Search

Waterfront accessibility is one of the major planning aspects of cities. However, tackling this issue from the Human Well-Being (HWB) perspective is relatively new. Alexandria is one of the leading Mediterranean cities that was planned, shaped, and configured as based on its direct linkage to the waterfront. Nowadays, city extensions make many of its newly developed zones detached from the waterfront. This paper investigates the correlations between waterfront accessibility and HWB in Alexandria. It uses an analytical approach -based on statistical investigations- to compare HWB in two zones based on their proximity to the waterfront. The results show that detailed configuration of street pattern and travel duration are the most influencing attributes on waterfront accessibility. Consequently, these attributes have a higher impact on residents' satisfaction or negative affect, and therefore their HWB than other attributes. The paper concludes with guidelines to policymakers, urban planners, and researchers' contributions to waterfront accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urban literature, outdoor thermal comfort in hot climates is affected by different aspects, such as the size of the built environment and the variety of ground surface materials. Developing the outdoor thermal environment is crucial for achieving a balanced microclimate and creating a sustainable open space. This paper aims to provide thermal comfort and to promote sustainable urban development in Alexandria city (Egypt). The city faces problem of an increasing urban heat island, which influences the behavioral patterns of pedestrians. The case study of El Mosheir Street measured different simulated scenarios using ENVI-met 4.0 to achieve maximum thermal comfort. The results provided solutions through paving materials that present a high percentage of the city's urban areas. The paper explained the concept of the urban heat Islands phenomenon and its mitigation strategies using paving materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lighting has evolved over recent decades from an engineering perspective, in which ensuring safety and performance both indoors and outdoors has become a key discipline, engaged in a wide range of areas and having a profound impact on our daily lives. In this paper, a case study of a modern public library building will be addressed, with the main purpose of discussing energy efficiency related to light. Three parallel routes will be demonstrated to improve energy efficiency. The first is the integration of solar systems (PV) and the replacement of artificial lighting systems. The second is a change of building materials, internally and externally, to nanomaterials, and the third is through including an innovative anidolic lighting system, designed and applied in order to enhance the amount of daylight inside the library in a controlled manner. The inclusion of a vertical lighting system allows the optimization of solar energy resources, preserving the library's style in a simple way. The system includes a collector light system, compounded by a truncated and double compound parabolic collector (PCPC) to capture natural light from outside over a wide angular range (180°) without a tracking system, preserving the building design and saving on costs and maintenance. These parallel routes, based on solar energy and lighting, can make a positive impact with minimum changes in the Alexandria library, providing environmental improvement and protecting buildings and human health in order to achieve a more sustainable example of architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]