Dissertations for Engineering Management (EM)

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Linkage Between Maintenance management, Enterprise Risk Management and Organizational Performance
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-03) ALEASSA, MOHAMMAD
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of maintenance management on organizational performance, with the mediation effect of enterprise risk management. The research problem addressed was the need to understand how maintenance management and enterprise risk management are interrelated and how they affect organizational performance. The basic design of the study involved a literature review and empirical research using survey data. Major findings indicated that maintenance management has a positive impact on organizational performance, with almost 46% of the variation predicted. Preventive maintenance was found to have a positive impact on company efficiency and competitiveness. Enterprise risk management was found to mediate the relationship between maintenance management and organizational performance, with more than 58% of variation in organizational performance being recorded. The study concluded that maintenance management plays a crucial role in improving organizational performance, and that enterprise risk management is dependent on maintenance management. This study provides evidence for the validation of scales related to maintenance and enterprise risk management, and organizational performance, contributing to the literature on organizational performance.
Impact of Energy Efficiency Practices on Healthcare Financial Profitability: Case Study of Al-Gardens Hospital Jordan, Middle East
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-06) AHMAD, MAYSAM
Nowadays; sustainability is thriving by being implemented in various industries worldwide. Construction Sector is consuming huge amount of energy globally, where healthcare institutes take a high percentage of this consumption due to its 24/7 operation hours and the complexity of its function. Many practices such operational and building envelop practices can be implemented for healthcare institutes to reduce energy consumption. BIM REVIT and its feature Insight360 proved its ability in analysing the energy performance of the building and supporting in proposing energy efficiency practice for the building. The aim of the research is to access the economic viability of different energy saving practices/scenarios that can be applied to a hospital in Jordan. The research highlighted the gap noticed in energy efficiency case studies literature; that is the need for researches to be conducted in developing economy counties such as Middle East – Jordan, also no future research/studies were mentioned for further improvements for each case study as per its location and available opportunities. In this research, Jordan Middle East developing economy countries healthcare institute’s is the targeted facilities in this research, it is introducing energy efficiency practices that reduce energy consumption and raise the profitability of healthcare institute with low initial cost and low payback period through technical energy analysis and financial analysis. The relation between dependent variable (energy efficiency) and the independent variables (building envelop and operational practices variables) is tested. The research assumes that lighting control system as operational practice can reduce energy efficiency with 21% of the total energy consumption and 1 year and 4 weeks payback period, and the window to wall ratio considered as the most energy efficient and feasible building envelop practice to be implement with energy savings of 6% of the yearly energy consumption kwh/year and payback period of 0.46 year. Hospitals as critical facility need to be resilient in its power production, CHP system can mitigate the risk of shortage of power due to climatic events or power distribution disruption. Future opportunities of new technologies can be developed in Jordan that need more research and studies. The research results support designers, engineers & investors in taking the most energy efficient & financially feasible practice to be implemented for healthcare facilities in Jordan.
Improving the Performance Measurement Using Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in Borouge
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-06) ALMUTAWA, MUBARAK
A hierarchy of measurements called Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is used in the industrial sector to gauge the performance of production machines. OEE measurement is a crucial machine performance tool that assesses availability, performance, and quality rate. It is inspired by Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). This study was conducted in Al Borouge company is a prominent petrochemical firm that offers unique and new polyolefin solutions for the energy, mobility, advanced packaging, infrastructure, healthcare, and agricultural industries. The main issue found relating to the two extruder production lines productivity was where availability and quality show a significant decrease. Thus, data were collected for 12 months from the two extruders and analysed using Microsoft Excel Software to determine the value of the output table and presented graphically. This study starts by calculating the availability, performance rate, and rate of quality, then listing the six biggest losses that happen in order to determine the achievement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) value. According to the findings, the average OEE on a first extruder is 95%, and second extruder is 91%, the value is higher than the world's ideal OEE standard value of > 85%. But This research needs to make improvement on these components to increase the value of OEE. Three of the six major losses downtime losses, speed losses, and quality losses were grouped together. The findings show there is no set up/adjustment and speed losses. Moreover, breakdown losses were 2.2% for first extruder and 6.06% for second extruder, and decreased quality losses were 1.28% for first extruder and 2.8% for second extruder for the study of six significant losses (which became three big losses due to speed losses and set up/adjustment do not exist).
