New Academic Year 2011/2012

Fall 2011 term at the University of Tripoli just started this week.  Lectures will star next week
This term I'll be teaching two courses:
CE 414  Pavement Analysis and Design
CE 416  Highway Geometric Design
Students registered in these courses are welcome to visit the course group page on the web by clicking on the course number above.
At the course page you can download course material (lecture notes, homeworks, handouts, ..) and communicate with the tutor and course mates and participate in the group discussions.  Give it a try!

CE 314 Highway Engineering : I will not teach this course this term but students interested in my book in Arabic can get it from the bookstore or by it online from the following website

Nellwafurat.com

Happy Aied عيد سعيد

الى كل الاصدقاء وزوار الموقع من المسلمين بمناسبة عيد الفطر السعيد
To all Muslim friends and vistors in the occasion of the Aied

Back to the Internet العودة للشبكة

الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

ها هي خدمة الشبكة تعود بعد انقطاع دام لاكثر من 6 اشهر

عدنا وقد اصبحت ليبيا حرة بفضل الله

عدنا لنعمل بروح جديدة وحماسة كبيرة لنعوض ما فات من زمن

نأمل ان تستمر خدمة الاتصال بالشبكة وان تتطور في المستقبل

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يسرني ان اطمئن الجميع بانني وكافة افراد الاسرة وكذلك الاقارب والاصدقاء بخير

وسوف نستأنف الكتابة في هذه المدونة عن نشاطاتنا خلال الفترة المقبلة

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Dear friends,

Finally, we have internet access again after 6 months

We are well and safe

I will resume posting in the coming days

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2010 SUMMARY

Hello dear friends and vistors:

I have to say that during this year 2010 my blogging performance wasn't up to level. Actually it was below average compared to the previous year.
Anyway, work performance was very good and a lot of achievements were recorded. We have finished all project stages as planned. The only restriction – as usual- was the cashflow, due to the delay invoice clearance and payment by clients.

• Two consultation projects are 100% completed.
• Two consultation projects are 50% progress
• Two MS thesis were submitted and passed.

 For those who are interested in more details, they can follow links below:
1. Completion of studies and design for the maintenance of Mizda-Brak Highway
2. Completion of study to determine PG-binder for highway construction in Libya
3. Submission of phase one of the Libyan Specification for Highway Construction
4. Submission of phase one of the Libyan Standards for Highway Design

Looking forward for the new year 2011, a lot of consultation, research and teaching work will be carried out. I'll try to improve my blogging performance in order to maintain better contact and interaction with friends and colleagues.

 Happy new year 2011 for everybody with best wishes

Djerba mission

I have been to a  new interesting experiment last week in Djerba Tunisea.
Myself, Prof. M K Ali, Prof. R Dayef and Mr. I Swissi members of the sprcifications committee spent one week in Djerba working in drafting the Libyan Specification for Highway Construction.  The accommodation and surraounding environment was excelent.  We devoted moste of the time to work.  We also had enjoied our stay together, eating, chating and walking.  I want to thank all of them for thier cooperation and great company.

Libyan Specification for Highway Construction

A new Specification for highway construction in Libya will be issued in 6 months.
The Road and Bridge Department of Libya contracted with a Libyan consulting company (Omran Engineering Consultants , OEC) to prepare a new specification for highway construction in Libya. Omran Engineering Consultants appointed a special committee to carry out research and editing tasks to prepare the required specifications. The committee comprised of number of distinguished academics and experts in highway engineering. The committee launched a website for the project and call for all researchers, experts and engineers interested in the preparation and application of the specification to contact the committee with their proposals and ideas. The committee promised to publish the draft of the specifications on web, for all interested parties and individuals and welcomed their feedback.

Resuming posting

It is being very long time since I’ve posted anything (March 2009). The main reasons that I’m very busy and I do posting in other blogs (specific blogs for teaching and work etc.)

I’ll post some interesting photos and stories from my visit to China soon.

Installing more stations for PG study in Libya

Two researchers from OEC (Abdulalim Youns and Jamal Aghbash) started a new phase of the field study to install another 5 monitoring stations. This phase includes Agdabya, Abozrreg, Gatron, Jofra and Derna. These monitoring stations are to measure the asphalt temperature and other envronmental data as air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed. This field work is a crusial part of the comprehensive research study that will lead to the determination of the proper PG asphalt binder for Libyan pavements. More details could be found at PG for Libya site.

Reopening of Sabratha Museums

The Roman and Punic museums in Sabratha have been reopened on 14th March 2009 after completion of the revamping and upgrading project.

For more info click here.

Gabar Aown

Gabar Aown the most famous touristic desert destination in Libya. The name “Gabar Aown “ means Aown’s tomb. Actually, I don’t know who’s Aown? It looks that he is some one who died and buried there. There is a tomb buried in the sand dune beside the Lake. Gabar Own is a salty lake located in the middle of the desert about 50 Kms to the south of Sabha. It is not the only Lake but it is the biggest of number of Lakes scattered in the valley of Gabar Own. Number of them are dried.
As a treat to the participants of the Conf. on the construction in the Desert areas, the university of Sabha organized a tour at the end of the conference to Gabar Aown. About 28 pick ups (4WD) were hired from number of tour companies based in Sabha. The trip started at 9:00 am. From the Hotel Bait Sabha. The photos below explains the trip which quite typical for any group tour to Gabar Own.

