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        <title>Frontiers in Built Environment | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Built Environment | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-08-14T18:39:35.430+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1887640</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1887640</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Influence of joint load-bearing behavior on the system-level response of reinforced-concrete truss-like beams: topology optimization basis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Iyad Ahmed</author><author>Thomas Mader</author><author>Peter Gappmaier</author><author>Mathias Hammerl</author><author>Sara Reichenbach</author><author>Matthias Neuner</author><author>Benjamin Kromoser</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Structural optimization can reduce material use and embodied carbon in reinforced concrete (RC) beams, but the removal of concrete creates truss-like load paths in which local joint behavior may strongly influence stiffness, force redistribution, and failure development. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of joints in reinforced concrete truss-like beams and evaluates how different joint geometries influence the transfer of moment, axial force, and shear between connected members. The research combines experimental testing, calibrated nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA), and isolated joint simulations. Two beam configurations, namely, Warren truss with 45° diagonals (W45) and Warren truss with verticals and 45° diagonals (W45-V), were tested under three-point bending and used to calibrate the numerical models. The calibrated FEA approach was then extended to four truss-like configurations: W45, Warren truss with 60° diagonals (W60), W45-V, and Pratt truss with 45° diagonals (P45). In addition, 66 isolated joint models were analyzed using unit rotation, axial displacement, and shear displacement to quantify moment, axial-force, and shear transfer between connected members. The results show that the investigated joints behave nonlinearly and asymmetrically, with clear stiffness changes after cracking. None of the joints behaves as an ideal hinge; instead, all configurations transfer moments, axial forces, and shear through semi-rigid joint action. W60 shows a stiffer and more direct force-transfer mechanism, W45-V provides improved redistribution through vertical members, and P45 exhibits the strongest directional dependence. Overall, member-only verification is insufficient, and simplified design should include semi-rigid joint behavior and local joint verification.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1888974</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1888974</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Emerging risk factors affecting real estate development delivery in Accra, Ghana]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kingsley Ofori</author><author>Simon Ofori Ametepey</author><author>Clinton Aigbavboa</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThis study examined emerging risk factors affecting real estate development delivery in Accra, Ghana, focusing on economic, institutional, market, and environmental risks. The study was motivated by the increasing complexity of real estate development environments in emerging economies, where project performance is shaped by interconnected structural uncertainties beyond traditional construction risks.MethodsA quantitative research design was adopted. Data were collected from 98 real estate development and construction professionals, including architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, contractors, and estate surveyors, using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Spearman correlation, one-sample mean tests, and multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe findings showed institutional risks were the most critical, indicating governance and regulatory inefficiencies are the main challenges in Ghana’s real estate sector, followed by economic, market, and environmental risks which also contribute to uncertainty. Respondents rated all risk dimensions above the neutral midpoint, showing emerging risks are widely perceived as significant and persistent, while development performance was rated below the midpoint, indicating weak outcomes. One-sample tests confirmed risk levels are higher than expectations, while performance is lower. Factor analysis showed risks form a single interconnected system rather than independent factors. Correlation results indicated that higher risk levels are strongly associated with lower development performance. Regression analysis confirmed all risk dimensions significantly reduce performance, with institutional risk having the strongest effect.DiscussionThe study concludes that emerging risks operate as an integrated systemic structure that significantly constrains real estate development delivery performance in Ghana.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1880251</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1880251</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Cafe culture as hybrid public space: social interaction, cultural identity, and everyday urban life in Bahrain]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Haifa Ebrahim Al Khalifa</author><author>Nazish Abid</author><author>Anamika Vishal Jiwane</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines how ‘cafe culture’ is practiced as a form of public space in Bahrain, supporting social interaction, sustaining cultural identity, and contributing to urban life within a rapidly modernizing context. This study adopts a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative survey data (n = 296) with qualitative case studies and on-site observations. The research is outlined in an ethnographic framework and mentions theories like Third Place theory and Scene Theory. Cafe typologies (traditional, modern, and art cafes) are comparatively analyzed to understand spatial, social, and cultural dynamics. The findings of the study show that