Central courtyards are primary components of vernacular architecture in Iran. The directions, dimensions, ratios, and other characteristics of central courtyards are critical for studying historical passive cooling and heating solutions. Several studies on central courtyards have compared their features in different cities and climatic zones in Iran. In this study, deep learning methods for object detection and image segmentation are applied to aerial images, to extract the features of central courtyards. The case study explores aerial images of nine historical cities in Bsk, Bsh, Bwk, and Bwh Köppen climate zones. Furthermore, these features were gathered in an extensive dataset, with 26,437 samples and 76 geometric and climatic features. Additionally, the data analysis methods reveal significant correlations between various features, such as the length and width of courtyards. In all cities, the correlation coefficient between these two characteristics is approximately +0.88. Numerous mathematical equations are generated for each city and climate zone by fitting the linear regression model to these data in different cities and climate zones. These equations can be used as proposed design models to assist designers and researchers in predicting and locating the best courtyard houses in Iran’s historical regions.

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector faces increasing pressure for higher production rates amidst a growing shortage of skilled labor, driving the demand for advanced robotic applications to enhance precision, efficiency, and adaptability in complex environments. This paper introduces a software setup designed to ensure collision-free movements for multi-axis robots in AEC scenarios. Our approach leverages the NVIDIA cuRobo framework's robust capabilities, seamlessly integrated with Grasshopper for Rhino 3D software (GH), a tool widely recognized for its versatility in parametric design. The integration of these technologies allows for the efficient online generation of optimal path movements, avoiding collisions even in highly intricate settings and changing environments. This is achieved in a remarkably short timeframe, enhancing productivity and reducing downtime. NVIDIAs framework's GPU-driven architecture paired with our GH parametric and controlling setup is a significant advancement, validated through a case study involving a complex, tree-like structure constructed from timber sticks. Using a six-axis robotic arm, the study demonstrates the system's capability to navigate and manipulate within congested spaces efficiently. With this enhanced automation workflow, new possibilities emerge for robotic applications, from industrial automation to sophisticated construction projects. Our GH software also allows visualization and exchange with URDF-models and better planning of collision logic, which was previously only possible with ROS and Nvidia Isaac technology.

3D printing has gained significant popularity in construction in recent years, along with a growing focus on earth-based materials. These materials must adhere to certain principles to ensure printability and extrudability, allowing for good consistency during the printing process. This would need extra water, resulting in a wet mixture that could decrease the production printing rate per day and limit overhang structures due to the wet materials. One challenge facing these materials is their slow drying process, especially in low temperatures and humid climates. However, the strength and stiffness of these materials are gained by time when water evaporates. Given the limited studies on the drying process during 3D printing, this research aims to explore the structural stability of maximum supportfree overhangs using a custom-designed heating system based on Active Hot Air Drying System (HADS) that mimics sun drying. This system accelerates and aids the drying process of the layers, ensuring greater structural stability without deformation. According to the results, the contentious heating system increased layer stability by reaching more layers at once. The maximum overhang reached was an angle of 50 degrees before failure at 60 degrees. In conclusion, the research highlighted and promoted the use of earth-based materials and offered some solutions to ensure that printed buildings could be dried fast. This is a solution to establish earth as a reliable material in structures in a contemporary way with the use of 3D printing.