1.
Mathern, Alexandre, 1986
(författare)
Addressing the complexity of sustainability-driven structural design: Computational design, optimization, and decision making
2021
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Being one of the sectors with the largest environmental burden and high socio-economic impacts sets high requirements on the construction industry. At the same time, this provides the sector with great opportunities to contribute to the globally pursued sustainability transition. To cope with the increasing need for infrastructure and, at the same time, limit their sustainability impacts, changes and innovation in the construction sector are required. The greatest possibility to limit the sustainability impact of construction works is at the early design phase of construction projects, as many of the choices influencing sustainability are made at that point. Traditionally, an early choice of a preferred design is often made based on limited knowledge and past experience, considering only a handful of options. This preferred design is then taken on to the successive stages in the stepwise design process, leading to suboptimization. Alternatively, many different design choices could be considered and evaluated in a more holistic approach in order to find the most sustainable design for a particular application. However, finding design solutions that offer the best sustainability performance and fulfil all structural, performance and buildability requirements, require methods that allow considering different design options, analysing them, and assessing their sustainability. The aim of this thesis is to explore and develop methods enabling structural engineers to take sustainability objectives into account in the design of structures. Throughout this thesis, a number of methods have been explored to take sustainability aspects into account in the structural design process. As a first step, highly parameterized computer codes for sustainability-driven design have been developed. These codes interoperate with FE analysis software to automatically model and analyse design concepts over the whole design space and verify compliance with structural design standards. The codes were complemented with a harmonized method for life cycle sustainability performance assessment, in line with the state-of-the-art standards. Here, sustainability criteria were defined covering environmental, social, economic, buildability and structural performance for multi-criteria assessment of design concepts. To identify the most sustainable designs within the set, multi-objective optimization algorithms were used. Algorithms that address the high expense of constraint function evaluations of structural design problems were developed and integrated in the parameterized computer codes for sustainability-driven design. To ensure the applicability and validity of these methods, case studies based on real-world projects and common structural engineering problems were used in this thesis. Case studies for bridges and wind turbine foundations as well as a benchmark case of a reinforced concrete beam were investigated. The case studies highlight the potential of the methods explored to support the design of more sustainable structures, as well as the applicability of the methods in structural engineering practice. It is concluded that it is possible and beneficial to combine computational design, life cycle sustainability assessment, and multi-objective design optimization as a basis for decision making in the design phase of civil engineering projects. A wide adoption of such a sustainability-driven design optimization approach in structural engineering practice can directly improve the sustainability of the construction sector.
2.
Rempling, Rasmus, 1976, et al.
(författare)
Performance requirements for Swedish transport infrastructure - A pre-study of challenges and possibilities
2022
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
In recent years, significant worldwide research has been conducted regarding the performance assessment of bridges and the concept of performance indicator has been introduced However, there are still significant discrepancies in how these indicators are obtained and used. Simultaneously, it is desirable to achieve processes and methods that are direct, i.e. that measured values are directly compared with projected values over time. This project concerns methods for verification of technical performance requirements. The feasibility study brought together interdisciplinary researchers, consultants, and entrepreneurs to gather knowledge, anchor the research agenda, and implement performance requirements. The project concludes that there is a need for a “Holistic multi-parameter verification/validation system” that relies on the knowledge gained in structural health monitoring research.
3.
Säwén, Toivo, 1993
(författare)
Early Stage Architectural Design Practice Perspectives on Life Cycle Building Performance Assessment
2023
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Architectural practitioners can avoid negative social and environmental impacts of new construction by making decisions supported by impact quantification during design processes. However, most software tools developed for such quantification see little use in practice, especially in early design stages when decisions have the greatest influence. To identify ways for software developers to overcome this situation, a thorough literature meta-review of previously performed tool reviews was combined with interviews applying a practice lens. The first key finding is that a possible explanation for the low tool uptake in practice could be a missing practice perspective in previous tool development efforts. In a literature meta-review of publications on life cycle building performance tools identifying previously applied perspectives, most previous tool reviews were found to support tool development and selection, while disregarding how tools can be integrated in existing practices and design processes. As a proposed solution, a framework for defining software requirements using a practice perspective was developed. The second key finding is that a practice perspective could be applied during software development by implementing qualitative methodologies. Nine architectural practitioners in Sweden, Norway and France were interviewed using the interview to the double, a projective technique in which the interviewee is asked to describe their next workday in detail so that their tasks can be assumed by an imagined body double. The design activities described by the respondents were sequenced into user narratives which could serve as starting points for participatory software development processes within the architectural practice. The outcomes - a proposed framework for practice-centric software requirements, and a proposed methodology for collecting these requirements using a practice lens - indicate a research direction toward software development efforts which aligns with design process, architectural practice, and tool user needs. In the next stage of the research this direction will be pursued through application of the developed methodologies in participatory development case studies in early-stage architectural design practice.
4.
Dymitrow, Mirek, et al.
(författare)
Crossing dichotomies and breaking mental patterns: Green business development when all else fails?
2017
Ingår i: 8th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2017: Bioeconomy Challenges”, 23–24 November, 2017 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Obtaining sustainable and inclusive societal organization is not merely a simple matter of ‘doing it’ by subscribing to some winning formula. Given that conceptual frameworks always guide our thoughts, judgments and actions (Latour, 2013; Harvey, 1996; Dennett, 1993), the ways in which we relate to concepts chosen to serve as guiding forces for future development will eventually determine its outcome. As scholarly evidence continuously suggests the concepts ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ are increasingly recognized as artificial barriers for conducting sound and integrated development endeavors in a globalized reality of interconnectedness. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eradicate poverty, shield the planet and safeguard prosperity for all, commitment to universal access to healthy food year round has become an important agenda point. This, however, has been exacerbated by binary thinking and separate ways of doing policy. This paper aims to share experiences from a unique project launched in the northern parts of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city. While the area offers ample resources and immense opportunities for areal economies, it at the same time remains one of Gothenburg’s most segregated, with high levels of unemployment, ill health and crime. The uniqueness of the project lies not only in its way of abridging the rural-urban divide, but also by consciously deferring from the debilitating rhetoric of previous ‘immigrant policies’, and instead focusing on agricultural productivity, small-scale food producers and sustainable food strategies. Such exhortations to bridge between philosophical and material polarities, however, have not come without conceptual and practical challenges, something this paper aims to subsume and open up to debate.
