results revealed that BFRP bars embedded in basalt macro FRC showed higher bond stiffness compared to those embedded in plain concrete. Additionally, BFRP bars embedded in basalt macro FRC showed slower bond degradation than their counterparts embedded in plain concrete. Finally, FRC increased the bond strength retentions of BFRP bars based on 50 years’ service life predictions when compared to plain concrete.

ABSTRACT. The economic focus in the building sector is on lightweight materials. recycled polyethylene particles coming from plastic botteles waste can ensure this lightness and can solve not only technical problems, but also produce economic and environmental benefits. Different polyethylene particles proportions of 5,10,15,20 and 25 % were introduced in gypsum mortar in order to characterize its physical and mechanical properties.Results proved the positive effect of the introducing of PET particles in the matrix of gypsum mortar the lightening of this material but a decrease of mechanical properties was recorded comparing in to reference without polyethylene particles. This new material with promising functional properties can be used as a masonry element in a new construction or in the rehabilitation of the old building.

ABSTRACT. Building a reliable Infrastructure is a continuous activity, improving the accessibility to the known areas and connecting the origin to destinations with various modes of transportation. Having safe and secure pedestrian movement ensures sustainable urban mobility. Therefore, the study includes an approach for multi-criteria evaluation to reach from origin to destination. Factors strongly correlating that will affect the walkability were considered, including climatic conditions, type of network (crossings, pedestrian bridges, shared use, footpath), land use etc. which will affect the distance and time of the walkability. After capturing & tracing all the footpath locations in GIS for the most populated areas, the percentage of land use provides insights into typical pedestrian movements for a specific period of the day. Pedestrian movement is categorised into various levels and focused on locations of interest where huge volume travels a particular area at the same time & travel distance, which leads to analysing required infrastructure considering safety and convenience aspect such as availability of sufficient footpath width, availability of streetlights, locating a bus stops/ public transport etc. as an initial experiment using the above criteria for a known location such as a metro station was considered which will result in building more confidence on the factors and their integrity. The study will aid as a tool in designing and constructing infrastructure projects which will ensure the maintenance of seamless pedestrian connectivity & incorporate necessary assets within the project. Better connectivity will encourage people to walk further, safely & use public transportation facilities more often.

ABSTRACT. Vegetation is known for enhancing air quality. However, vegetation on urban roads can either increase or decrease exposure to pollutants. The health of pedestrians and cyclists is particularly of great concern since they are directly exposed, unlike drivers. Dispersion of air pollutants is necessary to reduce roadside exposure to air pollutants on urban roads. The local meteorological conditions, street geometric characteristics, and vegetation characteristics influence the dispersion of pollutants on roads. There is a lack of framework for planning urban road vegetation to disperse air pollutants. This study summarized the interrelationship between the local factors on the effect of street vegetation on the dispersion of air pollutants. A conceptual framework was given for planning urban roadside vegetation to reduce roadside users' exposure to air pollutants. Findings from this study clarify the task of planning urban road vegetation to disperse air pollutants.

ABSTRACT. Several communities have adopted the transit-oriented development (TOD) model to improve the urban form of the city. Through the TOD model, citizens are enabled and encouraged to travel by public transit and live near it, resulting in a compact, walkable city. The purpose of this paper is to promote transit-oriented development (TOD) among Middle Eastern planners. Although Peter Calthorpe developed the TOD model in the early 1990s, the elements of TOD have existed in traditional cities for a long time. Literature has not explored the relationship between these two models, therefore traditional cities and their development have been studied. As a result, (a) the concept and diverse types of TOD models were examined; (b) the relationship between TOD and traditional city models was explored; and (c) the presence of TOD elements in traditional cities was demonstrated by examining their similarity. As a result of this approach, TOD models will become more widely applied in the Middle East region, thereby improving the livability of cities.

ABSTRACT. The aim of the research is to rethink the urban form and transit integration of the West Bay District through multi-stage iterative process based on key determinants namely urban compactness, complexity and connectivity analysed under four key relevant design aspects: (1) walkability; (2) ground use balance; (3) mixed-use spaces and public spaces; (4) inter-modality, transportation hubs; and public transportation network. Our findings demonstrate a lack of intermodal transport integration, fewer green open spaces and a nominally diverse land use around the metro station, which is addressed through a set of broader guidelines for policy making and practice. The findings are significant in devising context-based land use-transit integration in dense urban core scenarios and provides insights for practitioners and policymakers working in TOD based urban regeneration across cities.

ABSTRACT. A mobility focused smart city ensures an urban place that is shaped with latest innovations accentuating the overall well-being of its citizens. One of the significant aspects for assessing the Smart Mobility in an emerging city is the assessment of its Multimodal Transport Network. Integrating diverse transportation modes into a single route for seamless mobility is a must to revolutionize the cities into smart cities. Qatar is currently leading the pace of smart growth by investing profoundly in smart cities infrastructure and evolving mobility technologies. This paper explores: (i) the progress of the smart mobility development and initiatives in Qatar, (ii) the Multimodal transport system in one of its smart cities, Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) and (iii) how the Multimodal transport system could be influenced in the light of emerging transportation technologies like Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). The study investigates in-depth the transport network of the city and makes an exploratory analysis. The qualitative approach involved doing secondary research and performing on-site observations. On-site observations for the smart mobility assessment involved assessing Indicators like walkability, cycling, inter-modality and transportation hubs and the overall public transport system in MDD. It is concluded that there is still room for improvement when it comes to developing the intermodal network for the mobility enhancement and deployment of AVs. The outcome of the study is the investigation of the smart mobility initiatives adopted in Qatar, the assessment of multimodal transport pattern of MDD, and a bus route proposal in the era of AVs.

ABSTRACT. Nairobi, famous for Nairobi National Park, the world’s only game reserve found within a major city, started developing as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. In 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya and shown phenomenal growth in terms of population ever since (from 11,500 in the year of 1906, to 3,138,369 by Year 2009, at growth rate of 4.1% a year). The city of Nairobi has experienced rapid urban sprawl. In 1970, average commuter distance was 0.8km and increased to 25 km in 1998. Present commuter distance is over 40 km. The long commuter distances and heavy traffic congestion on the road has led to long travel time. At this rate, the difficulties commuting to the central business area is getting more and more complicated. The need of the hour is developing a world class transport network, a combination of Road and Rail Based MRTS technology. A comprehensive study was carried out in this direction to find out the feasibility of such MRTS in early 2000s. Based on the findings of the study, further study was conducted in early 2013-14 for developing the basis for a technical and financial harmonisation of measures. In 2019, the NMA Council gazetted 5 BRT and 7 Commuter Rail corridors vide Legal Notice No. 16 of 26th February 2019, which is outcome of all the efforts. Genesis of various options worked out to find a suitable solution shall be discussed in this paper

ABSTRACT. The current state of practice in the UAE is to use AASHTO 1993 for pavement designs, yet this method is empirical and has several limitations. The local traffic characteristics, climate conditions, and materials properties must be incorporated in more explicit and mechanistic ways. This study is part of ongoing local research efforts to move towards the implementation of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide, known as MEPDG, which depends on fundamental material properties, integrated climate conditions, and real traffic characteristics. The main objective of this study is to develop the historical climate data files and climate inputs for 20 different automatic and airports stations covering the entire UAE. in addition, the study investigates the impact of local climate conditions on the simulated asphalt pavement performance using the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design. This study showed that, however UAE is a small country yet there are some differences between the climate records of the different weather stations, which is expected to affect pavement design and performance depending on the project site location. For example, the warmest weather station has 36% higher temperature than the coldest weather station at Jabal Jais. This in turn displayed up to 40% and 23% differences in the asphalt concrete (AC) rutting and total rutting, respectively between these extreme weather stations. These findings and many other emphasize the crucial need to consider the climate data inputs at project level bases, where a single climate data file cannot represent the entire UAE.

