Optimising the urban environment through holistic Microclimate Modelling – The case of Beirut's pericenter

Various studies have suggested that urbanisation may significantly alter microclimate conditions. To address this, expanding urban vegetation cover can be used to aid the dissipation of excess heat through enhancing evapotranspiration. This study aims to numerically assess and optimize the use of green corridors to reconnect leftover and in-between building plots within Beirut city centre through the use of ENVI-met V4, a holistic microclimate modelling system used to optimize green infrastructure strategy to improve pedestrian comfort levels. Analysis results illustrate the significant effect of urban intervention strategies in decreasing pedestrian heat stress, where the air temperature is reduced by 4-5 (PET) °C. Furthermore, a correlation between the leaf area density and PET values was identified. In the wider context, this work supports the case for the application of ecological urbanism supported by integrated micro-urban environment modelling as a catalyst for the improvement of the quality of urban space

Conservation of Beirut’s Urban Heritage Values Through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach

Cities are complex urban systems with dynamic transformations in their socio-economic and environmental dimensions. Several studies have shed light on the fragility of the urban heritage and the strategies of its conservation. The historic urban landscape (HUL) approach is a new framework adopted by UNESCO to deal with urban heritage. This article aims to apply the HUL approach to the rehabilitation and management of Beirut historic neighbourhoods impacted by the massive Beirut port explosion, focusing on Armenia Street in the Mar Mikhael neighbourhood as a case study. The application of the HUL framework allows for the re-evaluation of heritage not as an individual physical form but as an urban fabric interconnected to the city, inclusive of its cultural, social, architectural, and urban layers. The article investigates the application of the four tools identified within HUL recommendations—(1) regulatory systems, (2) community engagement, (3) planning, and (4) financial tools—by proposing implementation strategies in the assessment of urban heritage to mitigate major risks. The result reveals that cooperative efforts among private and public stakeholders can play a vital role in the development of Beirut heritage, acting as catalysts for urban heritage conservation. Strategies for establishing a new legislative framework that is focused on protecting Lebanese cultural heritage and ensuring sustainable adaptation planning are highlighted

Extended Frequency-Directed Run-Length Code with Improved Application to System-on-a-Chip Test Data Compression

One of the major challenges in testing a System-on-a-Chip (SOC) is dealing with the large test data size. To reduce the volume of test data, several test data compression techniques have been proposed. Frequency-directed run-length (FDR) code is a variable-to-variable run length code based on encoding runs of 0’s. In this work, we demonstrate that higher test data compression can be achieved based on encoding both runs of 0’s and 1’s. We propose an extension to the FDR code and demonstrate by experimental results its effectiveness in achieving higher compression ratio

Interferometric investigation of the opto-mechanical and structural properties of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers

Fibers that missing specific features and functionalities could be innovated and functionalised via nano additives, in particular metal oxides. Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been added to isotactic polypropylene (iPP) to form iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers. Three samples of iPP/TiO2 fibers were extruded at three extrusion speeds 25, 50, and 78 m/min were considered in this study. Mach–Zehnder interferometer was used to assess the changes in the opto‐mechanical and geometrical parameters of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers along the fiber axis. The mechanical drawing device along with Mach–Zehnder interferometer was utilized to stretch the filaments to different draw ratios. The effect of mechanical cold drawing and extrusion speed on the optical and physical characteristics of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers were determined along the fiber axis. The optical and physical variation along the nanocomposite samples were characterized by measuring their refractive indices, birefringence, refractive index profile along the fiber axis. The diffraction of He–Ne laser beam was used to define the variation of the fiber diameter along the fiber axis through their cross‐sectional area and shape. A sample of uniform diameter from neat iPP fibers was used as reference material for studying the variation of the iPP/TiO2 fiber diameter along the fiber axis. As result, the iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers exhibited nonuniform diameters. The dispersion of TiO2 particles in nanocomposite fibers influences the properties' consistency along and across the fiber

Extended Frequency-Directed Run-Length Code with Improved Application to System-on-a-Chip Test Data Compression

One of the major challenges in testing a System-on-a-Chip (SOC) is dealing with the large test data size. To reduce the volume of test data, several test data compression techniques have been proposed. Frequency-directed run-length (FDR) code is a variable-to-variable run length code based on encoding runs of 0’s. In this work, we demonstrate that higher test data compression can be achieved based on encoding both runs of 0’s and 1’s. We propose an extension to the FDR code and demonstrate by experimental results its effectiveness in achieving higher compression ratio

Extended Frequency-Directed Run-Length Code with Improved Application to System-on-a-Chip Test Data Compression

One of the major challenges in testing a System-on-a-Chip (SOC) is dealing with the large test data size. To reduce the volume of test data, several test data compression techniques have been proposed. Frequency-directed run-length (FDR) code is a variable-to-variable run length code based on encoding runs of 0’s. In this work, we demonstrate that higher test data compression can be achieved based on encoding both runs of 0’s and 1’s. We propose an extension to the FDR code and demonstrate by experimental results its effectiveness in achieving higher compression ratio