cafes in Bahrain act as ‘hybrid public spaces’ performing as versatile public hubs supporting both collective sociability and individual retreat. Modern specialty cafés dominate user preferences, particularly among younger and female users, while traditional cafés continue to preserve cultural continuity. Differences in perception across nationalities highlight varied interpretations of sociability and identity. Overall, cafes contribute significantly to urban vibrancy, inclusivity, and everyday social life. The study has limitations due to its predominantly young, non-random sample and the use of a cross-sectional research design. Future research should include broader demographics and longitudinal observations to capture seasonal and cultural variations. This research offers a context-specific understanding of cafe culture in the Gulf, positioning cafes as hybrid socio-spatial environments that bridge the gap between traditional social structures (like the Majlis in the Gulf context) and modern commercial “Third Places” in non-Western urban contexts.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1875965</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1875965</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Port proximities: severance and re-linking in UAE urban heritage]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hiba Farhat</author><author>Ayman Kassem</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThis paper proposes a conceptual and analytical framework that moves beyond existing heritage categorizations and regeneration strategies to explain what happens when historic port environments are structurally detached from the maritime, social, and economic systems that originally sustained them. These areas, defined here as “port proximities,” were historically embedded urban interfaces where maritime economies, everyday life, and heritage were closely intertwined. However, the relocation and modernization of port infrastructure have created a specific form of transformation called severance, characterized by deliberate, structural rupture and temporal abruptness that severs these historical connections and leaves behind spatial fragments that no longer serve their original functions. The study asks: How do port proximities experience distinct forms of severance, and what mechanisms of re-linking operate across material, commercial, and narrative dimensions? What is preserved and what remains irreversibly lost through these re-linking processes?MethodsThrough a comparative landscape deconstruction of five UAE case studies (Old Dubai, Heart of Sharjah, MIZA, Al Jazeera Al Hamra, and Umm Al Quwain Heritage District), the study identifies distinct typologies of severance and examines how these sites are subsequently reintegrated into the urban fabric through three interconnected layers: material/spatial (physical structures and spatial organization), commercial/economic (economic activities and revenue models), and narrative/experiential (stories, meanings, and visitor experiences).Results and discussionThe analysis demonstrates that re-linking is not a neutral process of restoration but a selective reconstruction shaped by contemporary economic, cultural, and institutional agendas. While these three layers collectively produce the appearance of heritage continuity, they simultaneously reconfigure heritage under new logics, obscuring the loss of operational systems, labor practices, and community-based social structures that originally defined these environments. By positioning the UAE as an accelerated model of coastal transformation, the study reveals what heritage regeneration preserves, what it transforms, and what it inevitably leaves behind, shifting heritage discourse from asking how to regenerate toward asking what regeneration cannot achieve.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1877251</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1877251</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Psychophysical evaluation of celebrity cultural heritage landscapes: scenic beauty and semantic perception at Zhang Daqian’s sites on Mount Qingcheng]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xiaoyi Yang</author><author>Watsida Boonyanmethaporn</author><author>Chunlin Wan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Mount Qingcheng, a UNESCO-recognized scenic heritage area in Sichuan, China, integrates Taoist architectural heritage with the historic residency of renowned modern painter Zhang Daqian. Despite its rich cultural significance, the site’s intangible heritage confronts a critical spatial-semantic disconnect—culturally meaningful spaces fail to communicate their heritage narrative, resulting in fragmented public place identity within the built environment. This study develops a quantitative psychophysical framework coupling Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) and Semantic Differential (SD) methods to evaluate public heritage landscape perception. A cohort of 55 participants (aged 18–35) completed a within-subject evaluation of 17 built-environment samples under SBE, followed by SD analysis of 8 extreme samples to extract micro-spatial semantic features. Results show that heritage landscape perception follows a dual-layer structure: natural topography as the perceptual foundation and cultural imprints as the semantic core. Monuments and material remains depend heavily on explicit symbolic cues to generate meaningful responses. Stepwise regression identifies Sense of Cultural Accumulation and Sense of Place Identity as the primary perceptual drivers, jointly explaining 92.1% of variance. Findings offer a replicable model for translating celebrity cultural heritage into legible physical space, informing evidence-based strategies for heritage landscape planning and place identity enhancement.