Doctorate, at Green Energy Park (UM6P-IRESEN), Morocco.
Dr. ES-SAKALI Niima is a distinguished researcher specializing in energy efficiency, thermal sciences, and AI applications in building technologies. Currently, she serves as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Green Energy Park (UM6P – IRESEN) and as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, UM6P, starting September 2024. Her academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. focusing on sustainable building technologies, with significant contributions to modeling, simulation, and AI-based optimization. Dr. Niima has held guest lecturer roles internationally and is a Guest Editor for the peer-reviewed journal Environments (MDPI). Her research bridges academic rigor and real-world applications, leading national projects, collaborating globally, and mentoring early-career researchers. She has advanced Morocco’s research capacity in smart energy systems and contributed to open-access knowledge on climate-smart architecture.
Professional Profile
Scopus
ORCID
Google Scholar
🎓 Education
Dr. Niima completed her Ph.D. in Energy Efficiency, Thermal Sciences, and Building AI Applications, focusing on sustainable building technologies. Her doctoral research emphasized modeling, simulation, and AI-based optimization techniques to enhance energy efficiency in building systems. She has since contributed significantly to the field, with over 20 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Applied Energy, Sustainable Cities and Society, and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her current roles at Green Energy Park and UM6P, where she continues to advance research in energy-efficient building systems and AI applications. Dr. Niima’s educational journey reflects a commitment to addressing global challenges in building energy systems and sustainability.
💼 Experience
Dr. Niima’s professional experience spans academia, research, and industry. At Green Energy Park (UM6P – IRESEN), she leads research initiatives focusing on energy efficiency and AI applications in building technologies. Her role as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, UM6P, starting September 2024, underscores her commitment to education and mentorship. Dr. Niima has been involved in international collaborations, including a completed project with Offenburg University-Germany, financed by the DAAD, focusing on rural school buildings. She is also engaged in ongoing research projects related to smart control strategies for HVAC systems and energy-efficient urban planning for net-zero energy buildings. Her consultancy experience includes a project centered on building certification (LEED), demonstrating her ability to bridge research and practical applications in the field of sustainable building technologies.
🔬 Research Interests
Dr. Niima’s research interests encompass building energy systems, HVAC optimization, AI applications in building technologies, passive design strategies, digital twins, thermal comfort, energy modeling, and the development of net-zero energy buildings. She has developed innovative, AI-enhanced methods for optimizing HVAC systems and building energy use, contributing to climate-responsive design in semi-arid regions. Her work bridges academic rigor and real-world applications, leading national projects, collaborating globally, and mentoring early-career researchers. Dr. Niima’s contributions have advanced Morocco’s research capacity in smart energy systems, focusing on achieving net-zero energy buildings using passive and AI-optimized strategies tailored for climate responsiveness. A notable contribution is a multi-objective optimization framework for rural Moroccan schools, improving energy efficiency by up to 35.6% and thermal comfort across six climatic zones, contributing to affordable and sustainable school designs.
🏆 Awards
Dr. Niima’s exemplary contributions to sustainable building technologies have been recognized through various awards and honors. Her innovative research in energy-efficient building systems and AI applications has garnered attention in both academic and professional circles. Notably, she has been nominated for the Women Research Award, acknowledging her significant impact in the field. Her work has also led to national projects and international collaborations, further cementing her reputation as a leader in sustainable building technologies. Dr. Niima’s commitment to advancing research capacity in Morocco and her contributions to open-access knowledge on climate-smart architecture underscore her dedication to addressing global challenges in building energy systems and sustainability.
📚 Top Noted Publications
Dr. Niima has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, including Applied Energy (Impact Factor: 10.1), Sustainable Cities and Society (Impact Factor: 10.5), and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Impact Factor: 16.3). Her research covers topics such as HVAC optimization, energy modeling, passive design strategies, and net-zero energy buildings. One of her significant contributions is a multi-objective optimization framework for rural Moroccan schools, which improved energy efficiency by up to 35.6% and thermal comfort across six climatic zones. This work has been cited in various articles, highlighting its impact on the field. Dr. Niima’s publications reflect her commitment to advancing knowledge in sustainable building technologies and her dedication to addressing climate-responsive design challenges.
