This study fills a significant need in the literature by exploring the efficacy of wearable technologies as helpful aids for special needs students in Saudi Arabia. This 12-month quantitative study used a purposive sample of 150 kids representing a range of disability classifications. This study examines the effects of wearable technology, such as smartwatches and augmented reality goggles, on students’ concentration and performance in the classroom. Wearable technology offers great promise, as descriptive statistics show that the experimental group had better involvement and academic achievement. The experimental and control groups vary significantly in terms of academic performance and engagement, as shown by independent samples t-tests. Wearable technology’s distinct benefits are further shown by regression analysis, which shows a favorable correlation with academic achievement after the intervention. According to the results, wearable tech has great promise for inclusive education in Saudi Arabia. Strategic integration, teacher professional development, ongoing research, better accessibility, and wearable gadget customization are some of the suggestions. Stakeholders may use these recommendations as a road map to build a welcoming and technologically sophisticated classroom. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on assistive technology, especially in Saudi Arabia, and has important implications for academics, politicians, and educators.
The urban solid waste (USW) emanating from the increasing urbanisation calls for concern. Integrating cart pushers into the private sector participation (PSP) may bridge the lacuna in sub-urban planning and PSP truck inefficiencies, especially in developing countries. There is a paucity of studies concerning cart pushers’ role in sub-urban and issues hindering them from achieving Sustainable Development Goals (1 and 11) in developing countries. Thus, the study seeks to appraise cart pushers’ role in Nigeria’s sub- and urban areas, investigate their challenges, and propose measures to improve the achievement of the Goals by integrating them into PSP waste management systems. The researchers utilised a qualitative approach using face-to-face interviews and observation. The study covered seven of Nigeria’s major cities, including Lagos, Kano, and Abuja. Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted. The participants include selected waste managers, NGOs in waste-related matters, cart pushers, legislators, households, environment and housing experts, and solid waste government agencies/regulators. The researchers adopted a thematic approach to analyse the collected data and presented it in a theme pattern. Findings reveal that despite the significance of cart pushers to the three pillars of sustainable development, including stimulating support for potential employment creation and sustainable cities and communities in Nigeria, they face challenges in their daily operation. The study proposed a revised USWM policy, where the informal waste sector should be embraced and recognised with specific rules and regulations. This is germane to improve achieving SDGs 1 and 11. This study holds significant implications for USWM policymakers and other stakeholders in embracing and integrating cart pushers into the formal waste collection process supported by statutory regulations to enhance practice. Also, this concept will increase employment opportunities and improve achieving Goals 1 and 11 in Nigeria.
In the domains of geological study, natural resource exploitation, geological hazards, sustainable development, and environmental management, lithological mapping holds significant importance. Conventional approaches to lithological mapping sometimes entail considerable effort and difficulties, especially in geographically isolated or inaccessible regions. Incorporating geological surveys and satellite data is a powerful approach that can be effectively employed for lithological mapping. During this process, contemporary RS-enhancing methodologies demonstrate a remarkable proficiency in identifying complex patterns and attributes within the data, hence facilitating the classification of diverse lithological entities. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain the lithological units present in the western section of the Sohag region. This objective will be achieved by integrating Landsat ETM+ satellite imagery and field observations. To achieve our objectives, we employed many methodologies, including the true and false color composition (FCC&TCC), the minimal noise fraction (MNF), principal component analysis (PCA), decoration stretch (DS), and independent component analysis (ICA). Our findings from the field investigation and the data presented offer compelling evidence that the distinct lithological units can be effectively distinguished. A recently introduced geology map has been incorporated within the research area. The sequence of formations depicted in this map is as follows: Thebes, Drunka, Katkut, Abu Retag, Issawia, Armant, Qena, Abbassia, and Dandara. Implementing this integrated technique enhances our comprehension of geological units and their impacts on urban development in the area. Based on the new geologic map of the study area, geologists can improve urban development in the regions by detecting building materials “aggregates”. This underscores the significance and potential of our research in the context of urban development.
In light of swift urbanization and the lack of precise land use maps in urban regions, comprehending land use patterns becomes vital for efficient planning and promoting sustainable development. The objective of this study is to assess the land use pattern in order to catalyze sustainable township development in the study area. The procedure adopted involved acquiring the cadastral layout plan of the study area, scanning, and digitizing it. Additionally, satellite imagery of the area was obtained, and both the cadastral plan and satellite imagery were geo-referenced and digitized using ArcGIS 9.2 software. These processes resulted in reasonable accuracy, with a root mean square (RMS) error of 0.002 inches, surpassing the standard of 0.004 inches. The digitized cadastral plan and satellite imagery were overlaid to produce a layered digital map of the area. A social survey of the area was conducted to identify the specific use of individual plots. Furthermore, a relational database system was created in ArcCatalog to facilitate data management and querying. The research findings demonstrated the approach's effectiveness in enabling queries for the use of any particular plot, making it adaptable to a wide range of inquiries. Notably, the study revealed the diverse purposes for which different plots were utilized, including residential, commercial, educational, and lodging. An essential aspect of land use mapping is identifying areas prone to risks and hazards, such as rising sea levels, flooding, drought, and fire. The research contributes to sustainable township development by pinpointing these vulnerable zones and providing valuable insights for urban planning and risk mitigation strategies. This is a valuable resource for urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions to optimize land use and promote sustainable development in the study area.
Studies show that the COVID-19 crisis may threaten to attain sustainable development goals connected with shelter in developing countries, including Malaysia. Low-cost housing provision has been identified as one tool for achieving sustainability goals via synergistic operations. However, studies about post-COVID-19 housing and sustainable development goals integration are scarce in Malaysia. The study investigated the state of post-COVID-19 housing and developed a framework to integrate Goals in housing provision in Malaysia. The study covered four major cities in Malaysia via qualitative research to achieve the study’s objectives. The researchers engaged forty participants via semi-structured virtual interviews, and saturation was achieved. The study utilized a thematic analysis for the collated data and honed them with secondary sources. Findings show that COVID-19 reduced the possibility of low-income earners becoming homeowners. This is because the low-income groups were real losers of COVID-19 economic changes. Also, findings reveal that achieving four Goals from the 17 Goals will improve housing provision in Malaysia’s post-COVID-19 era. The study encourages key housing stakeholders to improve housing delivery, especially for the low-income earners across Malaysia in the post-COVID-19 era. This will imply contributing to achieving four Goals because of the correlation, as part of the study’s implications.
The developmental and advancement of engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological research and development (R&D) has contributed immensely to sustainable development (SD) initiatives, but our future survival and development are hampered by this developmental and advancement mechanism. The threat posed by current engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological practices is obvious, calling for a paradigm change that ensures engineering as well as scientific and technological practices are focused on SD initiatives. In order to promote sound practices that result in SD across all economic sectors, it is currently necessary to concentrate on ongoing sustainable engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological education. Hence, this perspective review article will attempt to provide insight from Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria to be specific) about how engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological R&D should incorporate green technologies in order to ensure sustainability in the creation of innovations and practices and to promote SD and a green economy. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance as well as prospects and advancements of engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological education from the in Sub-Saharan Africa context.
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