The International Engineering Conference on Hot Arid Regions: Challenges, Technologies, and Opportunities (IECHAR-2010), which is organized by the College of Engineering at King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wiil be held during March 1-2, 2010. The topics of the conference include:

Energy in Hot Arid Regions
Solar energy: Thermal and photovoltaic applications
Solar energy storage
Oil and gas energy sources
Renewable energy

Water Desalination and Treatment
Thermal desalination
Solar desalination
High temperature antiscalants
High temperature corrosion and treatment

Materials for Hot Arid Regions
Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Photovoltaic materials technology
Construction, structural and pavement materials
Heat resistant materials
High temperature corrosion resistant material
Sand pitting resistant materials

Environmental Management:
Climate change and desertification
Ground water contamination
Sand and dust storms: Causes, consequences and control measures
Air pollution control in hot climate
Biological treatment of organic waste

Built Environment in Hot Arid Regions
Site planning and building orientation
Passive and low energy cooling
Architectural thermodynamics
Building Insulation
Solar heating, cooling and refrigeration
Natural Ventilation

Standards and Codes for Hot Arid Regions
Revision of current codes and standards
Applicability of current standards and codes
Formulating new codes and standards

Issues related to hot arid regions represent a major challenge to the development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, among other world regions. The conference will provide a forum for researchers, experts, entrepreneurs, vendors and decision makers to address the issues of energy, water, materials, environmental management, and standard and codes as they pertains to hot arid regions, and to explore state-of-the-art technologies and development opportunities in those regions in general, and in the Kingdom in particular.
The College of Engineering at King Faisal University has identified the issues of hot arid regions as its target research competencies. The conference will help determine research excellence centers and potential scientific chairs to be established in the college in support of these target competencies. A number of incentives are provide to conference participants including waived registration fees, free accommodation, and best paper awards.
For more information about IECHAR Please find a copy of the conference poster is attached to this e-mail or visit our conference website at http:///www.iechar.org/

IECHAR 2010 Conference Organizing Committee
College of Engineering
King Faisal University
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: iechar@iechar.org
Web Site: http:///www.iechar.org/