This paper presents a novel segmentation algorithm specially developed for applications in 3D point clouds with high variability and noise, particularly suitable for heritage building 3D data. The method can be categorized within the segmentation procedures based on edge detection. In addition, it uses a graph-based topological structure generated from the supervoxelization of the 3D point clouds, which is used to make the closure of the edge points and to define the different segments. The algorithm provides a valuable tool for generating results that can be used in subsequent classification tasks and broader computer applications dealing with 3D point clouds. One of the characteristics of this segmentation method is that it is unsupervised, which makes it particularly advantageous for heritage applications where labelled data is scarce. It is also easily adaptable to different edge point detection and supervoxelization algorithms. Finally, the results show that the 3D data can be segmented into different architectural elements, which is important for further classification or recognition. Extensive testing on real data from historic buildings demonstrated the effectiveness of the method. The results show superior performance compared to three other segmentation methods, both globally and in the segmentation of planar and curved zones of historic buildings.

UNASSIGNED: Egypt\'s major cities have been losing heritage and historical buildings due to neglect and misuse, prompting non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and researchers to advocate for adaptive reuse strategies to preserve the cities\' heritage and identity. Adaptive reuse involves changing, modifying, or reusing a space based on community needs, business model, location, and proximity to facilities and services. Heritage buildings offer many tangible and intangible benefits that enhance financial returns, making them challenging but feasible and attractive for investors who value authenticity, uniqueness, and sustainability.
UNASSIGNED: This study examines how market value, acquisition opportunities, target clients, age groups, and socioeconomic status affect decision-making. A comparative analysis of three buildings in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Cairo is utilized to establish development guidelines and decision-making parameters that significantly impact project design and building functions to determine the highest and best use. In order to complete this study, AutoCAD by Autodesk was used for 2D drawings, SketchUp by Trimble for 3D models, Adobe Photoshop for diagram presentation, and Microsoft Office for tables and diagrams.
UNASSIGNED: The comparative analysis provided valuable insights into the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in developing countries. Findings highlighted how cultural heritage preservation could foster socioeconomic development. Key success factors included stakeholder and community engagement, financial viability, and architectural compatibility. The decision-making framework provides a practical tool for evaluating heritage building reuse.
UNASSIGNED: The analysis illustrates successful reuse strategies and considerations. Decision-making frameworks and tools offer practical guidance for future investments and decisions. These findings affect heritage conservation and urban development policymakers, planners, and investors. Stakeholders can make informed decisions and implement strategies to preserve cultural and environmental value by realizing challenges and opportunities. This study hopes to inspire more research and help preserve and revitalize heritage buildings in developing countries, preserving their cultural and socioeconomic value.

In this study, we investigated factors related to subjective outdoor thermal comfort in the Ancient Ming Dynasty Walled City in Xi\'an, China. Environmental data were collected from study sites by microclimate monitoring. Survey locations, demographics, psychological characteristics, thermal sensation vote (TSV), and thermal comfort vote (TCV) data were collected from 639 individuals in a questionnaire survey. Generalized linear regression analysis and path analysis were used to understand the associations between the TSV, environmental and psychological factors, and TCV. We found that green space locations, higher age, and greater subjective well-being and environmental satisfaction were associated with increased TCV. The universal thermal climate index was associated with TCV, and this association could have been affected by the individual\'s psychological state. Our findings suggest that environmental factors and psychological factors had non-negligible effects on the subjective thermal comfort of individuals located in an open urban area with historical and cultural significance.

As ageing structures and infrastructures become a global concern, structural health monitoring (SHM) is seen as a crucial tool for their cost-effective maintenance. Promising results obtained for modern and conventional constructions suggested the application of SHM to historical masonry buildings as well. However, this presents peculiar shortcomings and open challenges. One of the most relevant aspects that deserve more research is the optimisation of the sensor placement to tackle well-known issues in ambient vibration testing for such buildings. The present paper focuses on the application of optimal sensor placement (OSP) strategies for dynamic identification in historical masonry buildings. While OSP techniques have been extensively studied in various structural contexts, their application in historical masonry buildings remains relatively limited. This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities of OSP in this specific context, analysing and discussing real-world examples, as well as a numerical benchmark application to illustrate its complexities. This article aims to shed light on the progress and issues associated with OSP in masonry historical buildings, providing a detailed problem formulation, identifying ongoing challenges and presenting promising solutions for future improvements.

