The conditioning of living and working spaces in the building sector consumes a significant amount of energy. Among the natural ventilation techniques that rely on renewable energy sources such as geothermal and wind, wind towers and earth to air heat exchangers (EAHEs) hold prominence. This research paper presents a series of experiments conducted in the arid region of Bechar, Algeria, to investigate the effectiveness of combined natural ventilation systems employing wind towers and EAHEs. The test chamber, constructed from plywood, and the tower, along with the buried polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe EAHE at a depth of 150 cm in sandy-loam soil, constitute a completely natural system with zero energy consumption. Two scenarios were examined: one with closed windows and the other with open windows measuring 40 × 40 cm². The results indicate a noteworthy improvement in thermal comfort within the chamber, with an increase from 18.75% for the closed window system to 50% when the window is open. By employing a completely natural system without energy consumption, it becomes possible to fulfill 50% of the thermal comfort requirements during both summer and winter seasons. Consequently, this approach reduces at least half of the energy demands in a region that experiences six months of discomfort.

Heritage buildings pose persistent challenges for documentation and conservation due to their geometric complexity, material heterogeneity, and the fragmentation of spatial and semantic datasets. To address these limitations, this study proposes a geospatially enabled HBIM–GIS framework that integrates hybrid photogrammetric survey data with semantic modeling and spatial analysis to support evidence-based conservation planning. A multi-source acquisition strategy combining terrestrial digital photogrammetry (TDP), Unmanned aerial vehicle digital photogrammetry (UAVDP), and spherical photogrammetry (SP) was employed to capture accurate geometric and semantic information across multiple spatial scales. Staged point-cloud fusion (UAVDP → TDP via ICP; SP → UAV–TDP via SICP) generated a high-density, georeferenced composite, achieving RMS residuals below 0.013 m and resulting in an integrated dataset exceeding 360 million points. From this composite, authoritative 2D drawings and a reality-based 3D HBIM model were developed, while GIS thematic mapping translated heterogeneous observations into structured, queryable layers representing materials, cracks, detachments, deformations, and construction phases. The proposed framework enabled the spatial diagnosis of deterioration mechanisms, revealing moisture-driven decay from plinth to mid-wall and concentrated cracking at openings and architectural transitions; side-to-side cracks accounted for approximately 55% and 65% of mapped fissures on the most affected façades. By embedding these diagnostics as element-level attributes within the HBIM environment, the framework supports precise localization, quantification, and prioritization of conservation interventions, ensuring material-compatible and location-specific decision making. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated through its implementation on a complex historic mosque in Yemen, validating its robustness under constrained access and resource-limited conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates that geospatially integrated HBIM–GIS workflows provide a reproducible, scalable, and transferable solution for the sustainable documentation and conservation of heritage buildings, supporting long-term monitoring and informed management of cultural heritage assets worldwide.

The conservation of architectural heritage (AH) in regions threatened by natural and human-induced factors requires interdisciplinary approaches that integrate physical documentation with semantic modeling. This study introduces a comprehensive framework combining Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) with ontology-based modeling aligned with the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CIDOC CRM). Focusing on the Big Gate and adjacent curtain walls in Ibb, Yemen, where the gate is entirely lost, the study reconstructs the structure using historical photographs, eyewitness accounts, and analogical references. The methodology incorporates UAV and terrestrial photogrammetry surveys, point cloud generation, and semantic enrichment using Autodesk Revit V. 2024 and Protégé V. 5.5. Decay phenomena such as cracks, efflorescence, and disintegration were ontologically classified and spatially linked to the HBIM model, revealing deterioration patterns concerning historical phases and environmental exposure. The resulting system enables dynamic documentation, facilitates strategic conservation planning, and enhances data interoperability across heritage platforms. The proposed framework is transferable to other heritage sites, supporting both the conservation of extant structures and the reconstruction of lost ones.

This study investigates heat transfer phenomena in a building envelope in Bechar, Southwest Algeria, under arid climatic conditions. The meteorological station Energarid provides precise recordings of solar radiation and outdoor temperature. A calibrated model is used to analyze diurnal temperature variations. Wall temperatures exposed to solar radiation are estimated using recorded data. The heating power requirements of the building envelope are determined through a thermal balance approach based on the regulatory technical document from the National Center for Building Studies and Integrated Research. Simulation results demonstrate favorable conditions for achieving thermal comfort, with elevated air temperatures and velocities at the outlet. Incorporating solar energy considerations into architectural design, such as double facades, south-facing orientations, and glazed surfaces, is crucial. These findings highlight significant energy-saving potential, particularly in the Bechar region.

This research paper explores the potential of passive heating and cooling strategies in buildings utilizing geothermal resources. The focus is on renewable energy solutions, including geothermal energy, solar systems, and Earth-to-air heat exchangers, with the aim of reducing energy consumption for cooling and heating loads. The investigation primarily centers on the performance and optimization of the Trombe wall system, a well-known passive solar system. Numerical studies are conducted to analyze the thermal and fluid-dynamical behavior of the Trombe wall system. The findings provide valuable insights into its operational characteristics and efficiency, aiding in the refinement of design approaches and optimization of system performance. The analysis of temperature distributions within the building and underlying soil reveals the stability of soil temperatures throughout the day, indicating its potential as a reliable heat sink and source for heating and cooling. The dynamic variations in room temperatures, influenced by solar flux fluctuations, convection processes, and the functioning of the air-to-earth heat exchanger, highlight the importance of effective system design and control for achieving optimal thermal performance.

Earthen architectural heritage is highly vulnerable to moisture, erosion, salt activity, and progressive loss of cohesion, creating a need for consolidants that improve mechanical performance without obscuring the limitations of laboratory-to-field transfer. This study evaluates a graphene oxide–ESTEL (GO–ESTEL) nanocomposite as an exploratory consolidant for adobe under controlled laboratory conditions in Egypt and discusses, separately, how the results may inform future validation at Sudus, Saudi Arabia. Laboratory specimens and non-Sudus reference adobe fragments were characterized using polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), computed tomography (CT), and uniaxial compressive strength testing. A fixed exploratory formulation based on a 3 wt.% aqueous GO dispersion combined with ESTEL was applied to the adobe specimens. The treated specimens showed denser microstructural features and improved particle bridging in SEM observations, while CT imaging provided complementary qualitative visualization of the internal structure of the treated adobe. Average maximum compressive load increased from 340.60 to 486.87 kgf, corresponding to a 42.94% increase; maximum displacement and strain at failure decreased by approximately 36.8%. These results demonstrate short-term laboratory strengthening of the tested adobe formulation, but they do not establish long-term durability, an optimum GO concentration, or direct compatibility with Sudus materials. The Sudus survey is therefore retained only as an application context and monitoring framework rather than evidence of field effectiveness. Site-specific mineralogical characterization, environmental monitoring, formulation optimization, accelerated ageing, and controlled pilot trials are required before any conservation application at Sudus or comparable heritage sites.