Engaged Sustainable Futures

Academic Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Raafat, R., Goubran, S., Makhlouf, N. N., & Aboulnaga, M. (2025). Asymmetries in Global Building Envelope Air Infiltration and Tightness Data: Exploring Knowledge Gaps for Accurate Energy Analyses. Indoor Environments. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100071
Marey, A., Wang, L. L., Goubran, S., Gaur, A., Lu, H., Leroyer, S., & Belair, S. (2024). Forecasting Urban Land Use Dynamics Through Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation and Markov Chain Integration: A Multi-Scenario Predictive Framework. Sustainability, 16(23), 10255. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310255
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2024). Anticipating Emerging Research Frontiers Related to Indoor Air Quality: What Did We Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic? Journal of Sustainability Research, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20240050
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2024). Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Dashboard Framework and Index for Higher Educational Institutions. Buildings, 14(6), 1640. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061640
Geith, R., & Goubran, S. (2024). Creative transdisciplinary architectural design as means for realising the sustainable development goals in the built environment. International Journal of Technology Management, 95(3/4), 361–387. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2024.138799
Shoukry, F., Raafat, R., Tarabieh, K., & Goubran, S. (2024). Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency in University Classrooms: Exploring Trade-Offs and Synergies. Sustainability, 16(7), 2719. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072719
Nessim, M. A., Elshabshiri, A., Bassily, V., Soliman, N., Tarabieh, K., & Goubran, S. (2023). The Rise and Evolution of Wind Tower Designs in Egypt and the Middle East. Sustainability, 15(14), 10881. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410881
Marey, A., & Goubran, S. (2023). Low-Cost Portable Wireless Electroencephalography to Detect Emotional Responses to Visual Cues: Validation and Potential Applications. Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ), 28(3), 140–154. https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8547.1220
Raafat, R., Marey, A., & Goubran, S. (2023). Experimental Study of Envelope Airtightness in New Egyptian Residential Dwellings. Buildings, 13(3), 728. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030728
Goubran, S., Walker, T., Cucuzzella, C., & Schwartz, T. (2023). Green building standards and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Environmental Management, 326, 116552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116552
Bassily, V., & Goubran, S. (2023). The Shifting Urban Role of Buildings’ Facades: A Diachronic Analysis of El Korba. International Journal of Architectural and Environmental Engineering, 17(1), 48–59.
Walker, T., Goubran, S., Karami, M., Dumont-Bergeron, A., Schwartz, T., & Vico, K. (2023). Mainstreaming social impact bonds: A critical analysis. Finance Research Letters, 53(July 2022), 103546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.103546
Bassily, V., & Goubran, S. (2022). The effect of facade deterioration on urban life: a historical analysis of the Korba area in Cairo. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Architecture and Cultural Heritage, 5(2), 123-151. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijmsac.2022.276741
Cucuzzella, C., Owen, J., Goubran, S., & Walker, T. (2022). A TOD index integrating development potential, economic vibrancy, and socio-economic factors for encouraging polycentric cities. Cities, 131(July 2021), 103980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103980
Bassily, V., Abufarag, T., & Goubran, S. (2022). Heritage Buildings’ Façades as Facilitators for Local Sustainable Development: The Case of Cairo’s El Korba Area. Heritage, 5(3), 2689–2731. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030141
Marey, A., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2022). Refurbishing Classrooms for Hybrid Learning: Balancing between Infrastructure and Technology Improvements. Buildings, 12(6), 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12060738
Soulikias, A., Cucuzzella, C., Nizar, F., Hazbei, M., & Goubran, S. (2021). We gain a lot…but what are we losing? A critical reflection on the implications of digital design technologies. Open House International, 46(3), 444–458. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-02-2021-0041
Cucuzzella, C., Hazbei, M., & Goubran, S. (2021). Activating Data through Eco-Didactic Design in the Public Realm: Enabling Sustainable Development in Cities. Sustainability, 13(8), 4577. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084577
Goubran, S., Cucuzzella, C., & Ouf, M. M. (2021). Eyes on the Goal! Exploring Interactive Artistic Real-Time Energy Interfaces for Target-Specific Actions in the Built Environment. Sustainability, 13(4), 1996. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041996
Goubran, S. (2021). Sustainability in architectural design projects – a semiotic understanding. Social Semiotics, 31(4), 625–651. https://doi.org/10.1080/10350330.2019.1681062
Goubran, S., Masson, T., & Walker, T. (2020). Diagnosing the local suitability of high-rise timber construction. Building Research & Information, 48(1), 101–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2019.1631700
Goubran, S. (2019). On the Role of Construction in Achieving the SDGs. Journal of Sustainability Research 1(2). doi:10.20900/jsr20190020
Goubran, S., & Cucuzzella, C. (2019). Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in Building Projects. Journal of Sustainability Research 1(2). doi: 10.20900/jsr20190005
Cucuzzella, C., & Goubran, S. (2019). Infrastructure as a Deeply Integrated Sustainable Urban Project. Journal of Sustainability Research, 1(1). doi: 10.20900/jsr20190010
Goubran, S.; Qi, D. (Darren), & Wang, L. (Leon). (2018). Airflow and energy simulations to assess energy savings from vestibules and air curtains. ASHRAE Transactions, 124 (Part 2), 79–91.
