BURA Community:

Development of social sustainability assessment methods for solar thermal energy systems applied to industrial processes

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Development of social sustainability assessment methods for solar thermal energy systems applied to industrial processes Authors: Zafar, Imaad Abstract: This thesis assessed the social sustainability of a newly developed Solar Thermal Energy (STE) system using the following methods. First, a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was conducted using Social Hotspot Database (SHDB) inventory data to assess social risks on employees involved in producing the system’s three components: Fresnel solar collectors (SunDial), the Phase Change Material (PCM) storage tank, and the Control Unit. Next, surveys involving 56 employees engaged in the technology’s Product Development phase were conducted to assess social impact in the following impact categories: Training Satisfaction (TS), Professional Development (PD), and Working Intensity (WI). Industrial and social acceptance of the technology was then assessed through surveys with 318 industries and 279 members of the public, capturing perceptions of the system’s adoption potential, greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, and economic savings. Finally, a regression model was conducted to predict future trends in social impact and industrial acceptance over a 10-year timeframe, providing insights into long-term technological and financial improvements. Results of the S-LCA revealed substantial Health & Safety (H&S) risks for employees involved in the technology’s production, particularly in aluminium manufacturing of the PCM storage tank due to non-compliance with regional H&S policies. In the Product Development phase, positive impact was observed in PD and WI, whereas a negative impact score of -0.5 in TS revealed training provision gaps. Regression analysis identified strong correlations between social impact and influencing investments in Human Resource Management (HRM) including provision of training; PT (ρ = 0.54), employee engagement in R&D; EE, (ρ = 0.48), provision of professional development opportunities; PPD (ρ = 0.80), and task allocation; AT (ρ = 0.63), all statistically significant (p < 0.05). Next, surveys gauging the acceptance of worldwide industries showed strong results for the STE system’s technical compatibility (82%), costs (82%), and impact on standard compliance (87%), with highest scores reported by the Aerospace (92%), Metallic (89%), and Automotive (86%) industries. Acceptance was particularly strong among large companies (84%) and medium-sized companies (87%), whereas lower rates were observed for small (45%) and micro (37%) enterprises, largely due to the upfront costs of STE systems, which posed a greater financial burden for firms of this scale. Moreover, surveys involving the general public showed strong agreement with STE’s environmental benefits (86%) and willingness to consume products manufactured using STE’s clean energy goods (79%). Results of the future predictions showed that social impact on employees improved over the decade, as indicated by the probability of observing TS = 5 increased from 0.10 to 0.30 and TS = 4 from 0.35 to 0.60 due to annual investment in EE. Similarly, the probability of observing PD = 5 increased from 0.20 to 0.50 and WI = 4 from 0.25 to 0.50 from investment in PPD and AT, respectively. Industrial acceptance also marginally improved over the decade; most notably, AC = 5 rose from 0.44 to 0.52, and AC = 4 increased from 0.41 to 0.46. A large improvement was found amongst small and micro-sized companies as the probability of observing a high score rose 0.45 to 0.67 for small companies and 0.37 to 0.62 for micro-sized companies. The findings provide nuanced technological and monetary improvement measures to enhance the long-term sustainability and industrial relevance of newly developed STE systems. The findings of this thesis demonstrate the strong influence of targeted investments in workforce development, technological improvements, and financial support mechanisms on enhancing both social impact and industrial acceptance of STE systems over the decade. These thesis insights on influencing factors provide valuable implications for workforce managers, industrial stakeholders, and policymakers by offering practical guidance on forecasting, prioritising, and strategically allocating resources to maximise stakeholder satisfaction and support industrial adoption of current and future emerging STE deployments. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

Enhancing inclusivity at Jordan's cultural historical sites through participatory urban and architectural design, AI, and immersive technologies

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Enhancing inclusivity at Jordan's cultural historical sites through participatory urban and architectural design, AI, and immersive technologies Authors: Aljaafreh, Aseel Abstract: Very few studies have explored the application of inclusive design approaches in cultural and historic sites (CHS) with diverse requirements and principles, beyond physical accessibility. Additionally, despite eﬀorts to enhance accessibility in recent years, international accessibility news and local Jordanian newspapers indicate that many historical sites in Jordan still face signiﬁcant challenges, especially for individuals with disabilities. The main aim underscoring this PhD project is to identify the factors hindering the implementation of inclusivity in Jordanian historical sites from literary, professional, and social perspectives. Additionally, it seeks to develop tools to enhance the development process for implementing inclusivity in these historical sites using interdisciplinary approaches, participatory engagement, framework development, and digital technology. To address these challenges, the research consisted of 16 stages and adopted the Design Research Methodology (DRM). Star􀀁ng with reviewing recent literature, it extracted inclusive design principles related to cultural historical sites (CHS) using a framework synthesis approach. It then developed and tested assessment and decision-making tools based on these principles. The primary methodological tool comprises ﬁve phases and employs a traditional participatory approach. This tool was applied and tested at ﬁve cultural historical sites in Amman, Jordan, involving 28 persons with access needs and 10 technicians from the ‘’Accessible Tourism‘’ commitee. After identifying limitations of the tool, the tool evolves from an adaptation of traditional participatory methods into digital participatory methods a􀀃er introducing advantages of digital technology in the ﬁeld and conducting professionals’ insights regarding using technology, such as immersive technologies, in the design and development process. The digital developed tool employs 3D replicas, interactive technology, immersive environments, and AI algorithms to create an inclusive, user-friendly mobile App that enables both professionals and people with access needs to identify and evaluate inclusivity barriers, as well as ﬁnd proper interventions that align with legislative requirements, technical feasibility, and site appropriateness. The tool was co-tested by groups of people with access needs and professionals at cultural historical sites in Amman, Jordan, using a co-design workshop and real prototype testing. The tool supports tailored solutions for each identiﬁed barrier, reduces future maintenance needs, and safeguards the historical integrity of CHS, preserving them for future generations. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

