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Research Profile

  • I was awarded a PhD from the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies – UCL, in Environmental Design and Engineering. I am a UK RIBA part 2 Architect with over 12 years of experience in Architecture, Architectural Technology, Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing in the Built Environment and Building Information Modelling (BIM). In industry, my work covered a wide range of projects including mixed-used, commercial, healthcare and residential buildings in different countries around the world; including but limited to USA, UK, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

    I am one of the very few who started a career in the UK building industry in the world of BIM. To date, I am a BIM lead and consultant for a number of UK leading Architecture practices like Foster + Partners, and the Subject Lead of BIM at the University of Northampton.

    I am an editor for the International Journal of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, the International Journal of Nervous System and the International Journal of Physiological Phenomena, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am a reviewer for the International Journal of Global Health and the International Journal of Behavior Therapy and Mental Health.

    My research is one of the most influential in the field of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort and its relationship with Cognitive Performance of occupants and their productivity and with Environmental Design and Engineering. As such, I authored key publications which contributed significantly to Buildings’ Standards and Policy Formulation.

  • I launched and lead the MSc course at the University of Northampton for BIM-Enabled Sustainable Buildings’ Design and High-Performance Buildings.
     

    I am the Module leader for the Final Major Project (Level 6, 60 credits) and the Visual Communication module (level 4 – 40 credits), the Architectural Technologist module (level 4 – 20 credits), and the BIM modules (levels 5 & 6 – 40 credits).

    I taught at the MSc module of Natural and Mechanical Ventilation of Buildings, at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies – UCL, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, and took responsibility of grading exams and evaluating course work.

    I am currently a Guest Lecturer at UCL IEDE (Institute for Environmental Design Engineering), supervising MSc and PhD students as well.

    Since 2010, I have taught and supervised over 400 students in 20 different architectural related modules, six of which I have designed and led and successfully managed to obtain accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education abroad that needed to meet the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council’s national standard.

  • My passion is for research that makes a difference and that investigates the use of environmental context as a generator of ideas.

    My research is one of the most influential in the field of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort and its relationship with Cognitive Performance of occupants and their productivity and with Environmental Design and Engineering. As such, I authored two key comprehensive journal publications which will contribute significantly to Buildings’ Standards and Policy Formulation of Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in educational buildings of adult females in the hot climates relying on air conditioners for cooling and ventilation. I have also contributed in a number of conferences from which my work has received commendation by key researchers in the field, and received the best paper award in the IBPC conference, USA, 2018.

    Between 2010 and 2014, I managed to capture a significant fund (£1.2 million) from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia (projects: 13-ENV1089-89 and 13-ENV928-89) on Environmental Strategic Priorities and Indoor Air Quality. Recently in September 2019, I managed with my research team to capture a £150,000 fund from Qatar National Research Fund.

    I am the principal investigator in a research project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund: Developing a BIM model for refurbishment of schools’ archetypes based on the analysis of energy performance, and assessment of services using LCA and LCC techniques (£800K).

    Similarly, I am currently writing a research proposal in collaboration with UCL, looking at schools’ archetypes in the UK, to be funded by the EPSRC. Also, working in collaboration with research partners in Qatar on climate mitigation research projects and environmental design and suitability related projects to be conducted in the UK and Qatar to be funded by the Qatar National Research and the EPSRC.

  • PhD Thesis

    The Effects of Indoor Temperature and CO2 levels as an Indicator for Ventilation Rates on Cognitive Performance of Adult Female Students in Saudi Arabia. [online] 

    Journals

    Ahmed R.; Mumovic D.; Ucci M.; Bagkeris E. (2020). The Combined Effects of Indoor Temperatures and CO2 Levels on Cognitive Performance of Female Higher Education Students in a Hot and Arid Climate*.
     
    Ahmed R.; Mumovic D.; Ucci M.; Bagkeris E. (2020). The Effects of Thermal Comfort and Acclimatisation on Cognitive Performance in Educational Buildings Located in the Hot Climates Relying on Air-Conditioners for Cooling and Ventilation*.
     
    * (Owing to the nature of this research work, these publications were delayed and now in process of publication by Indoor Air Journal).

    Book Chapters

    Ahmed R.; Mumovic D.; Chatzidiakou L. (2018). Designing for Health and Comfort and Cognitive Performance in Schools: What Do We Know?

    In: Daniels H. ed. Handbook of Educational Buildings’ Design. Oxford University. Routledge.
     
    Peer-reviewed Conference Papers

    Ahmed R.; Mumovic D.; Ucci M. (2018). Implications to buildings’ design and HVAC operation in the hot arid countries relying on HVAC system for cooling and ventilation. International Building Physics Conference (IBPC2018). (received the best paper award/ certificate).

    Ahmed R.; Mumovic D.; Ucci M. (2017). The Effect of Indoor Temperature and CO2 Levels on Cognitive Performance of Adult Females in a University Building in Saudi Arabia. CISBAT International Conference. [online]

    Ahmed R.M. (2014). Field study on the economic impact of the working environments in non-temperate climates. WIT Transactions on Ecology and The Environment, 18, p.161-173.

    Ahmed R.M. (2014). Lessons learnt from the vernacular architecture of Bedouins in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. The 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and Mining (ISARC 2014).

    Ahmed R.M. (2014). The Role of Temperature and Ventilation Rates in Hot Dry Climates. ASHRAE First International Conference in Doha, Qatar (2014). Conference presentation. 

    Ahmed R.M. (2014). The Inter-Related Relationship between Thermal Comfort, Indoor Air Quality and Students’ Cognitive Performance. Conference presentation at the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA). [online]