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The challenges related to sanitation and water management in new urban communities have contributed to the emergence of visions of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) and Water Sensitive Urban Design in cities worldwide to keep pace with these subtle changes in the shape of the urban environment. This research paper aims to monitor the main obstacles and challenges facing residents of new cities in Egypt and the environmental impacts resulting from those challenges in the urban context. A questionnaire was conducted among a group of the population. This study took the economic housing model for low-income people in the 6th of October City in Egypt as a case study. As a result, the study found that the main challenges facing the residents of these areas and their impacts are:1) Lack of regular maintenance. 2) Health risks to the population. 3) Damaging of public parks and gardens. 4) Pollution of the surrounding environment, including soil and water. 5) Lack of state funding for maintenance and Limited financial resources available for projects in this type of housing. 6) Lack of government engagement in preparing programs to raise population awareness and clarity in environmental goals and quality of life policies. 7) Lack of community initiatives to participate in decision-making. 8) Lack of political guidance on planning processes for sustainable infrastructure.

Team development is critical to the success of any organization, especially in construction projecta. If the team includes members from diverse locations, it brings diversity to the team. In recent times, a new breed of virtual teams has evolved in various construction organizations. However, coordinating such virtual teams on building projects remains a difficult challenge. Therefore, this research aims to identify the factors affecting efficient virtual teams to manage and tackle the challenges of virtual teams in construction projects in Egypt. To achieve the research aim, a combination of comprehensive research methods is adopted, in addition to the applied study that includes the distribution of the questionnaire survey among 55 members working in virtual teams in the field of the construction industry. The findings of this research contribute to identifying the challenges of virtual team management during the project lifecycle and studying the strategies and technological tools to deal with these challenges.

Users and buildings guarantee the sustainability of any built environment. Thus, monitoring user satisfaction is as important as monitoring energy consumption. The traditional method of user satisfaction assessment costs a lot of money, effort, and time, which are barriers to its frequent occurrence. The objective of this research is to take advantage of smart initiatives to develop a user satisfaction assessment model that evaluates user satisfaction simply and continuously. The model investigates the ability of the time parameter to monitor user satisfaction and building performance. The study examines the correlation between time and overall satisfaction in three government buildings, through a mixed quantitative and qualitative method using questionnaires and walkthrough. It was found that time spent in the building significantly contributes to user satisfaction (ρ = 0.473, and ρ = 0.521) for total and waiting time respectively. The proposed model overcomes the constrains of the previous methods and predicts user satisfaction with 60 % accuracy.

Nowadays, smart buildings connect individuals to their built environment to make sustainable buildings responsive to the user behaviour and needs to enhance human-wellbeing. Recently, the “Neuroarchitecture” concept emerged integrating Neuroscience and Architecture to create environments that fulfil four pillars of human wellbeing. It facilitates understanding how architecture can affect our wellbeing: physically (body), intellectually (brain), emotionally (emotions) and socially (behaviour). This study conducted a systematic review about “Neuroarchitecture” explaining it, its pillars, different terms, its design characteristics, and their effects on humans. This research adopted a qualitative approach in which the researchers collected Neuroarchitecture studies in the last eight years, then used descriptive, thematic, narrative and critical analysis methods to develop a systematic review. Based on the selected literature articles, the authors proposed and explained a “Neuro-architecture” model. Finally, the experimentally proven physiological, psychological, cognitive and behavioural effects of architecture through neuroarchitecture were presented in correspondence to the design characteristics.

Many countries are increasing their research interest in multi-modal passenger transportation design, including hub, interchange, and other typologies. Multi-modal transportation is the act of connecting and moving people and goods using at least two different modes of transportation. As a result, expanding the country's transportation system is part of its economic reform strategy. The problem of the paper is the lack of guidelines for pedestrian circulation requirements in public transportation stations in Egypt. This paper analyzed and evaluated the pedestrian circulation requirements in public transport stations in Egypt. With the aim of suggesting the design guidelines for pedestrian circulation requirements in multi-modal hub stations in Egypt. After identification, the findings are formed by the suggested design guidelines for pedestrian circulation requirements of multi-modal hub stations in Egypt. This paper recommends a framework for the design aspects of multi-modal hub stations.