Hotel Bait Sabha, the starting point

Convoy of 28 Pick ups (4WD) heading South

The first gathering at the edge of the desert


Decreasing tire pressure to decrease the contact pressure on sand


At the begininig of the off road course all vehicles are in on line


Only 4WD vehicles are operating there

Gathering in the middle of way to check all are present

Amazing sand dunes

Real adventure, profrssinal drivers

Arriving at Gabar Aown, a lake at the middle of the desert

It is easier to sit than to stand on sand dunes

Vegetation around the lake

Smart people trading here

Snack after a desert tour isn't a bad idea

Some people think that the salty water of the lake can cure

The contrast of sand and water...

note the tomb of Aown at the middle of san dune

A bottle of Gabar Aown's water is a great present

Thick forest of palms around a salty lake

One of the dried lakes

The trip was facinating and interesting. What you find in Gabar Aown deserves the effort and time of the jurney. Anybody has the chance of such a tour should not miss it.

More about the Desert Construction Conference

As promised in my last post, more about the Desert Construction Conf. took place in Sabha 23-24 Dec 2008 is posted now.

A list of the published papers is given at the end of this post (in Arabic). Anybody interested in obtaining a copy of any of the papers can contact me and I'll be happy to send it.
The following are photos show different activities from the conf.

The opening cermony

Commenting on a speaker


Chairing a session

Lecturing

Receiving a honor certificate


Group memorial photo

At the conf. dinner



Entertainment during the conf. dinner



Accommodation at Hotel Bait Sabha

Gabar Own – the conf. tour

A special post will be devoted to Gabar Own tour will be posted soon. It will contain a lot pf pics.

عناوين الابحاث المنشورة في مؤتمر التشييد في المناطق الصحراوية (سبها 22-24 / 12/ 2008)

عناوين الابحاث المنشورة في مؤتمر التشييد في المناطق الصحراوية (سبها 22-24 / 12/ 2008)

المحور الأول : أسس تصميم المنشاءات في البيئة الصحراوية

1. تصميم المستوطنات الجديدة في المناطق الصحراوية

2. التخطيط العمراني والتنمية المستدامة للمدن الصحراوية

3. العزل الحراري وأثره في توفير معدلات استهلاك الطاقة للمباني السكنية .

4. حوض مرزق ودوره الحيوي في النمو العمراني

5. الإنسان وبيئته المبنية في المناطق الصحراوية

6. المدن التقليدية على أساس فلسفة مدرسة التبيؤ التفافي

7. العزل الحراري في المباني

8. الدراسات الهندسية وأسس تصميم العبارات

9. عمارة بيئية لبيئة صحراوية

المحور الثاني : مواد التشييد الملائمة للبيئة الصحراوية

1. البيتومين الرملي

2. استخدام جص الجبس في البناء وخاصة في المناطق الصحراوية وشبه الصحراوية

3. إعادة تدوير مخلفات البناء الصلبة واستخدامها في صناعة مواد البناء

4. أثر أضافة المواد المحسنة على سلوك البيتومين والخلطات الإسفلتية

5. سلوك ألانثناء لكمرات مركبة من الطوب والفيروسمنت

6. تأثير الحرارة والرطوبة على بعض أنواع الخرسانة

7. تأثير الكبريتات على الخلطات الخرسانية

8. الاستفادة من غبار مصانع الأسمنت في صناعة مواد البناء

9. استخدام طريقة الثلاثة معادلات لتصميم الخلطات الخرسانية

10 . تأثير الحجم الواحد للركام على مقاومة الضغظ للخرسانة

11 . تأثير مسحوق الآجر المحروق على بعض خواص الخرسانة

المحور الثالث : تنفيذ الإنشاءات في البيئة الصحراوية

1. دراسة النظام الحراري للرصف الأسفلتى في جنوب الجماهيرية

2. احتياطات السلامة في أعمال صيانة المنشاءات الخرسانية

3. مقترح دليل الطرق الأسفلتية فى ليبيا

4. تأثير الحمولات الحرارية والأستاتيكية على أنحناء الكمرات الخرسانية

5. الأنشائى المعماري

6. تكنولوجيا الخرسانة المقدوفة

7. نحو دليل ليبي لضبط الجودة في مشروعات الطرق

8. تأثير التركيبة الإنشائية للمباني السكنية على استهلاك الطاقة

9. عيوب الطرق الإسفلتية بمنطقة فزان وطرق أصلاحها

10 . الحجارة وأستعمالتها في المباني

المحور الرابع : الهندسة الجيوتقنية في أعمال المشاريع الهندسية

1. المعالجة البيئية لمشكلة زحف رمال زلاف على الطريق العام سبها – براك

2. زحف الرمال على الطرق الصحراوية

3. دراسة عن حقول الكثبان الرملية وتقييم مخاطر زحف الرمال للمنطقة مابين سبها ووادى الشاطئ

