ENHANCING UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION (SCALE 1 TO 1 DESIGN - BUILD METHOD)

On 1997, the board of RIBA – Royal Institute of Britch Architects – highly recommended “experimental learning” or “learning by doing” methods in design studio teaching in architecture as a “practicum”. (Wallis, 2005) Although practicum is the task of learning architecture as practice, most of practicum teaching applications in architectural education are either in postgraduate level or in extra curriculum activities. Based on international studies on Design-Build educations, teaching experience and observation of fresh graduates and junior architects, there is still a shortage between design and execution in undergraduate education level, students faces many problems during project implementation phase in reality due to the lack of experience. However, most of the construction sheets provided the needed execution data for installation phase; the 1 to 1 scale imagination was missing in those sheets. As for undergraduate level, in architecture career it is highly recommended to avoid this inability by encouraging the students to build big scale projects during the education process and increase their practical skills more in such projects in order to prepare students for practice. This paper focuses on evaluating the experiment of Design-Build education method in undergraduate level, which was done at faculty of Architecture-Design And Built Environment at Beirut Arab University- Tripoli campus. The method of “Design – Build” was applied in undergraduate core courses; Execution Design I (ARCH 333), Execution Design II (ARCH 334) and Digital Design & Fabrication Course (ARCH468). During the education of these courses, the students gained a construction experience in scale 1 to 1, which in turn gave them the ability of using manual and digital building skills practically. The evaluation of this experiment was based on instructors ’ observations, analysis, final semester jury members, grading results and students’ survey that lead to give guidelines and recommendations in order to develop this educational method for future applications

Parametric Design Optimization and Robotic Fabrication of Joints forIrregular Grid-based Structure

This paper describes the abilities of parametric iterative design with collaboration of robotic fabrication workflow in structural optimization of the nodes (joints) of special grid-based structure. Experimental structure built in robotic fabrication workshop – (the Dynamo-BUILD workshop at the 2016 International Conference on Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art, and Design Conference in Sydney, Australia) - is taken as a case study. In this study, the complexity of structure form combined of joints and members is resolved and developed through parametric design algorithms. Focusing on joints, the case gives workflow structure methods of design and fabrication that transfer the level of mass simplicity production to iterative complexity production .Furthermore, these methods also respect the manufacturing processes and material properties of nodes. The structure was fabricated using robotic fabrication techniques after design optimization using parametric computationally driven manufacturing processes. In order to move from the computational design environment to joint fabrication, custom robotically process was developed to assemble making full structure series of nodes which saved time; cost; and exerted effort if compared to the traditional mass production processes

ADAPTIVE REUSE OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING LIVABILITY

Due to the rapid growth of cities around the world, many buildings in ancient cities are now deserted, prompting countries to preserve their historical sites that represent their identity. According to researchers, Adaptive reuse, along with the renewal of social life and economic development activities, serve the basic concepts of livability, as well as the community\u27s recognition of adaptive reuse as a reasonable alternative to the demolition and redevelopment of existing facilities. The study assumes that adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings revitalizes the area and preserves its values and identity. In this context, adaptive reuse refers to the process of updating an existing structure for new purposes. To Test this hypothesis, a qualitative and quantitative research is conducted through the literature, an analysis of two international case studies, in addition to analyzing of one local case by conducting field surveys and interviews to illustrate the feasibility of adaptive reuse from the perspective of livability and sustainability of existing urban resources. The result of this study concluded that community participation in decision-making regarding adaptive reuse has strengthened social networks and maintained a unique lifestyle of abandoned old cities

ASSESSING PHOTOGRAMMETRY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MONUMENTAL BUILDINGS’ CRACK DIGITAL DETECTION

Natural and human-made disasters have significant impacts on monumental buildings, threatening them from being deteriorated. If no rapid consolidations took into consideration traumatic accidents would endanger the existence of precious sites. In this context, Beirut\u27s enormous 4th of August 2020 explosion damaged an estimated 640 historical monuments, many volunteers assess damages for more than a year to prevent the more crucial risk of demolitions. This research aims to assist the collaboration ability among photogrammetry science, Artificial Intelligence Model (AIM) and Architectural Coding to optimize the process for better coverage and scientific approach of data specific to the crack disorders to build a comprehensive model consolidation technique. Despite the current technological improvement, the restoration of the existing monument is a challenging and lengthy process where the actual site situation\u27s re-ignitions consume enormous time, from assessing the damages to establishing the restoration relying on human resource developments and manual drawings

UPGRADING HERITAGE URBAN PUBLIC SPACES BY USING RECYCLING WASTE PLASTIC MATERIALS

In low-income countries, population expansion and urbanization bring challenges of inadequate living standards to the fore. Some of the issues could be solved if well-functioning plastic recycling systems were built. To reduce the environmental burden and improve the overall situation in dense cities, the already existing local informal waste treatment system, which is widespread in many low-income nations, needs to be developed with efficient sorting and composting solutions. A case study is carried out in the city of Mina, Lebanon, with the goal of establishing a viable decentralized recycling plastic pavilion material. The effort aims to lessen the climate harm caused by non-recycled waste, improve the quality of life for residents, and enhance the affected locations\u27 aesthetical, educational, and recreational attributes. The concepts were generated according to the resident\u27s needs and to find solutions to the existing problem of the area under study. The goals are based on data and observations about the city, the current waste management system, the stakeholders, the project organization, and any roadblocks. The project\u27s overall work method is known as the Logical Framework Approach. It\u27s a goal-oriented project planning method that relies on disciplined thinking and logical analysis. Literature review, observations, study visits, site analyses, photography, drawing, 3D modeling, and other sub-methods are included in the study. Proposals for plastic pavilions and plastic features for open public spaces in Al Mina are the result of the process. Because the areas have both comparable and dissimilar characteristics, site-specific solutions are required