Qi, D.; Goubran, S.; Wang, L. (Leon) L. L. & Zmeureanu, R. (2018). Parametric Study of Air Curtain Door Aerodynamics Performance Based on Experiments and Numerical Simulations. Building and Environment, 129, 65–73.
Goubran, S.; Qi, D.; & Wang, L. (Leon). (2017). Assessing dynamic efficiency of air curtain in reducing whole building annual energy usage. Building Simulation, 10(4), 497–507.
Goubran, S.; Qi, D.; Saleh, W. F. & Wang, L. (Leon). (2017). Comparing methods of modeling air infiltration through building entrances and their impact on building energy simulations. Energy and Buildings, 138, 579–590.

Refereed conference papers

Altantawy, Y., Goubran, S., & Hamdy, A. (2025). Can Artificial Intelligence and Parametric Modeling create Contextual Architecture? An Exploration of Creating Parametric Contextual Architecture using Artificial Intelligence and Digital Design Technologies. In S. Abdelmohsen, A. Bennadji, Z. Mallasi, M. Alan, & S. Alacam (Eds.), Proceedings of the 12th International Conference of the Arab Society for Computation in Architecture, Art and Design (pp. 261–275). Arab Society for Computation in Architecture, Art and Design.
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S. (2024). Indoor Improving Indoor Air Quality in Higher Educational Institutions: An Evidence-Based Approach. Proceedings of Conference at the Extremes 2024 (CATE 2024).
Rafaat,R., Allam, S., Goubran, S. (2024). The Butterfly Effect: Impact of Building Design and Occupant Behavior on Residential Energy Consumption. Proceedings of Conference at the Extremes 2024 (CATE 2024).
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., Marey, A., & Tarabieh, K. (2025). Indoor Air Quality Monitoring in Learning Spaces: A Case Study in Cairo, Egypt. In Y. Mansour, U. Subramaniam, Z. Mustaffa, A. Abdelhadi, M. Al-Atroush, & E. Abowardah (Eds.), Proceedings of the ICSDI 2024 (Vol. 2, pp. 10–17). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8348-9_2
Ebeid, D., Goubran, S., & Abouzeid, M. N. (2024). The impact of climate change on building envelope retrofits for achieving thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings in hot regions. Proceedings of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2024.
Aly, S., Ibrahim, H., Goubran, S., Hamdy, A., Mashaly, I., & Tarabieh, K. (2024). Retrofitting Our Way To A Fossil-Fuel-Free Future How Can Urban Gas Stations Be Mobilized For Climate Resilience And Sustainable Urban Environments? 37th PLEA Conference (Re)Thinking Resilience (PLEA 2024), 1128–1133. https://www.dbc.wroc.pl/dlibra/publication/165715/edition/127098/content
Raafat, R., Allam, S., Shoukry, F., Farouh, H., & Goubran, S. (2024). Air Infiltration Testing and Energy Simulation of Green Dwellings in a Social Housing Project in Egypt. 37th PLEA Conference (Re)Thinking Resilience (PLEA 2024), 135–140. https://www.dbc.wroc.pl/dlibra/publication/165715/edition/127098/content
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2024). Digital and Spatial Design Considerations in Healthy University Classrooms: How can we make use of innovative digital tools to safeguard the health and well-being of occupants and improve IAQ? 37th PLEA Conference (Re)Thinking Resilience (PLEA 2024)., 340–345.