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1896030</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1896030</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Artificial intelligence for climate-resilient green buildings: an integrated conceptual framework of AI-driven sustainability indicators]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Osama Omar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionClimate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, exerting severe impacts on urban environments, infrastructure, and the health and wellbeing of populations. As buildings contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and resource consumption, the demand for environmentally sustainable solutions within the built environment has intensified. In response to these challenges, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to drive performance optimization, energy efficiency, and climate resilience in architectural and urban systems. This study explores the role of AI in advancing environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on climate-resilient green buildings. The study aims to provide a holistic understanding of how AI technologies contribute to sustainable development by examining the key sustainability indicators associated with their application in green buildings.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted to synthesize recent peer-reviewed studies and industry reports on AI applications in green buildings. The reviewed literature was analyzed to identify key sustainability indicators and develop an integrated conceptual framework linking AI technologies with climate-resilient building performance.ResultsThe review identified six principal AI-driven sustainability indicators: (1) energy efficiency and demand reduction, (2) renewable energy integration and storage optimization, (3) carbon footprint reduction and net-zero strategies, (4) water efficiency and resource management, (5) indoor environmental quality and thermal comfort, and (6) predictive maintenance and lifecycle optimization. Based on these findings, an integrated conceptual framework was developed to demonstrate how AI-enabled technologies support real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, adaptive management, and improved sustainability outcomes.DiscussionThe proposed framework provides a comprehensive understanding of how AI contributes to climate-resilient green buildings by integrating sustainability indicators, intelligent technologies, and resilience mechanisms within a unified analytical structure. The study offers a theoretical foundation for future empirical research and supports the integration of AI-driven sustainability strategies into climate-resilient building design and sustainable urban development.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1888660</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1888660</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimization and sensitivity analysis of IRC-compliant flyover design]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jaya Rajkumar Ramchandani</author><author>Suddhasheel Ghosh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionRapidly growing Indian cities face severe traffic congestion, necessitating grade separators such as flyovers. Conventional IRC‐based designs are prescriptive and often inefficient, leading to cost overruns and delays. This study addresses the need for a systematic, IRC‐compliant optimization framework for sustainable flyover design.MethodsA Radial Basis Function (RBF) surrogate model was integrated with NSGA‐II to approximate multi‐objective trade‐offs among cost, CO2 emissions, and structural deflection. Geometric and traffic datasets were generated using Latin Hypercube Sampling and validated against finite element analysis (FEA). Convergence and sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure robustness.ResultsPrediction errors were stabilized below 2% after 20 FEA samples. NSGA‐II achieved near‐optimal Pareto diversity within 250 generations. Design speed exerted the highest influence on sight distance and cost. Comparative benchmarks with IRC‐compliant flyovers in Nagpur and Indore demonstrated average cost savings of 10.5% and CO2 reductions of 21.5%, while maintaining deflection limits.DiscussionThe proposed RBF_assisted NSGA‐II framework advances beyond prescriptive IRC methods by enabling reproducibility, sensitivity transparency, and multi‐criteria optimization. It establishes a replicable model for sustainable urban flyover design, balancing economic, environmental, and regulatory constraints in Indian contexts.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1864359</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1864359</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Assessing sustainability practices across construction and post-construction phases in Nigeria’s AEC industry]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Enoch I. Obanor</author><author>Adefemi O. Adeodu</author><author>Jesse B. Zachiang</author><author>Promise K. Egba</author><author>Emmanuel Ajakanu</author><author>Joseph O. Dirisu</author><author>Enoabasi A. Umofia</author>
        <description><![CDATA[PurposeThis study evaluates the implementation of sustainability practices during and after the construction phases of building projects within Nigeria’s Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. It aims to compare phase-based sustainability performance and identify implementation gaps that hinder lifecycle integration.Design/methodology/approachA structured cross-sectional survey was administered to 100 AEC professionals, including architects, engineers, builders, and sustainability consultants. