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This paper aims to investigate the impact of different parameters on promoting the role of cycling as a daily mode of transport. In the first step of the analyses, binary logistic regression was used to examine the impact of different parameters on using or not using the bicycle as a transportation mode in weekly trips. Then by text mining, the main reasons for not using a bicycle in weekly trips are outlined. Finally, for those who use bicycles for at least one utilitarian trip a week, the effect of different factors on the popularity of this mode is investigated by structural equation modeling. Tehran, as a big city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, was considered as the case study. The results suggest that it is necessary to work on social norms about cycling, especially among those with higher education levels and income. Women use bicycles less than men and it is also necessary to rethink attitudes and regulations in relation to women cycling in Islamic countries. Bicycle promotion should aim to facilitate more positive attitudes among women. Providing more facilities such as safe bicycle paths, bicycle parking, and bike-sharing facilities have significant impacts on using this mode and its popularity. In highly congested cities, alongside facilitating cycling, it is important to set restrictions on private car use. The United Nations has outlined sustainable development goals (SDGs), which among other important aspects focus on transportation systems in the cities. Attracting citizens to bicycles can be an effective step to establish a more sustainable future transport system. To contribute toward this objective, the current study aims to investigate the impact of different parameters on increasing the popularity of cycling and proposing countermeasures to attract more people to this mode. Tehran, the capital of Iran as a big Middle East and North Africa (MENA) city in a developing country with substantial sustainability challenges, was considered as the case study and 1,074 people in different districts of the city were surveyed. The practical results suggest that it is necessary to work on social norms about cycling, especially among those with higher education levels and income. Women use bicycles less than men and it is necessary to rethink attitudes and regulations in relation to women cycling in Islamic countries. Bicycle promotion should aim to facilitate more positive attitudes among females. Providing more facilities such as safe bicycle paths, bicycle parking, and bike-sharing facilities have significant impacts on using this mode and its popularity. In highly congested cities, alongside facilitating cycling, it is important to set restrictions on private car use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling buildings represent a major environmental issue, especially during summers. Although thermal insulation can decrease cooling loads, the presence of thermal bridges, infiltrations, windows, and other openings pose a continuous challenge. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, for instance, most windows are made of aluminum, a thermal conductor. This paper uses two methods to evaluate the alternative solution of enveloping buildings, including windows, with a secondary layer. The first method involved small-scale models; two test rooms were built, with one (the reference room) being based on regular municipal thermal guidelines and the other (the enveloped room) including an extra, secondary surrounding layer. The second test staged a similar scenario via software simulation. Both sets of results showed a significant reduction in electricity consumption in the enveloped room, which became more notable as the weather grew hotter. At the high end of the temperature scale, the power consumption of the enveloped room was 47%–54% lower than that of the reference room. However, such a secondary building envelope would increase the width of the wall structure and present the downside of adding to construction costs. While adopting this system in Dubai may save the city an estimated 16.6% in electrical energy, based on current prices, a house would likely need between 10 and 15 years to recuperate the associated capital investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a framework for incorporating uncertainty in water supply system models that uses Bayesian statistics and mixed-integer programming. The output of the framework includes the most probable least cost solution, the probability of feasibility for a given solution, component probabilities for each decision, and a distribution of the optimal objective function value. The method is applied to the problem of developing a water supply system design for Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories. The method allows decision makers to evaluate various alternatives for a water supply plan that incorporates uncertainties in future demand and costs. The design of a water supply plan is a concern with properties that are distinct from traditional approaches to the design of water distribution systems; namely, local engineering decisions concerning pipe diameters and water pressure are not explicitly modeled, but large-scale decisions concerning the construction of water conveyances (pipes, canals, and tunnels) and sources (desalination plants) are the focus in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the development and implementation processes of a quality management system (QMS) for design consultants in the Middle East are presented. The current design practices are first reviewed through the conduct of multiple interviews. The development of the QMS for designing residential and commercial buildings is also based on quality standards from the literature. The practical implementation of the model is conducted using actual design projects in a real design environment. The model implementation consists of three stages, the first stage is awareness; the second stage is benchmarking of existing practice, which is carried out on 20 projects; and finally, the validation of the model is verified using data from 11 projects. The benchmarking of existing performance and the validation of the model are carried out utilizing statistical approaches. The implementation of the QMS model improves the efficiency of the designs and the production process distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the extent of human-induced global warming is inconclusive, the vulnerability of natural systems to rapid changes in climate patterns is regarded as one of the most challenging issues in recent years. Water resources are a main component of natural systems that might be affected by climate change. This paper characterizes water resources in several Middle Eastern countries and evaluates regional climate predictions for various scenarios using general circulation models. The country of Lebanon is selected as a case study for an in-depth investigation with potential impacts on the water budget and soil moisture as indicators. Adaptation measures are assessed, with a focus on no-regret actions in the context of local socioeconomic and environmental frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry in the Middle East (ME) is witnessing continuous growth that attracts international contractors and investors to its large-scale projects. However, this growth is accompanied by an inevitable increase in claims and disputes, which consequently leads to significant delays and additional costs to the project. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods are often used to address these conflicts, but different issues and backgrounds of stakeholders in the ME affect which ADR is used if any. In light of this, the main aim of this study is to explore dispute causes and resolution practices in the ME as perceived by the different stakeholders involved. Based on extensive literature review, a comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted involving 177 professionals from different sectors of the ME construction industry. The responses were analyzed from three distinct perspectives, namely contractors, owners, and claim advisors. Findings revealed that contractual causes are the most common disputes in the ME region, and traditional resolution methods are continually practiced despite the recognized need for new alternatives. This research provides professionals in Middle Eastern and foreign countries with invaluable insights into construction claims' types and dispute resolution (DR) systems in the region. Moreover, it allows the various construction stakeholders to understand and take into consideration the perceptions of others when applying risk and dispute prevention techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture plays an important role in Arab Middle East society. Its unique historical, social, and religious traditions require special attention to cultural traits in the exercise of authority, control, and interaction. However, little research has investigated the effects of national culture on the management practices of construction companies. This research investigates this relationship through a questionnaire survey and interviews of a sample of construction companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It solicits views about the type of and experiences concerning the effect of the key national and cultural dimensions on adopted management practices. The research demonstrates that construction companies within the UAE construction industry have developed and adopted a unique management style that is a mixture ofWestern and Eastern management applications. These companies have primarily adopted a clan culture that emphasizes the development of human resources, flexibility, decentralization, teamwork, consensus decision making, and information sharing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of nonmilitary buildings subjected to blast is considered. Case studies from World War II are described, as well as more recent events from the detonation of large vehicle borne devices in the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Conventional methods for nonseismic design are shown to lead to frames with overstrong beams connected together by relatively weak connections. This may explain much of the evidence from bomb damaged buildings in which building connections have been observed to fracture in a brittle manner when subjected to blast. The risk of progressive collapse may be minimized by strengthening beam to column connections located at close proximity to potential vehicle borne devices and a capacity design method for such strengthening is advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]