Identifying and Assessing the Significance of Digital Twin Enablers in the Construction Industry

A Master of Science thesis in Construction Management by Sara Samir Isbaih entitled, “Identifying and Assessing the Significance of Digital Twin Enablers in the Construction Industry”, submitted in June 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameh M. El-Sayegh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).With the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era, Digital Twins are becoming important in several domains. Utilizing the recent developments in the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and Big Data, Digital Twins are quickly growing in popularity as a tool across several industries and fields. A digital twin replicates a process, person, location, system, or equipment in the real world. The original purpose of Digital Twins was to enhance manufacturing processes through simulations that used very accurate component models, a fascinating application of this technology. Over time, with bigger and more precise building information models (BIM) and massive data produced by the Internet of Things sensors, Digital Twins are promising to solve the challenges of the construction field, implement advanced socio-technological changes, and transform the construction field digitally. However, there is a lack of applications, knowledge, and awareness of the Digital Twins concept in the AEC industry. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the importance of the key enablers for implementing digital twins in the construction sector by concentrating on understanding industry needs and assessing preparedness. The thesis studied and identified the Digital Twins enablers in the KSA and UAE construction industry. This thesis followed a systematic review to evaluate the significance level by collecting relevant data through an online survey and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The online survey had two scaling methods including the Likert scale and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The online survey was conducted by 82 respondents from industry professionals and experts. The pair-wise comparison data for the AHP was used to derive relative weights and validate the consistency of judgment. The results reveal that the organizational category ranks highest among the six enabler categories in the UAE, while the technological category is top ranked in KSA. Data governance and management are the top enablers in the UAE, reflecting its focus on data-driven practices. In KSA, committed leadership and strategic vision emphasize the role of executive direction. These findings show that both countries focus on organizational strength. However, they prioritize different drivers for integrating digital twinning into the construction industry.College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Construction Management (MSCM

Freehand Drawing - ART 111

Syllabus for the Department of Art and Design course "Freehand Drawing - ART 111", by Instructor(s) Juan Roldan for the Summer 2025 semester.College of Architecture, Art and DesignDepartment of Art and Desig

Dynamic Adaptive Video Streaming Over HTTP using Deep Learning Techniques

A Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation in Engineering Systems Management by Maram Wahed Rashad Amin Helmy entitled, “Dynamic Adaptive Video Streaming Over HTTP using Deep Learning Techniques”, submitted in May 2025. Dissertation advisor is Dr. Mohamed S. Hassan and dissertation co-advisors are Dr. Usman Tariq and Dr. Mahmoud H. Ismail Ibrahim. Soft copy is available (Dissertation, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Maintaining a high Quality of Experience (QoE) in adaptive video streaming remains a significant challenge in the presence of dynamic and heterogeneous network environments. Traditional Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) algorithms in Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) often rely on basic throughput estimation methods that struggle to adapt to rapid network fluctuations caused by mobility and handoff events. These limitations lead to frequent playback interruptions, abrupt quality changes, and overall QoE degradation. This dissertation proposes a novel deep learning-based framework to enhance ABR decision-making by predicting future throughput with greater accuracy and responsiveness. A transformer-based throughput prediction model is developed to capture the complex temporal dependencies in network dynamics. The predicted throughput feeds into two novel intelligent modules: a mobility-aware throughput prediction system (MATH-P) that combines mobility classification with dynamic bandwidth forecasting, and a handoff-aware prediction engine (HATH-P) that anticipates transitions between access networks (e.g., 4G and 5G) to ensure seamless adaptation during handoff events. In addition, three novel ABR algorithms are introduced using deep reinforcement learning (DRL): a throughput-aware algorithm (THA-P) that directly incorporates predicted throughput into the decision process, a mobility-aware algorithm (MATH-P ABR) that adapts to user movement patterns, and a handoff-aware algorithm (HATH-P ABR) that optimizes decisions during access network transitions. These DRL-based agents are trained and evaluated in realistic mobility and network scenarios.Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed methods significantly outperform both heuristic and learning-based ABR algorithms across key QoE metrics, achieving higher bitrate utility, reduced rebuffering durations, smoother bitrate transitions, and improved overall playback quality. The contributions of this work offer a robust and intelligent approach to ABR in mobile and heterogeneous environments, paving the way for next-generation adaptive streaming solutions.College of EngineeringDepartment of Industrial EngineeringPhD in Engineering - Engineering Systems Management (PhD-ESM

A Deep Learning–Blockchain Approach for Cyber-Attack Detection and Prevention in Protection Relays

A Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Yazan Hisham Barbar entitled, “A Deep Learning–Blockchain Approach for Cyber-Attack Detection and Prevention in Protection Relays”, submitted in April 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Ahmed Osman and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Mohamed Hassan. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical EngineeringMaster of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE

Digital Twin in the construction industry characteristics, benefits, and challenges