Factors Influencing Construction Waste Generation in Building Construction: A Case of UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-06) ALMIDAMAH, ENTESAR
In this research, an extensive examination was carried out, investigating the issue of construction waste production in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This issue is of particular importance considering the high-speed urban development and extensive construction activities occurring within the country. A comprehensive understanding of construction waste, its origins, and implications on environmental stability and societal prosperity is imperative. The central insight from this investigation is that the production of construction waste is a layered issue, influenced by numerous interrelated elements. The method of study was quantitative, aimed at pinpointing these elements and determining their impacts. Data was amassed via a survey and processed using statistical methodologies like Cronbach's alpha and regression analysis. Crucial contributors to construction waste in the UAE were identified as sub-optimal design and planning procedures, antiquated construction techniques, subpar materials, and inadequate storage approaches. Furthermore, the study unearthed those issues within site management such as poor waste segregation, lack of planning, and incorrect material manipulation substantially add to the problem. Deficiencies in stringent waste management rules and enforcement within UAE's regulatory framework also fuel waste production. Unique attributes of the UAE, such as fast-paced construction, large-scale projects, local environmental conditions, and cultural nuances, intensify waste production. The findings emphasize the urgent need for an all-encompassing strategy for managing construction waste in the UAE. Any devised strategies need to address a variety of challenges, from design and planning processes to site management, all the way to regulatory enforcement. A crucial element of the study was also the highlighting of the need for industry-wide awareness and education to foster a mindset of waste reduction. This research paves the way for future investigations into managing construction waste, offering potential focus areas such as the influence of technological advancements, cultural and environmental factors unique to the UAE, policy interventions, and the role of private sectors in minimizing waste. The study further suggests an exploration into construction waste within the parameters of circular economy concepts as a novel path to sustainable construction. This study provides an in-depth understanding of construction waste generation in the UAE, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable practices in the industry. It offers valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers seeking to tackle this critical issue, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable construction sector in the UAE.
Effect of Customer Service Modernization on Customer Satisfaction in Shell Petrol Stations in Oman
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-02) AL BALUSHI, TALAL
Customer service modernization is a critical success factor for energy service sector companies. Influencing positive customer experience is essential for enterprises operating in this area since energy sector depends on high quality customer service delivery to influence competitive market advantage. The study determines the effect of customer service modernization on customer satisfaction in Shell petrol stations in Oman to examine the effect of service visibility, service reliability, service effectiveness and efficiency, and service customization on customer satisfaction. The research adopted a descriptive research design and a population of customers who fuel at Shell petrol stations in Oman. A sample comprising 196 customers were recruited using simple random sampling. Online semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect the primary data. Multiple regression and correlation tests were inferential statistics reported. The results reveal service visibility positively and significantly affects customer satisfaction (β1 = 0.40; p < 0.05). Service reliability positively and significantly affects customer satisfaction (β2 = 0.267; p < 0.05). Service effectiveness and efficiency positively and significantly affects customer satisfaction (β3 = 0.169; p < 0.05). Service customization positively and significantly affects customer satisfaction (β4 = 0.124; p < 0.05). Shell stations to promote customer satisfaction through quality service delivery.
