Asaad Almssad

My research examines how construction materials, structures, and building systems can combine technical reliability with reduced environmental impact. It focuses on concrete and cementitious materials, resource-efficient construction, and the relationships between material properties, energy performance, and building functionality over time.

A central element of my current work is the development of concrete mix designs incorporating lignin. This research explores how forest-derived resources can serve as functional constituents in cementitious materials. Key questions concern lignin properties, treatment, and dosage, as well as its interaction with cement and other constituents. This research particularly focuses on workability, curing behaviour, strength development, and durability. The objective is to identify technically reliable material solutions with the potential to reduce the climate impact of construction. Potential environmental benefits need to be evaluated in relation to processing requirements, material consumption, performance, and service life.

My published concrete research addresses the influence of curing conditions on strength development, the use of slag, biochar, and hydrochar, and concrete performance before and after fire exposure. I have also contributed to research that uses artificial neural networks to analyse and predict the mechanical properties of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. By combining experimental investigation with modelling, this work advances our understanding of the relationships between material composition, environmental conditions, and technical performance.

A complementary research direction addresses energy-efficient and climate-responsive buildings, sustainable material selection, and indoor environmental quality. This includes research on recycled construction materials, building envelopes, and digital twins for improving building energy and indoor environmental performance.

I have also contributed to research on artificial intelligence in education, particularly student engagement and hybrid learning. This strand connects my scholarly work with the development of research-informed engineering education.

I am a Distinguished University Teacher at Karlstad University, a teaching distinction awarded in 2026. My teaching connects scientific knowledge with engineering practice and supports students in becoming independent professionals.

I have extensive experience in teaching, examination, and curriculum development in construction production and management, building technology, reinforced concrete structures, structural mechanics, and sustainable construction. My teaching also encompasses cost estimation, production planning, and building information modelling (BIM), integrating technical, economic, and environmental perspectives.

My educational approach is grounded in the view that students develop a deeper understanding when theoretical knowledge is tested against practical problems. I use project-based learning, laboratory work, and work-related assignments to develop students’ analytical ability, collaborative skills, and professional judgement. I place particular emphasis on their ability to justify methodological and technical choices, assess uncertainty, and critically evaluate their findings.

I have contributed to work-integrated learning and interdisciplinary projects connecting building design, structural engineering, quantity take-off, cost estimation, and production planning. My research on material development and digitalisation helps keep my teaching current, while my contributions to research on AI and student engagement provide additional perspectives on the conditions that support learning.

My supervision experience includes undergraduate and master’s theses, as well as doctoral co-supervision. I emphasise intellectual independence, methodological rigour, and clear scientific communication in my supervision.

Collaboration with industry, public-sector organizations, and international research groups is integral to my work. I seek to develop scientifically relevant questions that respond to the construction sector’s needs and create opportunities for applying research findings in practice.

Within my current research on lignin in cementitious materials, I am developing collaborations that connect building technology with forest-based material development. The aim is to combine experimental research and technical evaluation with life-cycle perspectives, industrial feasibility, and an understanding of potential applications.

My background in structural engineering, project management, and municipal practice brings a practical perspective to research and education. Through industry-linked student projects, degree theses, and knowledge exchange, I contribute to strengthening the relationship between the university and wider society.

I hold an engineering degree from Bucharest and obtained my doctorate in 1995 from the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest. I was awarded the qualification of docent in 2016 and recognized as a distinguished university teacher at Karlstad University in 2026.

My professional background spans research, structural engineering, project management, and higher education. Before joining Karlstad University, I held positions at Umeå University, Norconsult, Varberg Municipality, and ABETONG. This combination of academic and professional experience has shaped my interest in translating engineering knowledge into reliable and sustainable solutions.

Since 2012, my work at Karlstad University has included teaching, examination, supervision, and the development of building technology as an academic subject. As Head of Subject, I contribute to the development of its research and educational environment.

My scholarly work includes international journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes addressing construction materials, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable built environments. I also have experience in academic leadership, external academic assessment, and scientific peer review.

Research areas: concrete technology; lignin in cementitious materials; bio-based and recycled construction materials; curing and strength development; fire exposure of concrete; resource-efficient construction; energy-efficient buildings; digital twins; building information modelling; and artificial neural networks.

