Sustainability of rural settlements with the approach of using water extraction from air humidity (fog) (Case study: Aminabad village of Firuzkuh)

Iranians have faced the problem of water shortage since ancient times, and this has caused great ideas in various fields of water extraction, storage, and transfer, such as reservoirs and Qanats. On the other hand, the high consumption of water for various purposes of drinking, agriculture, and industry has reduced the running and underground water resources. With the help of technology and science, new methods have been created to absorb water from air humidity. In one of these methods, obstacles are placed in the path of air movement, and when the air hits them, water molecules suspended in the air are absorbed and transferred to a specific tank. In this research, we investigated the process of absorbing water from air humidity, aiming to achieve the composition of the water extraction device with the help of architectural elements such as solar chimneys, towers, volume, and aspect of the building. Descriptive-analytical research methods and library studies (examination of similar samples in different regions of the world), related software (drawing, analysis), field surveys have been used, and villages that have the necessary capacity in terms of climate have been identified. The results show that The villages of Tehran's Firouzkoh region, including Amin Abad village, are suitable areas for extracting water from air humidity; because these areas are located on the southern slope of the Alborz mountain range and have characteristics such as humidity above 50%, the required direction and prevailing wind, sunlight, slope and suitable features of the land. These factors cause the production of fog in the valleys and create the ability to harvest water from the fog. The method of extracting water from the fog by three-dimensional water-absorbing fabric is proposed. By selecting and placing the device, architectural design in harmony with the specific features of the region, and the use of absorbent curtains with a high percentage of water absorption, the desired result can be achieved. The proposed method can provide water for the daily use of 8 selected residential units in this village without depending on water sources and energy generators.