5.
Dyrssen, Catharina, 1949, et al.
(författare)
Key urban projects: Local-regional planning tools for fragile urban landscapes
2014
Ingår i: World in Denmark 2014: Nordic encounters. Travelling ideas about open space design and planning.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
In Sweden, cities are promoted as drivers of economic growth and solutions for decreased climatic influence, resulting in a dominant focus on development of large cities in the planning debate and sustainability discourse. As discussed by Harvey (2006), Massey (2007) and Tietjen (2011), this increases differences between growing and declining cities and regions, and escalates uneven geographic development. The process produces fragile urban landscapes, i.e. local situations short of resources, skills and mandates to handle change and deal with in-lock of sense-making structures, thereby concealing actual site specific possibilities and the potential of development of small towns and rural areas. This renders the need for new relevant planning tools with onset in a relational perspective on space (Harvey 2006, Massey 2007), urban ecologies (Guattari 1989, Banham 1971) and design-based, proformative approaches (Solà Morales 2008, Bunschoten 2001, Cuff & Sherman 2011). This article argues for key urban projects as a relational, place-specific, operative planning tool that can open and lock urban transformation, secure and guide implementation and reveal strategies to develop fragile urban landscapes, with ability to: handle centre-periphery and urban-rural as dynamic contingencies; combine the capacity of different urban ecologies; relate the formation of urban landscapes to different scales; optimise combinatory potentials of local-regional resources; secure forms of operative collaboration; trigger critical negotiations; and integrate spatial implementation to the planning process.These abilities are tested through design-based research-methodology with onset from works in progress in five Swedish contexts of practice that outline a spectrum of important characteristics of fragile urban landscapes.Key Urban Projects are identified and developed through a mapping process iterating between identification of specific issues and the outline of their relevant contours, a process that both visualize and establish assemblages (DeLanda 2006). Key Projects gain their potential through stepwise change of the existing material landscape and its urban ecologies.
6.
Silfwerbrand, Johan, et al.
(författare)
Performance-based requirements in design-build contracting for highway construction and maintenance
2019
Ingår i: FIB 2018 - Proceedings for the 2018 fib Congress. - : Federation Internationale du Beton (fib). ; , s. 470-478, s. 470-478
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Design-build contracts with performance-based specifications are believed to raise productivity and the innovation rate. However, performance-based requirements used in specifications for highway and bridge contracts may suffer from being too detailed or too difficult to verify. A Swedish research project has been devoted to this issue. The aims were (i) to develop a definition of performance-based requirements and (ii) to evaluate performance-based requirements used in Swedish design-build contracts. The project consisted of three parts: (i) literature survey, (ii) investigation of current documents produced and used by the Swedish Transport Administration for design-build contracts, and (iii) case studies of six design-build contracts with performance-based requirements, including an analysis of specification documents and interviews with both client and contractor project managers. Current performance-based specifications show different degrees of detail. Measurable requirements are more frequently used on roads, and in particular on road surfaces, than on bridges. Further development is needed to promote technical innovations. Less detailed specifications and a shift to design-build-operate contracts with prolonged maintenance responsibility would also encourage the choice of more durable and long-lasting (=sustainable) solutions. The emphasis on Life Cycle Cost (LCC) in the reformulated contract award criteria in the EU public procurement directive might be insufficient to strengthen the competitive power of concrete pavements as compared to asphalt pavements, unless specifications are supported by Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and the choice of contract type is reconsidered.
7.
Jockwer, Robert, 1984, et al.
(författare)
Design for adaption - making timber buildings ready for circular use and extended service life
2021
Ingår i: World Conference on Timber Engineering 2021, WCTE 2021.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The use of timber and the implementation of the concept of circularity in the process of the construction of buildings potentially has a high sustainability impact, both from the perspective of material and construction technique. The three most effective ways to ensure the benefit of the circularity in the building sector in general are (1) maintain the service life of structures and buildings materials as long as possible to avoid unnecessary emissions and costs for demolition and reconstruction (2) conserve the quality of materials as long as possible to avoid unnecessary emissions and costs for the replacement and processing of new materials and (3) recycle and repurpose only the parts and materials which cannot function any more for technical and/or socio-cultural reasons. In this paper an approach is discussed towards a more sustainable built environment by making buildings adaptable to the changes of demands and requirements to building functions and thus leading to an extended use of buildings in a maximum of life cycles. This design for adaption may enhance economic, social and environmental benefits to various stakeholders and key players related to the building process, i.e. developers, building owners, users, municipality and others.
8.
Täljsten, Björn, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
Assessment of prestressed concrete bridges - challenges
2020
Ingår i: IABSE Symposium, Wroclaw 2020. - Zürich : International Association For Bridge And Structural Engineering (IABSE). ; , s. 487-494
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Prestressed concrete bridges are important parts of our infrastructure. They are susceptible to different kinds of deterioration processes. Examples of damages and deficiencies are cracking, corrosion, voids, bond loss, reduction of cover layer, delamination, fatigue and loss of stiffness and strength. This necessitates methods to continuously assess their condition in order to avoid problems that might lead to shorter service life or reduction of structural integrity. Many of the existing prestressed bridges in Europe are now approaching their design life length. However, with proper and continuous inspection, monitoring and assessment, we may plan proactive maintenance and the structural safety can be assured or – if necessary - increased. This will save both money and decrease the environmental impact of the structure.
9.
Armesto Barros, Jesús, et al.