ABSTRACT. Activated Carbon-Fe3O4 composites were synthesized using co-precipitation method and used in batch experiments to adsorb Congo red dyes. The effect of adsorbent dosage, temperature and initial dye concentration was investigated. Increase in the adsorbent dosage resulted in the increase of dye adsorption capacity and the optimum dose was found to be 2 g/L. Increase in temperature had slightly negative impact on the adsorption which indicated the exhothermic nature of the adsorption process. Initial dye concentration also had significant impact on the adsorption process as the adsorption capacity of the AC- Fe3O4 adsorbents decreased with increase in dye concentrations. Finally, the obtained adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity of Activated Carbon-Fe3O4 adsorbent was found to be around 129.87 mg/g. Overall, the results suggested that synthesized AC- Fe3O4 composites exhibit significant potential to be used as an adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.

ABSTRACT. Desalination and treated water are the future of clean water in the Arab region. Conventional technologies are unsustainable and expensive. Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a green bio-electrochemical desalination and wastewater treatment mechanism. Towards upscaling, MDC suffers from cathode limitations by the electrode and catalytic resistances. An effective way to improve cathode performance is to apply an efficient catalyst layer. Polymerized aniline (PANI) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite electro-catalyst composite was investigated for cathodic improvement in MDC for the first time. Four concentrations of rGO were coated as the first layer, followed by a fixed concentration of PANI by electro-deposition on stainless steel mesh (SSM). XRD and FTIR confirmed efficient composite formation. PANI-rGO1.0-SSM (rGO with 1 mg/ml) demonstrated the best electrochemical performance in cyclic voltammetry. For application, different loadings of rGO1.0 (15, 30, and 45 cycles depositions) were used to prepare the PANI-rGO1.0-SSM cathode and applied in MDC to investigate the cathode performance improvement. The 30 cycles deposition showed a promising improvement in desalination rate by 40.5% compared to control plain SSM. The internal resistance was also significantly reduced by 96%. rGO-PANI composite with higher loading rates can improve the desalination performance in MDC performance effectively. Cost analysis showed that the electro-deposition of PANI-rGO1.0 on SSM cathode preparation is an advantageous and low-cost coating method compared to the Platinum coated cathode. Future research should optimize the rGO and PANI loading rates for the best electrochemical performance as a cathode composite catalyst for MDC.

ABSTRACT. The world is suffering from limited sources of energy thus finding a renewable and sustainable source is very crucial. Cow manure is an unexploited treasure and is expected to have a high potential for energy recovery. This study aimed to evaluate biogas production from cow manure (CM) under an anaerobic condition. The cow manure was collected from a local farm in Oman and diluted with a ratio of 1:3 (dry CM/Water). The diluted cow manure (DCM) was characterized and found to have pH 7.9, total solids (TS) 8930 mg/L, total dissolved solids (TDS)1390 mg/L, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 8160 mg/L and electrical conductivity (EC) 2730 µS/cm. The used anaerobic reactor (20 litres, black) was fed with DCM (15 litres) and operated at atmospheric mesophilic conditions (40 to 45°C). The gas was measured by the water displacement method. The results revealed that the biogas was generated in low amounts after three days (119 mL) and achieved more than 20 litres after nine days. The percentage of volatile solids to total solids was found to be 71% and the production of the biogas was calculated as 131 L/kg VS. This study is believed to pave the way for reducing the pressure on landfills and converting an environmental burden into a product of added value serving the circular economy theme.

ABSTRACT. It is well known that there is a clear increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones [1]. This will lead to a great effect not just on the infrastructure and the economic activities but also on the coastal environments. On the other hand, an increase in the population along the coastal areas in such a country as the Sultanate of Oman will also increase the risk and the hazard. It has been noticed extremely heavy rainfall during the most recent tropical cyclone, Shaheen (3 October 2021). It is also recorded along the Omani coast's extremely high waves during this storm event. Some other tropical cyclones in the past also indicated an important effect on the Omani coast [2]. In this regard, the development of a fundamental understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the coastal system during these events has been necessary. Moreover, the tropical cyclone track and wind speeds have been recorded only for a few temporal spans. This leads to poorly reliable estimations of such a kind of event. The state-of-the-art process-based numerical model will be utilized to hindcast the hydrodynamic developments from several tropical cyclone events along the Omani coast. A flow and wave model will be set up using Deft3D, which is one of the world leader’s software [3]. The impact of wind-induced waves will be investigated using the SWAN wave model [4] and [5]. In this paper, four severe tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean will be simulated. The four tropical cyclones were selected due to their historical significance and the amount of destruction they caused on the Omani coast. Table 1 shows the essential information about the selected cyclones.

ABSTRACT. Qatar nationally determined contribution (NDC) to PA reflects a national commitment to reduce the overall GHG emissions by 25% in 2030 relative to 2019 business-as-usual scenario. To reach this goal, a portfolio of measures covering mitigation & adaptation were agreed. They comprise economic diversification & adaptation actions with mitigation co-benefits. Overall, 36 mitigation-oriented measures & > 300 adaptation measures were identified with project charters completed. To implement these initiatives there is a need to establish a rugged, transparent & effective national governance structure aligned with the PA requirements. In this paper we examine the issue of governance of climate change in Qatar pursuant to the requirements stipulated in the PA. The proposed architecture reflects the needs for clear policies, institutional arrangements & mandates pointing out stakeholder’s duties & responsibilities based on either a new stand-alone climate change Act or an annexure legislation to the current Environment Law No. 30, 2002. The Ministry of Environment & Climate Change (MOECC), represented by its Climate Change Department (CCD) is the designated central national authority (DNA) mandated with coordination, implementation, and reporting under the UNFCCC PA commitments. MOECC Minister may lead with the assistance of an inter-ministerial advisory committee representing major stakeholders and a roster of known experts. CCD, in collaboration with the stakeholders, shall prepare and launch the national climate change implementation strategy, which includes firstly, formulation, approval & launching of the National Greenhouse Gas/Climate Forcing Gas Emissions Guidelines (NGHGCFEG) followed subsequently by the national monitoring, reporting & verification (MRV) system. The National MRV shall ensure transparency, completeness, consistency, comparability & accuracy (TCCCA). Its deliverables include Qatar's NDCs and the 2nd National Communication etc. Optional submissions include the long term low GHG emission strategy (LT-LEDS) and sustainable development goals indicators in addition to the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) biennial transparency report (BTR).

