Each city from across the globe has its vibrant shades of various histories, cultures, and experiences, and their identities are often most expressed through architecture and the arts. The cities' identities are the unique combination of history, culture, architecture, and social dynamics that define urban environments. Each city expresses its own distinct character shaped by factors such as geography, historical events, and the various communities that inhabit it. This identity is expressed through multiple elements, including popular landmarks, local traditions, and the arts, all of which contribute to the city's narrative.
Cultural heritage preservation is not only for maintaining diversity but also for promoting social bonds and communities. It encourages a deeper appreciation of our shared humanity and the rich unions of human experience. By protecting these legacies, we ensure that future generations can connect with their roots and celebrate the richness of cultural expression. Cities' Identity through the Art of Urban Spaces seeks to explore and celebrate the distinctive character of urban environments by examining how architectural designs and artistic landmarks reflect and shape the narratives of their communities.
Dr. Gasim Hayder is an Associate Professor at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. He is MIET and Chartered Engineer (CEng) from the Engineering Council (UK). He teaches, conducts research and provides short courses and consultancy services to industry, especially in the field of water and wastewater assessment and monitoring. He is the research clusters coordinator and the chairman of clean water and environment at college of engineering and architecture - University of Nizwa. He was the Head of Water & Environmental Engineering Unit at the Department of Civil Engineering - Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and also served as the Head of Environment and Sustainable Development Cluster at the Institute of Energy Infrastructure (IEI). He has extensive practical engineering, teaching, and management experiences. He has several publications of journals and books, reviewer for many top journals, member committee for several conferences, holds patents, and has received national and international awards.
Dr. Mohd. Fairuz Shahidan is currently an Associate Professor under the Department of Landscape Architecture in the Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He obtained his PhD in architecture from Cardiff University, United Kingdom. His research interests include energy-efficient architectural and landscape design and planning, urban heat island mitigation, urban greening, and outdoor and indoor thermal comfort. He has published numerous papers in renowned local and international journals. He specialized in research and design, and he wrote several books about them. He has also had vast experience as a reviewer for several journals, such as Building and Environment, Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning, Energy and Buildings, and Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. At the national level, he has evaluated numerous conference papers and books. In 2013 and 2015, he served as the conference's editor-in-chief. From 2012 to 2015, he also served as an editorial member of Alam Cipta, the International Journal for Sustainable Tropical Research Design and Practice. Numerous awards, including the Invention, Research, and Innovation Exhibition at Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2006 and the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA) in the Landscape Research Category (Honour Award) in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019, have recognized his research. He has been an active member of the International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) since 2010 and the Malaysian Urban Design Association (PEREKABANDAR) since 2019.
Ayse Ozcan-Buckley - Adjunct Faculty at the School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University (MSU) since 2016 with post-doc research on ecological planning within the public policy context. Received Ph.D. with a dissertation on Urban and Environmental Policies of Turkey and the roles of universities under the mentorship of a professor in the Department of Economics from METU (Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey). Master's research focused on urban policies regarding human rights and social policies while being honored with the "Public Administration Award" from Ankara University in Turkey. Over 13 years of teaching and researching environmental issues and sustainability within the urban context. Experience in creating project frameworks, working with NGOs, managing international projects, and providing consultancy to institutions and research companies at different levels. Currently teaching and advising graduate students in urban and environmental studies at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences in Giresun University, Türkiye.
