FSE Strategic Research Areas :
Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence
The integration of artificial intelligence and remote sensing in fire safety engineering has surged in the past decade. In scenarios like wildfires, this combination provides real-time data on fire movement, with AI algorithms predicting behavior. Experts use these insights for strategic resource allocation, controlled burns, and timely evacuations, transforming fire safety engineering in the face of environmental challenges.
Fire Evacuation and Occupants Movement
Critical research in fire evacuation and occupant movement analyzes people's responses to emergencies, considering factors like building layout, exit routes, occupant behavior, and fire safety system effectiveness. Through extensive study and simulation, researchers aim to develop strategies for swift and orderly evacuations, reducing casualties and mitigating fire risks. The research contributes to refining evacuation simulation models, enhancing their accuracy and validation efforts for improved building safety
Smart Fire Fighting
Researchers employ advanced technologies, such as drones with thermal imaging for rapid fire detection and AI-driven analytics predicting fire behavior. Innovations include AI-driven firefighter health monitoring and smart firefighting systems, enhancing real-time data access and strategic decision-making. These developments improve firefighting efficiency, communication networks, and overall safety, ensuring effective responses to wildfires and structural fires.
Fire Behaviors in Complex Built Environment
Technological advancements and sensors have significantly advanced fire dynamics research, solving many behavior problems. However, the evolving built environment challenges current theories. New materials, designs, and technological advances, along with factors like incorporating greenery and complex building shapes, complicate fire behavior. College researchers address these complexities through experimentation and computational models.
HSEM Strategic Research Areas :
Toxicology and Occupational Health
The global pharmaceutical industry, crucial for drug production, faces chemical hazards affecting employee health and safety. Despite efforts to address occupational exposure, there's a lack of toxicology studies on diseases related to pharmaceutical activities. Research aims to fill this gap, reviewing hazardous toxin exposure issues in the pharmaceutical sector. The studies intends guide researchers and policymakers in developing intervention strategies for a safer and sustainable pharmaceutical industry.
Safety Management and Well-being
Research on employees as intangible resources, stressing the need for organizations to prioritize their health, safety, and overall well-being. Focusing on leadership, it explores the role of specific leadership styles in ensuring workers' well-being, aiming to benefit academics and industry practitioners by offering new research directions and insights into challenges faced by workers in different organizational contexts.
Environmental Science and Sustainability Management
Research on the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of Avicennia marina aligns with global biodiversity preservation goals and Oman Vision 2040. The grey mangrove's rich composition presents potential therapeutic applications, addressing health issues. This strategic initiative contributes to Oman's economic diversification, biotechnological advancement, and conservation efforts, fostering sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems.
WE Strategic Research Areas :
Artificial Intelligence in the Oil and Gas Industry
AI revolutionizes petroleum engineering by optimizing drilling operations, reducing costs, and improving success rates. It spans exploration, drilling, production optimization, and safety management. AI-based algorithms monitor real-time well and reservoir performance, while risk assessment evaluates operational and environmental risks in oil and gas projects. The AI methodology involves acquiring authentic data, processing for anomaly elimination, developing models with AI algorithms, and training and validating through supervised learning. Statistical tools assess model performance, and tested models are saved for future use.
Drilling Fluid and Well Technologies
Drilling fluid (drilling mud) and well cementing is crucial in oil and gas exploration. Drilling fluid ensures bit lubrication, cooling, and wellbore stability. Different fluids like Water-Based Mud and Oil-Based Mud are used based on formations. Research seek sustainable substances for eco-friendly, cost-effective mud. Well cementing, placing cement slurry in the annulus, ensures structural integrity, zonal isolation, and prevents fluid migration. Compliance with industry standards is vital for wellbore safety. Research focuses on environmentally friendly and cost-effective cement ingredients, aided by well-equipped labs, keeping the mechanical engineering department at the forefront of innovation.
Renewable Energy Systems
Amid environmental concerns, the shift to alternative energy is vital. Solar PV emerges as a prominent solution, generating electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Its zero-emission nature reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Ongoing research aims to enhance PV efficiency for improved performance. Simultaneously, solar thermal energy aligns with Oman Vision 2040, emphasizing hybrid renewable energy systems to diversify the energy mix and address environmental challenges.
Sustainability in Industrial Processes
​Current research tries to integrate sustainability into product innovation by adopting an ergonomic, customer-focused approach. It links strategic sustainability approaches to guide the creation of items that address socio-ecological issues. By considering both functionality and finances, the study aids businesses in becoming sustainable solution providers. The ergonomic method facilitates understanding of human needs, energy use, and lifestyles, ensuring environmentally conscious design decisions, reflecting the evolving focus on resource efficiency and energy conservation in product design.
CPM & FM Strategic Research Areas :
Sustainable Built Environment Practices:
This research area concentrates on sustainable practices within construction and facilities management, examining their long-term environmental impacts and exploring improved resource utilization. The research area aims to address environmental challenges, aligning with Oman's goal of fostering an eco-friendly built environment
Innovative Construction Project and Facilities Management Systems:
This research area explores using new technologies and smart ways of managing construction projects and buildings. It covers topics such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and smart construction methods. This research area looks at how technology like artificial intelligence is changing the construction industry.
Advanced Materials and Technologies for the Built Environment:
This research area looks into new materials and technologies for construction. It's about finding better ways to manage construction projects using smart materials and technologies. It covers topics such as developing new high-performance materials, and finding eco-friendly building solutions.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks in Construction and Facilities Management:
This research area looks deeply at the laws and rules that affect construction and facilities management sector. It covers contractual frameworks, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution mechanisms and promotes good practices in construction and facilities management.