Effat University Repository

Effat University Institutional Repository

Welcome to the Effat University Repository, a service of Effat Library and Cultural Museum. This repository provides global and open access to scholarship and research output created by Effat University faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.
While the University Repository is accessible to the public, submission is limited to  Effat University community.
 

If you have any questions, please email us at repository@effatuniversity.edu.sa

Recent Submissions

  • PublicationRestricted
    Evaluating Urban Surface Materials: Albedo Optimization and Shading for Pedestrian Thermal Comfort in Hot-Arid Environments
    (www.hrpub.org, 2025-11-01) Fahmy, Amgad; Kamel, Tarek M.; NA; Architecture; Ghoniem, Mayar; Arch Labs; NA; External Collaboration; NA
    Enhancing pedestrian thermal comfort in Egypt's hot-arid environments is a growing urban design challenge. This study evaluates the thermal effects of varying surface albedo values (0.12, 0.20, 0.30) in a commercial pedestrian strip in New Cairo, using a hybrid workflow that integrates ENVI-met microclimate simulations, Grasshopper/Ladybug parametric modelling, and field validation. The objective is to assess how reflective material influences surface temperature (Ts), air temperature (Ta), mean radiant temperature (MRT), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and to determine the role of shading in offsetting potential trade-offs. Findings indicate that increasing albedo reduced Ts by up to 7℃ and Ta at pedestrian height by 1.5℃, confirming the cooling potential of reflective pavements. However, results also showed that higher reflectivity elevated MRT by as much as 6℃, which in turn raised UTCI values beyond 46℃ in unshaded conditions, placing pedestrians in strong to extreme heat-stress categories. When modular canopy shading was introduced, UTCI declined by 5–6.6℃, effectively neutralizing the radiant penalties associated with high albedo and demonstrating that shading interventions are more decisive than material modifications alone. This study contributes to ongoing debates on climate-responsive design in arid cities by highlighting both opportunities and limitations of reflective pavements. While reflective surfaces provide measurable cooling benefits, they must be embedded within layered strategies that include shading and vegetation to ensure pedestrian comfort. Research limitations include the focus on a single urban typology and peak summer conditions, while practical implications emphasize the need for policy frameworks that mandate paired material-shading approaches in public spaces. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for planners and designers seeking to create thermally adaptive, pedestrian-friendly environments in hot-arid contexts.
  • PublicationRestricted
    Conflict and Compatibility Between City Branding and Urban Competitiveness: Developing and Applying a Multidimensional Index for Emerging Cities in the MENA Region
    (MDPI, Basel, Switzerland, 2025-12-12) Abdelraouf, Nada; Abdel-Latif, Amal; ElSerafi, Tamer; 0; Architecture; Abdelraouf, Nada; Smart Building Research Labs; 0; External Collaboration; 0
    This research develops a city Branding–Competitiveness Index (BCI) that comprehend symbolic city branding elements with quantifiable aspects of urban competitiveness. It examines the effectiveness of branding strategies in emerging cities in MENA region to improve their competitiveness, focusing on King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia and New Alamein City in Egypt. This research employs a mixed-method approach that integrates systematic literature review, expert survey, and quantitative analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. The BCI was built considering primary categories, then improved through expert review to make sure it is valid and relevant to the practice, then utilized on the two case studies to evaluate its efficacy and performance. Results indicated that both cities showed relatively better performance in the infrastructure, environmental planning, and accessibility indicating that government-led development models work well on some level. But they achieved lower scores in social cohesion, cultural identity, and participatory governance, highlighting the gap between urban development and the lifestyle in cities. The BCI helped identify these disparities and showed indicative insights for enhancing branding strategy. This empirical BCI provides a guiding framework for policymakers and urban planners to evaluate the strategic planning for city branding, and sustainable competitiveness. The findings demonstrate the potential applicability of BCI to emerging cities, while acknowledging that further testing in diverse international contexts is needed.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Railsea entertainment train
    (Alhanouf) Alsubaiee, Alhanouf; S14106330; Abdelrazik, Ahmed; Design
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The Relationship Between Mental Health and the Experiences of Expatriates and Foreign Nationals Residing in Specific Neighbourhoods Throughout Saudi Arabia
    (Effat University) Bugshan, Maryam; S20106451; Merdad, Nisma; Psychology
    This research investigates the connection between Saudi Arabian expats' feeling of community and psychological suffering. An online survey using two validated tools the SCI 2 to evaluate community belonging and the DASS-8 to measure mental health symptoms was used to gather data from 40 non-Saudi residents using a quantitative, cross-sectional methodology. Stronger community links are linked to lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, according to the results, which showed a moderately significant negative association between psychological distress and feeling of community. In addition to providing insightful information for mental health services, urban planning, and expatriate support programs in culturally varied contexts, these results emphasize the significance of social support and community integration in fostering expatriate well-being
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The Psychological Impact of Future - Oriented Overthinking on Anxiety and Mental Health Outcomes
    (Effat University) Nematallah, Talah; s20106732; Merdad, Nisma; Psychology
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