Dr. Muna Salameh studied Architecture (Bachelor)and Urban Planning (Master) at AN Najah National University – Palestine and graduated with Honor. She achieved PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Built Environment from The British University in Dubai. She Practiced Architecture in Palestine for several years. She had taught Architectural courses in several universities in Palestine and UAE. Participating in the survey and documentation of old buildings in Beithlehm in West Bank – Palestine. Since 2004 she is working at Ajman University. Teaching different Architecture courses and participating in different official committees such as : Annual Book committee , course file updating committee …etc. she attended some conferences like the 2nd World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’17)- Barcelona, Spain – April 2 – 4, 2017 and awarded for the best paper award and the 6th International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ICACE2022) – Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia – 18-August -2022 and she was awarded for the best presentation award. She is a member of Jordan Engineers Association. She is interested in sustainable Architecture research.
Several studies have indicated that traditional architecture is known for its sustainable capability to manage climate effects, while contemporary architecture focused on style more than sustainability. This study intends to improve thermal performance and comfort in modern urban districts with reference to traditional districts in the UAE using ENVI-met software. The research methodology adopts comparative and qualitative investigations for the old and the new districts to explore their thermal performance on specific days. As per the simulation results, a reduction in the maximum outdoor temperature of approximately 1 °C was observed in the traditional area compared to the contemporary districts. The study has also integrated some traditional passive design concepts such as grass and green shading devices to the modern district to lower its outdoor temperature.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) is a multivariable process where any alteration with one system input affects most or all of the system’s outputs simultaneously. Owing to its comprehensiveness, a readily derived multivariable HVAC mathematical model is selected for this work, mainly a hybrid distributed-lumped parameters model. As the transfer function matrix was not established in the selected HVAC model, it was exclusively developed in this study, using the time domain graphical responses of the chosen model. Based on the developed transfer function matrix, a conceptual two-step approach was followed to control HVAC model performance. The first was decoupling the interactions that affect all the system outputs, and the second was designing proper PID controllers for each decoupled loop similar to those used for single input single output (SISO) systems.
Sustainable architecture is a key approach for creating sustainable cities and reducing the impact of climate change. In hot, arid regions, the passive design traditional architecture is known for its ability to provide comfortable indoor environments and outdoor shaded areas, in contrast to the use of energy-intensive air conditioners in a great deal of modern architecture. Thus, this research used a qualitative methodology based on ENVI-met software to study, investigate, and compare the thermal performance of two urban fabrics as case studies (traditional and modern districts) in the hot, arid climate of the United Arab Emirates. The thermal performance of the old urban districts was better than the new ones, with a lower maximum potential air temperature and an improvement in the level of thermal comfort, measured by a predicted mean vote. Moreover, it was found that enhancing the shade in the outdoor open areas in the modern district, mimicking the traditional passive design solutions, resulted in lower air temperature and PMVs. This research is expected to be one step among many towards creating sustainable, innovative modern architecture.
Heritage conservation can revive vernacular architectural methods of construction which naturally embody sustainable design concepts. This research investigates and highlights the intrinsic value of heritage conservation in building a sustainable society; from an environmental, economic, and social perspectives. This research is an evaluation of a unique case of heritage conservation in the city of Nablus, Palestine, at both architectural and urban scales. The investigation concluded that traditional passive design solutions have many advantages over modern ones. It was found that the thermal performance of a conserved traditional building was more effective, making it more sustainable than its modern counterpart with the same function. Further, the investigation concluded that heritage conservation is core to protecting identity in its preservation of the past for future generations, especially in an occupied area, such as Nablus. This study aims to highlight the vast scope and application of heritage conservation with regards to innovative and sustainable solutions in a modern urban society.
Purpose This study aims to evaluate The Springs’ indoor environment, one of the iconic townhouse-type residential buildings in Dubai, more efficiently for the integrated evaluation of the indoor environment with the weights of indoor environmental factors such as thermal, indoor air, lighting and acoustic. Design/methodology/approach The weights of the indoor environment factors were derived for the integrated evaluation to reflect the residents’ preferences. Based on the post-occupancy evaluation (P.O.E.) survey, the weights according to the gender, age group and indoor spaces followed a comparison and analytical processes. Findings This paper had found the priority of residents’ needs for each space in The Springs project. In summer, thermal comfort was the most important factor for living room and the master bedroom. In winter, the priority for living room and kitchen was the indoor air quality. Research limitations/implications As it is the first research survey for housing project in Dubai, it needs to be extended to other housing projects in Dubai. To increase the reliability of the weights calculated through this study and the applicability of the integrated indoor environmental evaluation, more in-depth P.O.E. survey is needed with wide range of survey participants. Social implications This paper will help developing guidelines for future renovation based on the comparative analysis among thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, lighting comfort and indoor air comfort. Originality/value This paper is the first attempt to analyze the condition of early housing projects in Dubai. The data can be used to increase not only the design quality and marketability of housing projects in Dubai but also the condition of residents’ health status to avoid sick building syndrome from approximately 20 years old buildings.