The Effectiveness of Leadership Style and Employee Skills Development on Customer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty, Case Study: Emirates Airlines
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-04) BITAR, TONY NABEH
The research is aimed at detailing and understanding the effectiveness of the leadership style and employee’s skills development in Emirates Airlines company and seeks to understand the connection between it, customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. This research study has considered analysing the factors that are influencing customers satisfaction and includes a detailed literature review section, in which different concepts regarding employee’s skills development and leadership styles have been provided. In the methodology section, the methods that have been used in the research study for collecting and analysing the collected information have been analysed to determine the ways the research study has been carried out to ensure reliability of the findings. In the findings and discussion section, the reasons behind the customer satisfaction with the organisation have been analysed for gaining a clear understanding of the strategies to be adopted to gain their brand loyalty, while continuing with innovation to manage competitive advantage of the organisation. The findings represent that the customers are more satisfied when the employees are well trained and highly qualified in providing a high-quality service. In addition, to the positive effect on their loyalty to the brand of Emirates airlines
Organizational Culture Factors Affecting the Project Effectiveness in the Construction Industry of the UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-12-15) AL ZAABI, MOHAMED
The present research examined organizational culture factors that are associated with project success in the construction business in the UAE. The study investigates the influence of project coordination, trust, communication, shared experience, and alternate forms of cooperation on construction project success. The research study assisted in enhancing the understanding of the UAE construction industry in terms of the project manager’s perception of the core factors of project success. With the use of a quantitative research design, the researcher attempted to answer the research questions. A survey strategy was employed, with a questionnaire being the primary tool of data collection. The data was analyzed with the help of descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study show that project managers perceive that project coordination, trust, and communication show a significant impact on construction project success. The findings of the study show that the perception of project managers about the role of shared experience and alternate forms of cooperation was favourable to project success. The findings of the research study have significant implications for project management in the construction industry. The researcher recommended future research studies based on the limitations of the present research.
Critical Success Factors for Implementing Off-Site Modular Construction projects in UAE: A Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-11) EL KHATIB, AHMAD TAHA
Offsite Modular Construction, have started gaining popularity in the middle east in the last few years as it is seen to improve quality, reduce construction time and reduce safety related accidents. This research studied and found the influence and relationship between different critical success factors related to the implementation of offsite construction. the research first identified Critical Success Factors (CSFs) from literature review, then grouping the factors into Principal Success Factors (PSFs) using the affinity diagram method through consulting offsite modular construction experts. A survey found the ranking of the critical success factor and the DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory), which is Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method, was used with fuzzy set theory methods for finding the causes, effects and influences between the different PSFs to assist executives in taking strategic high level decisions. Fuzzy-DEMATEL was also used for finding the causes, effects and influences between the CSFs which would help project managers and professionals in taking project level decision. After analyzing the data to find the causes, effects and relationships between the different factors, the results of the study found that 5 PSFs and 15 CSFs were causes while 2 PSFs and 10 CSFs were effects. This approach can be considered for future and more extensive research on this subject.
THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISRUPTION ON SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE IN THE ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING SECTOR
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-11) ALMAHARMEH, MARIAM YACOUB
Supply chain disruptions are common during unexpected occurrences, such as pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic caused major supply chain disruption in the engineering manufacturing sector. Therefore, this dissertation aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption on supply chain in the engineering manufacturing sector, and subsequent impact on effective process performance, particularly cycle times, production flexibility, and cost efficiency. Current research indicates that disruptions in the supply chain during the pandemic may include aspects such as raw material shortages, labour shortages, demand fluctuations, Communication or communication issues, among others, which in turn impact process outcomes in organizations. Additionally, literature advocates for the adoption of novel technologies, such as Industry 4.0, AI, and additive manufacturing to help ease the impact on firms. This study employed a quantitative research design, whereby a standardized questionnaire was distributed electronically to approximately 700 employees, affiliated to the firm being studied, in conformance to the current COVID-19 restrictions and regulations. 500 respondent questionnaires were selected, cleaned, entered, and analysed using IBM SPSS v.23. Pearson correlations were run between the study’s dependent variables (Cycle Times, Production Flexibility, and Cost Efficiency) and the independent variables (Raw Material Shortages and Communication). The correlation results highlighted both negative and positive coefficients for the three primary variables, indicative of positive/constructive and inverse relationships. The study concluded that the effectiveness of management processes linked with these primary variables were significantly affected by the assessed supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 period, which conforms with multiple research studies. This study further recommends the adoption of strategies that minimize such disruptions and bolster resilience during disaster periods, alongside revamped implementation of industry 4.0 technologies to fill in the gaps caused by supply chain disruptions during pandemics.
