https://dspace.aud.edu:443/jspui/handle/123456789/70 2023-03-16T10:06:02Z 2023-03-16T10:06:02Z Mohamed, Ahmed Khaled https://dspace.aud.edu:443/jspui/handle/123456789/140 2022-10-10T12:03:23Z 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Indoor air quality statistical analysis for school buildings Authors: Mohamed, Ahmed Khaled Abstract: Recent indoor air quality (IAQ) studies have identified significant concerns about elevated levels of air pollution in school environments. Consequently, this research aims to investigate and analyze indoor air quality of a sample of ten secondary schools in the emirate of Sharjah, with the goal of determining the concentrations of several common indoor contaminants, evaluate the significance of several building and environmental factors that could affect indoor contaminant levels, and assess their potential health and performance effects on students' health. The objectives of the research were achieved by the means of location preliminary study, visual inspection of the school building components, subjective measurements by interviewing students and faculty members. objective measurements of indoor contaminants and statistical analysis to establish correlation between contaminants, sources and the potential effect on occupants' wellbeing and satisfaction, while testing for the significance of the correlations established. The initial investigation found high CO2 levels throughout the sample of ten schools, which was a clear sign of inadequate ventilation rates given that eight of the ten schools lacked mechanical ventilation systems. Three of the ten schools did not exhibit increased VOC levels, as this was mostly due to the entry of external traffic contaminants, the lack of mechanical ventilation, and the materials present in the inside environment of the schools. As a result of classroom overcrowding and inadequate HVAC cooling capacity, fifty percent of the schools have interior temperatures that exceed those allowed by ASHRAE 55 guidelines. The higher interior temperatures were anticipated to be an issue for the comfort of the students, but the surveys provided to the students and faculty provided that students prefer warmer indoor surroundings, probably because of their upbringing in warmer, desert regions. Concerning student health, it was determined that humidity control and adequate ventilation are the most important factors to improve students' and staff's well-being in the indoor environment, as both contribute to the growth of biological and gaseous contaminants that are associated with elevated levels of occupant illness and discomfort.

2022-06-01T00:00:00Z Dabash, Mohammad salah https://dspace.aud.edu:443/jspui/handle/123456789/139 2022-09-13T06:00:31Z 2019-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A comparative study of local and international green building rating system Authors: Dabash, Mohammad salah Abstract: With Dubai aiming to be one of the greenest cities in the world, the government has set various requirements and regulations to achieve this goal. This research is conducted to compare local green building rating systems (Al Sa'fat v1.1 by DM) and established international green building rating systems (LEED v4 by USGBC) in order to find the effect of both green building rating systems on the buildings. In addition, the effect of proximity from public transportation network on a project certification, the additional cost to upgrade the project to different LEED and Sa'fat tiers, to the effect of both Green building rating systems on a projects Electricity and Water consumption are investigated. Furthermore, the research looks into the regional benefits of using local green building rating systems versus established international green building rating systems. A sample of sixteen representative commercial quality buildings was selected for the study. A model was created for each project to estimate the cost of upgrading the project to different LEED and Al Sa 'fat tiers. The model was optimized to select the alternatives that earned the tier at the lowest financial investment. Moreover, the models are optimized for Dubai to enhance the regulations and requirements for new buildings set by Dubai Municipality (including the green building regulations and specifications). All the project's costs and respective upgrade costs are based on estimates and quotations attained from the local market. The research shows that Al Sa'fat green building rating system yielded higher water and electrical savings when compared to the same tier in LEED, however, the electrical savings proposed by Al Sa'fat are not feasible due to unrealistic on site generation requirements and the water savings could be improved by using more cost-effective techniques proposed by LEED green building rating system. In addition, the study investigates the importance of a project's location in terms of availability of a public transportation network within the project vicinity, and its potential impact on the investment required to achieve the different tier of certification in LEED The outcome of the study reveals that buildings within close vicinity to public transportation network can achieve gold certification at relatively low cost and platinum tier with a 49% additional investment, while projects located outside the public transportation network will require additional investment (with an average of 13%) in which it deems infeasible to achieve the platinum certification.