Karimian, H., Muhammad, R., Osama, N., Ouf, M., & Goubran, S. (2024). Examining the Impact of Contextual Variables on Occupant Comfort : A Comparative Study of Thermal and Visual Comfort in Cold and Hot Climates. ASHRAE Transactions - 2024 ASHRAE Winter Conference, 722–730. https://technologyportal.ashrae.org/Papers/PaperDetail/11470?subscribed=false
Muhammad, R., Allam, S., Farouh, H., Nessim, M., & Goubran, S. (2024). Field Testing for Envelope Construction Quality in Social Housing : In situ testing of envelope air leakage to estimate energy consumption between the current and green models. In D. Newport (Ed.), International Sustainable Ecological Engineering and Design for Society Conference 2023 (pp. 330–342). Leeds Beckett University, University of Suffolk, University of West England, Bristol, University of Loughborough.
Geith, R., & Goubran, S. (2023). Realizing Sustainable Development Goal 11 in Public Realm Designs through Regional Landscaping. 11th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD). https://ic-sd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-submission_213.pdf
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2023). Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprints in Higher Education Institutions: What Can We Learn about Three University Campuses in Cairo, Beirut, and Cape Town? The International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures (ICASF 2023).
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2023). Perceived Comfort in University Classrooms Post the Pandemic: Interpretations Considering the Carbon Footprint of Learning Spaces. The 8th International ICARB Conference on Carbon Accounting, 508–532. www.icarb.org/2023-conference/papers
Eldakroury, M., Goubran, S., Abdelaziz, O. (2024). CFD-Based Ventilation Assessment of a University Building with an Integrated Windcatcher in Egypt. 2023 ASME IMECE Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Gouban, S., Tarabieh, K., & Kamel, B. (2023). Assessing Building Envelope Air Leakage and Estimating Their Energy Consequences in Egyptian New Residential Construction. In L. L. Wang, H. Ge, Z. J. Zhai, D. Qi, M. Ouf, C. Sun, & D. Wang (Eds.), 5th International Conference on Building Energy and Environment (pp. 653–659). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9822-5_69
Kotb, H., & Goubran, S. (2023). Transmission of COVID-19 Droplets Inside Buildings Due to Natural Ventilation and Air Leakage. In 5th International Conference on Building Energy and Environment (pp. 2173–2182). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9822-5_232
Shoukry, F., Goubran, S., & Tarabieh, K. (2023). Perceived Comfort in University Classrooms Post the Pandemic: Interpretations Considering the Carbon Footprint of Learning Spaces. Proceedings of the 8th International ICARB Conference on Carbon Accounting, 508–532. www.icarb.org/2023-conference/papers
Bassily, V., Abufarag, T., & Goubran, S. (2023). Preserving Built Environments for a More Sustainable Future: Built Heritage as a Contributor to the SDGs. In A. Rubbo, J. Du, M. R. Thomsen, & M. Tamke (Eds.), Design for Resilient Communities (pp. 677–698). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36640-6_48
Marey, A.; Raafat, R. & Goubran, S. (2023). Safeguarding Health and Well-Being in University Classrooms: Estimating CO₂ Concentration Based on Air Permeability. EDRA 54: Environment and Health: Global / Local Challenges and Actions, Mexico City.
Elkady, M., & Goubran, S. (2023). Learning sustainable design from modern Egyptian architecture: How the Pre-HVAC residential buildings of Sayed Karim embody contemporary sustainability principles. 36th Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA): Will Cities Survive? The Future of Sustainable Buildings and Urbanism in the Age of Emergency, 2, 636–641.
Goubran, S., Raslan, R., & Tarabieh, K. (2023). Post-Pandemic Campus Return: Evidence-Based Decision-Making for university learning spaces in Egypt. 36th Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA): Will Cities Survive? The Future of Sustainable Buildings and Urbanism in the Age of Emergency, 1, 154–159.
Bassily, V., & Goubran, S. (2022). The Shifting Urban Role of Buildings’ Facades: A Diachronic Analysis of El Korba. ICACECH 2022: XVI. International Conference on Architectural Conservation, Engineering and Cultural Heritage, 193. Online
Elshabshiri, A., Elkady, M., Abufarag, T., & Goubran, S. (2022). What Can We Learn From the Characterization of New Cairo’s Urban Voids ? 4th International Conference on Urban Planning - ICUP2022, 235–242.