1. Review of Predictive Maintenance Algorithms Applied to HVAC Systems
2. Implementing a Digital Twin-Based Fault Detection and Diagnosis Approach for Optimal Operation and Maintenance of Urban Distributed Solar Photovoltaics
-
Authors: S.I. Kaitouni, I. Ait Abdelmoula, Niima Es-Sakali, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, H. Er-retby, et al.
-
Journal: Renewable Energy Focus, Article 100530
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.ref.2024.100530
-
Year: 2024
-
Summary: This paper presents a digital twin-based approach for fault detection and diagnosis in urban distributed solar photovoltaic systems, aiming to optimize their operation and maintenance.
3. Recent Progress, Limitations, and Future Directions of Macro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials for Building Applications
-
Authors: I. Ait Laasri, Niima Es-Sakali, Moha Cherkaoui, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, A. Outzourhit
-
Journal: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Article 114481
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114481
-
Year: 2024
-
Summary: This review discusses the advancements, challenges, and future prospects of macro-encapsulated phase change materials in building applications, focusing on their thermal performance and integration into building systems.
4. Energy Efficiency and Hygrothermal Performance of Hemp Clay Walls for Moroccan Residential Buildings: An Integrated Lab-Scale, In-Situ, and Simulation-Based Assessment
-
Authors: Niima Es-Sakali, Mouatassim Charai, Samir Idrissi Kaitouni, Imad Ait Laasri, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, Moha Cherkaoui, Jens Pfafferott, Sung Ukjoo
-
Journal: Applied Energy, Volume 352, Article 121967
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121967
-
Year: 2023
-
Summary: This study evaluates the energy efficiency and hygrothermal performance of hemp clay walls in Moroccan residential buildings through lab-scale experiments, in-situ measurements, and simulations. The findings indicate significant energy savings and improved indoor comfort. Astrophysics Data System+5E3S Conferences+5IDEAS/RePEc+5Astrophysics Data System+1IDEAS/RePEc+1IDEAS/RePEc
5. Static and Dynamic Glazing Integration for Enhanced Building Efficiency and Indoor Comfort with Thermochromic and Electrochromic Windows
-
Authors: Niima Es-Sakali, Samir Idrissi Kaitouni, Imad Ait Laasri, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, Moha Cherkaoui
-
Journal: Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, Volume 52, Article 102681
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102681
-
Year: 2024
-
Summary: This paper investigates the integration of static and dynamic glazing, including thermochromic and electrochromic windows, to enhance building energy efficiency and indoor comfort. The study demonstrates energy savings and improved thermal and visual comfort. ScienceDirect
6. Evidence-Based Numerical Building Model Enhancement and Building Energy Efficiency Evaluation in the Case of Morocco
-
Authors: Niima Es-Sakali, Samir Idrissi Kaitouni, Imad Ait Laasri, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, Moha Cherkaoui, M. Bühler
-
Journal: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Article 103606
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2023.103606
-
Year: 2023
-
Summary: This study enhances numerical building models with empirical data to evaluate building energy efficiency in Morocco, providing insights into energy-saving strategies tailored to local conditions.
7. Advanced Predictive Maintenance and Fault Diagnosis Strategy for Enhanced HVAC Efficiency in Buildings
-
Authors: Niima Es-Sakali, Zakaria Zoubir, Samir Idrissi Kaitouni, Mohamed Oualid Mghazli, Moha Cherkaoui, Jens Pfafferott
-
Journal: Applied Thermal Engineering, Article 123910
-
DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.123910
-
Year: 2024
Conclusion
Dr. Niima Es-Sakali demonstrates a robust blend of academic rigor, innovative research, leadership, and global collaboration, especially in the field of sustainable and AI-driven energy systems. Her contributions align strongly with the ethos of the Women Researcher Award, particularly in terms of gender representation, climate impact, and emerging technologies. With minor enhancements in professional affiliations and broader outreach, she has the potential to serve as a role model for women in engineering and sustainability fields.