Educational interests: engineering education; project-based and work-integrated learning; research-informed teaching; artificial intelligence in education; student engagement.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4536-9747

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nro6pO8AAAAJ&hl=en

Publications registered in DiVA are displayed in the publication list on this research profile.

My research is interdisciplinary and internationally oriented, focusing on sustainable construction, advanced concrete technology, structural engineering, energy-efficient buildings, and bioclimatic and biophilic architecture. It also encompasses the integration of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and emerging technologies into the built environment.

My academic contributions include an extensive record of peer-reviewed scientific publications, authored and co-authored academic books, edited scholarly volumes, and book chapters published by internationally recognized publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Taylor & Francis.

Through international research collaborations and scientific contributions, I advance knowledge in low-carbon and circular construction, climate-resilient buildings, and the digital transformation of the architecture, engineering, and construction sector, bridging scientific research with practical engineering applications.

1. Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Al-Gburi, M., Almssad, A., & Alhayani, A. A. (2026). A transparent ANN–Excel model for shear strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams: Parametric analysis and design implications. Buildings, 16(16), 3234. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16163234
Al-Rawe, H. S., Al-Gburi, M., & Almssad, A. (2026). Ferrocement laminates for strengthening the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2026.2690692
Homod, R. Z., et al. (2026). Thermal PCM buffers with reinforcement learning: A framework for scalable smart building energy management. Journal of Energy Storage, 178, 123743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2026.123743
Almssad, A., Al-Gburi, M., Viktor, A., & Mohammadullah, A. (2025). The use of slag, biochar, and hydrochar as potential concrete additives: Effects on compressive strength and spalling resistance before and after fire exposure. Applied Sciences, 15(24), 13248. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413248
Al-Gburi, M., Alhayani, A. A., Almssad, A., et al. (2025). The effect of real curing temperatures on early age concrete strength development in massive concrete structures. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2025.2458294
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., Alasadi, A., & Al-Asadi, F. (2025). Sustainable reimagining of urban habitats: Navigating Iraq’s housing crisis through socio-technological and environmental approaches. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 16(2), 103280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2025.103280
Yitmen, I., Almusaed, A., Hussein, M., & Almssad, A. (2025). AI-driven digital twins for enhancing indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency in smart building systems. Buildings, 15(7), 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071030
Al-Gburi, M., Alhayani, A. A., & Almssad, A. (2025). Artificial neural network model for evaluating load capacity of RC deep beams. Buildings, 15(8), 1371. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081371
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., Myhren, J. A., & Almssad, A. (2024). Assessing the impact of recycled building materials on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency: A comprehensive framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings, 14(6), 1566. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061566
Al-Gburi, M., Almssad, A., & Al-Zuhairi, O. (2024). Evaluating concrete strength under various curing conditions using artificial neural networks. Nordic Concrete Research, 71(2). https://doi.org/10.2478/ncr-2024-0007
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., Almssad, A., & Myhren, J. A. (2024). Construction 5.0 and sustainable neuro-responsive habitats: Integrating the brain–computer interface and building information modeling in smart residential spaces. Sustainability, 16(21), 9393. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219393
Abed, J. M., Al-Gburi, M., & Almssad, A. (2024). Evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of modified cement-lime mortar containing recycled granite powder waste as a partial fine aggregate replacement. Applied Sciences, 14(22), 10146. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210146
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., & Almssad, A. (2023). Reviewing and integrating AEC practices into Industry 6.0. Sustainability, 15(18), 13464. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813464
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., Alasadi, A., Yitmen, I., & Al-Samaraee, S. (2023). Assessing the role and efficiency of thermal insulation by the “BIO-GREEN PANEL” in enhancing sustainability in a built environment. Sustainability, 15(13), 10418. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310418
Almssad, A., Almusaed, A., & Homod, R. Z. (2022). Masonry in the context of sustainable buildings: A review of the brick role in architecture. Sustainability, 14(22), 14734. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214734
Homod, R. Z., Almssad, A., Almusaed, A., et al. (2021). Effect of different building envelope materials on thermal comfort and air-conditioning energy savings: A case study in Basra city, Iraq. Journal of Energy Storage, 34, 101975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.101975
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., et al. (2021). Coherent investigation on a smart kinetic wooden façade based on material passport concepts and environmental profile inquiry. Materials, 14(14), 3771. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143771
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., & Alasadi, A. (2019). Analytical interpretation of energy efficiency concepts in the housing design. Journal of Building Engineering, 21, 254–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.10.026