ABSTRACT. Starting in 2018, Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall project (MPSO) was constructed to manage ground and storm water received from 270 km2 area of southern Doha Qatar. The Project consists of a pumping station, subsea tunnel, (constructed through Rus formation, Midra shale and simsima limestone), riser shaft and diffuser bed structure. An Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was used for subsea tunnelling where ground water inflows, mixed ground condition with the presence of vertical and lateral fractures connected to the seabed were encountered during tunnelling activity. This paper analyses the reliability of geotechnical investigation results and interpretations by comparison with encountered conditions. This will be beneficial to design a reliable geotechnical investigation programme for future projects of similar scope in the state of Qatar. Results and interpretations from drilled bore holes and geophysical survey provided an overall picture of underground conditions along the tunnel alignment, which identified the critical tunnelling areas for cutter head intervention and maintenance. These results were then compared with as built geotechnical conditions accessed by collecting data through the onboard TBM monitoring equipment, collecting rock mass samples, and performing geological face mappings during tunnelling activity. Comparison of pre-tendered investigation results with as built geotechnical conditions concluded that investigation results and encountered rock mass conditions were in line with each other. Geotechnical investigation programme followed for this project and interpretation as a result, made the tunnelling under sea to be carried out in more careful and lower risk manner.

ABSTRACT. The level of infrastructure development Qatar has accomplished over the past 10 years has not been reached by any other country and this pace is expected to continue to reach Qatar’s 2030 Vision. High rise buildings and bridges are mostly constructed on pile foundations which play an important role in overall cost of the project, but there is limited published literature available on the performance of pile foundations in Qatar. In this article, the performance of fully instrumented pile foundations embedded in rock formations of Qatar is reviewed, and discussion on observed behaviour is presented. This paper also uncovers the conservatism in pile design adopted by the piling industry. A total of over 65 pile load test results were compiled to perform this study. Good practices are suggested that can be considered by the authorities and consultants in specifying a preliminary pile load test in order to reap its full potential. In projects, where the unit skin friction was validated through performance of pile load tests and later on pile design was optimized, 11% to 50% savings in piling cost was achieved contributing to sustainable projects.

ABSTRACT. This paper is the continuation of the author’s previous publication, Vučemilović et al. (2021), and an attempt to shed light on some of therein presented propositions. In our previous work, we introduced a novel parameter for borehole rock mass evaluation, the FIC, (Fracture Index Corrected) and applied it to Qatari rock masses along with RQDC (Rock Quality Designation Corrected) as described by Li et al. (2009). This was the first case of such wide scale application of these borehole evaluation parameters. A short history is given on alternative proposals by several authors for improvements and amendments of RQD (Rock Quality Designation) since it was proposed by Deere (1963) and Deere and Deere (1988), with their authors’ commentaries. Scale considerations are presented for both parameters which are essential consideration factor for any borehole parameter. The paper is concluded with remarks on assumed advantages and limitations of the two parameters and their future research and usage prospects. Paper is concluded with statements that Qatari rock masses are unique type of rock mass which has not been sufficiently researched or classified by the leading world scientists in this field.

ABSTRACT. The recent global development in geotechnical and geophysical investigation methodologies has continued to improve the possibility of early identification of critical geohazards and mitigation of risks associated with construction of large underground projects. This is not only limited to highlighting the potential risks, but also minimizing the cost and time for construction by avoiding or mitigating unexpected risks. A case study is presented by a recent unprecedented tunnelling project in the State of Qatar featuring a 4.5-8.5 metres diameter and 55 kilometres in length, with various deep shafts, pumping station, and outfall in the Al-Wakrah city. Following an extensive desk study from available geotechnical and geophysical data in the vicinity of the project area and from previous practical experience from similar projects, a thorough geotechnical and geophysical investigation campaign was planned and executed. The result of the comprehensive ground investigation gave a clear picture of expected geohazards and prospective mitigation measures to be taken during the construction of the works. The paper presents a description of the main identified geohazards, including the presence of chert bands, karstic areas, massive cavern, high permeability areas, and high aggressiveness ground conditions along with its implications and mitigation measures, to be taken into account in the next stages of the project. A similar approach can be adopted for future infrastructure projects to support the geotechnical risk assessment and to minimize the impact of construction activities on the environment.

ABSTRACT. Musaimeer Pump Station & Outfall Tunnel project (MPSO) constructed as one of the longest Outfall tunnels in the World. With a total length of 10.189m and at the same time being the longest undersea tunnel in the Middle East. MPSO will manage ground and stormwater from the Southern Doha district and dispose of this water via a diffuser bed connected to the outfall tunnel. Difficulties faced during the project execution were firstly, the tunnel network itself. It was necessary to maintain precision and reliability of the 10km network, in a smaller than 5m diameter tunnel, starting from a 20m diameter Drop shaft. Secondly, the breakthrough was into a 3m diameter vertically positioned riser shaft encased in a 5m x 5m concrete block which was positioned and constructed offshore by utilizing different network of 10km Global Positioning System Real Time Kinematic (GPS RTK) readings. The key problem was confirming that both survey networks used were homogenous as the marine tolerances in comparison to the tunnel tolerances were very different. Thirdly, the actual Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) connection was under the sea. The TBM excavated through a concrete filled shaft 0.6m beneath the riser shaft invert, then excavated 35m to create working space for civil works.  The tunnel's crown was then cut using a 3m diameter opening to connect into the bottom of the riser shaft. This Study serves to describe the Survey technical issues faced in the construction and coordination of underground tunneling and interfacing with offshore works.

ABSTRACT. A significant increase in the number of underground infrastructure projects was built in a short period of time as a result of Qatar's goal for effective mass transit and robust urban drainage infrastructure, as well as the country's recent fast urbanization and harsh weather events. The Doha Metro, the Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS), and most recently the Doha South Terminal Pumping Station (DSTPS) and the Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall (MPSO) projects faced difficulties in identifying and quantifying the karstic features and the remedial approach for underground works to ensure the completion of the projects on schedule and within budget due to the unknown ground conditions. One of the most important risks for underground construction in Qatar is the presence of karst environments, which are concentrated mainly within the limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and anhydrite horizons of the Eocene strata. The proper assessment of karstic features requires an appropriate selection of geophysical methods and a high level of skills and expertise to interpret the data. To do so, a comprehensive geophysical survey campaign was deployed at the early stages of the project's execution to identify the karstic features of concern associated with subsurface conditions at shallow and deeper depths up to 80 metres below the ground level.

This paper presents an example of a recently developed geophysical investigation program for the pre-tender design of the South of Wakrah Pumping Station and Outfall project. The project team carried out a comprehensive geophysical study to identify the karstic features of concern along the tunnel alignments, shaft locations, and at the pump station area. Most of the identified karstic features are categorized as low risk, but there was a high-risk anomaly (cavern) identified, and the extent of this cavern was verified with well-known geophysical methods like Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), seismic refraction, and 3D crosshole seismic tomography.