Cultural heritage is considered one of the major valuable resources that improve the quality of life. Therefore, protecting as well as enhancing its value through applying sustainable refurbishment process is a major challenge that needs to be properly managed. The problem is although there are a number of studies that are concerned with sustainable refurbishment, cultural heritage refurbishment management and its impact on reducing the probability of demolition remain under researched. In 2018, the UNESCO stated that 58% of the global cultural heritage buildings got demolished over the past 18 years. Moreover, in the same year, a research paper stated that there is a gap between urban development and cultural heritage conservation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is concerned with identifying the role of sustainable refurbishment management in reducing the probability of applying heritage demolishing principles that lead to facing the risk of demolition heritage buildings. In this regard, qualitative and quantities methods were used in this paper to gather secondary data (from of literature review), and preliminary data (from case studies of cultural heritage projects, and survey). Results of this paper identified the mutual relation between sustainable refurbishment principles, their relation to heritage value, and the impact of this relation on demolition principles in the form of extant literature and case studies.

Design and building of Mega Housing Development Projects (MHDP) has become one of the targets of developed countries, due to their positive impact on continuous population growth, rapid urbanisation, economic situation and working force engagement. Developing countries are moving towards the establishment of MHDP, where Egypt 2030 plan aims at constructing MHDP with specific vision. Although MHDP are expected to offer HR opportunities, they will generate challenges. The purpose of this paper is to design a responsive framework to HR factors arising from the internal and external MHDP environments. The paper undergoes a review for HR challenges and opportunities in design and building of MHDP, which was followed by a qualitative analysis of case studies from countries near to Egypt. Finally, a survey questionnaire was implemented, targeting stakeholders involved in MHDP. Most external challenges facing developing countries included security for HR working in design and building, shortage in access to technology in supply from a country to organization, Governance instability systems and lack of coordination. The most challenging factors facing the developing countries include providing services for organizations during construction of new MHDP, planning more flexible funding strategies for more flexible economic construction environment, avoiding continuous change of governmental systems and biased decision making, improving educational knowledge for constructions' obstacles to improve innovation, and Engaging more employees into the construction of MHDP activities. The paper developed a responsive framework and a risk register which better suits MHDP in Egypt. Strategies for HR internal opportunities at the design stage included “exploit”, “share”, and “enhance”. “Exploit” strategy aims to ensure that the opportunity is recognized and make the opportunity definitely happen. Regarding HR Challenges, responsive strategies include “Avoid”, “Transfer”, “Mitigate”, or “Accept”. The paper improves management practice of challenges and opportunities for HR in MHDP in Egypt.

Architectural Education methods are facing challenges named “21st Century Competencies” which affect the employability of the fresh graduates. Accordingly, several higher educational institutions are changing their teaching methods to equip students with skills that support them with lifelong learning capabilities. This research aims at assessing the current skills that are transferred through AE versus the Architecture Engineering and Construction industry job market in Egypt and to propose an approach to fill the gap between both. A literature review was performed. Afterwards, a questionnaire targeting a sample of 100 fresh-graduates’ and senior students was carried out and aimed at identifying the current challenges facing the integration of the required skills. A 360 degrees’ evaluation was performed to assess the students’ views. In addition, fifteen one-to-one interviews were done with professionals and academics to identify the AEC market needs. An approach was suggested to bridge the gap between teaching and work skills.

The construction industry is considered one of the most hazardous industries especially in Mega projects, not only in developing countries but also throughout the world due to its unique nature. The hazards of this industry make it very essential to pay more attention to construction safety and to improve the safety performance of construction companies. However, safety is not a luxury but a necessity, and may be considered an important function to be used against unnecessary loss. International Mega Construction projects are likely to become increasingly common in the engineering and construction industry. A Mega-project as a high impact technically complex project which requires careful advanced planning, large projects are defined as those with construction work valued in excess of US $1billion. On such projects, there may be 60 large contracting organizations and 30 to 40 consulting companies. The construction workforce could total 45,000 personnel delivering over 10 million man hours of effort per month at peak periods, so there is a need of guidance material that can be used to improve the management of health and safety(H&S) throughout these type of projects. Thus the aim of this paper is to identify the H&S considerations that are related to Mega Construction Projects. To achieve the aim of this paper a literature review analysis has been performed where more than hundred research paper that have been published from 1998, to 2018 have been analyzed. Findings of this paper have managed to identify the nature of mega construction projects, the root causes of accidents and the consequence of poor health and safety management in mega construction projects. This paper is considered of value to construction project officers and Project managers working in mega construction projects in Egypt and MENA region.