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to assess twelve sustainability practices in both the construction and post-construction phases using mean scores and standard deviation measures.FindingsResults indicate moderate to high implementation levels across both phases, with post-construction practices marginally outperforming construction-stage practices (construction: M = 3.68/5, 73.6%; post-construction: M = 3.72/5, 74.4%; both p < 0.001). Despite this progress, behavioural engagement, IoT-enabled monitoring, and structured sustainability reporting remain inconsistently implemented across both phases.OriginalityThis study advances sustainability discourse in developing economies by providing a comparative, phase-based quantitative assessment of construction lifecycle practices, highlighting implementation disparities rarely examined within Nigeria’s AEC sector.Practical implicationsThe findings underscore the need for institutional reforms, structured capacity building, smart technology integration, and post-occupancy performance monitoring systems to strengthen lifecycle-based sustainability implementation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1920082</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1920082</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Development characteristics and prediction model of the water-conducting fractured zone in typical mining-induced structural overburden in the mountainous areas of Southwestern China]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jun Li</author><author>Jiawei Wan</author><author>Xiang Li</author><author>Xingxing Du</author><author>Haoyuan Gao</author><author>Bin Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionIn mining areas of the mountainous regions of Southwestern China, the overlying strata above goafs are mostly thick bedrock with well-developed structural planes. With large-scale exploitation of mineral resources, extensive water- conducting fractured zones (WCFZs) may develop in the overlying strata, frequently inducing water inrush and high-position collapse-sliding hazards. Rapidly estimating the height of the WCFZ (HWCFZ) is therefore critical for the prevention of water hazards and collapse-sliding disasters.MethodsIn this study, mining- induced structural overburden was taken as the research object. Based on the instability criterion of the three-hinged arch structure, the influences of mining thickness, strata thickness, joint spacing, broken expansion coefficient, and damage factor on the HWCFZ were analyzed. A simplified fitted prediction model constrained by the three-hinged arch mechanism was established. Using the calculation results of the three-hinged arch mechanical discrimination model as benchmark values, fitting error analysis was conducted through 27 orthogonal tests, and the prediction model was applied to engineering cases in typical mining areas.ResultsThe results show that, within the parameter ranges considered in this study, the HWCFZ is approximately linearly and positively correlated with mining thickness, and negatively correlated with strata thickness, joint spacing, and broken expansion coefficient in an inverse-function form, characterized by a rapid decrease at the early stage and subsequent stabilization. In the high-damage range, the HWCFZ shows an accelerated nonlinear increase with increasing damage factor. The sensitivity ranking of the factors affecting the HWCFZ is mining thickness, strata thickness, broken expansion coefficient, joint spacing, and damage factor. The simplified fitted prediction model has a mean absolute error of 3.26 m and a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.96, indicating that the model exhibits good internal consistency with the theoretical three-hinged-arch discrimination model.DiscussionWhen applied to the Faer Coal Mine in Shuicheng, Guizhou, and the Zengziyan Bauxite Mine in Nanchuan, Chongqing, the calculated results are close to those obtained from theoretical formulas, numerical simulations, and centrifuge model tests. The results provide a reference for calculating the HWCFZ induced by ore-seam mining under similar geological conditions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1841529</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1841529</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Research progress of cementless binders in controlled low-strength material: a review on mix proportion design, performance and application]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Alfred Attoh</author><author>Linhao Wang</author><author>Yin Cheng</author><author>Xiaoqiang Dong</author><author>Qin Yan</author><author>Xiangyu Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM) with cementless binder has emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement-based CLSM, offering environmental, economic, and performance advantages. This review explores the various aspects of cementless CLSM such as reaction mechanisms, mix design methodologies, properties, practical applications, and cost and environmental impacts. Key factors influencing the performance of cementless CLSM, including binder composition, activator type and dosage, and water-to-binder ratio, are critically analyzed. The review also identifies challenges and limitations associated with cementless CLSM, such as material variability, slow early-age reaction kinetics, and the absence of standardized mix designs. Potential applications are highlighted across utility trench backfill, void filling, pavement subbase, erosion control, and thermal insulation. The findings demonstrate that cementless CLSM is a viable construction material capable of meeting performance requirements while significantly reducing carbon footprint and promoting industrial by-product utilization. Finally, the review identifies critical research gaps and proposes prioritized future directions, including durability characterization, field validation, and standardization efforts, to enhance the feasibility and adoption of cementless CLSM in the construction industry. This comprehensive review serves as a resource for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders committed to sustainable construction, enabling informed decision-making in the development and application of cementless CLSM.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1797224</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1797224</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Driving sustainable wealth through green construction practices: the roles of product value and green policies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rajesh Raut</author><author>Sushmitha Rao</author><author>Bonnie Rajesh</author><author>Amruta Deshpande</author><author>Natashaa Kaul</author>
