This paper presents a ground improvement approach for a project comprising a raft foundation for a substation building. The design objective was to achieve a net allowable bearing capacity of 150 kPa and to limit total settlement to 60 mm, in compliance with the Saudi Building Code (SBC). Subsurface conditions revealed the presence of weak, compressible Salty Sabkha soils that are unsuitable for shallow foundations without improvement. While traditional deep foundation systems such as piles were initially proposed, Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) were suggested as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative. The CMC technique enhances soil stiffness and reduces settlement by introducing rigid inclusions without full soil displacement. The performance of the improved ground was verified through Zone Load Test (ZLT). The CMC system meets bearing and settlement requirements. ZLT results showed a maximum settlement of 6.29 mm at 225 kN/m2, which met the project requirements and confirmed the efficiency of the proposed ground improvement technique. In this case study, the CMC solution was not only effective in settlement control but also in cost and carbon footprint reduction. However, further validation under varying soil and loading conditions would strengthen the general applicability of the findings.
Concrete is an important construction material, but it has a weak point in cracking. To overcome the repair of cracking, researchers have discovered that adding bacteria to concrete heals cracks. Besides that, adding eco-friendly materials has recently become a trend to enhance concrete performance. One of these methods is using magnetized water (MW) in concrete mixing. Using bacteria with MW gives high strength and low maintenance requirements, leading to reduced carbon dioxide emissions and cost. In this study, two different percentages of bacteria, Bacillus megaterium genus, 2.5 and 5
In recent years, the sand crisis has garnered increasing attention, and researchers have investigated a variety of substitutes to mitigate the consumption of river sand. Common alternatives are industrial waste items that would otherwise need to be disposed of on land. For concrete, one such by-product that can be utilized in place of alluvial sand is steel slag (SS). The purpose of this study is to ascertain the ideal replacement percentages for the required mechanical and structural qualities by investigating the viability of using steel slag as a fine aggregate in concrete. Experimental studies were carried out using different ratios of steel slag in place of traditional fine aggregate. Compressive strength, workability, and other characteristics of the concrete mixes were evaluated. The experimental findings show that using steel slag as a partial substitute for fine aggregate has encouraging potential. The steel slag with 15
This study develops an interpretable data-centric machine learning paradigm to predict the compressive strength of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with recycled concrete powder (RCP). Given limited experimental data, an experimental dataset of 80 samples was augmented with 300 synthesized concrete mix designs to improve the model. We evaluated the performance of two machine learning methods using extreme learning machine (ELM) and CatBoost, employing three different data strategies: experimental only (M1), synthetic only (M2), and combined (M3). Our results showed that CatBoost in the combined strategy (M3) outperformed the competition with an R2 of 0.968 and the best error metrics in the test phase. To demonstrate the feature contributions, we used SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and found that the most important features explaining compressive strength included cement, steel fibers, and water. Our proposed method demonstrates that combining generative data with explainable machine learning significantly improves both predictive performance and transparency, suggesting potential for designing and optimizing concrete mix recipes for sustainable UHPC.
The hot mix asphalt (HMA) production consumes a lot of energy, which in turn generates a large carbon footprint. This study examined the environmental impact of warm mix asphalt (WMA) incorporated with Cup Lump Rubber (CLR), Evotherm additive (EVO), and Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), which are all eco-friendly materials. Four asphalt mixtures were studied: (i) Neat Bitumen (NB), (ii) NB + CLR, (iii) NB + CLR + EVO, (iv) NB + CLR + EVO + POFA. The mixtures were prepared in a lab under standard temperature, and real-time gas emissions were measured (O2, CO2, NO2, SO2, NOn) in a 300-s mixing time. The highest CO2 (1.78 kg/ton) and SO2 (0.48 g/ton) emissions were recorded at high temperatures of 180 °C for NB + CLR. NO2 and SO2 emissions were reduced through Evotherm, and when POFA was used for further modification, SO2 was reduced by an additional 33.2
Recent review studies lack a synthesized analysis of the integrated potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) which show a paradigm shift from traditional, lab-dependent soil classification methods, for geotechnical engineering. This study explores and addresses this gap by critically examining the convergence of AI and IoT for building real-time and smart soil classification systems. Besides, we present a comprehensive analysis of hybrid and explainable AI models powered by IoT-driven data, a combination poised to address conventional challenges of data inconsistency. Lastly, the future research scope is discussed to achieve autonomous and transparent geotechnical decision-making in an efficient manner.
Saudi Vision 2030 is investing in preserving and enhancing its historical sites to foster sustainable tourism. This research proposes the Najdi Heritage Trail as a strategic initiative to revive historical narratives and activate heritage sites of four significant Najdi settlements: Diriyah, Al Uyaynah, Al Jubaylah, and Al Amariyah. Using a qualitative multi-method approach that combines archival research, field surveys, and interviews with residents, municipal authorities, and heritage experts, the study evaluates each site through the six core values of the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism: Authenticity, Continuity, Human-Centricity, Livability, Innovation, and Sustainability. Community insights informed key recommendations for participatory and inclusive heritage experiences. Findings reveal uneven conservation efforts but highlight opportunities for storytelling, architectural protection, and low-impact tourism, while underscoring the importance of active community involvement. The study suggests that future studies integrate ecological sustainability, digital heritage tools, and expanded regional coverage to improve cultural sustainability across the Kingdom.
