Redesigning Roads in Muscat: Integrating Engineering Standards with the Principles of Integrated Humanization
Keywords:
Integrated Humanization, Urban Humanization, Greater Muscat Structure Plan, Gulf Urbanism, WalkabilityAbstract
This article builds directly on Integrated Humanization: A Gulf-Centric Urban Paradigm (Saad, M. A. A. (2025). American Journal of Urban Planning and Smart City, 1(1), 1–6), where the author introduced Integrated Humanization (IH) as a Gulf-centric mobility paradigm. This paper examines the limitations of imported road engineering standards in the Gulf, primarily AASHTO and British Standards, and advocates for a Gulf-specific framework rooted in Oman Vision 2040 and the Greater Muscat Structure Plan (GMSP). Integrated Humanization is defined by five pillars: urban planning, urban humanization, public transport integration, road engineering, and micro-mobility. By analyzing Oman’s five existing road classifications, as outlined in the Oman Road Design Manual and Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (MTCIT, 2019), and the innovations proposed in the GMSP, the study highlights the need to recalibrate right-of-way (ROW) allocations to include shaded pedestrian paths, micro-mobility lanes, and climatically adaptive infrastructure, leading to reduced reliance on private vehicles, improved public health, enhanced viability of public transport, and lower carbon emissions. Ultimately, the paper concludes that road engineering in Oman must evolve beyond lane widths and design speeds, embedding Integrated Humanization as a guiding principle for sustainable Gulf cities.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Abdullah Ahmed Saad
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