        <description><![CDATA[PurposeThis study aims to determine the impact of green construction practices (GCPs) on a company’s sustainable wealth (SW). This paper also examines the mediating effect of product value (PV) and the moderating effect of green policies (GP) on sustainable wealth.MethodologyA structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from 290 construction companies in India. PLS-SEM measures the impact of green construction practices (GCPs) on the company’s sustainable wealth (SW).FindingsResearch findings revealed that green construction practices enable construction companies to gain an advantage in terms of product value and positively influence sustainable wealth. Also, product value positively mediates the relationship between green construction practices (GCPs) and the company’s sustainable wealth (SW). Further interaction between green policies and green construction practices improves the sustainable wealth of the company.Practical ImplicationsAdopting green construction practices enhances product value and drives long term sustainable wealth for construction firms. Aligning these practices with supportive green policies further strengthens competitive advantage and market credibility.OriginalityThe study contributes to the existing knowledge on green construction practices by emphasizing the benefits construction companies will get from adopting GCPs. In alignment with SDG 11, this will help society get better products and help companies create sustainable wealth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1868534</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1868534</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mapping psychosocial work exposures across construction: a multilevel evidence gap map with implications for offsite construction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Yize Guo</author><author>Don Amila Sajeevan Samarasinghe</author><author>Wajiha Mohsin Shahzad</author><author>Ravi Reddy</author><author>Zechen Guan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Empirical research on psychosocial work exposures in construction remains fragmented, with limited connection to offsite construction settings and supply chain related outcomes. Most of the research results are disconnected from the offsite construction (OSC) environment and supply chain related results. This is a key gap: the OSC supply chain relies on the connection between manufacturing, logistics and assembly nodes, and psychosocial factors play the role of soft risk in it, which may disrupt performance and resilience. However, due to the lack of structured evidence, it remains difficult to determine which psychosocial exposures have been actually measured, which organisational levels they come from, and whether the existing knowledge base is sufficient to guide the risk management of the OSC supply chain. The purpose of this review is to: (a) identify empirically tested psychosocial work exposures in construction research; (b) classify them using the Job Demand Resource (JD-R) × individual-group-leadership-organisation (IGLO) framework; and (c) evaluate the alignment between existing evidence and outcome domains relevant to supply chain operation. According to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a total of 160 eligible studies were retrieved, and 245 unique psychosocial exposures and 394 study instances were found. There is structural selectivity in the existing evidence: the demand field dominates (63 exposure factors; 129 instances); the organisational level exposure factors account for 71.4% of all unique exposure factors. Only one study has clearly examined the prefabricated or offsite construction environment. The correlation of results mainly focuses on health (37.6%) and wellbeing (27.9%), with limited attention to performance (10.4%) and resilience. These findings show that the growing evidence base does not cover the crucial multilevel coordination processes in the prefabricated or OSC supply chain, and these processes lack a conceptual basis for understanding the psychosocial work exposure factors in offsite construction delivery systems as soft risks. This review is limited to English peer reviewed empirical studies published since 2010. The evidence atlas captures the exposure of the prevalence in each study, rather than the size of the combined effect or the causal relationship.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1844099</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1844099</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Exploring indoor environmental quality intervention strategies for enhancing building occupants’ comfort: a systematic review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Emmanuel Chongcicimmi Ibrahim</author><author>Amusan Lekan</author><author>Andrew Mhya Stanley</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe need to provide buildings with adequate Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) has increasingly emerged as a global concern, driven by growing occupant expectations for comfortable and healthy indoor environments. Nowadays, most buildings are often faced with IEQ-related challenges that contribute to occupant discomfort. Therefore, IEQ intervention strategies can be targeted directly to enhance the comfort and wellbeing of building occupants.MethodsFollowing the PRISMA research flow, this study examined 47 peer-reviewed publications retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases published between 2016 and 2026.ResultsThe findings revealed that indoor environmental interventions are predominantly focused on addressing thermal comfort and indoor air quality across different building typologies. Technical intervention strategies such as HVAC optimisation, ventilation improvement, filtration systems, building retrofitting and IoT-based monitoring were identified as the most prevalent interventions addressing IEQ conditions in buildings. The findings revealed a growing development in the adoption of sustainable and nature-based intervention strategies in improving indoor environmental conditions. Despite this trend, integration across all four IEQ domains remains limited; visual and acoustic comfort are consistently underrepresented in the intervention studies. This study identifies cross-cutting patterns in intervention deployment and reveals context-specific differences across building typologies.DiscussionIn doing so, it presents a comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates technical, sustainable, behavioural, and policy/regulatory strategies to support evidence-based deployment of IEQ interventions for enhanced building occupants’ comfort.