The College of Engineering – University of Baghdad, Department of Architecture, held the public defense of the PhD dissertation by researcher Ghouson Fadhil Abdul-Jabbar, entitled:
“Integrating the Internet of Things into Historic Religious Buildings in Iraq: Al-Saray Mosque in Baghdad”
The defense was held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Rand Hazim Mahmoud Agha.
The dissertation aimed to investigate the application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in historic religious buildings in Iraq, with the objective of improving their environmental performance while preserving their architectural, historical, and cultural values. Al-Saray Mosque in Baghdad was selected as a case study to achieve a balance between natural daylighting and thermal comfort.
The researcher employed digital documentation and Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM), alongside environmental simulation software and the Galapagos algorithm, to develop a digital model of the mosque, analyze its environmental performance, and test a range of smart solutions, including smart glass and smart solar tubes.
The results of the dissertation demonstrated that the integration of smart glass and smart solar tubes achieved the best environmental performance. This combination contributed to improving the distribution of natural daylight, reducing lighting contrast, and enhancing thermal comfort, without compromising the architectural, historical, or religious values of the building.
The dissertation concluded with a number of recommendations, most notably:
- Adopting an integrated framework that combines digital documentation, HBIM, environmental simulation, and Internet of Things technologies.
- Employing smart systems to achieve a balance between natural daylighting and thermal comfort in historic buildings.
- Adopting non-invasive and reversible solutions when improving the environmental performance of heritage buildings.
- Utilizing the Galapagos algorithm to determine optimal operating values for smart systems according to seasonal conditions.
- Providing a practical framework to support the work of architects, conservation specialists, and heritage authorities.
The defense committee consisted of:
- Prof. Dr. Kadhim Fares Dhamad – Chair
- Prof. Dr. Sabih Lafta Farhan – Member
- Prof. Dr. Amer Shakir Al-Kinani – Member
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Dhargham Al-Obaidi – Member
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Sally Fakhri Khalaf – Member
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Rand Hazim Mahmoud Agha – Supervisor
Following the academic discussion, the researcher’s defense, and the evaluation of the dissertation by the members of the defense committee, the researcher was awarded a PhD in the Philosophy of Architecture.
