Senior Architect, Samer Engineering Consultancy Group, Oman
🌟 Amal Mohammed Hassan Balila is an accomplished architect, researcher, and academic with over a decade of experience in architectural design, sustainable building technology, and Building Information Modelling (BIM). Holding a PhD in Construction Management and Engineering, Amal’s innovative work in bio-inspired building materials has earned her recognition and numerous awards. She is dedicated to advancing sustainable construction practices and mentoring the next generation of architects.
Profile
Scopus
Education
🎓 Amal holds a PhD in Construction Management and Engineering from the University of Reading, UK, where her thesis focused on enhancing the strength and durability of adobe bricks with bio-inspired stabilisers. She earned her MSc in Sustainable Building Technology with Merit from the University of Nottingham, UK, investigating the impact of building plans on energy performance using Ecotect software. She also holds a BSc in Architecture with First Class Honours from the University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Experience
🏢 Amal is currently a Senior Architect and BIM Advocator at Samer Engineering Consultancy Group in Muscat, Oman, promoting BIM adoption and managing architectural projects. She has extensive teaching experience as a lecturer at the University of Technology & Applied Science, Oman, and the University of Khartoum, Sudan. She has coordinated curriculum development and supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate architectural projects.
Research Interests
🔬 Amal’s research interests include sustainable building materials, bio-based building materials, biomimicry in construction, and the integration of BIM in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Her work often focuses on low-cost, sustainable housing solutions inspired by natural systems and materials.
Awards
🏆 Amal has received numerous accolades, including the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining Award for excellence in presentation (2016), and several awards for academic performance from the University of Khartoum. She has also been recognized at the University of Reading for her research posters and presentations.
Publications Top Notes
📚 Amal has published various peer-reviewed articles and conference papers on sustainable construction and biomimicry. Some notable publications include:
“Comparative analysis on the thermal performance of selected building materials and technologies for housing in the Sudan” in the Journal of Building and Road Research (2014) by Elkhalifa, A., Balila, A..
“Biomimicry in construction: Glycoprotein-stabilised adobe bricks for enhanced compressive strength inspired by termites mounds” in Construction & Building Materials (2024) by Balila, A., Vahdati, M..
Conference papers presented at various international forums, including the 40th Annual Conference and General Meeting, Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), and the Young Researchers’ Forum at Imperial College London.