In the age of globalization, national cultural identity plays a critical role in establishing a country’s brand on the world stage. This paper presents a novel approach to designing national cultural brands through artificial intelligence (AI), combining deep learning and visual communication techniques. A proposed framework leverages AI to analyze and synthesize cultural symbols, visual elements, and historical contexts to develop a coherent and impactful identity. By integrating deep learning models for image recognition and feature extraction, culturally relevant design elements are generated that resonate with both local and international audiences. Extensive experimentation evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed framework using several key performance indicators (KPIs), including design recognition accuracy and cultural alignment scores. An accuracy of 98.75
Integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has recently attracted significant attention and played a role in developing smart cities. This systematic review explores the current state of BIM-GIS integration, its applications, challenges, and future directions. This study identifies key trends, technological advancements, and adoption barriers through an inclusive analysis of peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and reviews published from 2013 to 2025. Findings suggest that BIM-GIS integration enhances smart cities’ urban planning, infrastructure management, and disaster resilience. However, interoperability issues, data heterogeneity, and a lack of standardized frameworks remain significant challenges. The review concludes with a discussion of future research, policy implications, and important recommendations.
This study investigates the active earth pressure behaviour and design implications for retaining walls constructed under narrow backfill conditions. Large-scale physical model tests are conducted to evaluate wall response under two distinct movement modes: rotation about the base and horizontal sliding. The active earth pressure coefficient (Ka) and normalized point of application of thrust (ys) were measured for aspect ratios (b/H) ranging from 0.1 to 0.7. Results show that Ka decreases from 0.28 to 0.14 in the rotation mode and to 0.16 in the sliding mode. The point of application of thrust shifts from the classical H/3 to approximately 0.4H at b/H = 0.2, indicating a nonlinear pressure distribution. A combined-mode design methodology is proposed wherein Ka from sliding is used for checking sliding stability, while Ka from rotation is applied for overturning and bearing capacity checks. This approach reduces the required base width from 0.49H at b/H = 0.7 to 0.33H at b/H = 0.1, achieving a 32.7
This study investigates the impact of recent major development projects on the thermal signature in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using Earth observation data to support the Quality of Life Program’s goal of enhancing urban livability by 2030. High-resolution thermal data from Landsat 9 satellites were employed to analyze surface temperature trends at local scales, identifying key contributors to urban heating. Preliminary findings revealed a significant expansion of SUHI in Riyadh between 2016 and 2023, with high thermal peaks increasingly concentrated in urban areas. Detailed site-specific analysis highlighted the role of urban features, such as asphalt surfaces and highways, in elevating temperatures, while compact designs, reflective materials, and green spaces demonstrated cooling effects. The study underscores the potential of mitigation strategies like albedo engineering, urban features engineering, urban greening, and water features to reduce heat waves impact. These insights provide actionable recommendations for urban planning to combat rising temperatures and improve livability in Riyadh and similar arid cities.
CO2 accelerated curing improves concrete strength by fostering carbonation and reducing the carbon footprint through CO2 sequestration, supporting sustainability. In contrast, end-of-life vehicle tyres harm the environment by leaching toxins, releasing pollutants, and contributing to landfill overcrowding. The properties of mortars with combined tyre fibre and CO2 curing, as well as the data-based modelling in mortar production, are not well understood. To address this gap, this study explored using 0.5 and 1
Globally, the textile industry is considered a major contributor to the development of a country’s progress. However, the improper disposal of colored wastewater into streams leads to serious environmental damage. The increasing discharge of colored dyes from textile industries poses significant challenges due to their chemical stability and resistance to degradation. In response, this study presents the synthesis and photocatalytic investigation of an iron-based metal–organic framework (Fe-MOF) embedded in waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The synthesized Fe-MOF was uniformly dispersed in a clear EPS-tetrahydrofuran solution to design a composite. The photocatalytic performance of unmodified EPS and Fe-MOF-EPS was assessed by exposing them to standard MB dye solutions, separately under dark, indoor daylight, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) equipped chamber. UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor dye degradation upon exposure to the Fe-MOF-EPS composite in different lighting conditions. The Fe-MOF-EPS composite exhibited superior photocatalytic performance in all three cases, mainly under LEDs than plain EPS, showing its suitability for the degradation of MB. This work presents a facile, sustainable, and effective strategy for recycling non-biodegradable EPS waste into functional photocatalytic materials for environmental remediation. Moreover, the study also aims to highlight the potential of MOF composites with EPS in advanced wastewater treatment applications targeting organic dye pollutants.
