Latest news with #KingAbdulazizCity
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Saudi students honored for international success
RIYADH: Students from Tuwaiq Academy enjoyed outstanding success at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition in Malaysia, where they won 12 gold medals and 16 special awards. Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, director of the Saudi Data and AI Authority's National Data Management Office, said the students' performance reflected their creativity and global competitiveness. He praised them for positively representing the Kingdom, adding the achievement stemmed from ongoing investment in human capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported. A ceremony honoring the students included a visual presentation on their participation and an exhibition highlighting their projects. Two winners also gave talks about their journeys, challenges and lessons learned. Meanwhile, the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program was recently launched at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, bringing together more than 90 gifted students from across Saudi Arabia. Organized by King Abdulaziz City through Academy 32, in partnership with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, the program aims to introduce students to the basics of scientific research and promote innovation. It connects participants with research centers and experts, offers practical training and encourages contributions to local scientific content. Academy 32 CEO Amani Al-Shawi said the program helped develop young talent and prepare them for competition, citing recent successes by Saudi students including at the International Science and Engineering Fair and in Malaysia.
Arab News
26-06-2025
- Science
- Arab News
KAUST develops new cooling technology to improve efficiency and lifespan of solar panels
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has made a notable research breakthrough, developing a new composite material that improves the efficiency and lifespans of the cells used in solar panels through cooling. The new technology has the potential to cut down the maintenance cost of solar cells, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Results of the study, carried out in partnership with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, were published in the journal Materials Science and Engineering. The study targeted the issues of commercial solar panels, which only convert around 20 percent of sunlight into electricity, while the remainder is absorbed as heat or reflected away. Other problems include high temperatures, which reduce the efficiency and performance of the cells, shortening their lifespan and demanding more frequent replacement. This means that cooling is essential, yet traditional cooling systems such as fans and pumps consume electrical energy; passive cooling, on the other hand, requires no electricity. Prof. Chiaochiang Gan, lead researcher at KAUST, explained that the nanomaterials used in the passive cooling process are thin substances that can be applied to multiple systems that demand cooling, such as solar cells and agricultural greenhouses, without affecting their performance. He said that the study, conducted through the Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies, led to the creation of a material that absorbs moisture from the air at night and releases it during the day. Covering solar cells with this material, when deployed in coastal areas of Saudi Arabia for weeks, helps keep them cool. The passive cooling technology also helps reduce the cost of generating electricity from these cells by 18 percent. Experiments were also conducted in cold and rainy regions of the US to test its effectiveness in different climate conditions; the results proved the technology effective in all environments. Preliminary studies also show that other applications for the material include light-emitting devices, which typically suffer from reduced efficiency at higher temperatures. Abdullah Al-Muqbil, researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics and Semiconductors, director of the Optics and Electronics Center of Excellence at KACST, and co-author of the study, noted that these findings also open up potential for application in lighting and laser technologies. The research team at KAUST achieved a record-breaking performance in solar cell efficiency due to their specialized designs, showcasing the diverse expertise at the university, according to SPA. The Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies is one of four research centers of excellence run by KAUST. It aims to support the Kingdom's national goals in fields such as artificial intelligence, food security, renewable energy and storage technologies and smart health.
Arab News
05-06-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Advanced tech enhances Hajj crowd management
ARAFAT: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, is using high-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial artificial intelligence and real-time data during the Hajj season. These tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency, with the analysis covering entry points to Makkah to observe vehicle flow and peak times. They also track crowd density around the Grand Mosque and analyze pilgrimage routes to predict mobility patterns and congestion, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The technology supports immediate decision-making by providing accurate data and improving crowd distribution. It also ensures safe mobility and enhances coordination among operational teams on the ground. The collaboration presents an advanced model for using geospatial technologies, helping improve safety and increase field operation efficiency during Hajj.
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
New environmental monitoring technologies used for this year's Hajj
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Environmental Compliance has begun using new satellite monitoring technologies to protect the environment for this year's Hajj. The NCEC uses satellite data to monitor and analyze environmental media, including air, water and soil quality. The center relies on satellites to monitor environmental challenges across wide geographic areas at high speed, enabling emergency teams to quickly reach affected sites. Hani Al-Subhi, director-general of the Makkah Region branch, spoke to Arab News about the center's use of satellite technology. 'These technologies help pinpoint the precise locations of environmental challenges, facilitating a rapid response and enhancing the provision of a healthy, pollutant-free environment for pilgrims,' he said Meanwhile, Abu Talib Zaki, a technical expert in monitoring, spoke about how the center cooperates with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to collect two types of satellite imagery. The first is passive remote sensing, which measures reflections of light emitted from other objects. The second is active remote sensing, which uses light from the satellite itself to create images. The spatial resolution of the images used reaches 30 cm, meaning that each pixel of the image covers 30x30 cm, allowing for high-precision monitoring of environmental phenomena. The National Center for Environmental Compliance earlier this week completed 90 percent of the preemptive inspections to ensure the safety of water, air, and soil for Hajj. Monitoring efforts will continue until pilgrims complete their rituals in a healthy, pollutant-free environment. The center also uses nine air quality monitoring stations — six located in Makkah and the holy sites and three in Madinah. These stations operate around the clock to measure air quality, and if any pollutant is detected, field teams are dispatched immediately to the site to identify the source and coordinate with the authorities to eliminate the cause of pollution.