4. انتفاخ التربة في المناطق الصحراوية

5. دراسة معملية لتسرب المياه خلال الترب الرملية تحت المنشاءات الهيدروليكية

6. تثبيث الكثبان الرملية المتاخمة للطريق العام سبها – أوباري بواسطة الأنبات

Construction in Desert Conference update

I was supposed to post about this since two weeks ago. The conference took place in Sabha Culture House as planned (23-24 December 2008). The conference was successful at all levels; organization, papers, attendance, ..etc. The conf. attracted a great deal of media coverage. The opening session was broadcasted live on the Libyan TV and number of news reports and interviews with participants were broadcasted as well. The venue was a great place for conference; I was surprised to see a place like this in Sabha. The accommodation as well was very good; it was in Hotel Byet Sabha. On the third day of the conf. a tour was organized to Gabbar Own and it was great as well.
I’ll try to post the titles of the papers published in the conf. proceedings and I’ll be happy to help anyone interested in getting a copy of any of them.

First Conference on Construction in Desert Areas

The first conference on construction in desert areas will be held in Sabaha on the 22nd to 24th December 2008. It is organized by the department of civil engineering , faculty of engineering, university of Sabha. The theme of the conference is devoted to the problems of construction in the desert environment. More than 35 papers will be presented and discussed during the conference. They cover number of subjects as planning, building, roads and environmental issues. More information about the conference are available at the conference website (Arabic).
A post conference report will be posted here.

PG Study Update

First Stage Report Issued

The first stage of the comprehensive study of determining the asphalt binder for highway pavements in Libya (PG_Libya Study) is almost over and the Report has been issued and submitted to the Road and Bridge Department.

This report contains the results of the data collection, analysis of weather parameters, an overview of Superpave mix design and a sample of the recorded data from the launched monitoring stations .

This study includes the installation of 11 monitoring stations distributed in different regions of Libya.

Each station is equipped to measure and record pavement temperature, air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed.
Two stations (Wadi El-hai in the Northwest and Tamenhent near Sabha in the South) already in service and more stations are under construction. It is expected that all of the stations will start work at the beginning of 2009.

This study is carried out by Omran Engineering Consultants.

Greetings from California

Greeting to all friends and co-workers in Libya and everywhere all over the world. This post is published from Anahiem, Los Angeles, California. I've arrived to Los Angeles on 22.08.2008 for a multipurpose trip. The main reason for coming here is to attaind the IECC5 (Fifth International Conference of the American Socity of Civil Engineers) that took place during 27-29 August 2008, in Irvine. The other reason that make me come earley almost one week before the conference is to have a brief tour in Clifornia. Actually, this was my first visit to California. I'll share with you part of my experience through this post and future post when I get back home and find more time to talk about this fascinating trip. For the time beign I'll post number of pics with a brief captions and will leave details to future posts.

Presenting a paper in the conference. The title was "Asphalt Pavement Temperature Models for Libya". This is reporting of the research work we have done last year, that I've mentioned in an earlear post. The conference was interesting and very successful.

At the Conference's Banquet, with Dr. Ammar from the Nahreen Univ. (Iraq) and Mr. Al Janabi of Nakheel Marinas (Dubai).

View of Los Angeles highway captured through the car window. LA got one of the remarkable freeway networks in the world. At the Southeren entrance to LA city you'll ride over a 5-level highway intersection. Chevorlet Malibu, the rented car I've used in touring California. I've drove from LA to San Francisco, back yo La and then to Irvine. It is the best way to move around in California. The car rent is cheap BUT the fuel is very expensive.

The Cable care is still in operation in the streets of San Francisco. 0-emission mode of urban transport.

The Golden Gate Bridge that connects San Francisco to the mainland. It is Red not gold but it is a great civil engineering project. It is a long story, may be we will come back to it in future.


In front of the City Hall in San Francisco. One of the land marks of this uniqe city. There is a lot to be said about this fascinating city.

Check this blog from time to time for future updates.

Spring 2008

TIME SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2008

This Spring I'm teaching 3 courses, two undergraduate courses at the University of Al-Fatah and one graduate course at the Academy of Graduate Studies. I'm also supervising 5 MS thises at the two institutions. The time table is as follows:

Sat/Mon : CE314 (11:00 - 12:30) CE517 (14:00 - 15:30)
Wed : TE606 (12:00 - 15:00)

For info about each course please visit the course webpage using the links on the right side bar.

TE 610 Course Launched

Today was the first licture in TE610; the subject was World Climate with special reference to Hot Arid Climates. For more info about the course, please visit the course webpage. It contains announcements, notes, assays ..etc. and you can post your questions and comments.

Happy Aied .. عيد سعيد

Happy Aied to all Muslim bloggers and readers

Long time I have not posted "since March 2007". It was due to being busy at work and travelling. But I do read some Libyan blogs from time to time. This Eied was a great time to be with family, relatives and friends. The only foto I have on my PC ready for post is this for my son Walied on the hourse back. Hopefuly this return to blogging will be followed by more useful post soon.