ABSTRACT. The increasing emphasis on global sustainability issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, water scarcity has provided a strong mandate for the construction industry to incorporate sustainable practices, more efficient processes and innovative technologies to deliver sustainable project outcomes. Implementing sustainability rating and assessment schemes throughout the lifecycle of projects has been instrumental in achieving high levels of environmental and social performance. This paper presents a case study; the Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall (MPSO) project, a strategically important asset for Qatar, and discusses the sustainability strategy adopted for achieving the ‘Very Good’ level Civil Engineering Environmental Quality and Assessment Award Scheme (CEEQUAL) certification for the project. The paper sets out how the project’s registration with CEEQUAL International resulted in achievement of sustainability best practice in design and construction phases. Specific achievements with regards to the key CEEQUAL topic areas including project strategy, project management, people and communities, land use and landscape, historic environment, ecology and biodiversity, water environment, physical resources use and management (such as energy, water, materials), and transport are also highlighted in this paper. The paper also provides the importance of the adopted strategy in translating the overarching Qatar National Vision 2030 and alignment with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The challenges faced throughout the project lifecyle and the benefits achieved by undertaking a CEEQUAL assessment for this project are also discussed in this paper.

ABSTRACT. This research investigates the business value of implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in developing countries. The study of BIM in this research is conducted with a focus on its return on investment (ROI) in the construction sector. There’s an imperative need for such new systematic study to contribute to growing the knowledge of the practicing communities. After studying the extensive body of literature, it was determined that there were numerous surveys and/or workshops that addressed the same topic from various angles. This led to the research methodology used in the current paper. Such existing research analysed respondents' responses to arrive at some conclusions. Based on this, the author chose to analyse these prior studies and not necessarily create an independent questionnaire that would ultimately add more questions than it would solve. The study's key conclusion is that no quantitative formula for ROI can be used, and the only option to address this issue is to rely on qualitative research that claim adopting BIM has a high potential to provide both direct and indirect income. Due to disputed underlying assumptions, every attempt to estimate the ROI of BIM discovered in the literature cannot be generalised.

ABSTRACT. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) helped enhance the environmental performances of building and civil infrastructure projects throughout their life cycle. However, the construction industry continues to be one of the most impactful industries on the environment, hence the imminent need for further research in this area. The choice of the right Research Method and Design (RMD) was always important to ensure relevant results for the five Categories (Cs) of BIM-based Built Environment Sustainability (BIMBES) studies: BIM-based studies discussing either sustainability in general ‘C1’; carbon emissions ‘C2’; construction and demolition wastes ‘C3’; water supply or use ‘C4’; or energy ‘C5’, but the availability of a wide array of research methods and the absence of a clear mapping of the best methods to be used for each category remain significant challenges. The purpose of this study is to thoughtfully investigate the RMDs used for BIMBES studies. Thus, based on scoping review of 458 relevant papers, the study showed that BIMBES topics are contemporary and C1 and C5 are the most discussed. Similarly, the paper disclosed the evolution of BIMBES studies including categories’ overlap, identified and mapped the RMDs used for BIMBES studies and highlighted 9 mixed research designs, 1 paradigm, 12 research instruments, and 4 data analysis approaches. This research paper could be the starting point for any study related to the BIMBES as it allows scholars to have a clear and well understanding of the used and useful RMDs to be adopted according to the topic they are exploring.

ABSTRACT. Building information modelling (BIM) is a term that has been referenced around the world by many practitioners and researchers. This modern methodology for project delivery improves the quality, time, and cost of any type of asset. BIM is not just applicable for buildings, it is equally applicable to utilities, infrastructure, and civil engineering projects. The Public Works Authority of Qatar recognizes the importance and the imperative of collaborative BIM to enhance design, construction, operation and maintenance of its building and infrastructure assets. The Authority commits to the implementation of BIM and mandates its use on all public infrastructure and building projects over the complete lifecycle. This paper illustrates the implementation roadmap and strategy, in accordance with the Corporate Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030, to adopt modern methodologies for design and construction delivery across the country. Anticipated benefits in each project stage will be highlighted, as well as the selection of standardized BIM uses within the Authority and its supply chain. The authority has developed and published the Ashghal BIM Standards (ABIMS), which comprise of various specifications, templates, and guides. Those standards build on the existing code of practice for the collaborative production of architectural, engineering and construction information (ISO 19650:2018). Finally, the historic establishment of a corporate BIM policy is fundamental for an enterprise and industry-wide adoption, building the governance on a unique concept – the four components of BIM Implementation – namely foundation, organisation, operation, and technology.

ABSTRACT. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is revolutionizing the construction industry and education through digitization. The construction industry expects higher institutions to graduate students that are BIM-aware and enabled through the understanding of BIM. There are four pillars of BIM, which are people, process, policy, and technology. Less focus is given to the people dimension, as BIM is perceived as 90% technology and 10% sociology, while in reality, it is 90% sociology and 10% technology. This study would embed its focus on people, which are students in the context of the educational implementation, and on female students in the GCC region. This paper aims to identify the complexity of collaboration in BIM education for female students in the GCC region, as many educational institutions create specific atmospheres for female students aligned with the local customs of the region. The investigation focuses on identifying the challenges in BIM collaboration in education in this specific context through a multifaceted theoretical investigation with a comprehensive literature review. The findings of this paper include identifying the multivariate factors involved in the collaboration of BIM education. The recommendations involve the inclusion of resilient strategies to integrate the long-lost ‘soft’ attributes of people in technology in the realm of optimization and efficiency. This study would be a significant milestone in the region and a promising approach to utilizing local and indigenous tools, approaches, and contexts to meet educational excellence.

ABSTRACT. The construction industry has never been as open to welcoming new ideas and strategies from other industries as it is now. Excessive waste in the three pillars of the construction industry, time, cost, and quality, led to adopting certain concepts tried and proven to work successfully in other sectors. Lean is one of such ideas that made its way to the construction industry after years of success in the manufacturing sector. Building Information Modelling (BIM), on the other hand, has been around for quite a while in the construction industry. Imagine how amazing it would be for the construction professionals and designers to live in what is yet to be constructed. BIM made it possible to foresee the future of the project. The question is not how successful these two strategies are, as this has already been proven through numerous studies, but how sustainable would that project be if both Lean and BIM are used concurrently? Qatar's construction industry has embraced lean and BIM concepts and Sustainability measures on its own, owing to a multitude of external and internal factors. Through a mixed-method approach of research strategy, an in-depth review of the literature helped explore the synergies between lean construction, BIM and Sustainability. However, the survey questionnaire and interviews led to identifying the two main barriers to implying lean and BIM in Qatar’s construction industry, “Culture and Attitude” and “Commitment & Support from Top Management”. The survey results also indicated the interaction of lean, BIM and Sustainability at different project stages and helped identify misunderstandings about Sustainability among the industry professionals. The proposed performance measurement strategy also received an overwhelming response.