Workplace environment is defined as the current conditions of the surroundings of a workplace. More than 80% of performance problems are influenced by the workplace environment where efficiency of workplace environment represents the total amount of work done by one employee in a single day. There are different types and traits of employees in Architectural Design firms , where only 5 types are being analyzed in this research paper which encounters; creative, innovative ,Talented , Technical & Analytical Architects that should be considered to achieve an efficient workplace environment. Hence , The Problem of this paper the inefficient management creating inefficient management for architects results in the dissatisfaction of employees while boosting the rate of turnovers impacting the productivity negatively. One approach that has been introduced to tackle such problem is creativity management which could embrace the 5 types of employees in Architectural design firms. Thus, the main purpose of this study is introducing how creativity management approach can effect the workplace environment and increase its efficiency in Architectural design firms . To achieve the aim of this paper , a comprehensive literature review analysis has been done on recently published Research papers from 2000 to 2018. This includes discussing the contribution of authors on the approaches for efficient workplace environment , and introducing creativity management approach in workplace environment in Architectural Design firms. Hence, Findings of this paper took the form of impact analysis , where the effect of creativity management approach on achieving efficient workplace has been identified.

The world is changing rapidly heading to the future with quick intelligent steps. Adaptation of smart and responsible architecture that can cope with future demands is no more a choice. Nowadays; Smart buildings projects (SBP) is a new trend and very important worldwide type of projects. Smart buildings projects evolved during early 1980s and were called “Intelligent Buildings”. Since then; different definitions have been stated by many institutes and researchers, and the terminology “Intelligent Building” was then replaced with “Smart Building”. SBP in Egypt are rare; they don’t have clear description or specific definition. There is a lack of guidelines to establish a smart building in Egypt and lack of research work discussing SBP, their design, management system, life cycle costs, risks, etc. as well. This paper is concerned with determining the main challenges of SBP in Egypt through both: analysis of literature sources and analysis of some SBP internationaly and comparing them to SBP in Egypt. Finally; the results of the study were collected, analyzed and categorized and the key challenges of SBP in Egypt were determined and pointed out.

Egyptian architectural firms are moving from the use of CAD towards the adoption of BIM. Meanwhile, these firms are challenged with the use of BEM in order to cope with the call for energy conservation. To achieve better collaboration, the approach of BIM2BEM has emerged, aiming to integrate between BEM and BIM, which leads to the production of buildings that cope with updates in environmental policies. Nevertheless, these changes facing Egyptian architectural firms haven’t been examined in an integrated manner in published research work. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to examine the status of the application of both BIM and BEM, in Egypt. The research methodology involved using a semi-structured questionnaire and analysing two office buildings as case studies. Results showed that the application of BIM2BEM approach in Egypt is currently spreading and developing. It also showed that there are several barriers to adoption of this approach. Keywords: Building Information Modelling (BIM), Building Energy Models (BEM), Architectural firms, Egypt

The aim of this paper is to identify the latest top major risk probabilities in construction projects in Egypt according to political and economic variables between the time period Jan 2011 and Jan 2013. Risks were prioritized according to their significance of influences and their sources, whether internal or external. The paper describes, on the basis of a questionnaire survey of project management practices, the construction risks, which are generally perceived as events that influence project objectives of cost, time and quality. A statistical analysis was carried out in order to identify the top major construction project risks. It is concluded that however risk factors vary considerably across industry and countries, the study of risk management for construction projects will provide a reference for other projects that might be executed in similar circumstances. The paper ends up with suggesting the risk response strategies appropriate for each type of identified risk. The research findings will contribute to both practice and research in risk management for the Egyptian construction industry and will also provide valuable information for international companies which intend to provide construction projects in Egypt.

Open spaces is an essential part in Early Childhood Centers (ECCs) where children’s play takes place. Children’s play is associated with space concept, the attraction to openness and the sense of spaciousness, or in a few words: being free. Accordingly, the adequate selection of flooring materials for such spaces is considered the principal aspect of their workability. This paper discusses the factors affecting the choice of flooring materials in (ECC) outdoors. These factors include function suitability, safety and low maintenance considerations. The paper guides (ECC) owners and managers in Egypt to the right decisions about flooring materials choices, in order to attain a safe and low maintenance Landscape.