Rapid urbanization across hot arid environments transforms local microclimates, yet linkages between density, layout, and outdoor thermal comfort remain inadequately characterized. This study investigates these correlations in the desert city of Biskra, Algeria. We conducted extensive in-situ measurement campaigns during peak summer and winter periods across six neighborhoods spanning low to high-rise density fabrics. We captured air temperature, humidity, and wind velocity to enable thermal comfort assessment via the Effective Temperature (ET) and Equivalent Temperature (TEK) stress indices. Index sensitivity to density metrics from 23–86% was explored through One-Variable-At-A-Time (OVAT) analysis. Results show marked summer comfort deterioration with rising density due to constrained ventilation. However, higher densities demonstrate superior winter warmth through wind blocking despite reduced sunlight exposure. Sharp nonlinear differences emerge between seasons. Precision density thresholds prove difficult to define conclusively given typological diversities. However, indicative ranges tied to hazards are identified, providing guidelines for informed climatic adaptation. This research delivers vital evidence to advance bioclimatic strategies for enhancing habitability amidst urban expansion across delicate hot deserts.

This study uses the Aswan Governorate model in southern Upper Egypt to determine the spatial suitability of sustainable urban development in the Egyptian deserts, ensure resource sustainability, and contribute to environmentally sustainable urban and economic growth in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030. To achieve these goals, a GIS-based multicriteria decision-making (GIS-MCDM) approach was used, through an innovative approach for integrating three main indicators: the risk index, environmental sensitivity, and economic resources. These indicators were divided into twenty-four criteria, and their weight was determined according to preference through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). This study serves developmental, national, and expected regional and local development efforts for developing desert regions in the Aswan Governorate, which exceed 80% of the governorate’s area and represent the future of sustainable urban development. This study found three spatial suitability categories, with the largest between 50 and 70% suitability. The first category, with suitability greater than 70%, covers 27.2% of the Aswan Governorate in the north, on both sides of the Nile. Areas with medium spatial suitability, ranging from 50% to 70%, constitute the second category, accounting for 40.3% of the Aswan Governorate, with a concentration in the central regions. The third category includes areas with low spatial suitability, at less than 50%, which make up 32.5% of the governorate.

This study integrates dynamic energy simulation with lifecycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the energy and carbon performance of advanced glazing systems suitable for hot–arid climates. Using Design Builder software coupled with OpenLCA, six glazing configurations were analyzed under identical building and climatic conditions. The configurations included a conventional single 3 mm float glass pane (C0) as the reference case, a single 3 mm polycarbonate sheet (C1) representing common local construction practice, and four advanced multi-layer systems (C2–C5) incorporating air, argon, and nanogel insulation layers. The inclusion of C0 enabled direct comparison between typical glass construction and emerging polycarbonate-based systems, thereby enhancing the contextual relevance of the analysis. Results demonstrated that thermal and optical properties of glazing systems strongly influence both operational and embodied carbon outcomes. Relative to the conventional glass reference (C0), the nanogel–argon composite (C5) achieved a 32.4% reduction in annual cooling energy and a 28.9% decrease in total lifecycle carbon emissions, with a carbon payback period of approximately 1.1 years. The operational phase dominated total emissions (>97%), confirming that improvements in glazing thermal performance yield substantial long-term benefits even when embodied impacts are considered. While argon filling provided marginal benefit over air cavities, the nanogel insulation contributed the largest performance enhancement. However, the relatively low visible light transmittance (VLT = 0.27) of the C5 system suggests a potential daylight–comfort trade-off that warrants further investigation. The study demonstrates the importance of integrating energy simulation with lifecycle assessment to identify glazing systems that balance energy efficiency, embodied carbon, and indoor environmental quality in hot–arid regions.