Impact of Sustainable Buildings in Arid Environment on the Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality: Workshop Report

Abstract

Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) hosted a workshop entitled “Impact of Sustainable Buildings in Arid Environment on the Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality,” held in Doha, Qatar, on May 17–19, 2022, co-funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), and co-organized by City College of New York (CCNY). The workshop provided a premier interdisciplinary platform for local researchers and enablers to engage and exchange knowledge and experiences with international leading practitioners and subject matter experts in the fields of sustainable buildings, indoor and outdoor air quality, and the urban heat island phenomena. A diverse number of regional partners and stakeholders were represented. The workshop benefitted from a pool of invited international subject experts from various universities and entities. The outcome-driven workshop included breakout sessions where participants actively engaged in brainstorming discussions guided by facilitators. The discussions focused on driving impact in Qatar and beyond by examining the current research landscape and identifying collaborative opportunities. The short-term and long-term outcomes of potential initiatives and project proposals are outlined in this summary. An example of a short-term outcome is the proposed collaborative project to investigate the impact of almost doubling the state of Qatar’s population (over 1.5 million fans are expected to visit the country during the World Cup causing a shock to the system) on vital elements in the city, such as mobility, telecommunication services, and the local environment. In addition, multiple potential research proposals with international collaborations were proposed. A special issue on the subject in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities was recommended as an immediate actionable outcome.