Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted ASSESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES USED IN GREEN SAUDI INITIATIVE AFFORESTATION PROJECTS IN SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Albalawi, Raghad Mutiq; Martin, AdrianThis paper is a critical analysis of the sustainability of irrigation technologies used in afforestation projects through the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). Since Saudi Arabia is experiencing acute lack of water, desertification and climate issues, the realization of the ambitious project of SGI to plant 10 billion trees by 2030 lies in the adoption of environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable irrigation systems. This paper relied on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approaches and a systematic literature review (SLR) of 52 articles published between 2016 and 2025. The results indicate that irrigation technologies are under four categories; conventional systems, efficient systems, alternative water-use technologies, and intelligent/data-driven systems. High-efficiency irrigation techniques including drip irrigation and partial root-zone drying show high levels of water-use efficiency, with up to 50 percent lower water consumption levels, without losing yield. There are alternative water-use strategies, especially treated wastewater, which are reliable and renewable, but public opposition and health issues impede their mass acceptance. The ability to deliver transformational potential of Smart IoT-based systems integrating AI and remote sensing is limited by cost, scale and digital literacy. Analysis also reveals that although environmental advantages are promising, bad management poses a threat of soil salinization and ecological disturbance. Economically, the upfront costs are very high, which inhibits the adoption by smallholders, with the need of subsidies, financing and localization of technology. On the social front, behavioral opposition and cultural attitudes play an important role in adoption, especially as far as wastewater reuse is concerned. The paper reaches the conclusion that sustainable irrigation in the context of SGI must be balanced in mixing technological innovation, coherence of governance, funding means, and community participation. Some of the strategic recommendations are capacity-building, incentive structure, transparent communication campaign, effective monitoring system and regional cooperation. With a strategy of environmental ambition combined with economic realism and social inclusivity, SGI has the potential to become a model of sustainable greening in arid conditions internationally.13 0Item Restricted Tribological Study on Water-Based Lubricants Containing Nanocomposite of Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) & Titanium Dioxide (Tio2).(University of Wollongong, 2024) Alqarni، Ali; Wu, Hui; Jiang, ZhengyiThis study explores the potential of water-based lubricants enhanced with Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) and Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites to improve tribological performance, reduce environmental impact, and offer economic advantages. The investigation highlights the significant reduction in friction and wear achieved through the integration of these nanoparticles, with an optimal concentration of 0.25 wt% h-BN and TiO2 resulting in the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.0467, compared to 0.433 for dry conditions and 0.3135 for distilled water. This represents a friction reduction of up to 89.2% and a wear area reduction of up to 86%. This study explores the potential of water-based lubricants enhanced with h-BN and TiO2 nanocomposites to improve tribological performance, reduce environmental impact, and offer economic advantages. The investigation highlights the significant reduction in friction and wear achieved through the integration of these nanoparticles, with an optimal concentration of 0.25 wt% h-BN and TiO2 resulting in the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.0467, compared to 0.433 for dry conditions and 0.3135 for distilled water. This represents a friction reduction of up to 89.2% and a wear area reduction of up to 86%. The study also addresses technical challenges in scaling up production while maintaining nanoparticle dispersion stability and long-term performance. Future research directions include longitudinal studies on stability, optimisation of nanoparticle concentrations, and comprehensive environmental and economic lifecycle analyses. The integration of h-BN and TiO2 nanocomposites in lubrication technology promises to enhance energy efficiency, reduce maintenance and downtime, and align with sustainability goals, positioning these advanced lubricants as a transformative solution for the tribology field and related industries.15 0Item Restricted The economic viability of blue hydrogen production: Forecasting Saudi production cost of blue hydrogen.(City, University of London, 2023-09-01) Alfaifi, Abdulaziz; Tamvakis, Michael; Alshammari, YousefAs global energy demands are surging and concerns over environmental sustainability intensify, the hydrogen emerges as a promising solution towards clean energy production and storage. This dissertation delves into the economic viability of blue hydrogen production in Saudi Arabia with the focus of the forecasting of production costs. By encompassing the evaluation of various hydrogen types, blue hydrogen applications, and an estimation of production costs according to historical feedstock prices. The literature review scrutinizes different hydrogen types with their economic feasibility in the context of blue hydrogen production. Consideration of cost competitiveness, environmental impact, and scalability lays the groundwork forward to insights. Furthermore, the examination of blue hydrogen's applications elucidates industries poised to benefit from future possible investments in this energy carrier, while also diving into potential challenges and opportunities. Employing a meticulous methodology, forecasting the production cost of Saudi blue hydrogen, placing particular emphasis on feedstock prices. By utilizing ARMA model to leverage forecasted natural gas prices, thereby shedding light on the relationship between feedstock costs and hydrogen production expenses. The results and recommendations have strategic insights and actionable suggestions. By comparing decisions made at the oil and gas industry, this dissertation positions itself at the intersection of industry growth stages. The findings offer suggestion for a transition from the emerging phase to the mature phase in early growth market, with an emphasis on cost-saving strategies and optimizing resource. A pivotal finding emerges in understanding the influence of natural gas prices on production costs of Saudi Aribia. The dissertation implies the significance of efficiently managing feedstock prices and subsidy costs. Implications extend to both national and international contexts as well, particularly in steering the export decision concern of blue hydrogen and blue ammonia. This dissertation holds significant relevance for particularly energy economists in Saudi Arabia, providing them with a nuanced understanding of the economic dynamics that are shaping the production and export of blue hydrogen that is by the insights from the dissertation into the interplay of feedstock prices, industry growth stages, and strategic decision-making, this dissertation contributes to a more informed energy landscape.87 0