Exploring the use and implications of comedy and humour in science and public science communication in Ghana

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the use and implications of comedy and humour in science and public science communication in Ghana Authors: Osei, Jennifer Anima Abstract: This study explores the use of comedy and humour as tools for science communication in Ghana, where public understanding of and engagement with science remains limited. While science communication bridges the gap between experts and lay audiences, traditional dissemination methods often fail to resonate with diverse communities. Globally, humour has gained traction in science communication, yet its effectiveness in Ghana’s unique cultural context remains underexplored. This research examines how humour can enhance public understanding of science, focusing on audience preferences, the willingness of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) advocates to adopt humour-based approaches, and the overall reception of comedic science performances. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and participant observation, the study evaluated the effectiveness of stand-up comedy and other humorous formats in simplifying complex scientific concepts and fostering public engagement. Key findings reveal that participants reported improved message recall, heightened engagement, and reduced feelings of intimidation when scientific content was delivered through humour-based approaches. Audiences responded most positively to formats rooted in local cultural expressions, such as satire, storytelling, and dramatized performances. The research also found that integrating humour helped connect the linguistic and educational divides, making science more accessible to marginalised communities. However, challenges such as balancing entertainment with scientific accuracy and limited institutional support were noted. These findings offer cultural and societal insights into the role of comedy in science communication in Ghana and provide practical strategies for engaging diverse audiences. Ultimately, the study contributes to global discussions on innovative science communication by demonstrating that humour can translate scientific knowledge effectively while fostering trust and a deeper connection between scientists and the public. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

Leading edge blowing: A targeted approach to reduce aerofoil noise

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Leading edge blowing: A targeted approach to reduce aerofoil noise Authors: Bakrania, Yash Abstract: This thesis investigates steady leading-edge blowing as an active flow-control strategy for reducing aerofoil self-noise from a NACA 65(12)-10 aerofoil. The work considers three noise mechanisms: trailing-edge tonal noise, leading-edge broadband turbulence-interaction noise, and separation-stall noise. Far-field acoustic measurements are combined with hot-wire anemometry, surface-pressure measurements, and aerodynamic force measurements so that the acoustic response can be interpreted alongside the underlying flow physics. The first part of the study examines trailing-edge tonal noise. The results show that leading-edge blowing can strongly suppress the discrete tonal radiation associated with a suction-side laminar separation bubble and the aeroacoustic feedback loop it supports. Under the most effec-tive conditions, tonal levels are reduced by up to 20–25 dB. The main effect is not a large shift in tonal frequency, but a weakening of the organised instability and of the flow-acoustic coupling that sustains the tone. The second part addresses leading-edge broadband noise under both isotropic and anisotropic turbulent inflow conditions. Here, the effectiveness of the control is found to depend strongly on the incoming turbulence, particularly its length scale, anisotropy, and spatial coherence. When the actuation is suitably matched to the inflow, measurable broadband reductions are achieved. These reductions are linked to a weakening of spanwise coherence and to a shortening of the effective interaction length at the leading edge, showing that the control acts by modifying the structure of the incoming disturbances before they are scattered into sound. The final part of the thesis considers separation-stall noise at high incidence. In this regime, leading-edge blowing delays the onset of stall-related separation by up to about 3.7◦ and reduces the associated low-frequency acoustic radiation by up to 5 dB. The measurements show that the blowing modifies the separated-flow topology and weakens the large-scale unsteady structures that dominate the noise generation process. Overall, the thesis shows that steady leading-edge blowing is more than a case-specific method of reducing noise. It acts as a targeted control strategy that can influence several aerofoil self-noise mechanisms through changes to the near-field flow structure. The central finding is that noise reduction is achieved by weakening the coherence and organisation of the source regions that radiate most efficiently. This provides a basis for the future design of quieter aerofoils and blade sections using tunable leading-edge actuation in applications such as aircraft, turbomachinery, propellers, and wind turbines. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London