This paper aimed to develop a multisensory approach in a university campus, based on quantitative and qualitative approaches, investigating sense walk experiences (thermo-visual sound walk) under interactions of luminous, thermal, and auditory environments. The study was conducted in October 2021, in Chetma university campus in Biskra city, southern Algeria, which remains a famous oasis settlement of arid regions over the country. A comparative and correlation analysis was performed between the physical dimensions collected through a walking experience in three campus routes (outdoor, semi-outdoor and indoor). In addition, a multisensory survey of the walking experience on perceptual dimensions was evaluated in parallel to the empirical contribution. The paper shows that walkers’ thermal levels were balanced between neural and slightly hot in different spatial aspects. The glare was almost unperceived regarding the luminous conditions in the study site. The auditory experience reveals that the conducted points were generally quiet and well placed for educational requirements. Findings also show a strong relationship between the physical dimensions of the luminous and auditory environment. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the thermal and luminous environments are more perceptible than the auditory environment for the walkers of the outdoor and indoor routes. In contrast, the semi-outdoor route is often perceptible by the perceptual dimensions of the luminous and auditory environments. The findings on sensorial thresholds and spatial adaption are essential for the educational practices’ architectural and urban strategies for the Saharan cities and oasis settlements.

The user’s experience is critical in spatial design, particularly in outdoor spaces like university campuses, where the physical environment significantly influences students’ relaxation and stress relief. This study investigates the combined impact of thermal, luminous, and auditory environments on students’ perceptions within recreational areas at Bordj Bou Arreridj University Campus. A mixed-method approach combined field surveys and on-site measurements across eleven locations within three distinct spatial configurations. The findings from this study indicate that the auditory environment had the most substantial influence on overall perceptions, surpassing luminous and thermal factors. The open courtyard (Area 1) was perceived as less comfortable due to excessive heat and noise exposure. The shaded zone (Area 2) was identified as the most vulnerable, experiencing significant thermal stress and noise disturbances. In contrast, the secluded patio (Area 3) achieved the highest comfort rating and was perceived as the most cheerful and suitable space. Correlation analysis revealed significant interrelationships between physical and perceptual dimensions, highlighting the critical role of factors such as wind velocity, sky view factor, and illuminance in shaping thermal, luminous, and acoustic perceptions. A fuzzy logic model was developed to predict user perceptions of comfort, suitability, and mood based on measured environmental parameters to address the complexity of multisensory interactions. This study highlights the importance of integrating multisensory evaluations into spatial design to optimize the quality of outdoor environments.

This study aims initially to evaluate the quality of different soundscapes in the public space of the city of Biskra, in Algeria. A total of 35 participants took part in a laboratory experiment, where 28 sound clips of one-minute duration taken from public spaces in the city were used as stimuli. The A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq,1min) was calculated. The participants rated the quality of the soundscape using attribute scales provided in their own native language. The results of the questionnaire on the recorded soundtracks confirm that the immediate environment affects the ambient sound level and the quality of the sound environment, where the sound environments of the areas located near the roads, with a high mechanical flow, are considered the most unpleasant and noisy, with a high A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq,1min). The findings of this study indicate that there are statistically significant correlations between pleasantness and loudness, presence of mechanical sounds, presence of non-mechanical sounds, and a sound exposure level. In addition, this study shows that there is a significant positive correlation between pleasantness and the presence of non-mechanical sounds. The results also showed an inverse relationship between the presence of mechanical and non-mechanical sounds, and that the absence of mechanical sounds allows natural and human sounds to be more audible, making the soundscape more pleasant and calm according to the results of the questionnaire. From this study, the duality LAeq,1min and the components of the soundscape are very representative indicators of the quality of the soundscape.

The urban soundscape contributes significantly to defining human perception and experience. Several standard assessment methods for data collection refer to in situ evaluations to determine how people perceive urban acoustic qualities. These methods, which generally involve soundwalks accompanied by questionnaires, are valuable but need to be validated in different cultural contexts. To address this need, international efforts such as the Soundscape Attribute Translation Project (SATP) are underway to ensure the effectiveness of a data collection standard in non-English-speaking regions. As a part of the SATP project, this study explores potential variations in how people experience urban soundscapes in North Africa. A standardized listening experiment was used to compare how Arabic speakers and French speakers rate the perceived affective qualities (PAQ) of urban soundscapes. Using data collected in public urban spaces in London, participants from both language groups rated 27 recorded urban soundscapes using a PAQ questionnaire. Findings from the Kruskal–Wallis H-test suggest that the perception of pleasant, chaotic, and vibrant are significant, while the dimensions of eventful, monotonous, and quiet show no significant distinctions between the two PAQ groups. Furthermore, opposing Pearson correlations were observed for the attributes of pleasantness and eventfulness, along with contradictions for vibrant, monotonous, and calm. The two-dimensional circumplex models visually map the differences in perceptual responses between the two PAQ groups, displaying distinct circular distortions along the monotone-vibrant axis for Arabic PAQs and the chaotic-calm axis for the French PAQs. The findings of this study suggest that further investigations are needed to understand whether the differences in the urban soundscape perception between these two PAQs are due to linguistic factors or other factors.

The urban landscape is rapidly evolving towards sustainable, energy-efficient practices, thanks in large part to theintegration of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. This study explores the dynamic transition to AI-basedtechnologies for improving energy efficiency in urban environments. AI is emerging as a powerful tool foroptimizing energy consumption, streamlining infrastructure operations and fostering smart, resilient urbanecosystems. The study examines various applications of AI, highlighting the essential role advanced technologiesplay in revolutionizing conventional approaches to urban energy management, and illustrating how thesetechnologies can contribute to the creation of self-sufficient urban spaces. It examines the implementation of AIbased energy networks, smart energy storage solutions and the integration of renewable energy into urbanplanning, and also looks at the potential challenges and ethical considerations associated with its adoption. Itaddresses issues such as data privacy, algorithmic biases and the need for transparent decision-making processes.This research is a literature review that aims to contribute to the current discourse on creating smart, energyefficient cities.