Evolutionary Trends in the Landscape of Hausa Open Spaces: Key Enablers of Habe City Planning Mythology

This study took the ‘origin-pattern-function’ of landscape progression as the central theoretical framework and conducted a systematic study on the evolution of open-space landscape patterns in Habe cities, situated between the river Niger and the river Benue in northern Nigeria. This study aimed to explore the embedded landscape cosmology in Hausaland and the origins of its historic mythology. A descriptive research and review approach was adopted, to explain and interpret prevailing practices, existing circumstances, attitudes, reasons, and on-going processes. It unveils the planning of open spaces and houses according to an ancient cosmology that organized towns during the Habe Hausa Dynasty. The open spaces appear to be a sphere of convergent and divergent forces that maintain a delicate balance, whereas the outcrop hills of central Hausaland are domicile places with religious appeal and better defensibility. Further, the physical effects of Islamic influence are visible in the landscape of Hausa cities, such as locating a mosque in the heart of the city as well spatial expressions of the practice of the seclusion of women. The study also revealed that the concept of triple outdoor space in the landscape of Habe cities is identical with that of the traditional Hausa family dwellings enclosed by a compound wall with a gate. This paper presents the key enablers of the Hausa cities’ transformation into commercial, administrative, religious, and agricultural centers. It recommends that in the event of landscape development without certain public guidelines or natural practices, complicated mediation measures should be invoked if disorder is not to prevail. It finally seeks a comprehensive application of local practices and innovative methods with the aim of averting vulnerability of urbanization

Evolutionary Trends in the Landscape of Hausa Open Spaces: Key Enablers of Habe City Planning Mythology

This study took the ‘origin-pattern-function’ of landscape progression as the central theoretical framework and conducted a systematic study on the evolution of open-space landscape patterns in Habe cities, situated between the river Niger and the river Benue in northern Nigeria. This study aimed to explore the embedded landscape cosmology in Hausaland and the origins of its historic mythology. A descriptive research and review approach was adopted, to explain and interpret prevailing practices, existing circumstances, attitudes, reasons, and on-going processes. It unveils the planning of open spaces and houses according to an ancient cosmology that organized towns during the Habe Hausa Dynasty. The open spaces appear to be a sphere of convergent and divergent forces that maintain a delicate balance, whereas the outcrop hills of central Hausaland are domicile places with religious appeal and better defensibility. Further, the physical effects of Islamic influence are visible in the landscape of Hausa cities, such as locating a mosque in the heart of the city as well spatial expressions of the practice of the seclusion of women. The study also revealed that the concept of triple outdoor space in the landscape of Habe cities is identical with that of the traditional Hausa family dwellings enclosed by a compound wall with a gate. This paper presents the key enablers of the Hausa cities’ transformation into commercial, administrative, religious, and agricultural centers. It recommends that in the event of landscape development without certain public guidelines or natural practices, complicated mediation measures should be invoked if disorder is not to prevail. It finally seeks a comprehensive application of local practices and innovative methods with the aim of averting vulnerability of urbanization

A Review of Conceptual Design and Self Health Monitoring Program in a Vertical City: A Case of Burj Khalifa, U.A.E.

Burj Khalifa, a notable landmark in a growing landscape of skyscrapers, along with other tall structures, has dramatically transformed the morphology of Dubai and elevated it to global prominence. This masterpiece was designed to attract international interest, as it diversifies the economy from an oil-based one towards one that is tourist-and servicebased. However, the foremost design input and major challenges of the super-tall building are associated with the increase in height, which put them at risk of wind- and earthquake-induced lateral loads and user satisfaction. Consequently, it was essential to study both the design and construction phases of the tallest towers in the context of the wind and earthquake impact. This study aims to revalidate the three structural design phases; conceptual, schematic, and detailed design of this vertical city to confirm that the requirements are achieved. The methodology is a theoretical and analytical elaboration of the case study that obtains and confirms the basic requirements through a review of the existing survey, drawings, literature, and archived documents. Finally, the study validates the presumed structural behaviour and the insitu determined response, which are outstanding. The study further unveils the development of the structural health monitoring programme that gives an instant and direct response to the real structural performance of the building from the commencement of the construction and throughout its lifespan

Investigating the influence of plastic waste oils and acetone blends on diesel engine combustion, pollutants, morphological and size particles: Dehalogenation and catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste

Most research into the treats of plastic wastes have concentrated mainly on single-exposure pathways or products. These practices fail to acknowledge that the complications of carbon particles from engines are produced not only by diesel but by any plastic oils due to the vast amount of contaminants. With the potential to significantly weaken the impact of contaminants, the present study investigates the effects of dehalogenation and catalytic pyrolysis on plastic waste, as well as the risks associated with plastic oil blends on diesel engine. Different types of washing were conducted to effectively dehalogenate plastic waste. After pretreatment, odor compounds were analyzed using GC–MS. Subsequently, various types of pretreated plastic samples underwent catalytic pyrolysis with a 5:1 ratio of HDPE to Al2O3·2SiO2·2H2O. Differences in physico-chemical properties and hydrocarbon compounds of oils were determined. Experiments were performed using different fuel blends in a diesel engine under steady-state conditions, and their effects on combustion, emissions, morphology, and size particles were analyzed. The results show that sample B exhibited a lower toxicity level of 1,3-butadiene compared to other samples, while acetone and terpenes represented the second and third-highest emission levels in flakes, respectively. Sample C started to degrade at low temperatures (<300 °C) due to carbon addition from ethyl acetate solvent into the tertiary carbon chain of the flakes. DAP3 fuel achieved a higher reaction due to its degree of unsaturation and lower viscosity, resulting in the formation of smaller fuel droplets at high injection pressure and heat release rate (HRR). Higher emission levels were observed by DAP1 and D100, exceeding the Euro 5/6 standard limits. However, DAP3 fuel resulted in an average reduction of ∼17.14% and 21.86% in CO and smoke emissions, respectively, accompanied by a slight decrease in NOx and HC levels. Conversely, there were inconsistencies in the emission results observed with DAP2. Compared to D100, both DAP1 and DAP2 exhibited a significant accumulation and coarse particles in the PM10 forms at a peak of ∼83 nm. Whereas the DAP3 showed a smaller mobility Dp with a low nucleation particle peak, which was prone to absorb the unburned HC soot and later change to accumulation mode particles

A Typology for Urban Landscape Progression: Toward a Sustainable Planning Mechanism in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

The significance of urban landscapes in the current era of concern for a sustainable built environment can never be overemphasized. The study explores the landscape features and typologies of some urban environments within Kano to understand the management effectiveness of urban landscapes in the Kano metropolitan area. At least two wards were purposively selected each from the eight metropolitan local government areas due to their urban landscape and land use. Focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were carried out through with prominent elders and “Masu Unguwanni” (village/ward heads) of each of the sampled wards as well as direct assessments of their physical characteristics to justify the general landscape progression in support of documentation for the present and future generation. The study unveils the layout typology, the scenic points and the ecological and cultural landscapes in the sampled districts. It further reveals that the historic urban forms in Kano are degrading with time, or rather not following the course of sustainability, as the physical surroundings satisfy the immediate needs of the communities. However, the study suggests increasing the awareness of Kano’s urban landscape preservation and the 2011 UNESCO proposal implementation on Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL). Then, the study discourages unhealthy developments within Kano Metropolis and the entire state. It also recommends landscape architects be part and parcel of planning schemes for controlling and regulating urban development via the formal practice of land allocation, land acquisition, building codes, design, planning and construction