Mohamed Hssan Hassan Abdelhafez | Environmental Science | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Mohamed Hssan Hassan Abdelhafez | Environmental Science | Research Excellence Award

Professor at University of Hail, Saudi Arabia

Prof. Mohamed Hssan Hassan Abdelhafez is a distinguished researcher in architectural engineering, specializing in sustainable design and climate-responsive built environments, particularly in hot desert regions. His research focuses on the integration of passive cooling strategies, energy-efficient building systems, and urban climate adaptation to enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy consumption, and minimize CO₂ emissions. With strong expertise in environmental design, natural ventilation, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, he develops innovative simulation-based solutions for both buildings and urban spaces. His work bridges architecture, urban planning, and climate science, contributing to resilient and sustainable city development aligned with future climate change scenarios. He has led and collaborated on multiple research projects addressing energy efficiency, sustainable urban development, and climate-sensitive urban morphology, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Upper Egypt. His contributions extend to applied research in building performance, heritage conservation, and smart urban strategies, supporting national visions such as Saudi Vision 2030. Through his academic, research, and consultancy roles, he continues to advance knowledge in sustainable architecture and urban systems, promoting environmentally responsible design practices for future generations.

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Featured Publications

Hanin Othman | Environmental Science and Smart Technology | Young Researcher Award 

Ms. Hanin Othman | Environmental Science and Smart Technology | Young Researcher Award 

Ms. Hanin Othman | Pennsylvania State University | United States

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Early Academic Pursuits

Ms. Hanin Othman began her academic journey with a strong foundation in architecture and design. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from The Hashemite University, Jordan in 2014, where she graduated among the top students in her class and received multiple honors, including the Best Graduation Project Award. Her academic excellence continued through her Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from The University of Jordan in 2019, where her thesis publication earned the Best Master Thesis Published Paper Award. Building upon these achievements, she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Architecture (Sustainability) at Pennsylvania State University, USA. Her educational path reflects a consistent dedication to research and innovation at the intersection of environmental science and smart technology.

Professional Endeavors

Ms. Othman’s professional journey is marked by her deep involvement in academia, research, and creative technology. At Penn State University, she serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, instructing courses such as Basic Design and Research and Sustainable Architecture I & II. She is also the Artist and Maker in Residence at the Learning Factory, where she designs and leads workshops on low-cost IoT-based environmental monitoring systems using Arduino. Her earlier professional experience includes working as an Architect and Design Studio Supervisor at The Hashemite University, and as an Architect at Ruba Hosuah for Engineering. These roles allowed her to integrate sustainability principles with modern design methods, reinforcing her commitment to environmental science and smart technology.

Contributions and Research Focus

Ms. Hanin Othman’s research lies at the dynamic intersection of environmental science and smart technology, with a particular focus on sustainability, digital fabrication, and sensing technologies in architecture. Her doctoral research emphasizes the development of IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring systems, integrating mobile platforms, robotic sensing, and data-driven optimization techniques. She also explores urban microclimates, vegetation impacts, and thermal comfort using simulation tools such as ENVI-met, Design Builder, and CFD modeling. Additionally, her work in robotic fabrication bridges computational design with traditional craftsmanship, pushing the boundaries of sustainable architectural innovation.

Impact and Influence

Ms. Othman has made a remarkable impact both as a researcher and an educator. Her innovative approach to integrating environmental science and smart technology into architecture has influenced sustainable design practices and academic pedagogy. She has been recognized through numerous awards, including the ICDS Rising Researcher Award (2025–2026), Fox Scholar Award (2025), Sustainability Graduate Student Award Nomination (2024–2025), and the Artists and Makers in Residence Program (2024–2025). Her teaching contributions at Penn State University have inspired many students to embrace interdisciplinary and environmentally responsive design approaches.

Academic Cites

Ms. Othman’s research contributions have been featured in conferences, workshops, and institutional publications, reflecting the growing academic acknowledgment of her work. Her studies in environmental science and smart technology have attracted attention for their real-world applicability and technological innovation. Through her participation in Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) and Hamer Center for Community Design, she has collaborated on projects that integrate digital twins, IoT networks, and data-driven environmental monitoring   all contributing to the broader academic discourse on sustainable and smart architectural systems.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Ms. Hanin Othman’s legacy will be defined by her contributions to sustainable architectural research and the advancement of environmental science and smart technology. Her ongoing projects, such as TwinSight: A Data-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Human-Centric Health Monitoring, highlight her vision for human-centered, data-driven, and equitable environmental design. As she continues to mentor students and collaborate across disciplines, her influence will extend to shaping the next generation of architects and environmental technologists. Her long-term goal is to pioneer scalable, low-cost sensing and smart systems that redefine sustainability in architecture.

Environmental Science and Smart Technology

Ms. Hanin Othman’s research integrates Environmental Science and Smart Technology through IoT-based sensing systems, robotic fabrication, and data-driven environmental design. Her interdisciplinary approach to Environmental Science and Smart Technology bridges architecture, engineering, and sustainability, redefining how design responds to ecological and technological challenges. The future of Environmental Science and Smart Technology continues to evolve through her innovative contributions, academic leadership, and commitment to global sustainable development.

Featured Publications

Othman, H., & Alshboul, A. A. (2020). The role of urban morphology on outdoor thermal comfort: The case of Al-Sharq City–Az Zarqa. Urban Climate, 34, 100706.

Othman, H., Azari, R., & Guimarães, T. (2024). Low-cost IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring. Technology|Architecture + Design, 8(2: Coding), 250–270.

Othman, H., Sieves, G., Guimarães, T., & Azari, R. (2025). A calibration chamber framework for low-cost indoor air quality sensor validation. Building and Environment, 113856.

Othman, H., Sieves, G., Guimaraes, T., & Azari, R. (2024). Development of a calibration chamber to evaluate the performance of a low-cost IAQ sensing device. In SIGraDi 2024 - Biodigital Intelligent Systems Conference 1.

Othman, H., & Azari, R. (2023). Exploring low-cost sensors for indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring: A review of stationary and mobile sensing systems. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of the Arab Society 

Imam, C. A., Othman, H. A. S., & Çapunaman, Ö. B. (2023). Robotic plaster carving: Formalizing subtractive detailing of plaster surfaces for construction and crafts. In 41st Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural