The article is devoted to the experience of engineering surveys, restoration and strengthening of load-bearing structures of the architectural monuments “Agdam Juma Mosque” and “Giyasly Village Mosque”. The architectural and design features of the monuments studied by the authors in 2022, the actual technical condition, cases of structural damage and intentional destruction, observed cracks and resulting deformations, etc. are described in detail. 

Ensuring structural integrity and preventing the escalation of local damage into progressive collapse is a strategic priority in modern multi-story and large-span building design. This article provides a comparative analysis of the methodological foundations of the new national design code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzDTN 2.1-2 “Protection of Buildings and Structures Against Progressive Collapse,” with international standards (Eurocode EN 1991-1-7 and US UFC 4-023-03). 

The research examines the fundamental differences between local collapse zones defined by the “Geometric Circle Method” (with diameters of 6 m, 10 m, and 11.5 m) specified in the national regulations and the “Single Column Removal” scenarios used in international standards. 

The article investigates the structural advantages and calculation accuracy arising from replacing the indirect approach, known in international practice as the “Tie Force Method,” with direct spatial analysis in national standard AzDTN 2.1-2. This article justifies the engineering and safety aspects of the requirement stipulated in AzDTN 2.1-2 for Direct Simulation instead of simplified analytical formulas for buildings with medium consequence classes accepted in international standards, accounting for non-linear material behavior and spatial structural action. 

Consequently, it is demonstrated that national codes establish more conservative and stringent safety criteria (e.g., calculating vertical ties for the full axial force), and the contribution of implementing AzDTN 2.1-2 to the design quality and structural safety within the local construction sector is evaluated. 

This article briefly examines the development stages of concrete and reinforced concrete from their inception to the present day. It is shown that the increase in the strength of concrete and reinforcement necessitates the replacement of welded and wire lap splices of reinforcement in reinforced concrete with mechanical coupler connections. The designs of mechanical reinforcement couplers used in foreign practice are reviewed, and a comprehensive analysis of GOST, ISO, and American Concrete Institute (ACI) standards is conducted. The main parameters subject to mandatory control during the incoming inspection of couplers intended for import are identified.The necessity of producing high-quality coupler designs, as well as implementing appropriate measures for their manufacture and use in our country, is emphasized 

In the construction materials industry, modification of the composition of adhesive materials is currently widely used to improve their properties. For this purpose, both chemical additives and dispersed mineral additives are used. The use of such additives at various stages of the technological process regulates the properties of adhesive materials and ensures the production of high-quality materials that meet the requirements of standards. In this article, the effect of metakaolin on the properties of α-semihydrate gypsum was studied. When modifying gypsum adhesives with the addition of ultradisperse metakaolin, the strength of the stone materials obtained has also significantly increased, as has their water resistance. 

The article compares the research results with natural rocks of the Shahkaya quarry. A comparison of the performance of the developed compositions, including their mechanical properties, shows that the compositions can be used in the manufacture of blocks, processed stones, facing slabs, as well as complex profile elements with properties necessary for the restoration of architectural monuments. 

The developed compositions equally open up such possibilities as the use in the plaster layer of building facades, restoration of destroyed facing stones in architectural monuments monolithically in the wall mass, as well as with individual stones cut from blocks. 

The rich natural potential of Khankendi (water resources, topography, climate, biodiversity) and the challenges of applying innovative approaches to the management of its existing infrastructure (water supply, sanitation, energy, transport) are analyzed, and solutions are presented. To solve these problems and ensure the efficient use of natural potential, the "City Information Model (CIM)" is proposed as a primary methodological and technological tool. Particularly in the unique "clean slate" conditions created by the post-conflict period and the degradation of existing infrastructure, this model is presented as a fundamental instrument. It enables the redesign of the city's entire physical and social infrastructure on a single digital platform based on data-driven principles, thereby avoiding complex processes such as the reconstruction of obsolete systems. This transforms Khankendi into a "living laboratory" where sustainable urban planning solutions can be successfully tested. The integration of CIM components such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Building Information Modeling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is explored to create a "digital twin" of the urban infrastructure. Through this digital twin, methods for efficient resource management, preservation of ecological balance, and assurance of social inclusion are investigated. In conclusion, it is noted that CIM technology has the potential to transform Khankendi into a model of innovative and sustainable urban planning for other post-conflict regions. 

The article analyzes international and national legal documents related to the protection of historical cities and settlements, as well as examines the development dynamics of historical residential areas in the Ganja-Gazakh region. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the current state of legal protection of cultural heritage and to identify the main directions ensuring the sustainable development of historical sites within the region. 

The analysis revealed that UNESCO’s 1972 “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”, the 1985 “Granada Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe”, and other international instruments serve as an important legal basis for national legislation. The laws adopted in the Republic of Azerbaijan — “On Cultural  Heritage” and “On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments” — as well as state programs, are aimed at ensuring the restoration and effective use of historical cities. 

The analysis of historical settlements in the Ganja-Gazakh region shows that the area’s ancient urban planning traditions, architectural heritage, and cultural diversity are the result of a long-term development process. In the 19th–20th centuries, the expansion of economic and trade relations contributed to urban growth, while in the modern period, cultural tourism and heritageoriented projects have stimulated the socio-economic revival of these cities. 

The article concludes that the preservation and development of historical settlements in the Ganja-Gazakh region can be more effectively implemented through the improvement of legal mechanisms, enhancement of public participation, and integration of cultural heritage with tourism potential. This approach creates a foundation for the region’s sustainable cultural and economic development 

The article examines the analysis of the implementation of previous urban planning documents in the field of regional planning of the Mountainous Shirvan economic region, plans for a comprehensive regional planning of the administrative districts of Mountainous Shirvan, as well as master plans for the cities included in the region. The degree of implementation of the developed documents has been reviewed over the past 40 years in major sectors, such as the development of the production base, demographic situation, housing stock, cultural and public services system, tourism and recreational services, and transport and engineering infrastructure. The problems of implementing the developed project documents for the estimated period and their reasons are identified. The analysis of the implementation of previous urban planning documents was carried out in order to clarify the viability of their main provisions, identify the main trends in the development of elements of the planning structure that have retained their significance for a long time, as well as determine the features of the region's development. 

This article examines the prospects for regional cooperation within the framework of the Zangezur Corridor, with particular emphasis on renewable energy and ecological integration. It investigates the potential for ecological integration in the context of the Zangezur Corridor and evaluates its implications for regional cooperation. Considering the natural resource potential, biodiversity, and renewable energy capacity of the region, the study substantiates the necessity of systematically incorporating ecological factors into a sustainable development model. 

The Zangezur Corridor provides strategic opportunities not only in economic and transport dimensions but also in terms of ecological coordination and cross-border cooperation. The paper analyzes the perspectives of ecological diplomacy, green infrastructure, cross-border energy resource management, and institutional integration. 

Projects concerning the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor should be grounded in the principles of ecological sustainability and reinforced by enhanced regional cooperation and mutual trust. Ultimately, the corridor could evolve into a key platform for green energy-based integration and ecological transformation in the South Caucasus. 

The impact of transportation on the living environment is a very broad topic and holds particular importance in the modern era. In this context, issues related to environmental protection, urban planning, and developments in the field of urbanization, as well as socioeconomic effects, are widely studied. The government of Azerbaijan also implements various measures to address ecological problems. Nevertheless, environmental issues in the country remain relevant.