The Department of Architecture – College of Engineering / Al-Nahrain University hosted the public defense of the master’s student Shahad Abdelfattah Abdullah for her thesis entitled:

“the Role of the Shatt al-Arab River in Mitigating Climate Change Impacts on Basra’s Urban Environment”

on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Al-Furat Hall, Department of Architecture.

The thesis primarily aims to highlight the environmental and urban significance of the Shatt al-Arab River as a strategic element in improving Basra’s local climate. It explores the potential of applying Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles to regenerate its waterfront and urban edges. The research integrates QGIS and remote-sensing spatial climate analysis with sustainable urban regeneration strategies to propose practical frameworks for climate adaptation.

The main findings indicate that reactivating the ecological and urban role of the Shatt al-Arab provides an effective solution to address climate challenges in Basra. The river enhances cooling, improves relative humidity, reduces the urban heat island effect, and increases thermal comfort for residents. The study also introduced the Basra WSUD Resilience Index, showing medium-to-high applicability of WSUD in the city, accompanied by design proposals to transform the riverbanks into open green corridors that support urban sustainability.

The examining committee consisted of the following professors:

• Prof. Dr. Haitham Abdulhassan Ali / Al-Nahrain University / College of Engineering / PhD / Urban Planning / Chairman

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Nada Subhi Abdulmajeed / Northern Technical University / College of Technical Engineering / PhD / Sustainable Environment & Green Architecture / Member

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Dhiaa Hameed Yasi / Al-Nahrain University / College of Engineering / PhD / Urban Design / Member

• Prof. Dr. Suzan Abdulhassan Ibrahim / Al-Nahrain University / College of Engineering / PhD / Architecture & Environment / Supervisor

After the thorough scientific discussion and evaluation by the committee, and upon reviewing the student’s defense, the researcher Shahad Abdelfattah Abdullah was awarded the Master’s degree in Architecture