(författare)
Recent and future trends of onshore wind turbine foundations
2022
Ingår i: Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium Prague 2022: Challenges for Existing and Oncoming Structures. - 9783857481819
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The decarbonization of the economy and the growing need for electricity are two trends that call for greener energy sources. Wind is a growing renewable energy source, which is expected to become the first source of power in the European Union in the next decade. In particular, onshore wind energy is expected to double by then. Fundamental structural components of wind turbines are their foundations, which are large structures associated with important material consumption and many construction challenges. The dimensions of these foundations are continuously increasing as turbines with taller towers and larger rotor diameters are being built. Designing cost- and material-efficient foundations is crucial to reduce the economic and environmental impact of wind energy. An important factor to successfully address these evolving requirements in the planning and design process is to build on the experience from previous projects. The aim of this work is to investigate the evolution of onshore wind turbines and its consequences on the design and climate impact of gravity foundations by analysing data from Swedish wind farms set in operation between 2013 and 2022. The evolution of turbine size, and foundation dimensions, reinforcement layout, material types and quantities, and embodied carbon are analysed in this paper.
10.
Bergenram, Felicia, et al.
(författare)
Parametric Optimization of Slab Frame Bridges Considering Investment Cost, Environmental Impact and Buildability
2023
Ingår i: Procedia Computer Science. - 1877-0509.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
This paper presents research performed on set-based multi-criteria optimization for the preliminary design of slab frame bridges. As a result of immense CO2 emissions emerging from concrete production, there is a need for optimization methods decreasing the volume of concrete without affecting the function of the structure. Previous research suggests a general correlation between CO2 footprint- and cost reduction, due to minimized material use. However, the aspect of buildability may conflict with lessened material, as optimized designs might simultaneously be less buildable. This research aimed to develop an optimization method with respect to the investment cost and environmental impact while also considering buildability cost aspects. The optimization algorithm shows the possibilities of reducing the environmental impact by up to 13.7% for a slightly increased cost of 2.3%. Thus, by implementing optimization procedures in the early stages of the planning process the holistic cost effects related to green solutions can be presented, favoring the choice of sustainable designs amongst clients during tendering procedures.
11.
Ek, Kristine, 1975, et al.
(författare)
Multi-criteria decision analysis methods to support sustainable infrastructure construction
2019
Ingår i: IABSE Symposium, Guimaraes 2019: Towards a Resilient Built Environment Risk and Asset Management - Report. ; , s. 1084-1091
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The construction of infrastructure projects represents a large sustainability impact, both positive and negative. Increased positive and reduced negative impacts can be achieved through better design and planning of the construction. To make more sustainable choices, well‐defined predictive sustainability assessment methods are required. Multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is a well-suited method for predictive sustainability assessment. This paper evaluates two MCDA methods for sustainability assessment of infrastructure construction and exemplifies their application with two case studies. The aim of this paper is to discuss if the methods are suitable for identifying the most sustainable alternative during the procurement process of an infrastructure project. It is recommended that MCDA methods are further developed to comply with the recently published EN standard on sustainability assessment of civil engineering works.
12.
Kiamili, Christina, et al.
(författare)
Detailed Assessment of Embodied Carbon of HVAC Systems for a New Office Building Based on BIM
2020
Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 12:8
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
The global shift towards embodied carbon reduction in the building sector has indicated the need for a detailed analysis of environmental impacts across the whole lifecycle of buildings. The environmental impact of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems has rarely been studied in detail. Most of the published studies are based on assumptions and rule of thumb techniques. In this study, the requirements and methods to perform a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) for HVAC systems based on building information modelling (BIM) are assessed and framed for the first time. The approach of linking external product data information to objects using visual programming language (VPL) is tested, and its benefits over the existing workflows are presented. The detailed BIM model of a newly built office building in Switzerland is used as a case study. In addition, detailed project documentation is used to ensure the plausibility of the calculated impact. The LCA results show that the embodied impact of the HVAC systems is three times higher than the targets provided by the Swiss Energy Efficiency Path (SIA 2040). Furthermore, it is shown that the embodied impact of HVAC systems lies in the range of 15–36% of the total embodied impact of office buildings. Nevertheless, further research and similar case studies are needed to provide a robust picture of the embodied environmental impact of HVAC systems. The results could contribute to setting stricter targets in line with the vision of decarbonization of the building sector.
13.
Kurkinen, Eva-Lotta, et al.
(författare)
Energy and climate-efficient construction systems : Environmental assessment of various frame options for buildings in Brf. Viva
2018
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
In the collaborative forum Positive footprint housing® Riksbyggen is building the Viva residential quarter, which is a sustainability project at the very forefront of what is possible with contemporary construction. The idea is that this residential quarter should be fully sustainable in ecological, economic and social terms. Since 2013, a number of pilot studies have been completed under the auspices of the Viva project framework thanks to financing from the Swedish Energy Agency. The various building frame alternatives that have been evaluated are precast concrete, cast in-situ concrete and solid wood, all proposed by leading commercial suppliers. The report includes a specific requirement for equivalent functions during the use phase of the building, B. An interpretation has been provided that investigates the building engineering aspects in detail, as well as an account of the results based on the social community requirements specified in Viva, durability, fire, noise and energy consumption in the Swedish National Board of Building, Planning and Housing building regulations (BBR), plus Riksbyggen’s own requirements, Sweden Green Building Council’s Environmental Building Gold (Miljöbyggnad Guld) and 100-year life cycle. Given that the alternatives have different long-term characteristics (and also that our knowledge of these characteristics itself varies), these functional requirements have been addressed by setting up different scenarios in accordance with the EPD standard EN 15978. Because Riksbyggen has specified a requirement for a 100-year life cycle, we have also opted for an analysis period of 100 years. The results show no significant differences between concrete and timber structures for the same functions during the life cycle, either for climate or for primary energy. The minor differences reported are accordingly less than the degree of uncertainty involved in the study. The available documentation on the composition of the relevant intumescent paint coating on solid wood frames differs from source to source, so it was not possible to fully allow for the significance of this. The LCA has not included functional changes in the building linked to load-bearing characteristics, noise, moisture, health or other problems that may result in increased maintenance and replacement. The concrete houses have been dimensioned for 100 years, for instance, in accordance with tried and tested standards and experience. The solid wood house is not dimensioned in the same way, and this has led to us having to assume various scenarios.The results also show the following:• The uncertainties involved in comparing different structures and alternative solutions are very significant. The results are affected by factors such as life cycle, the functional requirements taken into consideration, transportation, design and structural details, etc.• Variations in the built items and a considerable degree of uncertainty in the assumptions make it difficult to obtain significant results on comparisons. Only actual construction projects with known specific data, declared from a life cycle perspective that takes into account actual building developer requirements and involving different scenarios (best, documented and worst-case) for the user stage can currently be compared.• In the other hand, comparisons restricted to different concrete structures only, or to different timber structures only, ought to involve a lower degree of uncertainty. These would then provide results that are significant as well as improvement requirements that are relevant.• There is potential for improving concrete by imposing requirements on the material• There is potential for improving solid wood frames by developing and guaranteeing well-documented long-term characteristics for all functional requirements.The LCAs were performed as an iterative process where all parties were given the opportunity to submit their viewpoints and suggestions for changes during the course of the work. This helped ensure that all alternatives have been properly thought through.Because, during the project, Riksbyggen opted to procure a concrete frame, in the final stage the researchers involved focused on ensuring the procurement process would result in the concrete frame as built meeting the requirements set out above. As things currently stand, the material requirements for the concrete are limited by the production options open to the suppliers, and this is therefore being investigated in the manufacture of precast concrete frames for the Viva cooperative housing association.
14.
Larsson, Bengt, 1943-, et al.
(författare)
The Effect and Cost Impact of Poor Airtightness : Information for Developers and Clients
2007
Ingår i: Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings. - Orlando : ASHRAE. - 2166-8469. - 9781933742281
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Air movements in and through the building envelope affect the flows of not only heat, but also moisture, gases and particles, in a building. They often play a decisive part in determining moisture conditions, and thus indoor environmental conditions in the building, and ultimately, the durability of the building structure. Air flows affect thermal comfort and ventilation, and thus air quality. In addition, they also cause heat loss, both directly via ventilation, and through their effect on the performance of what are intended to be high-insulation structures.A previous joint project between SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology investigated the importance of airtightness in the construction process. The project found that many types of damage and problems were caused by poor airtightness, that airtightness was seldom given the proper consideration that it deserved and that there was a major need for information on the effect of poor airtightness. One of the conclusions was that it is important to get developers/clients to treat airtightness more seriously.The objective of the follow-on project that is described here is therefore to make developers/clients (more) aware of the potential damage that can be caused by poor airtightness, together with the “cost” of this damage/problem in a life-cycle perspective. Hopefully, developers/clients will then specify and monitor airtightness requirements more clearly. The aim is therefore to develop tools and methods for informing developers/clients of the importance of good airtightness, and of the resulting extra costs that incur from paying insufficient attention to airtightness.The project has identified and assessed various consequences of poor airtightness, such as increased energy use, reduced thermal comfort, reduced air quality and moisture damages.The cost calculations show that the developer/client would benefit in most cases from an increased standard and follow up on airtightness. We have projected the work with three different levels of ambition: 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 l/m2s (at 50 Pa pressure difference), and believe that the optimal airtightness lies somewhere in the region of these values, depending on the buildings use and equipment.
15.
Mangold, Mikael, 1982, et al.
(författare)
Building ownership, renovation investments, and energy performance - A study of multi-family dwellings in Gothenburg
2018
Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 10:5
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
The European building stock was renewed at a rapid pace during the period 1950-1975. In many European countries, the building stock from this time needs to be renovated, and there are opportunities to introduce energy efficiency measures in the renovation process. Information availability and increasingly available analysis tools make it possible to assess the impact of policy and regulation. This article describes methods developed for analyzing investments in renovation and energy performance based on building ownership and inhabitant socio-economic information developed for Swedish authorities, to be used for the Swedish national renovations strategy in 2019. This was done by analyzing measured energy usage and renovation investments made during the last 30 years, coupled with building specific official information of buildings and resident area characteristics, for multi-family dwellings in Gothenburg (N = 6319). The statistical analyses show that more costly renovations lead to decreasing energy usage for heating, but buildings that have been renovated during the last decades have a higher energy usage when accounting for current heating system, ownership, and resident socio-economic background. It is appropriate to include an affordability aspect in larger renovation projects since economically disadvantaged groups are over-represented in buildings with poorer energy performance.
16.
Mathern, Alexandre, 1986, et al.
(författare)
Practical metamodel‑assisted multi‑objective design optimization for improved sustainability and buildability of wind turbine foundations
2022
Ingår i: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1615-1488 .- 1615-147X. ; 65:2
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
In this work, we study the potential of using kriging metamodelling to perform multi-objective structural design optimization using finite element analysis software and design standards while keeping the computational efforts low. A method is proposed, which includes sustainability and buildability objectives, and it is applied to a case study of reinforced concrete foundations for wind turbines based on data from a large Swedish wind farm project. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to investigate the influence of the penalty factor applied to unfeasible solutions and the size of the initial sample generated by Latin hypercube sampling. A multi-objective optimization is then performed to obtain the optimum designs for different weight combinations for the four objectives considered. Results show that the kriging-obtained designs from samples of 20 designs outperform the best designs in the samples of 1000 designs. The optimum designs obtained by the proposed method have a sustainability impact 8–15% lower than the designs developed by traditional methods.
17.
Mathern, Alexandre, 1986, et al.
(författare)
Sustainability-driven structural design using artificial intelligence
2019
Ingår i: 20th Congress of IABSE, New York City 2019: The Evolving Metropolis - Report. ; , s. 1058-1065
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The construction industry is responsible for a large share of the global environmental impact. The need for addressing sustainability and increased competition calls for the development of innovative design methods that include sustainability in a transparent way. The aim of this work is to propose a framework to use machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for structural design optimization based on sustainability and buildability criteria. AI opens up new possibilities to optimize and assess structures early in the planning and design stages. In that way, it is possible to decrease the negative and enhance the positive environmental, economic and social impacts and create a more time‐ and cost‐effective design process. The work is meant to serve as a first step toward the development of AI‐based methods in the construction industry, which can bring digitalization in the construction industry to a new level and create new services and business models.
18.
Rempling, Rasmus, 1976, et al.
(författare)
Automatic structural design by a set-based parametric design method
2019
Ingår i: Automation in Construction. - : Elsevier BV. - 0926-5805. ; 108:December
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Modern structural design faces new challenges, such as addressing the needs of several stakeholders and satisfying the criteria for achieving sustainability. The traditional design process does not allow resolution of these challenges. The purpose of this project was to investigate the applicability of a Set-Based Parametric Design method to the structural design process of bridges. The focus was on the early design stage, in which the design team evaluates design alternatives against a chosen set of criteria. The main challenge in this stage of design is that the process should be cost- and time-effective while allowing comparison of the different alternatives and their evaluation in terms of the different design criteria. Certainly, structural design is often performed by a discussion between the different stakeholders involved in this process, i.e. the client, contractor, and engineering team. An evaluation of alternatives against criteria requires a more detailed design, which is contradictory to the early design stage when information is scarce. The selected approach was to develop a script that can generate information for decision-making, automate the structural design process, perform common routine design tasks, and control the numerical analysis. The method combined Set-Based Design, Parametric Design, Finite Element Analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Three existing bridges were selected to demonstrate the applicability of the developed method. The method was successfully applied and it was observed that it resulted in bridges that were more efficient in terms of material costs and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions compared with existing bridges. By delaying the decisions and developing the sets of alternatives, various alternatives can be assessed and evaluated, in the design stage, against different sustainability criteria.
19.
Roupé, Mattias, 1975, et al.
(författare)
Immersive visualization of Building Information Models
2016
Ingår i: Living Systems and Micro-Utopias: Towards Continuous Designing, Proceedings of the 21st International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA 2016). - 9789881902672 ; , s. 673-682
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The design process of a building often involves many different actors and people with different experiences, level of knowledge and ability to interpret information. The most common information media in these processes are 2D-drawings, documents and 3D images of design. These media can be difficult to interpret and understand and could cause communication difficulties and design errors. However, in this context, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) have been shown to offer an efficient communication platform. In this paper we present and evaluate a portable immersive visualization system that uses the BIMs directly from the design tools. The system is validated in a real construction project, where the dif-ferent disciplines in the design process used the system. The result was collected through interviews and observation during usage of the system. All the participants expressed that this type of visual interface helped them to get another level of understanding and perception of space, which lead to better decision-making process and resolving of design issues.
20.
Estévez Mauriz, Laura, 1982
(författare)
The urban form and the sound environment - Tools and approaches
2017
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Cities are always confronted with transition and adaptation. Awareness on urban environmental quality is leading the vision about the built environment’s resilience and sustainability, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary framework for urbanisation processes. One of the main concerns is the negative impact of outdoor noise due to road traffic, whereby controlling the sound environment through good quality spatial production is a priority. Europe and other parts of the world are experiencing a chronic traffic congestion problem. The environmental impact of this situation is overwhelming, where 90 % of the health impact due to noise exposure is estimated to be caused by road traffic noise. In this regard, noise maps are seen as a powerful tool in the development of new urban areas, where its noise level underestimation can endanger the wellbeing of citizens. At this rapid urbanisation, divided pronouncements on decision-making are devastating. The aim is to overcome negative aspects derived from a late intervention by including urban sound planning as an opportunity to the user’s experience and wellbeing, avoiding poor patches in the urban configuration and economical burden. The present work is committed to the development of tools for controlling, communicating and designing the sound environment on a level beyond today’s solutions, capable to be included at the early stages of the planning process. First, the study goes through the importance of the quiet side and the implementation of an engineering method as a powerful tool in the urban development, obtaining accurate results compared to measurements. In an attempt to study time variations of traffic within cities and its relevance regarding noise emission (normally overlooked in current noise mapping calculations), a microscopic road traffic modelling tool is developed in the second study, giving useful output for noise level predictions as function of time. The time-pattern analysis opens the possibility to test traffic configurations and explore a large variety of results in the form of descriptors as statistical indicators, calm periods and noise events, and outcomes as difference maps and contribution maps. The third study extends toward the evaluation of the effects of spatial heterogeneity (considered a key strategy to increase the liveability of spaces) on the environmental performance and resilience capacity of the transportation system through the study of noise pollution and its economic impact. The studies presented are using real case scenarios as a test-bed not only for implementation, but mainly for the development of tools.
21.
Kickert, Conrad Christiaan, et al.
(författare)
Surveying density, urban characteristics, and development capacity of station areas in the Delta Metropolis
2014
Ingår i: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. - : SAGE Publications. - 2399-8083 .- 2399-8091 .- 0265-8135 .- 1472-3417. ; 41, s. 69-92
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
The combination of growing mobility needs and dwindling transportation budgets in the Dutch Delta Metropolis has raised the need for smarter use of existing public transport infrastructure. A significant portion of this smarter use may come from strengthening the ties between infrastructure improvements and transit-oriented development. To further this goal, the Delta Metropolis Association has developed SprintCity (SprintStad in Dutch), a serious game and planning support tool that engages stakeholders in transit-oriented development to explore interaction between transport and land use, as described in Bertolini’s node–place model. However, its underlying database has proven insufficient to draw conclusions regarding urban character and development capacity around stations. This paper focuses on morphological research that aims to improve this database by exploring the density and urban morphology of station areas in the Delta Metropolis beyond readily available statistics, and discusses the methodological and theoretical underpinnings of this survey. The surveying of station areas in 2010 was conducted by a team of six researchers, based on the Spacemate© methodology developed by Berghauser Pont and Haupt. The methodology allows detailed quantitative measurement of the density and spatial characteristics of clearly demarcated urban districts, defining their so-called ‘spatial fingerprint’. The resulting database of 850 districts in 55 station areas has served descriptive goals, strengthening the realism in the SprintCity game, and serves as the database for further establishing the development potential of station areas.
22.
Forsemalm, Joakim, 1973, et al.
(författare)
Urban Qualities: ett kunskapsområde
2013
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Den här kunskapsöversikten är ett försök att utkristallisera relevant forskning såväl som praktisk kunskap för Mistra Urban Futures om urbana kvaliteter. Översikten är kopplad till ett arbete som genomförts under vår och höst 2011 med syfte att skapa underlag för den Strategiska plan som utgör grunden för Mistra Urban Futures planering och aktiviteter. Under våren 2011 arbetade sex grupper med varsitt kunskapsfält – urbana kvaliteter, urban förändring (”transitions”), urbana kulturer, urbana rättigheter, urban tillgänglighet och urban uthållighet. Tanken var att dessa skulle utgöra de sex bärande fokusområdena för centrets verksamhet. Sedermera kom dessa sex områden att slås ihop till tre - FAIR, GREEN och DENSE – vilka nu utgör de tre övergripande problem- och kunskapsområdena för Mistra Urban Futures.
23.
Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
Approaches to Safeguarding Sustainability Requirements in Public Construction Projects – the Client’s Perspective
2016
Ingår i: CIB World Building Congress 2016.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
In recent years, the concept of sustainability has penetrated much of modern political, social and industrial discourse. Its recent popularization, stemming from the Brundtland report of 1987, has led to sustainability becoming a household term in nearly every industry, of which the construction sector is no exception. Considering the importance that sustainability has in the construction industry, and how it is particularly emphasized in construction financed by public funds, questions need to be raised in terms how capable the construction client is in meeting and achieving the sustainability requirements, often set by politics, that exist whilst safeguarding project delivery. The study is based on four interviews targeting public clients in Sweden and it investigates how sustainability requirements are managed in large public construction projects. What is of particular interest is the degree to which public client organizations either develop or procure systems/staff to ensure that the criteria for social, environmental and cultural sustainability are maintained and that the consequences of different approaches are managed. The results support the idea of having a multifaceted approach to sustainable construction, arguing that terms such as social and cultural sustainability may instead be dealt with separately from the more strictly defined sustainability terms of toxicity, waste and energy consumption. There is also a suggestion that once the client organization begins incorporating a sustainability mind-set in all of its affairs, members of that organization may begin working with sustainability on a perfunctory basis without necessarily understanding the underlying reasons for their actions. Finally, the challenge with sustainability is perhaps not so much that there is a lack of capability as much as there is a lack of resources for working with sustainability.
24.
de Wolf, Catherine, et al.
(författare)
Database of Embodied Quantity Outputs: Lowering Material Impacts Through Engineering
2020
Ingår i: Journal of Architectural Engineering. - 1076-0431. ; 26:3
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Current studies and performance labels focus mainly on the operational energy demand of buildings due to heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and hot water, but they rarely account for embodied impacts. Performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) on an entire building structure, let alone a building, requires time and data, both of which are often lacking for practitioners in the construction industry. Limited knowledge on the embodied carbon equivalent of building structures led to the benchmarking effort of the database of embodied quantity outputs (DEQO), developed by the first author over the last 6 years in close collaboration with industry and academia. DEQO collects material quantities for existing buildings in a robust way directly from industry. This paper presents the lessons learned from this database to define the next steps for structural engineers to lower the environmental impacts related to the material quantities in their projects. To create confidence and comparability in the results, recommendations are given such as implementing uncertainty analysis into practice to avoid inaccurate comparisons with a false sense of precision.
25.
Dervishaj, Arlind
(författare)
From Sustainability to Regeneration : a digital framework with BIM and computational design methods
2023
Ingår i: Architecture, Structures and Construction. - : Springer Nature. - 2730-9886 .- 2730-9894. ; 3:3, s. 315-336
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Design methods, frameworks, and green building certifications have been developed to create a sustainable built environment. Despite sustainability advancements, urgent action remains necessary due to climate change and the high impact of the built environment. Regenerative Design represents a shift from current practices focused on reducing environmental impacts, as it aims to generate positive effects on both human and natural systems. Although digital design methods are commonly employed in sustainable design practice and research, there is presently no established framework to guide a digital regenerative design process. This study provides an analysis of existing literature on regenerative design and digital design methods and presents a framework based on building information modelling (BIM) methodology and computational design methods, that can be applied to both urban and building design. This framework identifies digital tools and organizes indicators based on the pillars of climate, people, and nature for regenerative design, drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of literature, including standards, sustainability frameworks and research studies. The framework is illustrated through a case study evaluation. The paper also highlights the potential and limitations of digital methods concerning regenerative design and suggests possibilities for future expansion by incorporating additional quantifiable indicators that reflect research developments, to achieve positive outcomes.
26.
Dervishaj, Arlind
(författare)
Sunlight Autonomy for Sustainable Buildings and Cities : Maximizing daylight potential outdoors and indoors
2024
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Daylight, both outdoors and indoors, is essential for human well-being. However, daylight provision often faces challenges in various climates and locations, due to factors such as shortcomings in regulations, urban densification, deregulation or special exemptions, and the limitations of existing daylight and sunlight evaluation methods. To address these issues, we propose the Sunlight Autonomy, a new methodology and set of metrics, that aims to overcome the limitations of existing early-stage daylighting metrics and is valuable for urban planning and architectural design purposes.
27.
Jalilzadehazhari, Elaheh, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
Achieving a trade‐off construction solution using BIM, an optimization algorithm, and a multi‐criteria decision‐making method
2019
Ingår i: Buildings. - Basel, Switzerland : MDPI. - 2075-5309. ; 9:4, s. 1-14
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
The Energy Performance of Building Directive obligated all European countries to reduce the energy requirements of buildings while simultaneously improving indoor environment quality. Any such improvements not only enhance the health of the occupants and their productivity, but also provide further economic benefits at the national level. Accomplishing this task requires a method that allows building professionals to resolve conflicts between visual and thermal comfort, energy demands, and life‐cycle costs. To overcome these conflicts, this study exploits the incorporation of building information modelling (BIM), the design of experiments as an optimization algorithm, and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) into a multi‐criteria decision‐ making method. Any such incorporation can (i) create constructive communication between building professionals, such as architects, engineers, and energy experts; (ii) allow the analysis of the performance of multiple construction solutions with respect to visual and thermal comfort, energy demand, and life‐cycle costs; and (iii) help to select a trade‐off solution, thereby making a suitable decision. Three types of energy‐efficient windows, and five types of ground floors, roofs, and external wall constructions were considered as optimization variables. The incorporation of several methods allowed the analysis of the performance of 375 construction solutions based on a combination of optimization variables, and helped to select a trade‐off solution. The results showed the strength of incorporation for analyzing big‐data through the intelligent use of BIM and a simulation in the field of the built environment, energy, and costs. However, when applying AHP, the results are strongly contingent on pairwise comparisons
28.
Shadram, Farshid, 1987-
(författare)
Assessment and optimization of life cycle enrgy use in buildings
2018
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Buildings account for 40% of all energy use in European countries. The European Union (EU) therefore encourages member states to adopt Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) and implement energy-efficient practices during building design to minimize the energy use of buildings. However, recent studies have shown that energy-efficient buildings may not always outperform conventional buildings in terms of Life Cycle Energy (LCE) use. This is mainly due to the trade-off between embodied and operational energy, and a reliance on EEMs that reduce operational energy while sometimes increasing embodied energy and LCE use. To improve buildings’ environmental performance, the impact of different EEMs on buildings’ energy use needs to be assessed from a lifecycle perspective, and methods for identifying optimal combinations of EEMs that minimize LCE use should be developed. Ideally, these methods should be integrated with building information modelling (BIM) to enable seamless data exchange and to help Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) practitioners make optimal design decisions relating to EEMs. The work presented in this thesis had two overall objectives: (1) to explore the scope for developing BIM-supported method(s) for assessing and optimizing the impact of EEMs on buildings’ LCE use during the design process, and (2) use the BIM-supported method(s) for exploring the impact of various EEMs that are implemented and modified during the building design process on the buildings’ LCE use.The work presented in this thesis is based on an exploratory research design involving iterative cycles of (1) problem identification, (2) method development, (3) method examination, and (4) theory suggestion. In step 1, problems were identified by conducting literature studies and workshops with AEC practitioners, and analyzing archival data. In step 2, prototyping was used to develop methods to overcome the identified problems. In step 3, the applicability of these methods (or prototypes) was tested in case studies on actual and hypothetical building projects. Three case studies were conducted – one dealing with a low energy dwelling located in Kiruna, Sweden; another dealing with a multifamily residential building in Uppsala, Sweden; and a third dealing with a hypothetical multifamily residential building in Stockholm, Sweden. In step 4, the results were compared to existing theories to strengthen existing knowledge and identify previously unrecognized findings.In relation to the first objective, the results obtained show that the factors and activities required to develop BIM-supported method(s) for assessing and optimizing the impact of EEMs on a building’s LCE use during the design phase are:• A database that stores external and building project data (e.g. BIM data) and links it to be used for assessment and optimization, providing access to the data whenever needed.• The development of interfaces using middleware applications to ensure interoperability and seamless automated exchange of information between BIM and other systems.• Predefined objects (i.e. building part and component recipes) that are stored in a database and linked to inventories and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the relevant materials, enabling assessment of the buildings’ embodied energy and LCE use.• The application of multi-objective optimization techniques (e.g. Pareto-based genetic algorithms) to identify optimal solution(s) for EEMs that minimize (optimize) the building’s LCE use.In relation to the second objective of the thesis, the results obtained indicate that:• EEMs that are implemented and modified during the detailed design phase have much less influence on the building’s LCE use than those implemented in the early design phase. Highly influential EEMs related to the early design phase which were tested herein were the building’s shape, orientation, Window to Wall Ratio (WWR), and the selection of materials used in the building envelope.• Generally, thickening roof insulation has a strong beneficial effect on LCE use for buildings in Sweden.• For buildings using energy sources with high primary energy factors, the most effective way to reduce LCE use may be to implement many EEMs that reduce operational energy use. However, this approach may be less helpful for buildings using greener energy sources because in such cases the embodied energy may have a greater effect on the final LCE use.• The embodied energies of materials in the same class can vary significantly between suppliers. Such differences in embodied energy can be identified by considering the suppliers’ EPDs, the energetic contributions due to their mode of transportation from the site of production, and the distance between the site of production and the construction site.• If the developed optimization approach is used to identify optimal combinations of EEMs in the early design phase, designers can freely choose from a wide range of building shapes without greatly affecting LCE use. However, without early phase optimization, designs that use different building shapes may exhibit significantly different LCE use values.The results provide both theoretical and practical contributions that may be useful to researchers and AEC practitioners seeking to develop BIM-supported design processes and to reduce buildings’ LCE use by adopting appropriate EEMs. The results also show that embodied energy can be a major component of a building’s LCE use if the building’s design relies heavily on EEMs designed solely to reduce operational energy use. Policy makers and governmental bodies are thus advised to update regulations and building codes to reflect the importance of embodied energy so as to minimize the LCE use of new and retrofitting building projects.
29.
Wallbaum, Holger, 1967, et al.
(författare)
Nachhaltig bauen - Lebenszyklus, Systeme, Szenarien, Verantwortung
2011
Bok (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Dem Bauwesen kommt bei der Zielsetzung einer Nachhaltigen Entwicklung eine grosse Bedeutung zu. "Nachhaltig Bauen" bedeutet vereinfacht ausgedrückt, Bauwerke zu errichten und zu erhalten, die ein Kapital für zukünftige Generationen darstellen und keine Altlast.Das Buch bietet einen Einstieg in diese Thematik über drei Zugänge: Denkschule, Handwerkszeug und Beispiele. Es wird der bestehenden Baupraxis ein Ansatz gegenübergestellt, der sich am gesamten Lebenszyklus der Bauwerke orientiert und ein Denken und Planen in Systemen und Szenarien voraussetzt. Dies erfordert ein modernes Selbstverständnis des Planenden, der bei sämtlichen Prozessen der Planung und Bewirtschaftung die Verantwortung übernimmt und sich nicht nur auf den Entwurf beschränkt. Beispiele Nachhaltigen Bauens veranschaulichen mögliche Lösungsansätze und zeigen auf, welche Ideen funktionieren oder wo noch optimiert werden kann. Ein Anhang mit einer umfassenden Übersicht zu Instrumenten für Nachhaltiges Bauen ergänzt die Publikation.- Umfasst den ganzen Lebenszyklus von Bauten, von der Herstellung über die Nutzung bis zur Entsorgung.- Thematisiert viele Teilbereiche: u.a. Projektmanagement, Life Cycle Management, Facility Management, Immobilieninvestition.- Enthält einen umfassenden Anhang zu Instrumenten und Hilfsmitteln.