ABSTRACT. Long has the construction industry been chastised for its low production performance. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean Construction (LC) are two of the most widely adopted concepts in the construction industry for improving project delivery performance. LC is a complex blend of project management principles and tools whose origins can be traced to the automobile manufacturing industry. BIM refers to the technologies and processes that allow for the effective management of project information from inception to deconstruction. There are significant positive synergies when LC and BIM are implemented together. Nonetheless, these two concepts are frequently managed and implemented by separate teams within client, design, and construction organizations. This is largely due to the LC and BIM teams' lack of awareness and incorrect biases. Collaboration between the LC and BIM teams is necessary for BIM to facilitate LC principles/tools and for LC to enhance BIM processes in order to maximize the synergy between these two concepts. Globally, this is also a major concern for the industry. The objective of this research is to develop a collaborative digital model that facilitates the integration of BIM and LC teams in the construction industry. These objectives will comprise the proposed research on literature-based understanding of the collaboration dynamics between various teams. Document and map the two-way synergy between LC and BIM in design and construction management based on the literature, workshops and interview with expertice. Understanding the requirements for a digital, interactive, collaborative tool that will allow both LC and BIM teams to improve their processes. It is a conceptual and digital tool that may be referred to as a "LC and BIM translator”.

ABSTRACT. Coastal areas of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia have soil with low bearing capacity due to saturation with water, high contents of salt and inclusion of organic materials. The dynamic compaction (DC) technique, which is the most prevalent method for soil improvement in the area has not been effective in terms of cost, safety, and serviceability of the buildings. Thus, this paper aims to identify and assess the factors that prevent the efficient soil improvement performance using dynamic compaction technique. The desktop search and expert-based survey were used for data collection while the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to analyze and prioritize the factors. The results indicate “difficulty in using the DC technique within 30m from buildings and 15m from underground services” as the most crucial factor. Above all, the practical and managerial implications implied in this paper are targeting a more efficient DC technique for soil improvement particularly in coastal areas of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with expansive spread of Sabkha soil. Thus, the findings are expected to provide support to policy and decision makers in overcoming the performance shortfalls of DC technique.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this research was to study the effect of fine dune sand on the mechanical performance of Eco-Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). For that, the fine dune sand of the Western erg (Taghit –Algeria) was being like mineral addition to formulate the SCC, and a comparison was carried out on their effect on the properties of SCC. Our study also showed that the substitution of fine dune sand (DS) by cement in the composition of the SCC, contributes to a slight variation of workability in the fresh state parameters still remaining in the field of SCC required by the AFGC recommendations. The experimental results show that the compressive strengths and modulus of elasticity of SCC improved by substituting of 20% cement by DS.

ABSTRACT. Ocean wave energy is an essential source of renewable power for coastal communities. Choosing the optimal site for the wave energy converter (WEC) deployment depends on a number of criteria. The characteristics of the WEC must be taken into account in the prediction power supply, whereas the local sea state is connected to elements like wave condition (as a representation of construction budget) and energy output as well as the influence of the exploitable storage of wave energy and its trend. As a result, this research provides a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) strategy for considering several factors simultaneously to choose the best possible site. The suggested MCDM technique incorporates two primary factors, i.e., exploitable storage of wave energy and energy production, into a single metric that takes into account both WEC efficiency of a particular type, WEPTOS, and sea state to aid decision-makers in the development of a pilot project. The method was then used to analyze the waves at two locations that had been identified as promising sites for harvesting wave energy along the coast of Oman. To further assess a site's potential upcoming pilot project and select the most efficient WEC, we compared the MCDM results at the stations with certain WEC types. In conclusion, optimal sites for placement of the WEPTOS WEC along the coast of Oman were located identified considering the highest annual energy production and exploitable energy storage. Through solving the MCDM technique, 17 sites were pinpointed, and only 6 points were picked up.

ABSTRACT. The atrium is an open interior space that may be linked to the external environment, it is becoming more and more popular and a key element in the architectural design of the many buildings, due also to their attractive and symbolic aesthetic characteristics for the public. As it is a filter against unwanted external environmental phenomena such as rain, snow and wind. A well-designed atrium can contribute to a significant effect on the indoor environment, affecting the comfort of the occupants. However, in certain hot and arid regions such as the city of Laghouat in the south of Algeria characterized by a scalding and dry summer, and cold winter, these fully enclosed atrium spaces with their untouched typological and architectural diversity, and in lack of a good renewal of the indoor air, they can cause considerable thermal discomfort to the occupants of space, and thermal stratification inside, especially in summer. The present work study the impact of the atrium configuration on the inside thermal environment, for summers and winter periods, and to provide a sufficient air renewal within the atrium to ensure good air quality. As a result, a rectangular, fully enclosed, unventilated central atrium building was examined with its adjacent spaces, by a series field measurement to study two geometric factors that have a considerable impact on the interior thermal comfort, the height width ratio (SAR Index) and the glazed coverage ratio. The impact of SAR index and glazed area ratio on thermal comfort and stratification of the air in summer and winter period were examined.

ABSTRACT. Depending on the type of configuration and connector arrangement, beam-to-column end-plate joints can be rigid, semi-rigid, or pinned. Fully restrained joints are required for rigid frames in which it is anticipated that the frame joints will have adequate rigidity to maintain the angles between intersecting parts in the service condition, ensuring full moment transfer. In contrast, partially restrained joints in semi-continuous frames are distinguished by relative rotations between crossing members, allowing the bending force to be transferred only partially. The concept of utilizing partially restricted, unstiffened joints in construction has gained traction since it looks to be more feasible and inexpensive. Bending transfer in partially constrained joints allows semi-continuous frames to withstand actions. Semi-continuous frames can survive actions due to bending transfer in partially restricted joints. At the same time, a certain degree of rotation is permitted, which improves the overall ductility of these structures. Using thinner end plates than those used in practical applications is one of the most effective ways to affect the ductility of end-plate beam-to-column joints. It was confirmed in a previous experimental study that the composite joints, where the thickness of the end plates is equivalent to about 60% of the diameter of the bolt used in composite joints, were taken into account in subsequent tests, and these studies can be confirmed using ABAQUS and Ls-Dyna modeling. All of these concerns are addressed, and recommendations for numerical modeling methodologies are made in order to ultimately analyze the reaction of the symmetric extended end plate joints with 8-bolts under hogging and sagging bending moments

ABSTRACT. On August 7, 2020, an earthquake (magnitude Mw = 5.0, epicenter 5 km north of the city center) jolted Mila, causing major damage to structures, induced impacts (landslides and rock falls), the built environment, and significant disruption to daily life. Given the recent large seismic occurrences in Algeria, it is critical to conduct a more extensive and comprehensive evaluation and assessment of post-earthquake damage. Given the sensitivity of masonry, concrete, and colonial constructions to horizontal vibrations produced by seismic events, and given that masonry and concrete comprise a significant component of Algeria's construction standard, this topic is vital to Algeria. Brief details about the Mila earthquake, city construction types, and data collection after the earthquake are defined. The study focuses on the post-earthquake examination, damage categorization, and failure patterns of residential structures in Mila's historic old town, which is dominated by colonial-era brick houses. The seismic disaster badly damaged structures that constitute noteworthy architectural achievements. Data collected during the initial post-earthquake analysis was also assessed and contested. The graphical depictions of the damages are precise, and they are accompanied by photographs. This earthquake has highlighted the fragility of Algeria's building stock, which must be dealt appropriately in the coming years. This study reflects on an overall estimate of a residential building in Algeria's lower city, as well as an assessment of three districts' seismic vulnerability (El-Kherba, Grareme-Gouga, and Azzeba). It was created and constructed a general database for graphical surveys and geometric study.

