KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced that it has proposed solutions to address environmental crises facing urban cities in Kuwait through a study titled “Crisis Management and Decision Support for Sustainable Smart Cities.” Engineer Dana Al-Enezi from the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at the KISR told KUNA that the study presented by the institute was presented at the International Conference on Smart Management and Innovation for Sustainable Cities recently.

Al-Enezi added that the study, in which Dr Ali Al-Dosari, Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, and Dr Ahmed Hassan from Matrouh University in Egypt participated, in addition to specialist Ahood Al-Enezi from the Ministry of Health, provided an integrated system to support decisions and early warning with the aim of enhancing environmental risk management strategies. She explained that the study provided a number of technical and scientific solutions to address these crises, most notably the installation of sensors in rainwater drainage networks to help monitor flood-prone areas early, allowing for preventive measures to be taken to reduce potential damage to infrastructure.

The solutions also include applying earthquake resistance standards in buildings, especially in the northern and southern regions of Kuwait, which have witnessed repeated seismic events, in addition to using remote sensing and satellite technologies to continuously monitor environmental changes and accurately analyze geological and environmental data, in addition to developing a comprehensive database that combines spatial, geotechnical, geological, topographical, environmental, and other information.

She explained that the main objective of this study is to direct development efforts towards building smart and sustainable cities capable of adapting to the desert environment and achieving a balance between urban expansion and environmental conservation, pointing to the need for comprehensive strategies to confront climate change, enhance infrastructure, and achieve sustainable development that serves future generations.

“We studied the impact of environmental crises such as dust storms, floods, and earthquakes on real estate prices in various governorates. It became clear from the statistical data we collected that Ahmadi Governorate is the most affected by environmental crises, which was reflected in the decrease in real estate prices compared to other governorates, despite recording the highest sales rates during the period,” Engineer Al-Anzi said.

She added, “The study included 3,415 real estate records that were filtered to obtain accurate data on 2,814 properties sold at 100 percent. The results showed that weak infrastructure and poor management of facilities in some southern regions, in addition to recurring environmental crises such as floods and earthquakes, were major factors influencing the real estate market”. Regarding the impact of environmental crises on the quality of life and urban development, she stated that dust storms and heavy rains represent a major challenge to the environment and infrastructure in the country, which requires strengthening urban development plans to address these challenges. — KUNA