Profiles
Dr Omar Al-Hafith
Lecturer in Built Environment
School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
Dr Omar Al-Hafith is an academic and architect with more than a decade of experience in academia and the construction industry. His research and teaching focus on the environmental performance and energy efficiency of built environments with a special focus on residential buildings. His research work has included conducting thermal comfort surveys, monitoring buildings’ environmental conditions, and undertaking simulation experiments. His present research work in this field focuses on the correlated impacts of buildings’ design and occupants’ behaviour on energy consumption in buildings.
Alongside this research interest in building performance analysis, Dr Al-Hafith is also interested in undertaking studies in the field of cultural heritage preservation and documentation with a special focus on post-conflict and post-disaster contexts. Among his distinctive research work in this field is his contribution to a UK-Iraq research project funded by the British Academy on the preservation and documentation of Old Mosul’s cultural heritage: Preserving the Disappearing Cultural Heritage of Post-War Mosul
In teaching, Dr Al-Hafith is an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. He has an established track record of research-informed teaching in the UK and Iraq. He taught for three years in Iraq at Cihan University (2012 – 2015). In the UK, he was an associate lecturer at the University of Plymouth (2017 - 2020), contributed to teaching and training workshops at Nottingham Trent University (2020 – 2022), and he is currently a Lecturer in Built Environment at the University of Plymouth.
Qualifications
- PhD in Architecture. University of Plymouth, United Kingdom (2015-2020). PhD thesis title: “Thermal Efficiency of Courtyards for Residential Buildings in Iraq”.
- MSc in Architectural Engineering. University of Mosul, Iraq (2009 – 2012).
- Visiting research students. University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (2012).
- BSc in Architectural Engineering. University of Mosul, Iraq (2004 – 2009).
Professional practice
- Architectural/CAD technician. Faraj Consulting Ltd. Plymouth, United Kingdom (2016 – 2020).
- Architect. Cihan Office for Design and Construction. Erbil, Iraq (2014 – 2015)
- Architect. Al-Ola Company Ltd. Mosul, Iraq (2010 – 2013).
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Over the past ten years, Dr Al-Hafith has engaged in the teaching of architectural design, environmental building design, architectural graphics, modelling and simulation tools, and cultural heritage preservation & documentation.
At present, at the University of Plymouth, Dr Al-Hafith teaches Low Energy Building Design and Design Projects.
Research
Research
Research interests
- Building performance analysis: investigating the impact of buildings’ design on their environmental and energy performance through undertaking onsite environmental measurements and conducting simulation experiments.
- Thermal comfort: determining the thermal comfort levels of people in different contexts and exploring novel design approaches to satisfy their comfort needs.
- Investigating the correlation between occupants’ behavior and the energy and environmental performance of buildings.
- Cultural Heritage: investigating people-led preservation and documentation in post-conflict zones with the aim of concluding lessons that can help to achieve better preservation and recovery practices around the world.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., Assessing Annual Thermal Comfort Extent in Central Courtyards: Baghdad as a Case Study, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, accepted for publication March 2021.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., Assessing housing approaches for Iraq: Learning from the world experience, Habitat International. 2019; 89.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., A systematic assessment of architectural approaches for solving the housing problem in Iraq, Frontiers of Architectural Research journal, 2018; 7(4); 561-572.
- Al-Hafith, O., Al Jameel, Ali H., The Adaptable Multifamily Courtyard House as a Strategy Towards a Sustainable Affordable Housing, American Transactions on Engineering & Applied Science Journal, Vol.1 No.3, 2012.
Articles
(2024) 'Impact of Energy-Consuming Air Conditioning Systems on People's Thermal Comfort and Preferences: Comparative Study of Iraq and Gulf Cooperation Council Countries' Journal of Architectural Environment & Structural Engineering Research 7, (1) 1-19 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Assessing annual thermal comfort extent in central courtyards: Baghdad as a case study' Smart and Sustainable Built Environment , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Assessing housing approaches for Iraq: Learning from the world experience' Habitat International 89, 102001-102001 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'A systematic assessment of architectural approaches for solving the housing problem in Iraq' Frontiers of Architectural Research , DOI Open access
Conference Papers
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., 2021, The Thermal Performance Prospects of Courtyards in Cold Conditions, International Conference on Architecture & Interior Design, November 2021, Tishk International University, Iraq.