Samir, S., Abufarag, T., & Goubran, S. (2022). Vertical Farming as a Nature-Based Solution for Sustainable City Regeneration: A Life Cycle Assessment. 4th International Conference on Urban Planning - ICUP2022, 293–299.
Abufarag, T., Samir, S., & Goubran, S. (2022). Women’s Perception of Spatial Safety and Participation in Historic Cairo’s Street Markets. 4th International Conference on Urban Planning - ICUP2022, 285–292.
Marey, A., & Goubran, S. (2022). Low-Cost Portable Wireless Electroencephalography to Detect Emotional Responses to Visual Cues: Validation and Potential Applications. Hybrid Spaces of the Metaverse: Proceedings of ASCAAD 2022, 140–154.
Bassily, V. & Goubran, S. (2022). The effect of facade deterioration on urban life: a historical analysis of a case study in the Korba. In the 2^nd OHI international conference: Sustainable conservation of heritage areas. Cairo, Egypt.
Cucuzzella, C., Goubran, S., & Nizar, F. (2022). Interactive Digital Art as Didactic Agents in Space: The art of eco-nudging. In K.-P. Schulz & K. Mnisri (Eds.), From disruption to development: Moving forward with the relationship between creativity and sustainability: The 4th edition of the Artem international conference on Organizational Creativity and Sustainability (ARTEM OCC) (pp. 53–54). Nancy, France.
Goubran, S., & Geith, R. (2022). Creativity, Adaptability, Transition: Advancing Sustainable Development in the Built Environment through Transdisciplinary Architectural Design. In K.-P. Schulz & K. Mnisri (Eds.), From disruption to development: Moving forward with the relationship between creativity and sustainability: The 4th edition of the Artem international conference on Organizational Creativity and Sustainability (ARTEM OCC) (pp. 53–54). Nancy, France.
Elkady, M., & Goubran, S. (2022). The Sustainability of Egyptian Modern Architecture. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1026(1), 012046. In International Conference on Sustainability: Developments and Innovations (ICSDI). Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1026/1/012046
Goubran, S., Walker, T., Cucuzzella, C., & Schwartz, T. (2022). LEED’s Contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1026(1), 012059. In International Conference on Sustainability: Developments and Innovations (ICSDI). Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1026/1/012059
Shoukry, F; Tarabieh, K. & Goubran, S. (2022). The consequences of COVID instigated recommendations for Indoor Air Quality. In Ecocity, Satellite Conference-ArchCairo 9. Cairo, Egypt.
Goubran, S.; Cucuzzella, C. & Ouf, M. (2021). Eco-Nudging: Interactive Digital Design to Solicit Immediate Energy Actions in The Built Space. In 9th International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design, American University in Cairo, online.
Soulikias, A., Cucuzzella, C., Nizar, F., Hazbei, M., & Goubran, S. (2021). We gain a lot… but what are we losing?: A critical exploration of the implications of digital design technologies on sustainable architecture, In 9th International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design, American University in Cairo, Online.
Goubran, S.; Cucuzzella, C. & Lee, B. (2019). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support the design of buildings – A case study for the design of a Net-Zero Energy interpretation center for UQROP in Quebec, Canada. In EDRA 50: Sustainable Urban Environments Research, Design and Planning for the Next 50 Years. Brooklyn, USA.
Cucuzzella, C., Goubran, S., & Kamel, M. S. (2017). “More than Waiting for the Bus” - Rethinking Sites Surrounding Bus Stops. 1st International Conference on Towards a Better Quality of Life. Gouna, Egypt. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3164281
Cucuzzella, C.; Chupin, J.-P.; & Goubran, S. (2017). CoLLaboratoire: Activating Ecological Knowledge through Community Design Experiments. In Balance-Unbalance 2017 [A Sense of Place]. Plymouth, UK.
Goubran, S.; Emond, G.; & Cucuzzella, C. (2017). Understanding Regional Sustainability in the Built Environment. In The 2nd ARTEM Organisational Creativity and Sustainability International Conference. Nancy, France.
Goubran, S.; Qi, D.; Saleh, W. F.; Wang, L. (Leon), & Zmeureanu, R. (2016). Validation of Numerical Modeling of Airflow Infiltration through Building Entrance Doors. In eSim Building Performance Simulation Conference (pp. 351–358). Hamilton, ON.