ABSTRACT. A blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that is distributed across multiple computers, recording transactions in a way that cannot be altered without the consent of the network and the alteration of all subsequent blocks. In the context of land and real estate property records, a blockchain could be used to securely and transparently track the ownership and transfer of properties. Using a blockchain to digitize land and real estate records can have several benefits. For example, it can help reduce the risk of fraud, as all transactions are recorded on a secure and tamper-proof ledger. It can also make the process of transferring ownership more efficient, as it can automate many of the steps involved and reduce the need for intermediaries. Additionally, a blockchain can increase the transparency of the property market, as all records will be publicly available on the ledger. In this work, we examine the current situation and the related problems in registering land and real estate property records, especially in developing countries, and we state the challenges and opportunities of the application of blockchain technology in this field. We investigate whether blockchain has the potential to bring a positive change and play a significant role in the real estate market in the future and what are the prerequisites to achieve that.

ABSTRACT. The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation, by enabling current work activities to be done online more efficiently. With the movement control restrictions being lifted, the conventional workspace is no longer stationary. The role of the built environment as a health determinant in the post-COVID-19 era should consider co-mitigation interventions for non-communicable and communicable diseases through physical activity campaigns. This study aims to provide a perspective on the influence of micro-climate-conscious design in various built environments in hot climate countries on physical activity behaviour. The challenges to the social context, the cultural aspects, and the environmental aspects of the cultural-climate design measures in existing built environments are synthesised from analytical themes made in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. The implications for future research are discussed. The finding recognises the importance of spatial heterogeneity in the cultural-climate-conscious built environment design approach. This study provides insights for policymakers and employers to better understand the dynamic roles of built environment perceptions in the post-COVID-19 era in hot climate regions at different intervention levels.

ABSTRACT. To date, many strategies have been executed to combat the COVID-19 disease, including the provision of good ventilation in buildings to reduce the spread of the virus. Open or semi-open space with good air exchange between indoor and outdoor provides better condition compared to enclosed space with mechanical ventilation. However, the design of public buildings, especially the shopping malls in hot and humid climate are mostly enclosed, with the high usage of air-conditioning systems. Due to the COVID-19 situation, it is found that the typical approach to shopping mall design needs to be revised and improved. Hence, this study is conducted with the intention to derive an initial idea regarding the new approach of a shopping mall that is able to be less dependent on the mechanical ventilation system. The method conducted for this preliminary study is a semi-structured interview with three respondents that possess experience of involving in shopping mall projects, namely the architect and mechanical engineer. The findings from the interview show that all respondents agreed that a new approach to ventilation systems should be implemented in shopping malls. They also emphasized that for shopping malls located in hot and humid climate, the usage of merely natural ventilation is impractical, especially in providing thermal comfort to the users. Hence, it is recommended to have hybrid ventilation which combines mechanical and natural ventilation systems. This study is significant as it encourages other studies related to the new approach to shopping mall design, especially in the hot and humid climate.

ABSTRACT. Mott MacDonald are providing advisory services for an accommodation project located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The project plan is to deliver more than 2000 housing and community facilities to teaching staff for a University in KSA. Currently subsidiaries are paid to faculty members who arrange accommodation with private landlords. The current provision by private landlords offers limited choice with inconsistent availability of basic needs such as; security and safety, first point to healthcare, family’ leisure activities, children’s care, education needs, domestic cleaning and travel provision to campus etc. The Project aims to provide high quality living conditions to education professionals via quality housing options, and to foster team and community spirit among teaching staff. Mott MacDonald have prepared a Social Outcomes Study as this project has an opportunity to provide services to a range of end users from different ages, marital status and different backgrounds. Mott MacDonald understand that social objectives can be achieved fully by developing an equitable living environment. Believing that simple changes can make a big impact on individuals’ lives, we help our clients to achieve an accessible, safe and connected environments. We believe in the power of sustainable and equitable urban designs, in which people are at the core of activities. We have collected best practice approaches from across the globe and conducted surveys with end users to create a transparent process and choice of preferred living opportunities. More than 5 goals of the United Nation (UN) and Social Development Goals (SDG) are integrated within project’s social objectives. It is planned to have sustainable and nature protected solutions.

ABSTRACT. Radon is an odorless radioactive gas that exists in the soil underneath buildings in areas that is rich in Radium and Uranium. It seeps from the soil and accumulates in the indoor environment. In 2009, radon gas has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as being carcinogenic to humans. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in the United States. EPA recommends homeowners mitigate their houses against radon if the indoor radon concentration exceeds 4 pCi/L. Building new healthy homes while developing affordable building renovation strategies is one of the key solutions to mitigate the impacts of such environmental hazards. This research explores the relationship between building design attributes and radon gas in areas prone to higher concentrations of indoor radon. 36 homes with different age, design features, and construction materials were tested in Bowling green Kentucky, an area classified as zone 1 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zone 1 is defined by the EPA as an area where the predicted indoor radon average is greater than 4 pCi/L. The survey also collected data about the architectural design, construction materials, structure systems, HVAC systems, and building envelope design of each house that participated in the study. The purpose is to feedback to the construction industry with potential improvements to help with the current indoor radon mitigation efforts. The results open the doors for further research needed to enhance the current building design and construction methods in areas prone to a higher concentration of indoor radon.

ABSTRACT. Indigenous people (IP) were the first residents who originally lived and hosted their represented nations or domains. Therefore, these natives were initially acknowledged as the first individuals, meaning they were included in the country's population and must be prioritized over the rest of the civilians, considering they were part of the country's history. However, despite being a small population, most of these individuals were poor and illiterate. Also, they were unable to catch up with those normal citizens living in the modern world because of not being socially identified in institutional industry, being discriminated against due to their origins, and being deprived of social support like access to education, transportation, hospital, and other essential facilities. This research sought to study the quality-of-life Iraya-Mangyan IPs had and the present conditions in their inhabited area to determine how they lived their everyday lives and how they moved around their domain. By conducting this study, the proponents found no inclusive transportation and comprehensive social support infrastructure available and accessible for Iraya-Mangyan IP, and thus, the transportation system was insufficient and defective.

ABSTRACT. Visual pollution is a main arising issue in urban settings. The residents of the built environment or the surrounding communities are negatively impacted by this sort of pollution. Visual pollution reduces quality of life and has an impact on the community's overall wellbeing. Urban planning developments in Qatar are progressively recognizing the issue of visual pollution in urban settings. Therefore, there are various efforts and actions were adopted to minimize such issue. This paper primary aim is to formulate a set of suggestions to help in mitigating visual pollution impact. The aim will be achieved by focusing on producing an analytical review of methods to mitigate visual pollution impact in many countries generally and in the state of Qatar mainly, beside highlighting the country laws, regulations, acts toward visual pollution. The methodology depended on qualitative approach to review adopted methods and used solutions in mitigating visual pollution impact. The findings proposed a set of recommendations to help in reducing visual pollution impact and enhancing the attempts of mitigating visual pollution in urban settings. The paper concludes many practices used previously in various countries and mainly in the state of Qatar and identifies the most appropriate methods to control visual pollution and enhance the attempts of reducing its impact in urban settings.