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1830841</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1830841</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Investigation of quality-of-life indicators across Jeddah city neighbourhoods: residents’ experience and satisfaction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Roba Z. Shaheen</author><author>Mohamed M. H. Maatouk</author><author>Rawan Qurban</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This article examines the impact of quality-of-life indicators on residents’ expectations and experiences to measure residents’ satisfaction using the city of Jeddah as a case study. The methodology adopted employed descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model, with data collected through a comprehensive questionnaire survey of neighborhood residents. The findings revealed that residents’ satisfaction with the built environment in residential neighborhoods was moderate (58.0%). The results showed eight main significant indicators: gender, age, internet connectivity, solar energy supply, availability of quality education, availability of healthcare services, availability of efficient transportation systems, and security and safety in residential neighborhoods. These indicators should be prioritized by decision-makers when developing policies and improvement plans to enhance the quality of life in Jeddah’s residential neighborhoods. The results emphasize the need for a holistic approach to urban planning and design that prioritizes enhancing public transportation infrastructure and promoting green transportation options. Furthermore, smart systems, solar energy, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things applications should be integrated into housing planning and design. The spatial distribution of residents’ satisfaction across Jeddah’s sub-municipalities identified areas requiring improvements, such as Al-Sharafiyah, Umm Al-Salam, and North Obhur. Conversely, municipal authorities could build on satisfying indicators in areas such as Al-Aziziyah, New Jeddah, and South Jeddah. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran’s I) further confirmed that satisfaction is not randomly distributed across the city, supporting the case for area-specific interventions. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals are reported for all odds ratios to communicate estimate precision.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1909011</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1909011</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Application of a CNN-LSTM-PINN model for predicting the deviatoric stress of clayey soil under wetting-drying cycles]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xianye Zheng</author><author>Shengfa Liang</author><author>Yue Weng</author><author>Peng Cui</author><author>Jiaming Zhao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe deviatoric stress response of clayey soil is important for evaluating soil strength, deformation behavior, and the long-term safety of engineering structures. Wetting-drying cycles caused by rainfall infiltration, evaporation, and groundwater-level changes can damage soil structure and alter its stress-strain behavior. Accurately predicting deviatoric stress under different confining pressures, overburden pressures, and wetting-drying cycles remains challenging because these factors interact through complex nonlinear relationships.MethodsThis study proposes a CNN-LSTM-PINN model for one-step prediction of deviatoric stress at each strain point, with complete stress-strain curves assembled from the pointwise predictions. The CNN component extracts nonlinear features from the input variables, whereas the LSTM component captures the historical dependence of deviatoric stress during axial-strain loading. The model incorporates the initial boundary condition, a curve-smoothness constraint, and the Duncan-Chang hyperbolic constitutive relationship. It was evaluated using consolidated undrained triaxial test data for kaolin and mudstone clay under different confining pressures, overburden pressures, and wetting-drying cycles.ResultsThe CNN-LSTM-PINN model achieved the best performance among the three evaluated models. On the test set, it obtained an R2 of 0.9883, an RMSE of 0.9399 kPa, an MAE of 0.7559 kPa, and a MAPE of 5.2605%, outperforming both the CNN and CNN-LSTM models.DiscussionSHAP analysis indicated that confining pressure, axial strain, soil type, wetting-drying cycle number, and overburden pressure all contributed to the predicted deviatoric stress. These results suggest that integrating sequence learning with physical constraints can improve the accuracy and physical consistency of conditional one-step deviatoric stress prediction within the soil types and loading conditions investigated.