- Al-Hafith, O., K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., 2021, A Review of the Iraqi Housing Sector Problems, Cihan University 2nd Engineering Conference, 2021, Iraq.
- Abdulmonem, M.G., Al-Hafith, O., 2021, Developing Sustainable Digitisation of Old Mosul’s Heritage Assets Using Photogrammetry and Computer Modelling Techniques, Living Digital Heritage Conference 5 - 7 November 2021, the Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (CACHE), Macquarie University, Australia.
- Abdulmonem, M.G., Al-Hafith, O., 2021, The Changing Culture and Traditions of Post-ISIS Mosul, IASTE 2021: Virtual Traditions, organised and hosted virtually by Nottingham Trent University, the UK.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., The impact of courtyard Geometry on its Mean Radiant Temperature, CISBAT 2019 International Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., An Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model for Residential Buildings in Iraq, Comfort at the Extremes 2019, Dubai, UAE.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, de Wilde, P., Courtyards thermal efficiency during hot regions’ typical winter, Beyond all Limits Conference, 2018, Çankaya University, Turkey.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., Determining courtyard pattern’s thermal efficiency in the current time, Windsor conference 2018 – Rethinking comfort, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., The impact of courtyard compact urban fabric on its shading: case study of Mosul city_Iraq, CISBAT 2017 International Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., Simulation of courtyard spaces in a desert climate, 9th International Conference on Applied Energy, ICAE2017, Cardiff, UK.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., Determining the courtyard thermal efficiency and its impact on urban fabric: A contextual study of Baghdad_Iraq, PLEA conference, 2017, Edinburgh, UK.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., The Impact of Court parameters on its shading level - An experimental study in Baghdad_Iraq, 9th International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, SEB-17, 2017, Chania, Crete, Greece.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., Thermally comfortable housing in Iraq- Prospects of the courtyard pattern in achieving energy efficiency, 3rd International Sustainable Buildings Symposium (ISBS 2017), 2017, Dubai, UAE.
- Al-Hafith, O., B.K., Satish, Bradbury,S., de Wilde, P., A review of Europe’s housing policies: A comparison between the main adopted approaches in the European housing policies, ENHR conference, 2016, Belfast, UK.
- Al-Hafith, O., Soud, Moazzaz Y., Courtyard as a design pattern in multistorey housing buildings - The effective design characters on courtyard insolation, The first scientific conference of Cihan University, 2014, Erbil, Iraq.
- Al-Hafith, O., Soud, Moazzaz Y., Green Neighbourhoods - The Effect of Design Characteristics on Green Neighbourhoods, The first scientific conference of Cihan University, 2014, Erbil, Iraq.
- Al-Hafith, O., A. Al Jameel, Ali H., Adaptability as a strategy for affordable housing - Design properties affecting apartments' adaptability in multistorey housing, IAHS39 Conference - Milan, 2013, Italy.
(2022) 'The Thermal Performance Prospects of Courtyards in Cold Conditions' International Conference on Architecture & Interior Design (ICAD2021) Open access
(2021) 'A Review of the Iraqi Housing Sector Problems' INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARCHITECTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING 2020 6-/-0/20206-/-0/2020IOP Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2019) 'The impact of courtyard geometry on its mean radiant temperature' IOP Publishing 012022-012022 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'An Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model for Residential Buildings in Iraq' Comfort at the Extremes: Energy, Economy and Climate 2019 4-/-0/20194-/-0/2019Ecohouse Initiative Publisher Site Open access
(2018) 'Courtyards thermal efficiency during hot regions’ typical winter' Beyond all Limits Conference 0-/-1/20180-/-1/2018Publisher Site Open access
(2018) 'Thermally Comfortable Housing in Iraq—Prospects of the Courtyard Pattern in Achieving Energy Efficiency' Springer International Publishing 904-917 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'The courtyard pattern's thermal efficiency: Limits and significance of impact' 775-788 Publisher Site Open access
(2017) 'The Impact of Courtyard parameters on its shading level An experimental study in Baghdad, Iraq' Elsevier BV 99-109 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'The impact of courtyard compact urban fabric on its shading: case study of Mosul city, Iraq' Elsevier 889-894 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Determining the courtyard thermal efficiency and its impact on urban fabric: A contextual study of Baghdad, Iraq' PLEA International Conference 7-/-0/20177-/-0/20173850-3857 Publisher Site Open access