Maritime built heritage (e.g., historic seawalls) represents an important component of coastal infrastructure around the world. Despite this, the ecological communities supported by these structures are poorly understood. At seven locations across the UK, we compared the biodiversity and physical habitat characteristics of (1) historic (pre-1900s) masonry walls, (2) concrete walls, and (3) natural rocky cliffs. Historic masonry walls were found to support significantly more species than concrete walls, and in some locations, more diverse communities than nearby rocky cliffs. Nevertheless, community composition remained distinct between the three habitat types at each location. We also found that historic masonry walls provided substantially more cryptic space (i.e., crevices) than both concrete walls and rocky cliffs, and this is positively associated with the ecological value of these structures. Overall, our results suggest that the unique physical properties of historic masonry walls make them an important component of habitat diversity along developed coastlines.

Adapted reuse in old historical buildings has been a real challenge since the state of deterioration is usually found severe, and suggested retrofitting is applied with high delicacy to preserve the building originality. Additionally, on altering the potential users\' activity, special considerations are required to fulfill the new needs. Daylight in historical buildings has a special significance in conceiving the massive artistic content within the interior spaces, in providing visual comfort for users, and affecting the total energy performance.
The main goal is to meet the new daylight requirements in heritage building spaces, and to rely on relaxing daylight instead of artificial light sources during the day.
The research is implemented in Tosson Palace, a historical palace in Egypt, where a top-lit space\'s daylight performance is assessed using Rhino + Grasshopper\'s Diva package, then the skylight is parametrically configured to optimize daylighting conditions using Radiance, and Daysim engines in high intensity solar climate. Optimization of skylight glazing technologies and skylight size is conducted by changing optimization parameters including the number the two perpendicular mullions grid, and mullions\' depth, which also acts as a shading element. These parameters are genetically optimized using a multi-objective octopus plugin and the optimized configuration is evaluated using LEED v4.1 in Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), and Annual Sun Exposure (ASE) criteria that show both the daylight adequacy, and the comfortable daylight exposure percentages in the skylight covered space.
The outcomes offer guidance for heritage adapted reuse in hot climatic conditions with minimum design interventions to meet the original design and provide potential users\' comfort conditions. Furthermore, enhancement of both visual, and thermal conditions through the skylight configurations is to be studied.
The selected optimum case succeeded in compromising the assessing metrics such that ASE was reduced by 38% from the base-case, avoiding unpleasant direct daylight, and providing protection for interior artifacts from sunlight and achieving a moderate uniform daylight distribution on both affected floors levels.

Adequate thermic conditions are required for the preventive conservation of artworks, but such optimum conditions cannot always be achieved in historical buildings such as ancient churches. In those cases, it is of interest to assess the potential risk of punctual changes in indoor environments that can be harmful to artworks. These conditions can be assessed by means of a microclimate monitoring system comprised of a set of energy-efficient wireless sensors connected to the cloud using IoT techniques. This approach was followed at the baroque church of Saint Thomas and Saint Philip Neri in Valencia (Spain). A set of 26 wireless nodes was installed, which recorded values of temperature and relative humidity every hour for a period of 7 months. Small differences of temperature were obtained among sensors, so that an efficient methodology based on principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for the characterization of similarities and dissimilarities between sensors. Daily ranges of temperatures were studied as well as mean trajectories, differences between days of the week, and changes in the correlation structure of daily median values over time. Results provide a framework for an efficient characterization of temperatures in heritage buildings based on a network of wireless sensors. Such a framework is useful to assess the potential risk of temperature fluctuations on the preventive conservation of historical buildings and artworks.

New Zealand introduced a seismic retrofitting policy in the wake of the catastrophic Canterbury earthquakes of 2010-11. The aim was to enforce seismic strengthening of earthquake-prone commercial buildings throughout the country. This study focuses on regional urban centres and the economic obstacles to strengthening their aging building stock. In investigating one town, Whanganui, we describe conditions, analyse cases, and identify incentives that apply equally to many other towns in New Zealand. We argue that incentives that suit high-growth, high-value major urban centres are a poor fit for the periphery. Around the world, many places need to upgrade their privately-owned building stock to protect it from disasters, while governments face similar challenges as they struggle to initiate the strengthening of commercial buildings. We analyse the current incentive schemes that aim to support the achievement of policy goals and suggest alternative incentive schemes that can be implemented to improve strengthening outcomes.