ABSTRACT. Heritage and tourism have become during the last two decades dynamic areas of development in the world. The idea of heritage is crucial to the critical decision-making process as to how irreplaceable resources are to be utilized by people of the present or conserved for future generations in a fast changing world. In view of the importance of ‘heritage’ to the development of a tourist destination the emphasis on developing appropriate adaptive reuse strategies cannot be overemphasized. In October 1999, the 12th general assembly of the ICOMOS in Mexico stated, that in the context of sustainable development, two interrelated issues need urgent attention, cultural tourism and historic towns and cities. Without adequate rehabilitation actions to ensure a sustainable future for these historic resources, may lead to their complete vanishing. According to the World Tourism Organization, natural and cultural heritage resources are and will remain motivating factors for travel in the near future. According to the experts, people choose travel destinations where they can learn about traditional and distinct cultures in their historic context. Historic centers in the Gulf are now being recognized as valuable resources for sustainable development. This paper focuses on the role of heritage tourism and its implications for urban regeneration in the context of Doha in Qatar and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, in order to use heritage wisely, it will be necessary to position heritage as an essential element of sustainable development, giving particular attention to heritage tourism.

ABSTRACT. Human-induced increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are anticipated to result in long-term alterations to the 21st-century global climate. Several decades of warming and a range of hydrologic and landscape reactions have already happened, and these changes are anticipated to increase in the 21st century unless greenhouse-gas emissions are brought under control or even reversed. These climate shifts have had an effect on natural and human systems across all continents and oceans. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the vicinity of the Arabian Gulf are not exception. The predicted increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events is one of the most significant effects of a future warmer climate. Precipitation is a crucial component of the hydrological cycle. Changes in precipitation can have effects on both the environment and human society, making it one of the most significant variables affecting life and well-being. Due to the UAE's high susceptibility to climate change, an immediate in-depth examination at the local level is essential to create sustainable adaptation strategies. This study assessed the future (2021-2100) changes in precipitation under the representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) in comparison to the observed historical period (1982-2011). The analysis of climate change was conducted at monthly and annual scales using statistically downscaled results from global climate models (GCMs). The average annual rainfall in the UAE is projected to change from -61% to 88% based on selected GCMs under two RCPs.

ABSTRACT. This paper studies the influence of urbanization on the natural overland flow paths on topography. The main objectives of this study are to: measure the effectiveness of drainage networks, study the influences of urban structure, compare the pre-and post-urban overland flow paths, and provide recommendations for flood prevention. The study was conducted on a catchment (81 km2) in Qatar that lies between Doha and Al-Rayan. Land cover, soil data, rain data, and digital elevation model (DEM) were the main inputs of the study to obtain run-off depths, time of concentration, and peak flows. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) method was applied, where Curve Numbers (CNs) were identified for each land cover based on soil groups concerning the infiltration rate. A geographic information system (GIS) integration has provided better results. ArcMap tools have been used to study flow changes such as flow direction, flow accumulation, and stream definition. The result of the study shows that urbanization has a significant effect on the characteristics of the flow path as it causes the time of concentration to decrease, resulting in increased run-off depth and peak flow.

ABSTRACT. In Muslim majority countries like Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ablution is a necessary component to fulfil religious commitments of prayer thus causes a significant amount of water is consumed on daily basis with minimal efforts and measures to manage or conserve that water use. This study aims to highlight the importance of redesigning the appliances in the Mosque for ablution purposes to save scarce water. The study assesses the water usage during ritual ablution (wudu- following prophet Muhammad way) in the Mosques of Oman. The findings from this study can have a global impact, as it can set an example for GCC countries as well as other countries all over the world where ablution is being practiced. Total consumption per capita for performing ritual ablution was measured using the normal tap, sensor tap, and pot. The study found that 7 L is being used while using normal and sensor taps of water per ablution while it could be done with 0.6 L of water. The major conclusion of the study is that current water consumption for ablution in Oman is around 8 times more than that of following prophet Muhammad way during ablution. Special taps that conserve water and suit the purpose of ablution have to be designed

ABSTRACT. Climate change is a serious international issue. Hence, nations must move to carbon reduction to mitigate this problem. Therefore, Qatar is building strategies, towards energy transitions and decarbonization. Whereas, energy transitions from hydrocarbons to renewable energy is challenging, since Qatar is a gas producing country. Thus, decarbonization in energy-based countries is challenging, due to their economic development dependence on fossil-fuel by exporting oil and gas, and generating energy and electricity. However, most of the global carbon emissions are caused by buildings. Hence, the challenge of energy demand reduction in buildings in hot climate regions such as Qatar, is due to using air conditioning systems. Therefore, the research aims to investigate the decarbonization strategies implemented in the building sector in oil and gas countries on the global and local levels. In order to tailor decarbonization strategies for Qatar, according to the country’s context.

ABSTRACT. It is of upmost importance that the type of hydrological basin of the region should be established before developing its drainage strategy. Unlike exhoric basin which is characterised by well-defined pattern of streams and rivers ultimately discharging into the sea, Qatar’s topography exhibits mix of arheic, and predominantly endorheic basin features i.e., rainwater drains to inland depressions to form temporary water bodies. Keeping drainage basin type in view, Al Khor drainage master is developed which function sustainably with the nature with aim to utilize drainage water to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar Water Strategy goals.

ABSTRACT. Watermain failure is a complex problem associated with significant socio-economic and environmental incumbrances. This complexity of this problem originates from many factors of physical, operational, and environmental nature. Varying contributions of these aspects lead to watermain failures requiring specialized studies for each individual region. This study aims at adopting the text mining approach to investigate the aspects contributing to the failure of watermains in Hong Kong (HK) and the socio-economic and environmental consequences of these failures. In this regard, a sum of 94 media articles, HK-based watermain failures from 1984 onwards are studied. The findings, on the one hand, showed that the aging pipes, hilly terrain, ground settlement, excavation works, and high-water pressure, are the most repeated failure causes in the media. On the other hand, the watermain bursts in HK are found to affect premises, such as traffic disruptions and incidents, loss of water supply, loss of business activity, flooding inside buildings, cave-in incidents, etc. The inquiry has resulted in a network of interrelationships among consequences of main breaks indicating that these breaks are complex occurrences where chains of events result in significant socio-economic and environmental impacts. This demonstrates the need of resilient Water Distribution Network (WDN) in HK and also the need of rigorous risk management to deal with the threats related to main failures. The causes behind breaks identified in this study can lead to the modelling of HK-based WDN helping forecast the occurrence of such events. The consequences of breaks identified in this study can help formulate risk mitigating measures for HK-WDN.

ABSTRACT. Rapid urbanization and increase in number of vehicles has led to diminishing vehicular spaces on the street. This has led to construction of flyovers which has dominated the streets. They reduce the ''Sky-View'' factor and has a put a serious threat to ''Enclosure '' widely used in Urban Design concepts. It has reduced the openness for the pedestrians and severely obstructed the views. This paper examines the effect of fly-over on the urban fabric of an ancient street 'Ashok Rajpath'of Patna, India.

