AL-Rafidain Engineering Journal (AREJ)

The advent of digital architecture, including parametric design, enabled the customization in housing design. The
parametric typological design allowed diversity, difference, and individuality with the same ease of mass- standardized
production. Accordingly, the paper investigated the customization of housing components to satisfy the customer's
options and in response to different local conditions. The research problem was the application of customization in
parametric typological design to generate prototypes for single-family houses of Ain Al Iraq project in Mosul city. The
research aims were to identify the customization methodology and to apply it in a case study. The previous studies put
forward different approaches combining generative systems controlled by a set of parameters, constraints and rules
developed by the designer, and the interactive customized systems that allow customers to participate in the design
process. In the light of these studies, the paper presented a theoretical framework to define the methodology of applying
the customization in the parametric typological design process using four vocabularies to identify the types of
customization, the methods of standardization, and the roles of a designer and a customer. In the practical study, the
approach was applied to create a parametric model using (Grasshopper) software, in order to generate initial plans for
single-family houses that were customized according to the customer's need. The user interface was also designed by the
researchers to provide direct interaction and ease of use by regular customers. The results showed the generation of
initial plans having varied parameters according to the customer's options.

Interactive design is a modern design approach that have gained a clear interest in the field of outdoor spaces.
It depends on increasing elements of suspense, pleasure, learning, changing behavior and enriching the users'
sensory experience and interaction through the five senses, to achieve an enjoyable experience and a good
function that is easy to use. The research problem represented by the existence of traditional, passive and
inactive urban spaces intended by few urban users. The research aims to explore employing digital
technologies, formulas and methods of generating them for the purpose of applying them in external spaces,
trying to revive urban outer spaces in contemporary cities. In this study, many examples of projects designed
and implemented for external spaces that employ digital and traditional technologies have been analyzed and
compared with each other, based on interaction criteria extracted from previous studies. Through the
application of statistical tests, the results indicated that designs based on digital technologies generate
relatively more interaction than those that rely on traditional techniques. The results indicated that optical
technology is the most widely used technique in interactive outdoor spaces. The most effective interactive
technologies on the recipient work through stimulating interest and curiosity.

Traditional architecture is characterized by specific configurations and elements, possessing design
characteristics (formal and functional) that give the products of traditional architecture their character, As in the
traditional architecture of the old city of Mosul. The buildings of the old Mosul city, have been subjected to damage as a
result of the recent terrorist events, it was necessary to document and study these buildings by isolating the basic design
elements that make up the building and studying its properties in a detailed method. The presentation of previous studies
that dealt with the Mosul architecture revealed that there is a lack of knowledge specifically the Iwan element and its
design characteristics, which determined (the nature of the research problem) while (the goal of the research) to discover
the design characteristics (formal and functional) of the iwan in the architecture of old Mosul houses and extract the
most important characteristics prevailing in it. The research Methodology builds on the structure of a theoretical
framework that includes the definition of the architectural element and its design characteristics in general, and the
definition of the iwan and its characteristics in the architecture of Mosul in particular. The analytical study of the Iwan
was performed by two levels, depending on the database and images that were obtained and documented:
The first (general level): This level included collecting and documenting various pictures of 24random samples from
Iwans of the Mosul houses, and application of an analytical and descriptive study to discover their design characteristics.
The second (detailed level): This level included collecting and documenting some pictures, information, and detailed
drawings of 10 samples (For the element iwan predominant – pointed-), which were analyzed mathematically to reveal
their proportions, and graphically using the AutoCAD program to reveal their detailed formal characteristics to reach a
more accurate database that can be invested in restoring Construction of the old city

The heritage city of Mosul was distinguished by the architectural and technical characteristics that distinguished it
from the rest of the Islamic cities, which were affected by the surrounding environment and the quality of the natural
materials available locally, the most important of which was the material of Mosul marble (alfarsh) on the one hand, and
the techniques used in its manufacture on the other hand, , Which gave special features and characteristics of the Mosul's
architecture. In the beginning, previous studies related to the subject were reviewed to determine the research problem,
which was represented by (lack of knowledge related to the technology of manufacturing marble window frames in
Mosul's houses).
Consequently, the goal of the research was to reveal the manufacturing technology and characteristics of this important
element in the traditional Mosul's house in detail by scanning its repeated models to provide a complete database that
can be used in the future in the reconstruction operations. The research adopted the analytical documentary survey
method for this element by extracting basic vocabulary for them from previous studies and then applying these terms in
selected samples, and then drawing this element with all types and models with dimensions and detailed measurements in
the AutoCAD program (2016) to be analyzed after that according to the vocabulary of the theoretical framework,
reaching to the final conclusions that showed the similarity and repetition of the models for this element in terms of
dimensions and number of pieces, and that this element was governed by specific models, fixed measurements, and
specific installation and formation methods with some exceptions, which reinforced the assumption made by the research
that this element is per-manufactured

The traditional alabaster columns with manufacturing techniques used by Mosul's architects represent one of the
aspects of distinction within the heritage Mosul architecture, which gave this architecture aspects of its peculiarity and
distinctive identity. After reviewing previous studies in this field, the research problem was represented by (Lack of
knowledge related to the manufacturing technology and characteristics of alabaster columns in Mosul's traditional
houses and lack of knowledge of their repeated models and details of their employment) The aim of the research was
(revealing the techniques of manufacturing these elements as well as clarifying and analyzing its repeated models and
clarify the details of the employment of each model) and thus providing a detailed documentary information base that
can be adopted in the operations of restoration, reconstruction, and future designs.
The final conclusions that showed the similarity and repetition of the models for this element in terms of dimensions and
number of pieces, and that this element was governed by specific models. Each type has fixed measurements and specific
installation and formation methods with some exceptions, which reinforced the assumption made by the research that this
element is a prefabricated element.

Traffic mapping is the fourth, final, and very important step of the urban transport planning process.the algorithm
that was developed using several programs. Such as the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program, the Digextra
algorithm, the Python program, in addition to the (SIDRA-8-2018) program, which is a program specialized in engineering
work for methods to determine the shortest path within the selected network during the present time in addition to future
strategic periods.Three future periods have been determined to test the road network load with traffic volumes, determine
the locations of defects that will occur now and, in the future, and try to find solutions and alternatives that ensure the flow
of traffic within this network. Each strategy period included the growth of traffic demand for a period of five years, starting
from 2020 until the target year 2025. During these five years, traffic demand is supposed to increase by 6% annually. The
results obtained from this study were represented by different plans to address the traffic problems that occur in the
different areas of the road network. Those areas were identified and different scenarios and solutions would be required
to regulate the traffic for the strategic periods.

During the last years, the Main Campus of Mosul University's growth has meant increased traffic volumes
(vehicles and pedestrians flows) on its streets, with longer wait times at the campus gates, and parking problems. The
main objective of this work is to describing, measuring and valuing the current condition of parking supply and demand,
and recommending the most suitable solutions to parking problems according to the university needs for the future 10
years. The study area is divided into 21 zones. Field surveys include: parking survey, questionnaire survey, and traffic
movements survey were conducted to achieve the study objectives. The results show that the largest percentage of
faculty members and staff use their vehicles as a motorist, especially males with more than 64% for faculty and 55% for
staff. The dominant mode of travel for the female faculty members and staff is passengers (Auto and transit) with 60.25%
and 82.1% respectively There are over 4181 available parking spaces distributed among the study area zones. Additional
parking spaces will be provided where possible and a combination of parking structures and surface lots must be resized
and located to meet the parking demand for the year 2030.