United Arab Emirates University

College of Engineering

Department of Architecture Engineering

Dr. Ahmad Y. Okeil

RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Research Interests

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Applications in Architecture and Architectural Education.
New Paradigms in the Digital Design Studio.
Architectural Design Collaboration in Virtual Environments.
Virtual Acoustics: Simulating Room Acoustics using VRML Environments.
Computer Applications in Recording Architectural Cultural Heritage
Energy Efficiency in Architecture, Urban Planning and Urban Design
Thermal comfort in the Built Environment
Energy Efficient Urban Forms

Recent Research Projects

2004	Project Title: Enhancing Architectural Education Using Immersive Virtual Environments. (UAEU-CAVE) Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil

2004	Project Title: Exposing Structural and Technical Systems in Buildings Using Augmented Reality. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil

2003	Project Title: In Search for Energy Efficient Urban Forms: The Residential Solar Block. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil

2002	Project Title: Architectural Design Critique in Multi-User Online Virtual Environment (ARCHIMOVEMENTS). Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil

2001	Stereography Applications in Architecture. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil

Research Project Funding Received

2001	Project Title: The Use of Virtual Reality in Urban Design: Enhancing the Image of Al Ain City. Funded by the UAEU research council. Principal Investigator: Dr. Mostafa El Araby, Co-investigators: Dr. Ahmad Okeil, Granted 26000 Dirhams (7100 US$)

2000	Project Title: Implementation of Solar Driven Adsorption Cooling as Substitute for Electric Chillers in High-rise Buildings in Hot Arid Regions. Funded by the UAEU research council. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil, Co-investigators: Dr. Ahmad Ragab, Granted 12000 Dirhams(3300 US$)

1998	Project Title: Micro–climatic quality assessment of outdoor urban spaces in the city center of Al Ain. Funded by the UAEU research council. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ahmad Okeil, Co-investigators: Dr. Ahmad Rashid and Dr. Mohammad Assem. Granted 12000 Dirhams (3300 US$)

1998	Project Title: Smart Buildings Energy Management. Funded by the UAEU research Councel. An interdisciplinary research project. . Joint Research project between Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Architectural Engineering. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ashraf El Naggar, Investigators from the Department of Architecture: Dr. Ahmad Okeil, Dr. Mohsen Abul Naga and Dr. Khalid El Sallal. Granted 200000 Dirhams (54000 US$)

1998	Project Title: Three Dimensional Architectural Survey. Funded by the UAEU research council. Dr. Ahmad Rashid, Co-investigators: Dr. Ahmad Okeil, Dr. Mohammad Assem and Dr. Ahmad Mowafy, Granted 14000 Dirhams (3800 US$)

1992-1994	Project Title: CITYSHADOWS: Program for calculating and visualizing the distribution of direct and diffuse solar radiation on building facades taking the urban context into consideration. Funded by the DAAD-German Academic Exchange Service, Technical University of Munich and Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education. Principal Investigators: Ahmad Okeil. Granted 10000 DM (5000 US$)

Doctor Thesis:

1994 Title: “Effects of Solar Radiation on the Urban Pattern.” A study of the correlation between climatic aspects and the built environment on the architectural as well as on the urban scale with special emphasis on solar radiation. The study aimed at reducing energy consumption and maintaining human comfort in buildings as well as in open spaces. A computer simulation program (CITYSHADOWS) was developed and used, together with other evaluation tools, to set guidelines for the utilization of solar energy in our modern city. Directed by Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Hermann Schroeder, Technical University of Munich.

Publications:

Reviewed Papers

OKEIL, A., 2005. Enhancing Architectural Education Using Immersive Virtual Environments: The UAEU-CAVE Experience. Accepted for publication. Global Congress on Engineering and Technology Education, GCETE2005, Santos, Brazil.

OKEIL, A., 2005. Exposing Structural and Technical Systems in Buildings Using Augmented Reality. Accepted for publication. Global Congress on Engineering and Technology Education, GCETE2005, Santos, Brazil.

OKEIL, A., 2004. In Search for Energy Efficient Urban Forms: The Residential Solar Block. Proc. of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction Conference, CIB2004, Toronto, Canada.

EL ARABY, M., OKEIL, A., 2004. Utilizing a VR Model for Adding Visual Qualities to the Downtown Area of Al Ain City: UAE. Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning, Elsevier Science Ltd., 21(2).

EL ARABY, M., OKEIL, A., 2003. The Use of Virtual Reality in Urban Design: Enhancing the Image of Al-Ain City, UAE. Proc. of the 8th International Symposium on ICT and Planning and impacts of ICT on Physical Space, CORP2003, Vienna, Austria.

OKEIL, A., EL ARABY, M., 2003. Realism vs. Reality in Digital Reconstruction of Cities. Proc. of the 8th International Symposium on ICT and Planning and impacts of ICT on Physical Space, CORP2003, Vienna, Austria.

HANAFI, M., RASHED, A., OKEIL, A., 2001. Digital Recording of Cultural Heritage: Case Study Al-Remeilah Castle, Al Ain, UAE. Alexandria Engineering Journal, Januar 2001.

OKEIL, A., 2001. Microclimatic Effects of a Large Urban Forest on the Surrounding Thermal Environment in Cities of the Hot Arid Zone. 7th International Arab Solar Energy Conference, 2001 Sharjah, UAE.

OKEIL, A., 2001. Implementation of Solar Driven Adsorption Cooling as Substitute for Electric Chillers in High-rise Buildings in Hot Arid Regions. 7th International Arab Solar Energy Conference, 2001 Sharjah, UAE.

HANAFI, M., OKEIL, A., RASHED, A., 2000. Sustainability of Traditional Economic Patterns, An approach to rehabilitation: Case study: Al-Khayamiah, Cairo, Egypt. EDRA, The 31st annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association, EDRA2000 San Francisco, USA.

HANAFI, M., OKEIL, A., RASHED, A., 2000. Post Occupancy Evaluation and User perception Towards Student Housing. The 31st annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association, EDRA2000, San Francisco, USA.

HANAFI, M., RASHED, A., OKEIL, A., EL-MOWAFY, A., 1999. Sustaining Heritage: Three Dimensional Architectural Survey Of Urban Heritage In The City Of Al Ain. 2nd International Conference on Sustainability in Desert Regions, SDR99, Al Ain, UAE.

OKEIL, A., ASSEM, M., RASHED, A., 1999. Urban Density and Energy Efficiency in City Planning: Case Study of Al Ain City. 2nd International Conference on Sustainability in Desert Regions, SDR99, Al Ain, UAE.

OKEIL, A., 1993. Urban Form and Solar Energy Utilization. 3rd European Conference on Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning, Florence, ITALY.

Selected Additional Publications and Reports

Okeil, A., (2004). UAEU-CAVE. An experimental research project on Architectural Education submitted to the UAE e-learning IT Challenge, UAE.

Okeil, A., (2002). Architectural Design Critique in Multi-User Online Virtual Environment (ARCHIMOVEMENTS). An experimental research project on Architectural Education submitted to the UAE e-learning IT Challenge, UAE.

Okeil, A., (2001). Virtual Reality in Architectural Design. Unpublished paper submitted to the Permanent Scientific Committee, Higher Universities Council, Cairo, Egypt.

Okeil, A., (1994) CITYSHADOWS: Program for calculating and visualizing the distribution of direct and diffuse solar radiation over building facades taking the urban context into consideration. 1st European Competition for Academic Software, Stuttgart, Germany.