ABSTRACT. Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technology has been used in many countries around the world, in lieu of Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA), due to its ability to allow significant reduction in the temperatures at which asphalt mixed are produced and placed, leading to the comparable performance to HMA. The resultant reduction in the viscosity of the asphalt due to the incorporation of WMA technologies, facilitates the coating of aggregates at lower temperatures (as much as 30o C temperature reduction), which translates to the reduction in energy consumption and Greenhouse Gases emissions, which in turn support sustainable development. WMA technology has been successfully implemented in several countries across the globe, especially in Europe and USA, aiming at saving energy and reducing emissions throughout the production and paving process, without compromising the in-service performance. This paper discusses how the long-term benefits and sustainability advantages of WMA technology can be harnessed to augment the Qatar roadmap and aspiration towards achieving 25% reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHG) by 2030 and reaching Net Zero by 2050.

ABSTRACT. This research centers on the need to develop a simple but sustainable material for the utilization of the quantum of plastic wastes that litter our environment. The research uses waste plastics and laterite soil and converts them into construction materials (interlock blocks) with the help of the densifier, thereby reducing the plastic waste which is a key contributor to environmental pollution. Literature has shown that concrete structure is prone to chemical actions; the durability of conventional concrete bricks gets affected by chemical effects. The chemicals may cause cracking of concrete, rutting, and deterioration of the structure. In the same vein, the plastic-laterite interlock bricks might not be free from such defects due to chemical action. Therefore, this research looks into the effects of different chemical curing conditions on the compressive strength of plastic-laterite paving blocks. Varying proportions of plastic wastes and laterite soil were mixed and processed into composite bricks and subjected to different chemical treatments; in acid, base, oil, and water for 3, 14, and 28 days relative to a concrete brick control. It was observed that samples cured in acid solution gave the lowest compressive strength, while those in base solution gave the highest. The paving interlock blocks made from polyethylene/laterite composite registered relative performance compared to concrete interlock bricks control. If made and put into use, these blocks will reduce construction costs, assist in environmental sustainability and improve circular economic growth. Therefore, using this innovative approach will bolster infrastructural projects and checkmate plastic pollution within our environment.

ABSTRACT. Plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and hence pile up within refuse dumps and streets constituting an eyesore and menace to the environment. Some of them end up in drainages and waterways where they block water passages resulting in flooding. This is in addition to the fatalities they cause to livestock and marine life that mistakenly consume them. Globally, plastic waste proliferation has been recognized among the environmental challenges mitigating the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This research tends to transform the unwanted plastic wastes by mixing with laterite soil to produce road paving interlock blocks. Laterite soil was mixed with plastic waste at various proportions by respective weight denoted as P1 (60:40%), P2 (70:30%), and P3 (80:20%) to determine their usability as road paving material. Maximum compressive strength of 9.68, 10.40, and 6.88 N/mm2 were achieved for P1, P2, and P3 respectively, implying the P2 mix has the best strength. The paving interlock blocks made from plastic-laterite composite registered high relative performance and met the minimum compressive strength required by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute for interlocking paving blocks deploy for non-traffic uses.

ABSTRACT. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the construction sector, which is sensitive to economic cycles. In order to boost value and efficiency in this sector, the use of innovative exploration technologies such as ultrasonic and Artificial Intelligence techniques in building material research is becoming increasingly crucial. In this study, we developed two models for predicting the Los Angeles (LA) and Micro Deval (MDE) coefficients, two important geotechnical tests used to determine the quality of rock aggregates. These coefficients describe the resistance of aggregates to fragmentation and abrasion. The ultrasound velocity, porosity, and density of the rocks were determined and used as inputs to develop prediction models using multiple regression and an artificial neural network. These models may be used to assess the quality of rock aggregates at the exploration stage without the need for tedious laboratory analysis.

ABSTRACT. The bridge is a common engineering structure over which a rail track is often laid. With the introduction of continuous welded rail (CWR), major rail tracks have shifted worldwide from jointed rail to continuous welded rail. CWR eliminates fish plates and overcomes many of the drawbacks of the jointed rail, resulting in a long, smooth track with no joints. Track-bridge interaction (TBI) is important when a continuous welded rail is provided over a bridge structure. Since numerous parameters influence the phenomenon, a numerical model has been developed in SAP2000. Longitudinal pier/abutment stiffness is an important structural property of bridge substructure, and its magnitude changes significantly from one bridge to another. Due to the coupling between CWR track and the bridge, the bridge pier stiffness affects the rail stress developed in addition to pre-existing stress. Pier stiffness has been identified as an important parameter affecting the track-bridge interaction phenomenon as its value changes with the site conditions. The developed numerical model has been utilised to study the influence of pier stiffness on support reaction and additional rail stress in CWR subjected to thermal loading. Both the support reaction and rail stress have been found to be considerably influenced by pier stiffness. Additional rail stress in CWR is a source of concern because the track is a long, slender member that can buckle if excessive compressive stress develops in the track.

ABSTRACT. This project focuses on the retrofitting of concrete bridge piers. In the first phase of the project, a half-scale bridge bent was designed and experimentally tested in the Idaho State University (ISU) Structural Lab (SLAB) under earthquake-style loading. The bents modeled a pier connection developed by ISU and Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) (pipe-socket connection). The bridge bent was tested until failure and the results were processed and compared to one another. After testing the bent specimens ISU and ITD have come back to work on another project to retrofit the half-scale bridge piers and experimentally test and quantify the design. Many post-earthquake repair methods have been suggested by ISU and ITD to repair the pier’s stiffness, strength, and ductility after a design-level event. This paper focuses on ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) jacketing as the retrofit method. Methods to retrofit concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) have only been used in analytical studies and have not been experimentally tested. In order to combat this issue of lack of experimental data, ISU is testing four piers with a UHPC jacket retrofit. The objective of this research is to experimentally validate the proposed UHPC retrofit for the pipe connection.

ABSTRACT. The dynamic modulus |E*| is used in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) to express the viscoelasticity of asphalt material at a range of temperatures and loading frequencies. As a result, the current MEPDG method assumes that frequency is calculated as the opposite of vehicular loading pulse time.  In addition, the loading pulse time can be calculated using the Odemark thickness equivalency method according to the MEPDG. On the other hand, the loading frequency as per Qatar Highway Design Manual (QHDM 2021) is estimated based on the average vehicle speed using Losa and Di Natale formula. However, studies found major inadequacies in the adopted method of MEPDG, which might affect the accuracy of the loading frequency and |E*| accordingly which leads to an impact on the pavement design and performance analysis. Hence, it was recommended that alternative frequency determination approaches like the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) be used rather than traditional time-domain techniques. Therefore, this paper compares the results of the MEPDG and QHDM loading frequency procedure with the dominant frequencies (DF) obtained using the FFT. On the other hand, the loading time pulses are estimated using the Odemark approach and, compared to the ones simulated using 3D Move Analysis software that accurately considers the tire contact pressure, viscoelastic properties, & vehicle speed. It was found that the used frequency determination approach in the pavement design in Qatar, overestimates the frequency values by about 30% to 88%. Furthermore, the findings showed that the MEPDG method for determining loading time and frequency is not conservative.