Almssad, A., & Almusaed, A. (2015). Environmental reply to vernacular habitat conformation from vast areas of Scandinavia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 48, 825–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.013
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2015). Building materials in eco-energy houses from Iraq and Iran. Case Studies in Construction Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2015.02.001
2. Authored and Co-authored Academic Books
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., & Yitmen, I. (2026). Vernacular Architecture and Sustainability of Indigenous Building Materials. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., & Almssad, A. (2025). Practice of Research Methodology in Civil Engineering and Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide. Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/book/9783031973925
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., & Almssad, A. (2025). Mars Architecture: Construction 6.0 for Designing Sustainable and Health-Oriented Habitats. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003589761
Almssad, A. (2021). Betongkonstruktion. Studentlitteratur, Sweden. https://www.studentlitteratur.se/kurslitteratur/teknik-datorer-it-och-bygg/byggteknik-och-arkitektur/betongkonstruktion-cf2bb2b8
Almssad, A. (2021). Betongkonstruktion – Formelsamling. Studentlitteratur, Sweden. https://www.studentlitteratur.se/kurslitteratur/teknik-datorer-it-och-bygg/byggteknik-och-arkitektur/betongkonstruktion-cd3eec59/
3. Edited Academic Books
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., Yitmen, I., Wallhagen, M., Yang, Y.-F., & Iyer-Raniga, U. (Eds.). (2024). Integrative Approaches in Urban Sustainability: Architectural Design, Technological Innovations and Social Dynamics in Global Contexts. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111211
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., & Yitmen, I. (Eds.). (2024). Developments in Clay Science and Construction Techniques. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1001628
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2023). Sustainable Smart Cities: A Vision for Tomorrow. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100727
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2023). Masonry for Sustainable Construction. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104068
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2023). Sustainable Regional Planning. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105225
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2022). Sustainable Housing. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/10986
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2021). Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/7831
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2019). Sustainable Cities: Authenticity, Ambition and Dream. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/6882
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2019). Landscape Ecology: The Influences of Land Use and Anthropogenic Impacts of Landscape Creation. IntechOpen.
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2018). Sustainable Buildings: Interaction Between a Holistic Conceptual Act and Materials Properties. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/6378
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2018). Housing. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/7205
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2018). Landscape Architecture. IntechOpen.
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (Eds.). (2012). Insulation Materials in Context of Sustainability. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/books/5124
4. Selected Scholarly Book Chapters
Almusaed, A., Almssad, A., & Yitmen, I. (2025). Smart cities that think: Cognitive infrastructures, AI governance, and sustainable urban futures. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1013038
Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., & Almssad, A. (2024). Contemporary innovations and sustainable practices in the application of clay materials within architectural design and construction methodologies. In Developments in Clay Science and Construction Techniques. IntechOpen.
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2023). Blending human ware with software and hardware in the design of smart cities. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109053
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2023). Introductory chapter: Bricks between the historical usage and sustainable building concept. In Masonry for Sustainable Construction. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109287
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2022). Sustainable wooden skyscrapers for the future cities. In Wood Industry: Past, Present and Future Outlook. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105809
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2021). Lessons from the world sustainable housing: Past experiences, current trends, and future strategies. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100533
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2012). Passive and low energy housing by optimization. In Effective Thermal Insulation. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/36922
Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2012). Improvement of thermal insulation by environmental means. In Effective Thermal Insulation. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/35744
Complete Publication Record
For a complete and regularly updated overview of my research publications, academic books, and scholarly contributions, please visit my Google Scholar profile:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nro6pO8AAAAJ

I have served as an external expert at both national and international levels, including in the assessment of candidates for academic appointments. These assignments complement my work as a peer reviewer for international journals, including Energy and Buildings, Building and Environment, and Applied Energy. I have also contributed as an editor and author to scholarly books on sustainable construction and urban development.

I welcome enquiries about research collaborations, industry-oriented development projects, and degree theses in concrete technology, lignin-based material solutions, sustainable construction materials, and resource-efficient construction.