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1871095</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1871095</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A multi-dimensional assessment of campus public open spaces in Indian technical universities using the campus open space index (COSI)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Nazish Abid</author><author>Adiba Shafique</author><author>Sagarika Nayak</author><author>Mazharul Haque</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPublic open spaces in university campuses support social interaction, mental wellbeing, informal learning, and academic engagement. However, many campus public open spaces in Indian technical universities remain underused because of limited inclusive design, climate-responsive planning, and active user engagement.MethodsThis study developed and applied the Campus Open Space Index (COSI) to assess the functionality, experiential quality, and effectiveness of campus public open spaces. A mixed-method approach was used, combining literature synthesis, indicator extraction, expert review, pilot testing, questionnaire surveys, structured observations, and field documentation. A total of 553 valid student responses were collected from IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay.ResultsThe COSI framework evaluates campus public open spaces across five dimensions: Physical Planning, Engagement, Need Perception and Behavior, Thermal Comfort, and Management. The findings show differences between the two campuses in user engagement, environmental comfort, physical planning, and management performance. IIT Kharagpur performed comparatively better in physical infrastructure and management, while IIT Bombay showed stronger performance in user engagement and thermal adaptability.DiscussionThe study demonstrates the usefulness of COSI as a multidimensional tool for evaluating campus public open spaces in Indian technical universities. The framework provides a structured basis for identifying design and management gaps and supporting more inclusive, student-centred, and climate-responsive campus planning. Further validation across different campus typologies, climatic regions, and cultural contexts is recommended before broader generalisation.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1927868</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1927868</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Balancing heritage and modernization: the challenges and opportunities of cultural heritage conservation in Saudi Arabia]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mohammed Mashary Alnaim</author><author>Mashary Abdullah Alnaim</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionSaudi Arabia's cultural heritage encompasses archaeological sites, historic urban environments, cultural landscapes, and living traditions that contribute to national identity and cultural continuity. Under Vision 2030, heritage has also become increasingly connected to modernization, tourism, economic diversification, and sustainable development. This study examines how Saudi Arabia negotiates the relationship between heritage conservation and modernization and assesses the governance, authenticity, participation, environmental, technological, and economic dimensions of this transition.MethodsThe study adopts a qualitative, comparative, and interpretive research design integrating policy analysis, international benchmarking, and case-study analysis. France, Italy, China, and Egypt were purposively selected as contrasting heritage‐governance models. Al‐Turaif District in Diriyah and Al‐Ahsa Oasis were examined as representative cases of monumental and living heritage. Documentary and visual evidence was analyzed through the five dimensions of the Heritage–Modernization–Sustainability Nexus.ResultsThe findings indicate that Saudi Arabia is developing a hybrid heritage‐governance approach combining centralized strategic direction with increasingly distributed institutional and community roles. Al‐Turaif demonstrates strong state‐led conservation, national symbolism, and tourism activation, whereas Al‐Ahsa reflects greater dependence on ecological continuity, traditional livelihoods, and community stewardship. Progress is evident in institutional reform, heritage documentation, international collaboration, and digital integration, although gaps remain in formal community participation, intangible heritage transmission, inter‐agency coordination, and the verification of economic and technological outcomes.DiscussionSaudi Arabia's experience suggests that heritage and modernization can be mutually reinforcing when conservation is integrated with governance, environmental resilience, cultural continuity, and local participation. The study recommends stronger coordination mechanisms, accountable community co‐management, interoperable digital heritage systems, and closer alignment between tourism development, conservation funding, and local benefit. The emerging Saudi approach offers relevant lessons for rapidly transforming heritage contexts, although further field‐based and comparative research is required.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1860231</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1860231</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From incremental expansion to operational governance in China: an integrative review of operation pre-positioning in urban regeneration]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Haozun Sun</author><author>Nan Zhang</author><author>Yixin Jiang</author><author>Yifan Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[China’s urban development is shifting from construction-led expansion to stock-based regeneration, creating a growing need to connect spatial production with long-term operation, maintenance, and public value. In this context, operation pre-positioning (OPP) has emerged in Chinese planning and regeneration practice, yet its conceptual boundary remains unclear. It is often used interchangeably with urban operation, lifecycle governance, collaborative planning, place-keeping, or transit-oriented development (TOD) governance, which weakens its analytical value. This study defines OPP as an emerging front-end planning and governance mechanism that embeds anticipated operational requirements, responsible operating actors, revenue and maintenance arrangements, and long-term performance criteria into planning, design, investment, and implementation decisions before project delivery. Based on an integrative review combining bibliometric mapping, policy analysis, and cross-sector case synthesis, the paper clarifies OPP’s conceptual lineage, institutional conditions, and practical mechanisms in the context of China’s urban regeneration. The review suggests that OPP’s distinctive contribution lies not in replacing existing theories of urban governance but in reorganizing their temporal and institutional sequence: operational responsibility, actor coordination, financial closure, and performance evaluation are moved from the post-delivery stage to the front end of project formulation. The study further distinguishes OPP from related concepts, including urban operation, lifecycle governance, collaborative planning, place-keeping, and TOD-oriented governance. It argues that OPP should be understood neither as a universal front-end planning and governance mechanism nor as a purely technical project-delivery tool, but as a China-centered front-end planning and governance mechanism that links spatial design, operational responsibility, and lifecycle performance. The paper contributes to urban regeneration research by providing a clearer conceptual framework for analyzing how operational logics are translated into planning and governance decisions before construction.