Qi, D.; Goubran, S.; Zmeureanu, R.; & Wang, L. (Leon). (2015). Effect of People on Infiltration of Building Entrance with Air Curtains. In ISHVAC-COBEE (p. 9). Tianjin, China.
Goubran, S.; Qi, D.; & Wang, L. (Leon). (2015). Annual Energy Saving Impact of Air Curtains in Commercial Reference Buildings. In ISHVAC-COBEE (p. 8). Tianjin, China.

Book Chapters

Walker, T., Wendt, S., Goubran, S., & Schwartz, T. (2024). Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: An Overview. In T. Walker, S. Wendt, S. Goubran, & T. Schwartz (Eds.), Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Innovations in Business and Financial Services (pp. 1–10). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49979-1_1
Walker, T., Cucuzzella, C., Goubran, S., & Geith, R. (2023). Toward Realizing the 2030 Agenda in the Built Environment: An Introduction. In T. Walker, C. Cucuzzella, S. Goubran, & R. Geith (Eds.), The Role of Design, Construction, and Real Estate in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (pp. 2–10). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28739-8_1
Walker, T., Tarabieh, K., Goubran, S., & Machnik-kekesi, G. (2023). Sustainable Practices in Higher Education: An Introduction. In T. Walker, K. Tarabieh, S. Goubran, & G. Machnik-Kekesi (Eds.), Sustainable Practices in Higher Education: Finance, Strategy, and Engagement (pp. 1–6). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27807-5_1
Tarabieh, K., & Goubran, S. (2023). Turning Climate Mitigation Concerns into Institutional Sustainability: Using Carbon Accounting as a Tool for Resource Management in a Desert Environment. In T. Walker, K. Tarabieh, S. Goubran, & G. Machnik-kekesi (Eds.), Sustainable Practices in Higher Education: Finance, Strategy, and Engagement (pp. 165–195). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27807-5_9
Goubran, S. (2022). How did Canada Come to Host more than 100 Categories of Sustainable Awards ? In J.-P. Chupin, C. Cucuzzella, & G. Adamczyk (Eds.), The Rise of Awards in Architecture (pp. 105–128). Vernon Press.
Walker, T., Wendt, S., Goubran, S., & Schwartz, T. (2022). Climate Change Adaptation: An Overview. In T. Walker, S. Wendt, S. Goubran, & T. Schwartz (Eds.), Business and Policy Solutions to Climate Change: From Mitigation to Adaptation (pp. 3–12). Palgrave Macmillan.
Walker, T., McGaughey, J., Goubran, S., & Wagdy, N. (2021). Expanding Our Understanding of Value Through Innovations in Social Finance. In T. Walker, J. McGaughey, S. Goubran, & N. Wagdy (Eds.), Innovations in Social Finance (pp. 3–10). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72535-8_1
Dantas, M., Goubran, S., & Wagdy, N. (2021). Preserving sustainability: activating the ecological university through collective food practice. In W. L. Filho, A. L. Salvia, & E. Frankenberger (Eds.), Handbook on Teaching and Learning for Sustainable Development (pp. 418–434). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Cucuzzella, C., & Goubran, S. (2020). Epilogue. In C. Cucuzzella & S. Goubran (Eds.), Sustainable Architecture – Between Measurement and Meaning (pp. 143–146). Vernon Press.
Schwartz, T., & Goubran, S. (2020). An introduction to the current landscape: environmental policy and the economy. In T. Walker, N. Sprung-Much, & S. Goubran (Eds.), Environmental Policy: An Economic Perspective (pp. 1–7). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.
Walker, T., & Goubran, S. (2020). Sustainable Real Estate: Transitioning Beyond Cost Savings. In D. M. Wasieleski & J. Weber (Eds.), Sustainability (Vol. 4, pp. 141–161). Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2514-175920200000004008
Goubran, S., Emond, G., & Cucuzzella, C. (2020). Understanding Regional Sustainability in the Built Environment. In K.-P. Schulz & K. Mnisri (Eds.), Pathways to Connect Creativity and Sustainable Development (pp. 337–358). PUN – Éditions Universitaires de Lorraine.
Goubran, S.; Masson, T. & Caycedo, M. (2019). Evolutions in Sustainability and Sustainable Real Estate. In T. Walker, C. Krosinsky, L. N. Hasan, & S. D. Kibsey (Eds.), Sustainable Real Estate (pp. 11–31). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (registered under Springer Nature Switzerland AG). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94565-1_3