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Raising crops in PV facades of buildings
An international research group has analyzed the visual impact of PV facades on buildings which include crop cultivation. Architects, PV specialists and farmers were surveyed and the results showed broad acceptance of such projects. The ‘vertical farming’ survey generated suggestions for the design of productive facades. So here is Raising crops in PV facades of buildings by Emiliano Bellini.
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MENA: Renewed wave of mass uprisings met with brutality and repression
Amnesty International published MENA: Renewed wave of mass uprisings met with brutality and repression during ‘year of defiance’ on 18 February 2020. It is as follows:
– Report reviews human rights in 19 MENA states during 2019
– Wave of protests across Algeria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon demonstrates reinvigorated faith in people power
– 500+ killed in Iraq and over 300 in Iran in brutal crackdowns on protests
– Relentless clampdown on peaceful critics and human rights defenders
– At least 136 prisoners of conscience detained in 12 countries for online speech
MENA to see $23B in Hotel Building by 2023
HOTEL BUSINESS on February 17, 2020, informs that MENA to see $23B in Hotel Building by 2023, mostly in the Gulf region. A region that still knows a significant construction boom despite inevitable volatility in its primary revenue would be hosting crowds of visitors soon to two major international events. These are the International Exhibition of 2020 and the Football World Cup 2022 in Qatar. The other regions of the MENA, whether North African or of the Levant that mostly preoccupied with their respective geostrategic concerns, have smaller demand for hotels buildings.
Cairo’s green lung razed for roads to new desert capital
n the traffic-choked megacity of Cairo, the historic Heliopolis district has long stood out for its leafy boulevards, but now construction crews are cutting new highways through it and uprooting its century-old trees.
As Egypt with its burgeoning population nears the milestone of 100 million people, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government is building a colossal new capital in the desert east of Cairo.
IMF note on Gulf's depleting wealth 'a call to action'
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent report noting that GCC states could see their financial wealth depleted in the next 15 years is an important call to action for the region, a senior officer at the Abu Dhabi state fund said.
“The quest for economic diversification and the bridge that hydrocarbon has given us is something that we’ll continue to be looking at and focus on for the next 20 to 40 years,” Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Deputy Group CEO, Mubadala, told delegates at the Milken Institute Summit held in Abu Dhabi.
Automation ‘to take over half of all jobs in 15 years’
The robots are coming! started The Guardian in its 2017 edition before informing that regular reports warn us that an automation apocalypse is nigh. Here is Automation ‘to take over half of all jobs in 15 years’ that again alerts us on everything but the positive aspects if any, of such technological advancements.
Construction Activity Can Signal When Credit Booms Go Wrong
An IMF blog article by Deniz Igan dated February 12, 2020, holds that Construction Activity Can Signal When Credit Booms Go Wrong. This state of affairs seems to apply almost universally. Indeed, as per the French saying “when the building goes, everything goes,” it appears that it took time for the international financial institution to reach this conclusion, especially with regards to the countries of the MENA region.
Buildings kill millions of birds. Here's how to reduce the toll
As high-rise cities grow upwards and outwards, increasing numbers of birds die by crashing into glass buildings each year. And of course many others break beaks, wings and legs or suffer other physical harm. But we can help eradicate the danger by good design.
Siemens transforms buildings from passive to adaptive
In a Press Release on 6 February 2020, Siemens transforms buildings from passive to adaptive as elaborated here.
At this year’s Light+Building trade fair, Siemens will showcase its vision for transforming today’s passive buildings into learning and adaptive environments that intelligently interact with people. The company’s focus at this year’s show is “Building the future today”, outlining the innovations that will make this possible. These include cloud-based technologies, digital planning, occupant-centric building automation and services. New solutions for smart electrical infrastructure that seamlessly connects to the Internet of Things (IoT) are also at the core of this transformation.
Nehmeh organises Mega Industrial Expo 2020
As reported by The Peninsula of Qatar of 11 February 2020, Nehmeh organises Mega Industrial Expo 2020.
Qatar-based Industrial Solutions leader ‘Nehmeh’ has organised the annual Mega Industrial Expo 2020 showcasing a range of the world’s leading brands in construction solutions,
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Daily Life In Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 05: A man Jet skis past the city skyline at sunset on February 5, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the second most populous city after Dubai with a population of around two million people. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)