A Master of Science thesis in Construction Management by Noora Sibaa entitled, “Digital Twin in the construction industry characteristics, benefits, and challenges”, submitted in June 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).This thesis evaluates the current characteristics, benefits, and challenges of Digital Twins in the Construction Industry. The main aim of the thesis is to enhance the understanding of Digital Twins (DT) in construction by identifying, analyzing, and ranking these aspects as presented in the literature review. To achieve this, the research first reviewed relevant literature to extract key characteristics, benefits, and challenges, and then assessed their relevance within the construction industry. An online questionnaire was distributed to gather data for this assessment, with 81 valid responses from professionals of diverse roles and experience levels. Most of the respondents had over 10 years of experience and were involved in large-scale projects. The highest-ranked DT characteristics identified were data integration, data collection, and trusted structured data. The most significant benefit is focused on sustainability, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency. Conversely, the main challenges reported were cybersecurity risks, undefined access rights, and shortage of skilled professionals. Finally, this research aims to support industry professionals and decision-makers in adopting DT with more confidence and clarity, helping bridge the gap between digital ambition and practical implementation.College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Construction Management (MSCM

Enhanced Antimicrobial and Biofilm-Disrupting Properties of Gallium-Doped Carbon Dots

Antibiotic resistance continues to be a global health threat caused by microbial biofilms, yet carbon dots (CDs) offer a promising countermeasure. Doping CDs with metals or nonmetals further enhances their properties while maintaining biocompatibility. This work reports the sonochemical synthesis of gallium–boronic acid carbon dots (Ga-BACDs) under conditions (20 kHz, 2000 W, 60% amplitude, 60 °C, and 60 min), achieving significant gallium incorporation. Ultraviolet–visible and fluorescence analyses reveal characteristic CD absorbance peaks at 286 and 355 nm and strong emission at 397–400 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectral changes on Ga-BACDs suggest successful incorporation of gallium and confirm Ga–H/Ga–O–C (2000–2600 cm⁻¹) and Ga–O/Ga–O–Ga (400–700 cm⁻¹) vibrations. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy data indicate the retention of the amorphous carbon framework with enhanced local ordering. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images demonstrate morphological alterations compared to BACDs with a particle mean diameter of 8.6 ± 4.1 nm. The gallium doping in Ga-BACDs was quantified as 3.66 ppm by using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that Ga is chemically integrated inside the carbon dot framework. The zeta potential shifts from −32.5 mV (BACDs) to −23.3 mV (Ga-BACDs), evidencing surface charge modulation. The antimicrobial activity of Ga-BACDs was tested against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains; the presence of gallium contributed to improved bioactivity at 37 °C. HR-SEM images of Ga-BACD-treated bacteria presented significant structural damage, membrane rupture, and surface irregularities. Ga-BACDs inhibited biofilm formation at concentrations as low as 2.5 mg/mL and efficiently eradicated preformed biofilms, highlighting their promise for preventing biofilm-associated infections. MTT assays on normal human brain cells confirm the biocompatibility of Ga-BACD-coated cellulose discs and CD solution (0.1 mg/mL), supporting the safe use of Ga-BACD-modified fibers. Overall, our findings highlight Ga-BACDs as metal-doped carbon nanoparticles, with strong potential for novel antibacterial treatments.American University of Sharja

An Explorative Study of The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Sharjah

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) by Nour Nasir AlNaqbi entitled, “An Explorative Study of The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Sharjah”, submitted in May 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Rodrigo Basco. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).School of Business AdministrationDepartment of Management, Strategy and EntrepreneurshipMaster of Business Administration (MBA

INScription: Department of International Studies (INS) Issue #30 (April 30, 2025, Issue 8)

College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of International Studie

Assessing Key CE Strategies to Advance UAE Construction Circular Economy Practices

A Master of Science thesis in Construction Management by Mark Moheb Wasef entitled, “Exploring the Transformative Potential of Generative AI in Mechanical Engineering Education”, submitted in April 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Sherif Yehia. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).Concrete being the most utilized material in the world will face many issues in the future and overcoming them will need the implementation of circular economy strategies. Though research interest in creating Circular Economy (CE) strategies for concrete is growing quickly, much of it has concentrated on technical and environmental problems at the material and product scale. However, there has not been clear strategies identified and their method of implementation in various stages of a construction project. Furthermore, there has not been holistic approaches on how CE will contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objective of this study is to identify and rate the relative importance of CE strategies, contributing towards achieving CE in the UAE construction sector. This could be achieved by identifying and assessing the CE strategies that shape how these CE strategies can be achieved and integrating them into construction practices. After an extensive literature review, 17 CE strategies were identified that can be utilized by construction leaders to adopt CE in construction projects. Furthermore, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among various local and international construction firms and 60 responses from experienced professionals in the industry were obtained. Relative importance index and principal component factor analysis (PCFA) were adopted to evaluate the obtained data. Key significant CE strategies for construction professionals to propel circular construction were identified such as specification writing for components and materials, designing for multiple-use cycles, and designing for near-zero energy buildings, among others. Three components were extracted from the PCFA which served as guidelines for enhancing the CE strategies of construction professionals, namely, Effective Collaboration and Coordination Techniques, Sustainable Project and Operations Management, and Sustainable Design Practice. In addition, to enhance its practical implications, a competency implementation framework was also developed for construction professionals of developing economies to propel the adoption and evaluation of their competency skills toward circular construction.College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Construction Management (MSCM

Introduction to Photography - DES 160

Syllabus for the Department of Art and Design course "Introduction to Photography - DES 160", by Instructor(s) Zinka Bejtic for the Summer 2025 semester.College of Architecture, Art and DesignDepartment of Art and Desig