Professor Dr. Karim Hassan Alwan, Dean of the Center for Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad, chaired the Master’s thesis defense of student Tabarak Mahdi Musa at the College of Urban Planning, University of Kufa.
Dr. Alwan noted that the thesis examined the applicability of a resilient planning framework within the Iraqi urban context through a comparative case study of two areas in Najaf Al-Ashraf: the Al-Amir neighborhood, characterized by a modern urban fabric, and the Al-Mishraq district, characterized by a traditional heritage fabric. The study’s analysis relied on a framework comprising seven factors of urban resilience, utilizing questionnaires, field interviews, and the ENVI-met climate simulation software.
The results revealed that the Al-Mishraq district benefits from effective daytime thermal adaptation due to its narrow alleyways; however, it suffers from nighttime heat retention, ecological isolation, and a road network ill-equipped for emergencies. Conversely, the Al-Amir neighborhood demonstrated greater resilience regarding its road network and economic diversity but suffered from sharply rising daytime temperatures caused by extensive asphalt surfaces and a lack of shading. Both areas shared a common weakness regarding the level of formal community participation. Consequently, the student recommended adopting the resilient planning framework as an official standard for evaluating Iraqi neighborhoods, while focusing on improving green infrastructure and shading in Al-Amir, developing vertical cooling solutions and reactivating traditional *sardabs* (basements) in Al-Mishraq, and enhancing community engagement and adaptive governance in both areas.
The participation of the Center of Urban and Regional Planning in chairing and serving on postgraduate thesis defense committees reflects a scholarly vision emphasizing the University of Baghdad’s openness to all educational institutions through academic exchange. The Center possesses academic expertise that has become a rich reference point in the field of urban planning, grounded in the application of sustainability concepts across both theoretical and practical dimensions.