Solar PV Construction Project Delays and Mitigation Strategies to Enhance Projects Timeline Performance A case study From Dubai’s Environment
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-11) AL-KHALIDI, ABDULRAHMAN BASIL
Distributed renewable generation projects are currently taking the major focus worldwide since it acts as the key enabler to the advanced grid structures such as smart grids and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). The solar PV project construction forms the main driver for the international ambition toward reliable and sustainable energy transition. The United Arab Emirates led the renewable energy deployment in the region since 2014 till 2022 with more than 2.5 GW of installed capacity. Dubai distributed energy sector took the lead with almost 300MW of installed solar PV capacity by the end of 2021 with the ambition to cover 75% of the emirate’s energy mix by 2050. Such challenging targets will not be possible to materialize without optimizing project timeline management practices which will directly influence the deployment rates. The fundamental project issue of having construction delays applies to the solar PV industry and impacts the deployment rates, this topic needs to be evaluated carefully to limit the sequential effect on the project’s performance and the technology adaptability. This study looks to explore the actual delays in solar PV construction projects and consequently propose effective mitigation strategies to enhance the project’s timeline performance. This case study targets Dubai’s commercial solar PV industry using a quantitative data-collecting strategy and statistical analysis to draw the appropriate conclusion. In conclusion, all analyzed case studies in Dubai’s commercial-scale solar PV construction projects were confirmed to be delayed by 43% on average. The detailed root cause analysis on the abovementioned delay contribution in Dubai’s solar PV commercial scale projects resulted in four main delay categories starting with Site Condition Delays, Project Management Delays, Technical Design Delays and Logistical Delays. The study assessed the impact of each of these categories and proposed mitigation strategies to limit its occurrence in the future.
Employee Reward as Moderator in The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Style on Employee Motivation in Construction Organisations in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-09) ABULAWI, RAKAN HAKEM HASAN
This study aims to investigate the moderating effects of extrinsic and intrinsic employee rewards on the relationship between transformational leadership style and employee motivation in construction organisations in the UAE. The data were collected through a questionnaire distributed among the employees of different construction organisations in UAE to investigate their opinions. The data collected from 144 employees were analysed using a combination of inferential and descriptive statistics. All of the statistical analyses were performed using IBM's SPSS 28 statistical package. The study findings revealed a significant positive relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic employee rewards and employee motivation for construction sector workers in UAE. Also, the study’s results suggest that there is not enough evidence supporting the notion that the presence or absence of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards affect the impact of transformational leadership style on employee motivation for construction employees in UAE. The study's findings were compared with those of previous research. The study's limitations and the theoretical and practical implications of the findings were acknowledged. Moreover, the study's findings are expected to help develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between employee rewards, transformational leadership style and the motivation of construction employees in UAE.
The Influence of Ambient Weather Parameters on the Prediction of an Electrical Power Production of a Combined Cycle Power Plant in the UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-10) ALABDOULI, HAJER ALI
To improve the utilisation of power plants and enhance production, this study is devoted to predicting the baseload electrical power production of a combined cycle power plant in the UAE. The data for this study was taken from plant sensors over a period of one month (September 2021) from specific sensors installed in the power plant, and provided the data for input features that correspond to affect and change the electrical power production. In the UAE, the hot summer climate and ambient weather conditions adversely affect the performance of gas turbines (GT) and have an influence on steam turbines too. Accordingly, this paper studies four input variables: ambient temperature (ranges from 25.29°C to 36.5°C), relative humidity (ranges from 35.47% to 90.28%), atmospheric pressure (ranges from 0.99 bar to 1.01 bar) and exhaust steam vacuum (ranges from 0.057 bar to 0.126 bar). All influence the target variable (power production), which ranges from 506.32MW to 864.44MW. The change in the exhaust vacuum pressure in the steam turbine is affected by the change in ambient temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure in the gas turbine. The analysis includes applying machine learning methods such as linear regression and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to develop a predictive power production model using different interactive computer programs such as Minitab, RStudio and Microsoft Excel. The linear regression model R-sq value was found to be 53.49%. Consequently, Minitab software is found to be a slightly more accurate statistical package compared to RStudio. In addition, the best data subset is found to be for week 1, with R-sq value of 82.16%. Moreover, the power linear regression model is ascertained to be more accurate than the ANN power predictive model, with a mean absolute deviation of 46.385, symmetric mean absolute per cent error of 6.719 and residual standard error of 57.392 (Minitab outputs).