Academic advising business process remodeling in Egyptian educational institutions

The academic advising is a crucial process for a student's career path. The manual process is challenging since the student are advised to register specific courses that might affect his career path taking into consideration regulations imposed by school and knowledge and expertise of advisor. Therefore, there are several limitations in the manual academic advising process that could be managed by enhancing the process of the advising using business process remodeling. The paper aims to remodel the advising process using an information technology tool that can enhance the education process and automate the advising process. The paper will use multi-methodological approaches that combine case study, focus group, system implementation and questionnaire. The case study will depends on many evidences: interview with advisors and students, manual process observation to detect deficiency of existing advising process, archival documents reviews to get content of sample courses and transfer it into interrelated concepts. The paper will use concept-related data to feed and develop system that automate this service providing to deliver enhance educational service. The paper will refer as well to expect system outcome and ensure that remodeling process provide better and optimized service for students and academic institution using a questionnaire filled by academic advisors

OPTIMUM WINDBREAKER TO REDUCE WIND TUNNEL EFFECT ON OCCUPANT COMFORT AT PEDESTRIAN LEVEL (A CASE STUDY OF BAU BUILDING IN TRIPOLI)

Shape, size, building orientation and its interaction with the surrounding buildings can cause wind tunnel that affect the pedestrian comfort. This paper aims to select the optimum windbreaker height and thickness for reducing the effect of wind tunnels on pedestrian comfort, by selecting the building of Beirut Arab University (BAU)-Tripoli campus as a case study. Different alternative designs have been simulated and compared with the comfort criteria of pedestrians to conclude the optimum solution that can be adapted on the selected building and on any other cases that have similar characteristics

The Motion of a Point Vortex in Multiply Connected Polygonal Domains

We study the motion of a single point vortex in simply and multiply connected polygonal domains. In case of multiply connected domains, the polygonal obstacles can be viewed as the cross-sections of 3D polygonal cylinders. First, we utilize conformal mappings to transfer the polygonal domains onto circular domains. Then, we employ the Schottky-Klein prime function to compute the Hamiltonian governing the point vortex motion in circular domains. We compare between the topological structures of the contour lines of the Hamiltonian in symmetric and asymmetric domains. Special attention is paid to the interaction of point vortex trajectories with the polygonal obstacles. In this context, we discuss the effect of symmetry breaking, and obstacle location and shape on the behavior of vortex motion

Improvement of Synchronous Machine Dynamic Characteristics via Neural Network Based Controllers

This paper presents Simulation and experimental study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of an adaptive artificial neural network stabilizer on enhancing the damping torque of a synchronous generator. For this purpose, a power system comprising a synchronous generator feeding a large power system through a short tie line is considered. The proposed adaptive neuro-control system consists of two multi-layered feed forward neural networks, which work as a plant model identifier and a controller. It generates supplementary control signals to be utilized by conventional controllers. The details of the interfacing circuits, sensors and transducers, which have been designed and built for use in tests, are presented. The synchronous generator is tested to investigate the effect of tuning a Power System Stabilizer (PSS) on its dynamic stability. The obtained simulation and experimental results verify the basic theoretical concepts

ZOLMITRIPTAN BRAIN TARGETING VIA INTRANASAL ROUTE USING SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES FOR MIGRAINE THERAPY: FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION, IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO ASSESSMENT

Objective: Zolmitriptan, a class of antidepressant drugs with poor bioavailability due to its first-pass metabolism. The aim of this study was to improve systemic bioavailability and explore the brain targeting impact of nasal Zolmitriptan (Zol) solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) gel for migraine treatment.  Methods: Stearic acid and cholesterol used as solid lipid and lecithin as a surfactant, emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used to produce Zolmitriptan SLNs. (Zol) SLNs were characterized for particle size, percent entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. Formula S6 showed greater percent entrapment efficiency (PEE), adequate particle size and sustained drug release behavior. Formula S6 was integrated into HPMC gel (3%) to prepare nasal gel. Zol SLN nasal gel was subjected to histopathological study to ensure brain targeting.  Results: It was observed that all prepared Zol SLNs were in the nano-sized range with a polydispersity index of<0.5. In the cholesterol/lecithin combination, higher PEE%, better stability, and less agglomeration inclination were discovered. Results of the release profiles showed that developed Zol-SLNs were able to release Zolmitriptan in a sustained manner. Histopathological study of the brain tissues showed that Zolmitriptan SLN nasal gel can reach brain cells and localized for 24 h although the hydrophobicity of the target drug. Conclusion: Intranasal administration of Solid lipid nanostructure of Zolmitriptan through the olfactory pathway in which it travels from the nasal cavity to brain tissue achieved drug targeting potential of about 90% compared with conventional Zolmitriptan tablets. The small particle size helped them to squeeze themselves through the small opening in the olfactory neurons to the brain via different endo-cystic pathways of neuronal cells in nasal tissue membranes