Youssef Islam

Designing an electronic hand for measuring the distance and temp, and humidity

Upcycling and waste management a great big topics to talk about, So we decided
that we couldn’t propose a solution for it in such a short time like two months,
that’s why we determined to take only one topic of Environmental toxic material,
which was the plastic, we found that plastic problem is limited into two aspects,
the first one was, plastic breaks down, and the second one was long-life
degradable, So we solved the first problem by inventing the preparation system
that makes the plastic goes into several stages to overcome this issue, the stages
are the following:

1. Filtration technologies
2. Additives to strengthen polymer chains
3. Surface treatments
4. UV protection against degradation
   The second one was non-solvable, so we decided to take advantage of it; by
   making plastic roads instead of asphalt.
   However, we had an issue with the plastic roads themselves, which was more
   related to the design of the road that gives it the ability to cut off the
   infrastructure whenever there is a maintenance process, so after some research
   and architecture designing, we got to the solution of 180deg rotation.

The climate crisis is accelerating, and extreme heat is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous and widespread consequences. Regions already vulnerable—such as parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and the southwestern United States—are facing record-breaking temperatures, with more than 1.2 billion people at risk of heat stress. In many of these areas, the built environment is not only unprepared but actively harmful: traditional homes have been replaced with concrete and steel structures that trap heat, and air conditioning remains inaccessible or unreliable, especially in low-income or rural communities. In response to this growing threat, our team developed TAIU (Technology Architecture Infrastructure Urbanization), a sustainable housing and living system that combines traditional cooling wisdom with smart technology to make extreme heat environments more livable.
We hypothesized that by integrating passive design strategies—such as air-gapped pottery walls inspired by Nubian architecture—with dynamic, sensor-driven features like adaptive roofs, smart glass, and PCM (Phase Change Material) insulation, we could reduce indoor temperatures and energy demand without sacrificing comfort. Our solution offers a four-part system: architectural design using breathable, pottery-based materials; a smart, motorized roof that tilts and rotates based on temperature and sunlight to enhance ventilation; an app-connected platform for real-time control and monitoring; and community-wide outdoor features including shaded zones, hydration stations, and solar-powered resilience centers. Together, these components form a unified response to rising heat, blending cultural respect with cutting-edge engineering.
Through early testing and expert consultation with structural engineers and climate scientists, we’ve validated our core design choices and confirmed that pottery walls can lower indoor temperatures by up to 5°F. Our app enables users to control their indoor climate intuitively, and outdoor features ensure that communities, not just homes, stay safe. TAIU is modular, affordable ($9,150–$12,800 per home), and adaptable for both new builds and retrofits. By empowering communities with climate-responsive infrastructure, TAIU transforms extreme heat from a survival threat into a solvable design challenge—delivering a future where comfort, dignity, and sustainability go hand in hand.
TAIU is more than just a housing solution—it’s a movement toward climate justice, resilience, and human dignity. In a world where rising temperatures threaten to displace millions, we believe everyone deserves the right to feel safe, comfortable, and at home. By fusing ancient wisdom with future-ready innovation, TAIU offers not just shelter from the heat but a blueprint for thriving in it. With each structure we build, we’re not only cooling homes—we’re restoring hope, equity, and the possibility of a livable future for the world’s hottest regions.