Urban planning expert Engineer Yusuf Fawzi Azzam announced in a statement that, through his participation in a scientific study at James Madison University in the United States, the study showed a connection between climate change and its impact on the safety of buildings and infrastructure in cities. He said, "The study was divided into two parts; the first simulates the flow of rainwater in large quantities over a short period, which we had previously pointed out, while the second part simulates the rise in ground temperatures in cities. The study showed a direct impact of climate change on the structural integrity of buildings in those cities." This research builds on a 2019 study titled "The Silent Impact of Underground Climate Change on Civil Infrastructure" at Northwestern University, which indicated a danger to urban infrastructure, particularly in areas close to water, especially coastal areas. These urban grounds are typically softer and warmer than rural areas due to heat release from human activity, solar radiation, and its retention in building materials.
He continued, "This research was practically applied in the city of Chicago, where data on temperature was collected over three years through more than 150 sensors in the city. A program was used to simulate temperatures from the 1950s and predict rising temperature rates until 2050." He noted that, "According to the data, it is predicted that the ground in Chicago will rise by 12 mm by 2050, and this rise due to heat could cause cracks in the foundations and walls of some buildings."
In conclusion, he stated, "These studies showed that climate change will affect the grounds of coastal cities, which will, in turn, impact the performance of building foundations and infrastructure in the medium and long term. The recommendations centered around re-evaluating building codes and urban planning by increasing green spaces by 30%, alleviating urban densities, and reconsidering the quality of building materials."