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1814382</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1814382</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A spatial analysis of access to public places of amusement by the youths in small rural towns: experiences from Thohoyandou Town, South Africa]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kinsley Mudau</author><author>Emaculate Ingwani</author><author>Bernard Chazovachii</author><author>Leonard Chitongo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Many small rural towns of South Africa, such as Thohoyandou, lacked evenly distributed public places of amusement for the youths, thereby interfering with the Right to the City of the youths. This paper analysed the spatial distribution of public places of amusement for youths in Thohoyandou Town. A mixed-method approach collected data through observations and mapping. The Delphi Technique was used to interview three local municipality officials. Data was analysed using themes from the right to the city theory. The private and public places were categories of places of amusement. Youths from the suburban, urban periphery, and town villages travelled by bus or taxi to access public places of amusement in this town. However, the spatial distribution of public places of amusement exerted little influence on limiting the right to the city of youths because the town was spatially connected to its environs through an established road network. Access to public places of amusement in Thohoyandou Town was therefore not determined by the spatial distribution of these places, but rather by other accessibility factors such as the needs of the youths and affordability to pay entrance fees. Thulamela Local Municipality therefore needed to set aside special access rates for youths to access public places of amusement in Thohoyandou Town, as well as to avail a variety of these spaces because youths are special category of town users. This strategy could also be adopted by other local municipalities in small rural towns where youths are currently going through similar experiences.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1856100</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1856100</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A GIS-based framework for identifying isolated communities and population-level accessibility assessment under compound multi-hazard conditions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chonnapat Opanasopit</author><author>Joseph Louis</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Coastal communities are increasingly exposed to compound multi-hazard events in which earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, and severe wind impacts occur sequentially or concurrently, leading to transportation network disruption and loss of access to critical facilities. When roadway systems fragment under such conditions, communities may become isolated from hospitals, emergency resources, and regional transportation hubs, significantly constraining disaster response and recovery operations. Despite extensive research on hazard-specific transportation vulnerability, most existing studies evaluate hazards independently and assess connectivity loss without integrating critical facility accessibility, identifying road segments for repair, or quantifying population-level isolation under compound hazard scenarios. Consequently, current approaches provide limited guidance for understanding how interacting hazards collectively affect community isolation and access to critical facilities. The goal of this paper is to improve transportation resilience assessment and planning under compound multi-hazard conditions by systematically evaluating how interacting hazards fragment roadway networks, isolate communities, and reduce access to critical facilities. Towards this end, an integrated GIS-based spatial-network framework is developed in this paper, which combines multi-hazard exposure modeling with graph-based fragmentation analysis to detect disconnected network components representing isolated communities, centrality analysis to identify critical road segments, and population-weighted accessibility estimation to facilities like hospitals and airports. The framework provides conservative, exposure-based estimates of transportation disruption by assuming that hazard-exposed roadway segments are nonfunctional. The framework is demonstrated through a case study of Clatsop County, Oregon, USA, a coastal region that is vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, and severe wind events. Results indicate that flooding-inclusive scenarios produce the highest levels of transportation-network fragmentation, while tsunami-inclusive scenarios, particularly those involving near-field tsunami inundation combined with flooding, produce the greatest losses in accessibility to critical facilities and population-level access. Pre-disaster centrality analysis identifies key lifeline roads for restoration prioritization. These findings provide a unified, spatially explicit decision-support foundation for pre-disaster planning, restoration prioritization, and post-disaster transportation resilience management under compound hazard conditions.]]></description>
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