The Department of Architecture and City Design at the KFUPM has a clear commitment to creating a healthy, efficient, beautiful, and life-enhancing built environment: good design, sound buildings, efficient management, and social responsibility. These qualities underlie in all of our research initiatives and activities in the department. The faculty members of the Architecture and City Design Department are involved in both individual and collaborative research.

All our faculty members are expected to be actively involved in research and scholarly activities. Expectations for teaching staff’s involvement in research and scholarly activities are clearly specified and considered during the initial appointment, in performance evaluation, and for promotion. Faculty members are evaluated in research on the basis of the quality of the journal and only ISI journal publications are considered for promotion purposes.

Additionally, the funded research projects are taken into consideration. The Architecture and City Design Department at present has ten full-time faculty members with PhD degree and their expertise cover a comprehensive spectrum of research fields of Architecture and City Design. Faculty members are expected to involve undergraduate and graduate students in their respective research. Currently, the following funded research projects are being carried out by the Architecture and City Design Department faculties:

• Project Title: “Developing Place-Based Health Indicators: Toward Healthy Neighborhoods in Saudi Arabia”, Funding Agency: KFUPM (Grant # IN161045), Duration: 24 Months (April 2017 – October 2019), Project Status: Completed, Dr. Jamal Al-Qawasmi (PI), & Dr. Mohammad Babsail (Col).
• Project Title: “The Technical and Economic Potential of BIPV Systems Considering the Climatic Conditions of KSA”, Reference Number: SR151007, Duration: May - Oct. 2018, Project Status: Completed, Budget: SAR 32,000, Dr. Omar Asfour (PI).
• Project Title: “Evaluating Design Quality in Mosques in Saudi Arabia: Setting up the Criteria Evaluating Design Quality in Mosques in Saudi Arabia: Setting up the Criteria”, Funding Agency: KFUPM (Grant # IN171035), Duration: 24 Months (April 2018-March 2020), Dr. Jamal Al-Qawasmi (PI), & Dr. Mohammad Babsail (Col)
• Project Title: “Developing Cost-effective and Energy Efficient Blocks in the Field Using Indigenous Industrial Waste and By-Product Materials”, Duration: 29 Months (April 2020 – December 2023), Budget: SAR 281,700; Dr. Mohammad Sharif Zami (CoI-2).
  
• Project Title: “Three-Dimensional Printing of Concrete”, Duration: 18 Months (starting 2020), Budget: SAR 270,000, Dr. Abd El-Fattah, A. (PI).
  
• Project Title: “Develop a Tool to Assess and Monitor Urban Quality of Life (QOL) in Saudi Arabia Cities”, Funding Agency: Ministry of Education – Social Science Track, Duration: 12 Months (starting Nov. 2020), Budget: SAR 360,000, Dr. Jamal Al-Qawasmi (PI), Dr. Omar Asfour (Co-I).
  
• Project Title: “Assessment of The Structural and Environmental Merits of Najd Soils for Formulating Stabilized Rammed Earth Construction Standard”, Dr. Mohammad Sharif Zami (PI).
  
• Project Title: “Assessment of Stabilized Earth Structural and Environmental Merits for Sustainable Construction in Saudi Arabia”, Funding Agencies: The Interdisciplinary Research Center (IRC) Grant, Construction and Building Materials (CBM), and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, Project Code: INCB2207, Duration: 12 Months, Awarded SAR 59,000, Dr. Mohammad Sharif Zami (PI).
  
• Project Title: “Mechanical and Microstructural Characterization of Marl Soils Exposed to High Salinity Environment”, Funding Agencies: The Interdisciplinary Research Center (IRC) Grant, Construction and Building Materials (CBM), and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, Project Code: INCB2214, Duration: 12 Months, Awarded SAR 76,475, Dr. Mohammad Sharif Zami (CoI-4).
• Smart Campus Initiatives Project KFUPM

The University provides the necessary research funding and support to all disciplines through various internal and external grants/awards. The teaching staffs are free to apply for funding from other governmental agencies, such as King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), National Science and Technology, and Innovation Plan (NSTIP). Junior Faculty Research Grant is also available to maintain the research momentum developed during the Ph.D. work of a junior faculty. It also helps in learning KFUPM’s research rules, regulations, and procedures. This grant put the junior faculty members on the track that will lead to major long-term research projects funded by the Research Committee, KACST, SABIC, Fast Track, Applied Research Institute (ARI), and Industry. The grant also includes funds for a consultant, generally a senior teaching staff in the same department or outside who plays the role of a mentor to the junior staff. The consultant is expected to guide the junior teaching staff in the preparation of the proposal, planning and conduct of research, data analysis, report preparation and publication of the outcome of the research. The teaching staffs are encouraged and financially supported by the university to present their research work at national, regional, and international conferences.

Collaborations

• Sahlgrenska Academy, GU, Sweden
• The Politecnico di MIlano 
• CRiSSMA
  

Interdisciplinary Research Centers (IRCs) Affiliations

Faculty Affiliated with IRC for Construction and Building Materials

• Dr. Jamal Al-Qawasmi
• Dr. Mohammad Sharif Zami​
  
• Dr. Ahmed Mohsen Abdelfattah
• Dr. Omar S. Asfour

Faculty Affiliated with IRC for Smart Mobility and Logistics

• Dr. Ziad Ashour
• Prof. Habib Alshuwaikhat
• Dr. Baqer Al-Ramadan
• Dr. Yusuf Adetunji Adenle