On April 4, 2026, PhD candidate Jowan Bayez Khorsheed, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ali Haidar Saad Ali, has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation from the Department of Spatial Planning, College of City and Regional Planning, entitled:“Volumetric Urbanism Potentiality: A GIS-Based Comparative Analysis of Cities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region”This research introduces a GIS-based framework for evaluating volumetric urban potential, moving beyond traditional two-dimensional planning toward a more integrated three-dimensional understanding of cities.

Research Contribution

The study develops a comprehensive evaluation model structured around four key dimensions:

• Natural Context – examining terrain conditions such as slope and elevation
• Physical Context – capturing building form, height, and volumetric characteristics
• Spatial Integration (Compactness and Accessibility) – assessing spatial structure through urban concentration and network connectivity

Through a comparative analysis of five cities—Hong Kong as a prototype, alongside Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Akre—the research demonstrates how volumetric potential emerges from the interaction between environmental constraints, built form, and spatial structure.The study further proposes a Volumetric Potentiality Model, providing a structured approach to assess city-scale readiness for volumetric development.

Scientific Output

This dissertation is supported by a peer-reviewed publication in a Q1 indexed journal. Part of this research has been published in Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science:Khorsheed, J., & Ali, A. H. (2026). Cities’ potentials for being volumetric: A city-scale comparative approach.https://doi.org/10.1177/23998083261427133The journal is indexed in SSCI (Web of Science) and Scopus (Q1), with an Impact Factor of 3.1 (5-year IF: 3.8). The article was published on February 23, 2026.

Defense Examination Committee

The dissertation was evaluated by a distinguished academic panel:

• Prof. Dr. Layla Mohamed Raswol | Committee Chairman – University of Duhok
• Prof. Dr. Husein Ali Husein | Member – Salahaddin University
• Prof. Dr. Yaseen Taha Mustafa | Member – University of Zakho
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Chro Hama Radha | Member – Sulaimani Polytechnic University
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Shareen Younus Ismael | Member – University of Duhok
• Prof. Dr. Ali Haidar Saad Ali | Supervisor – Nawroz University, Duhok

Advancing UOD’s Strategic Vision

The successful defense of this doctoral dissertation and its subsequent publication in a high-impact Q1 journal strongly align with the University of Duhok’s Strategic Plan (2023–2038), emphasizing:

• Academic Excellence & High-Impact Research: By publishing in Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science (a premier SSCI and Q1-indexed journal), UoD demonstrates its capacity to produce research that meets the highest global scientific standards and contributes to international urban theory.
• Digital Transformation & Innovation: The shift from traditional 2D mapping to a sophisticated GIS-based 3D volumetric framework reflects UoD’s commitment to integrating advanced digital technologies into spatial planning education and practice.
• International Benchmarking: Using Hong Kong as a global prototype for a comparative study with cities in the Kurdistan Region fosters a global-to-local knowledge exchange, ensuring that local urban development is informed by world-class urban models.
• Sustainable & Resilient Urbanism: This research directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing planners with the tools to assess urban compactness and spatial integration, essential for reducing land consumption and enhancing city efficiency.

This dissertation reinforces the University of Duhok’s role as a leading hub for innovation-driven research and its dedication to solving the complex spatial challenges of the 21st century.
The PhD Dissertation also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 4 (Quality Education)
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action)