Implementing Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and Similarity Approach to Predict Health and Safety Incidents in Dubai Construction Projects
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03) ABU SERDANEH, AFNAN
With the benefit of improving and developing the construction business in the UAE, a smart and resilient system has been generated. The construction sector contributes 7.4% of Dubai’s GDP and is highly exposed to hazards and uncertain events. Various types of risks can be obtained from the construction sites. Therefore, it is essential to explore and study strategies, logical methods and processes that save lives, increase profitability, reduce time, and enhance quality. The chosen case studies of this research study are three innovative buildings established to attract residents and visitors to live in. The selected projects are related to the residential sub-community sector. Although the implementation of these projects was initiated and processed at high standards, unfavourable events occurred during the construction phase. The developed MATLAB program is created to conduct the assessment method of the construction risks. The mathematical techniques utilised in the program are multi-criteria decision matrix, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and similarity TOPSIS. The selected attributes which are used for the assessment are risks probability, health and safety severity, time delay, cost increment and productivity reduction. Besides, in order to promote accuracy and precision of output data, experts’ decisions must be taken into consideration regarding the attributes ranking and hazards rating. Furthermore, three different ideal solutions criteria will be examined to select the most appropriate results. By assessing and ranking the previous data of risks, project stakeholders will be able to predict future risks and apply mitigation responses prior to events occurrence. This research will propose mitigation plans to overcome uncertain events and reduce errors during the construction of projects.
A Research Study on the Teleworking in Engineering Sectors in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-04) AL RAYSSI, MANEA
Organization measures its success by its employee’s performance. It is one of the most important measurements tool to indicate the efficiency and effectiveness of the corporate system performance. Employees are the valuable resources in any departments, projects, product and service. COVID pandemic has forced the world to make new arrangement (which is remotely working) from the workplaces. Engineering and industrial sector forced their employees to implement this work arrangement, which led to disturbing some organization performance. The purpose of this study is to examine how level of autonomy, feedback quality, communication process, Work-Life Interference and communication tools, affected the employee performance in the engineering and industrial sector during remotely working arrangement in COVID pandemic.
A Structural Approach of Integrating Total Quality Management and Big Data Analytics in Supply Chain Management to Improve Business Performance in FMCG Industry
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03-09) ABDELMOTAAL, OMAR MOHAMED BAHGAT MOHAMED HUSSEIN
The Supply Chain Management inside the industry of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods is considered one of the most complex supply chains due to high uncertainties and complexities due to involvement of different supplier, transportation problems and lead time issues. Therefore, this study examines the ability of integrating the concept of Total Quality Management which is considered one of the vital philosophies which tends to improve organizations in terms of achieving customer satisfaction and maintain continuous improvement which is highly needed inside the Supply Chain Management, as well as the Data Analytics tools which became very vital in decision making with the ability to clean, examine and analyze data to predict for future supply and demand, lead times and provide flexibility inside the Supply chain cycles, in improving the Supply Chain Management performance providing the Supply Chain Managers with high ability to predict future issues, selection of supplier, improve relation with costumers which will improve overall performance. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify areas of improvements in Supply Chain Management which can be improved through integrating the Supply Chain Management Practices with Total Quality Management Practices and Data Analytics tools. The study is based on collecting the main practices of each variable and collect data through preparing a questionnaire provided to experienced Supply Chain Managers in the field of Food Moving Consumer Goods. Structured Equation Modelling is used to test and validate the correlations between the variables examined and to test for the hypotheses developed. Thus, this study is considered very beneficial in terms of investigating the importance of integrating of the philosophies and practices to lead to better business performance and prepare organization for continuous improvements in every measure of the supply chain cycle.