2019-08-01T00:00:00Z Dabash, Mohammad Salah https://dspace.aud.edu:443/jspui/handle/123456789/129 2020-02-04T06:25:59Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A comparative study of local and international green building rating systems Authors: Dabash, Mohammad Salah Abstract: This research is conducted to compare local green building rating systems (Al Sa’fat v1.1 by DM) and established international green building rating systems (LEED v4 by USGBC) in Dubai, in order to find the effect of both green building rating systems on the buildings. In addition, the effect of proximity from public transportation network on a project certification, the additional cost to upgrade the project to different LEED and Sa’fat tiers, to the effect of both Green building rating systems on a projects Electricity and Water consumption are investigated. Furthermore, the research looks into the regional benefits of using local green building rating systems versus established international green building rating systems. A sample of sixteen representative commercial quality buildings was selected for the study. A model was created for each project to estimate the cost of upgrading the project to different LEED and Al Sa’fat tiers. The model was optimized to select the alternatives that earned the tier at the lowest financial investment. Moreover, the models are optimized for Dubai to enhance the regulations and requirements for new buildings set by Dubai Municipality (including the green building regulations and specifications). All the project’s costs and respective upgrade costs are based on estimates and quotations attained from the local market. Description: A Master of Science in Construction Management thesis by Mohammad Salah Dabash, submitted in August, 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Peiman Kianmehr.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Alfawal, Alma https://dspace.aud.edu:443/jspui/handle/123456789/128 2020-01-19T07:56:00Z 2019-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessing the impact of autonomous vehicles on signalized intersection efficiency and pavement life cycle Authors: Alfawal, Alma Abstract: Vehicle automation is the new trend in transport systems development. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) technology is progressing to define the new industry paradigm for full driverless vehicles. However, the impacts of AVs are limitedly explored, and full-scale operational tests of significance to understand the implementation requirements for this technology and potentially acquaint the process of transport systems planning. In this research, the operational performance of signalized intersections is investigated with the various penetration rates of AVs. Four variables are of interest to observe the impact of AVs; the start-up delay value, the saturation headway, the initial response time, and, the number of vehicles until the saturation headway is reached. The research also takes into consideration the impacts of AVs on intersection efficiency, under various geometric and operational effects such as; critical lane movement and autonomous vehicle level of automation. The main factors of significance are recorded using the Microscopic modelling tool for traffic analysis; PTV Vissim. As the simulated vehicle queue dissipates at the intersection's stop line, the discharge headway is recorded, and hence the discharge headway models are created. The data recording and extraction is proceeded with the assessment of the signalized intersection operational performance in terms of the signalized intersection capacity, and the average movement control delay and subsequent Level of Service (LOS). The research also studies the impact of AVs on the overall pavement life cycle. A service life assessment of the pavement is undertaken to study the effect of AVs on the fatigue failure of the pavement undergoing the repetitive loading due to the channelized wheelpath of AVs with zero lateral wandering. Thus, the fatigue failure of the pavement structure is studied at various AV%. The AVs impact on the road infrastructure is assessed via the vehicular traffic loading application on an HMA flexible pavement structure using the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. Lastly, an interdisciplinary Benefit - Cost comparative analysis is undertaken to quantifiably evaluate the delay improvements vs. the infrastructure cost implications in the transport system as AVs% gradually increase in the traffic flow. The research results show that the increase of AV% incorporation with the flow does not immensely improve the startup delay, decreases the saturation headway, and improves uniformity of the traffic flow. Randomness is noted at mixed traffic flow conditions in terms of initial discharge headway. The overall signalized intersection's efficiency improves in terms of the interstation's capacity and average movement control delay. On the other hand, with regards to the road infrastructure assessment, the AV% increase results in a shorter pavement service life because of fatigue damage due to the reduction of lateral wandering. Accordingly, the cost implications on the infrastructure are induced via the AVs presence within the traffic flow, yet the induced pavement costs are minimal in comparison to the user benefits due to delay reduction. Description: A Master of Science in Construction Management thesis by Alma Alfawal, submitted in November, 2019. Thesis advisor is Dr. Songsu Son. Thesis deposit and access agreement form available. Hard copy available.

2019-11-01T00:00:00Z