Emerging Technologies for Transforming Mosques into Smart Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq , Abdulai Issah Bala , Jannat Abbas , Augustine Dzimale 
Published: July 2024

Purpose – Traditional mosques face inefficiencies in energy use, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate security, all of which lead to high costs and safety concerns. Transforming mosques into smart buildings using emerging technologies can optimize energy consumption, enhance security, improve resource management, promote sustainability and improve user comfort by addressing overcrowding and inadequate facilities. Despite the limited studies on this topic, this systematic literature review aims to explore the current trends in using emerging technologies to transform mosques into smart buildings. Design/Methodology/Approach – The study used Scopus-indexed literature from 2005 to 2024 to investigate the transformation of mosques into smart buildings using emerging technologies. Based on relevance, quality, recency, geographical focus, and diversity of perspectives, the authors selected 43 records from 156. VOSviewer software provided a quantitative overview of trends, while content analysis offered deeper insights by coding and categorizing themes. This combined approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of current practices and advancements in the field. Findings – The study found a significant interest in integrating emerging technologies into building architecture and management, particularly focusing on energy efficiency and user comfort. This interest was reflected in the concentration of studies in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, China, and Australia. Authors categorized the identified knowledge areas into two main clusters: design and energy-efficient buildings, and technology and intelligent buildings. These clusters represent the dual emphasis on creating energy-efficient structures and incorporating advanced technologies to enhance building intelligence. While the study did not provide specific quantitative results, it highlighted a clear trend towards the adoption of smart building technologies in these key areas, indicating a global shift towards more sustainable and efficient building practices. Practical Implications – Smart building technologies offer significant benefits to practitioners in architecture, facility management, engineering and others such as religious leadres, community members and policy makers, which optimize lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation, leading to substantial reductions in energy consumption and operational costs. Intelligent design elements such as smart crowd management systems and personalized environmental controls enhance the user experience and satisfaction. The adoption of sustainable materials and renewable energy sources reduces environmental impact, aligning with global sustainability goals. Automated monitoring and predictive maintenance systems improve operational efficiency, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. And alos, smart building technologies enable practitioners to create efficient, sustainable, and user-centric environments, enhancing the quality and performance of buildings such as mosques. Originality/Value – This study provides valuable insights into the current practices and trends in using emerging technologies to transform mosques into smart buildings. While previous studies have explored various aspects of smart buildings and sustainability in different contexts, there is limited research specifically focusing on the transformation of mosques. This study aims to fill this gap by offering insights into the application of smart technologies in mosque architecture and management, highlighting the benefits and challenges associated with this transformation. Examining Scopus-indexed literature and using VOSviewer software for visualization and analysis, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on smart buildings and their potential impact on religious and communal structures.