Total Quality Implementation on Marine Transportation Association Under Natural Disruption of COVID-19 Pandemic
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-12) ASAD, NUHA JAMAL
The research done analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on daily public transport ridership in the total quality of the most populated regions, this is done to measure quality assurance and organization strategy in critical environments and to look into the impact of COVID-19 on Marine transport. The analysis breaks down the overall effect of Organization Strategies and Goals dealing with COVID-19 with respect to employees and operations affected during the pandemic, taking into consideration the situation in dealing with stakeholders during the COVID-19 period and how the Customer Satisfaction, Cost recovery and the Quality of Service were achieved in comparison to the previous plan were not achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency has extraordinarily influenced the public vehicle ridership across the entire world. The total lockdown or partial lockdown devised by countries all over the world, which means that most economic activities were postponed until the outbreak, is contained. The decisions made by authorities in different countries regarding the outbreak of the pandemic have affected different factors such as their financial stability. Alluding to the World Health Organization (WHO) rules in regards to the pandemic. This brought about quick and serious ramifications on versatility styles. The spread of COVID-19 infections has brought about remarkable measures confining travel and action interest in all countries. Social distancing, i.e., decreasing collaborations between people to dial back the spread of the infection, has turned into the new standard. It can be expected that the demand for travel will reduce and that people will travel less by public transport. Social distancing might negatively affect subjective well-being and health status, as it might result in social isolation and limited physical activity. Thus, the main focus is to make approaches to securely utilize public transport. Explore the effect of COVID-19 on versatility practices with extraordinary respect to public transportation clients or users, as far as their readiness to travel and their security standards insights. Decide the Total quality measures in Quality affirmation and association system during the COVID-19 pestilence in the marine field. Considering the nearby government activities, concentrating on that first case declaration, crisis affirmations. The time of this review covers financial exercises between the long stretches of January towards the last quarter of dec 2020. Additionally examined in this diary, is the investigation of the potential post-episode circumstance and the monetary upgrade bundle. This research fills in as a kind of future perspective for examination on this subject. Keywords: Organization X, COVID-19 Pandemic, Marine Transport, business continuity, forecast, quality measures, financial sustainability.
Integration of Smart Sensors in Buildings to achieve Energy Efficiency in Hot and Humid Climate
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-07) JABR, BILAL SUDQI SAEED
Relevant studies on the subject have revealed that a third of the global and primary energy in the world is being utilized in buildings and associated structures. It is also estimated that this utilization would grow to above 50% by 2030 because of the fast and consistent growth in economic activity and increase in population around the world. People tend to spend the greater part of their time in indoor spaces e.g., commercial and residential buildings. Improving energy efficiency and indoor environment comfort is necessary. Hence, the trend towards designing smart buildings that incorporate intelligent control systems has become the norm in the construction industry (Shaikh et al. 2016). Most of the current buildings nowadays were built prior the evolution of significant technological advancements such as the internet of things (IoT). Relevant technologies have recently evolved at a vast pace, allowing for the possibility to introduce enhancement on the performance of various building control systems such as electrical, mechanical, electromechanical, automated control systems, renewable energy, building envelope and building insulation, and others. Therefore, it is important to assess the association between retrofitting old buildings and thereby turning them into Smart Buildings and the effect that this exercise may have on their energy efficiency through a holistic method. Of particular interest in this approach is to evaluate the impact on the HVAC and lighting systems in order to optimize the energy usage in those systems. Based on the detailed literature review that has been carried out to complete this research, it was found that there are few researches that have been conducted in hot/humid climates especially in the gulf region or the United Arab Emirates related to the area of study. Therefore, the research aims to study how can retrofitting existing buildings in the UAE to become smart buildings save energy and reduce the energy demand. The findings of this research can be used to develop strategies that enhances the energy efficiency in existing buildings that have HVAC systems in the UAE and the gulf region. This research assesses retrofitting the Lighting and the HVAC systems to an existing office building by implementing energy conservation strategies along with smart sensors to reduce the energy demand. An actual field measurement was done to an existing governmental office building in Dubai, and energy conservation measures are discussed and analyzed to reduce the building energy demand, on the other hand, a computer simulation (IES VE) was used to build a model for an office building in Abu Dhabi and varies energy conservation strategies on the lighting system and the HVAC system were applied and simulated to understand the impact on the modelled building energy demand. The results for the energy conservation measures that are proposed for the case study building in Dubai showed that upgrading the HVAC system controls could achieve about 17% savings in the HVAC power demand, installing a chiller plant manager would achieve savings of 14%, retrofitting existing conventional AC with invertor AC would achieve 38% savings, and installing adiabatic cooling would save about 11% of the HVAC power demand. While applying different scenarios in the computer simulation of an office building in Abu Dhabi, the results showed that there is a potential of reducing the power consumption from the lighting system by 16% when replacing the fluorescent lights with LED, and 75% reduction in power consumption when using dimming system that is linked to the occupancy sensors, and 7% reduction when controlling the lights in the building via dimming system based on the external day lighting. The simulation also shows that controlling the cooling set point of the HVAC system can save up to 7% of the power demand, and when linking the HVAC operation with the building occupancy it can save up to 9%, also, using the VAV system can reduce 20% of the energy consumption of the HVAC system.