For many years, researchers and practitioners in the fields of architecture and interior design have focused on examining different strategies to make indoor spaces more human-centered and livable. As people spend most of their time in built environments such as offices, schools, and more importantly homes, there is an increasing need for a human-centered design approach to ensure that indoor spaces suit people’s needs. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and its parameters, such as air quality, temperature, humidity, lighting, and acoustics, play a key role in creating human-centered spaces. While its impact on well-being and productivity has been well-studied globally, limited research has focused on IEQ in Saudi homes. Therefore, this study aims to examine the perception of Saudi citizens about the most impactful IEQ parameters on their well-being and productivity. A quantitative approach (questionnaire) was adopted to assess the obtained results, and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. The first part of the questionnaire was related to participants’ demographic information, while the second part examined the impact of home IEQ on the residents’ well-being and productivity. The participants were 270 Saudi citizens who volunteered. Although the study found a positive relationship between the IEQ parameters and participants’ well-being and productivity, some parameters, such as temperature and humidity, affect the participants’ well-being more than their productivity, while other parameters, such as air quality, affect participants’ productivity more than their well-being.
Indonesia is located in a highly seismically active region, necessitating advanced methods for assessing and improving the earthquake resilience of essential facilities such as educational buildings. This study presents a novel application of Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA), a nonlinear time-history approach within the framework of Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE), to evaluate the seismic performance of a four-story reinforced concrete school building in Padang—one of Indonesia’s most earthquake-prone cities. By incrementally scaling a diverse suite of real earthquake ground motion records, including events like Chi-Chi and Northridge, this research captures dynamic structural responses across a spectrum of seismic intensities, overcoming limitations of conventional static methods. The effective integration of IDA with local seismic design provisions (SNI 1726:2019) enables a comprehensive assessment of performance levels—Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP)—under increasing seismic demand. Results demonstrate that the building maintains structural integrity without exceeding collapse prevention thresholds even at Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) levels, validating the current design codes and confirming the building’s resilience. This investigation provides critical insights for seismic design and retrofitting of essential infrastructure in high-risk seismic regions, advancing the adoption of dynamic performance-based assessment methods in Indonesia and similar earthquake-prone areas worldwide.
The research investigates the impact of integrating AI into interior design and architecture programs, with a focus on design studios. This case study focuses on the D7 project, also known as the Gaming Arena project. The methodology involves utilizing AI programs throughout three primary design phases: elevation design, structural design, and the selection of lighting and materials. A survey was distributed to Design 7 students to collect their feedback on the utilization of AI in specific interior design case studies derived from student projects. The survey results reveal that students proficient in lighting attained 90
Saudi Arabia’s urban landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, fueled by Vision 2030 and an ambitious sustainability narrative positioning the Kingdom as a global leader. This study examines how sustainability functions both as a branding device and as an operational challenge in mega-projects such as NEOM and Qiddiya. Based on literature review and five interviews with sustainability professionals, the research identifies a persistent gap between visionary rhetoric and practical implementation. It argues that while sustainability narratives enhance national identity and global soft power, significant challenges remain in governance, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement. Closing this gap will require institutional reforms, capacity-building, and new models of accountability. The paper contributes to broader debates on urban sustainability by showing how emerging economies use sustainability not only as a developmental tool but also as a strategy for international repositioning.
Riyadh’s rapid urban growth and reliance on private vehicles have created mobility, spatial organization, and sustainability challenges. This study examines the potential benefits of transit-oriented development (TOD) as a tool for strategic planning for urban transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The paper evaluates Riyadh’s organizational and geographic readiness for TOD via a comparative case study approach. Eleven established TOD indicators are applied across six cities: Tokyo, Singapore, Copenhagen, Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh to examine governance frameworks, walkability, transportation accessibility, zoning flexibility, and density. These 6 capitals are chosen as reference, similar in importance or geographical proximity, but which stand out for having already developed an urban planning conscience aligned, at various levels, with the TOD principle and which Riyadh could take as an example for future development. The results show that Riyadh lags far compared with regional and international cases in some important TOD indicators, especially in the areas of green infrastructure, pedestrian connectivity, and zoning flexibility. The city’s TOD maturity is still in its earliest stages with major investments in transit infrastructure laying a strong foundation for future growth. The study concludes that Riyadh will benefit in adopting a context-specific TOD framework that integrates zoning reform, institutional coordination, walkability improvements, and climate-responsive urban design. Strategic recommendations include targeted planning around priority metro stations, enhanced governance integration, and phased implementation to support a gradual shift toward sustainable, transit-oriented urban development in the Gulf context.
This article explores the complex and multi-level sustainability challenges that Saudi Arabia faces in its transition from a fossil-fuel-based economy to one centered on clean and renewable energy. Anchored in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 7 [Affordable and Clean Energy], the study critically examines the Kingdom’s policy strategies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional efforts to promote clean energy adoption and reduce environmental degradation. Drawing from a wide range of academic literature and policy documents, the paper investigates the interplay between energy production, environmental performance, and national governance. It identifies key factors influencing the success of this transition, including technological innovation, regulatory coherence, and stakeholder engagement across both public and private sectors. The study underscores the importance of integrated and collaborative approaches to policymaking that align with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ultimately, it calls for systemic reforms to enable a resilient and sustainable energy future.
