par Verbrugghe, Nathalie 
Président du jury Bouillard, Philippe
Promoteur Khan, Ahmed Z.
Publication Non publié, 2025-11-21
Président du jury Bouillard, Philippe
Promoteur Khan, Ahmed Z.
Publication Non publié, 2025-11-21
Thèse de doctorat
| Résumé : | Freshwater scarcity is an escalating global concern, particularly in arid urban environments where conventional water networks are under increasing strain. Rapid urbanisation coupled with climate change exacerbates water stress, necessitating the exploration of unconventional freshwater resources. Fog harvesting presents a viable, low-tech, and sustainable alternative, with potential applications in urban settings. This doctoral research investigates strategies for integrating Urban Fog Collectors (UFCs) into built environments to mitigate water stress and enhance resilience. The main objective is to develop a framework that links site selection and integration strategies across multiple spatial scales. The research considers three main dimensions: (1) the identification of key design parameters for UFCs; (2) the optimisation of efficiency, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness; and (3) the assessment of where UFCs can be most effectively implemented in fog-prone urban drylands. A mixed-methods approach combines literature review, design-led analysis, laboratory and field experiments, spatial modelling, and case study validation. Part A establishes the state-of-the-art culminating into an atlas of fog-prone dryland cities, mapping fog collection projects and relevant geo-demographic data. Part B advances the technical dimension. Research by Design explores how settlement morphology shapes airflow and fog interception potential, while biomimetic mesh optimisation tests multilayer nylon-raschel configurations, inspired by the Namib Desert beetle, that outperform conventional meshes under variable wind regimes. These findings are consolidated into an integration guide through a framework, enhanced by computational tools such as CFD simulations, GIS-based multicriteria analysis, the AMARU model, and a parametric mesh assessment. Part C applies the framework through three case studies: Modular Fog Collectors (MFCs) in Lima, Peru (micro-scale, household level); Rooftop Fog Collectors (RFCs, including Building-integrated and Pavilion-integrated types) in Cape Town, South Africa (meso-scale, community level); and Fog Collector Parks (FCPs) in Alto Hospicio, Chile (macro-scale, metropolitan level). The results demonstrate that UFCs can be tailored to diverse urban contexts, with mesh configurations adapted to local conditions and spatial typologies matched to settlement form and governance structures. UFCs are not a universal solution but a transferable strategy that complements existing systems, supports urban greening and agriculture, and enhances environmental justice in water-scarce cities. By uniting technical optimisation with spatial integration and governance considerations, this thesis contributes a scientific and practical framework for reframing fog as a viable urban water resource. |