A framework for implementing Green Supply Chain Management: The Case of Petco Gulf
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-06) HASSAN, HUDA YOUSIF ALI AHMED
Growing global warming has caused irreversible effects to the environment, especially by supply chain industry. The main issue is, traditional supply chain logistics has affected the environment in many ways, through toxic waste, water, air, noise pollution. All this because of the conventional supply chain. To curb such environmental impacts companies, need to take strict actions in their supply chain. This dissertation aims to compare the differences between traditional SCM and GSCM; importance and need for GSCM. Taking PET bottles manufacturing company, Petco gulf U.A.E. as an example, it analyses the components of GSCM and different techniques that can be applied in a company to ensure that a company can switch from traditional SCM to GSCM. From this research, it was found that as Petco gulf is present in the U.A.E. it can take advantage of this and by applying the GSCM strategies against each of its components this will help the company by, increased overall gross profit with the decrease in cost since going green in its supply chain means reducing the overheads. This will give any company a competitive edge and boost its sales by building up the company’s reputation amongst its stakeholders, especially the consumers. The problem in Petco gulf is; they have zero green supply chain management practices and need to implement the practices into their current supply chain. The research methodology used in this project is a quantitative methodology with a deductive approach. An interview questionnaire took place with the company’s representative over the telephone. The major findings were that Petco gulf does not practice GSCM in its business, rather rely on conventional SCM.GSCM to be implemented smoothly in Petco gulf the goal was to find and analyse a framework that is best suited to develop GSCM in Petco gulf. This research concluded that to reduce their carbon footprint and become sustainable they will need to implement GSCM components and activities across their business along with the active involvement of its stakeholders.
An Analysis of the Forces Influencing the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in the Intellectual Property Sector in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-06) AL YAZEEDI, ABDULLA MOHAMED
The study at hand considers the way in which the potential for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasing in the current paradigm of social and economic change. This paper will consider the various dimensions of this proposed move of automating government services as witnessed through the signing of Memorandum with the South Korean government who will help to facilitate this move. Thus, the core aim is to uncover the various ways in which AI integration into the Intellectual Property mechanisms in UAE can cause massive shifts in terms of intellectual property management and innovation in general. The research objectives sought to identify the forces that will drive or restrain the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in the Intellectual Property Sector. This research used the force field analysis method to identify the forces using a questionnaire specifically for the users of IP services and relied on personal interviews with selected employees within the IP department. From the findings of the study, it is apparent that the integration of AI into IP management has the potential to improve efficiency of dealing with applications and improving the overall rapidity with which applications are processed, it also revealed cultural and traditional methods of management are seen as the restraining forces whereas the driving forces were the continued support from the government to include AI into the workplaces and aim of having a technological skilled employee. Thus, this study has the potential of revealing important factors that needed to be addressed before the implementation of AI in an organization. Moreover, the study will also consider the intricate possibilities that are apparent in case of developing and furthering innovation potential in the country, specifically through the various ways in which AI can enable easier and more systematic application processing.
Enhancing the construction innovation practices
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2020-12) AL SHAHER, BASSEL
This research aims to investigate the impact of planning on construction projects duration in Dubai. The primary data has been gathered through a questionnaire which was distributed among the project managers of different construction companies of Dubai (UAE) to investigate their opinions. The secondary data has been presented in the literature review which has been gathered from books, reports, and academic journals. The analysis of the correlation has been provided to understand the relationship among the independent and dependent variables of the research. The conclusion has been drawn at the end, and suitable recommendations have been provided for project managers of construction companies.

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