30.
Ylva, Berglund, et al.
(författare)
Framsynt efterord
2013
Ingår i: Mellanrum. Fem års seminarier om social hållbarhet och stadsutveckling i Göteborg.
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
31.
Bankvall, Claes, 1942, et al.
(författare)
Air transport in and through the building envelope
2004
Ingår i: Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings. - 2166-8469.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
A national R&D program dealing with air transport in and through the building envelope is presented, including some overviews of results. The program develops predictive models for evaluating air movements in and through the building envelope. These models are coupled to the outside climate and pressure situation and to the inside climate through the interaction with models defining the building services system. A major aim of the program is to analyze problems of relevance to the building process. This includes site inventory, modeling of typical situations, and laboratory testing for input data and to validate the models. The objective is to develop tools to help design and evaluate building elements and to give the necessary foundation for estimating the convective transport of heat and moisture in the envelope, which is decisive for the indoor climate, the consumption of energy, and the durability of the construction. The research program is ongoing and this presentation is to invite communication with others.
32.
Bin, Jiang, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
Automatic generation of the axial lines of urban environments to capture what we perceive
2010
Ingår i: International Journal of Geographical Information Science. - London : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1365-8816 .- 1365-8824 .- 1362-3087. ; 24:4, s. 545-558
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Based on the concepts of isovists and medial axes, we developed a set of algorithms that can automatically generate axial lines for representing individual linearly stretched parts of open space of an urban environment. Open space is the space between buildings, where people can freely move around. The generation of the axial lines has been a key aspect of space syntax research, conventionally relying on hand-drawn axial lines of an urban environment, often called axial map, for urban morphological analysis. Although various attempts have been made towards an automatic solution, few of them can produce the axial map that consists of the least number of longest visibility lines, and none of them really works for different urban environments. Our algorithms provide a better solution than existing ones. Throughout this paper, we have also argued and demonstrated that the axial lines constitute a true skeleton, superior to medial axes, in capturing what we perceive about the urban environment.
33.
Bin, Jiang, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
Computing the fewest-turn map directions based on the connectivity of natural roads
2011
Ingår i: International Journal of Geographical Information Science. - London : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1365-8816 .- 1365-8824 .- 1362-3087. ; 25:7, s. 1069-1082
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
In this paper, we introduced a novel approach to computing the fewest-turn map directions or routes based on the concept of natural roads. Natural roads are joined road segments that perceptually constitute good continuity. This approach relies on the connectivity of natural roads rather than that of road segments for computing routes or map directions. Because of this, the derived routes posses the fewest turns. However, what we intend to achieve are the routes that not only possess the fewest turns, but are also as short as possible. This kind of map direction is more effective and favorable by people, because they bear less cognitive burden. Furthermore, the computation of the routes is more efficient, since it is based on the graph encoding the connectivity of roads, which is significantly smaller than the graph of road segments. We made experiments applied to eight urban street networks from North America and Europe in order to illustrate the above stated advantages. The experimental results indicate that the fewest-turn routes posses fewer turns and shorter distances than the simplest paths and the routes provided by Google Maps. For example, the fewest-turn-and-shortest routes are on average 15% shorter than the routes suggested by Google Maps, while the number of turns is just half as much. This approach is a key technology behind FromToMap.org - a web mapping service using openstreetmap data.
34.
Bourikas, L., et al.
(författare)
Facilitating responsive interaction between occupants and building systems through dynamic post-occupancy evaluation
2020
Ingår i: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. - : IOP Publishing. - 1755-1307 .- 1755-1315. ; 410:1
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is a process that can reveal the interrelations between key building performance factors and successfully integrate indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort, functionality, environmental strategy and occupants' satisfaction. POE has become a prerequisite for several building certification systems and it is often presented as a method to improve the commissioning of buildings and as a user experience feedback mechanism. This paper is based on a POE undertaken through stages at the University of Southampton Mayflower Halls of Residence complex. The first stage included the evaluation of occupant satisfaction, indoor environment quality and energy use. Results from temperature and relative humidity monitoring and an online POE questionnaire were analysed in the context of energy use, thermal comfort and building controls' functionality. The second part of this study monitored the air temperature in a sub-sample of 30 rooms where the residents participated in a thermal comfort survey with a "right-here-right-now" questionnaire and a portable instrument that monitored air temperature, relative humidity, globe temperature and air velocity in the rooms. This paper presents the results of the POE and discusses approaches for the improvement in the buildings' energy performance and the environmental conditions in the living spaces of the students. Results suggest that current use of controls is not always effective, with implications for the buildings' energy use. Large variability was found in occupants' thermal perception and preferences, which points to a need for occupant-centric solutions. In this study, POE is approached as a dynamic process that could be used to facilitate the responsive interaction of occupants with building systems and deliver through their engagement high energy performance and comfort.
35.
Disney, Oliver, 1985, et al.
(författare)
Driving circularity with Total BIM: An integrated approach to data-driven design
2023
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 39th Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM 2023. - 9780995546370 ; 39, s. 114-123
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Despite the significant environmental impacts of the construction industry, the sector lacks practical decision-making tools to increase material reuse. Building Information Modelling (BIM) can address this by facilitating data-driven decision-making. Total BIM, a growing trend in the Nordic region, implements model-based design and construction with a single source of information. This research presents a case study of a Total BIM office renovation project, where innovative BIM and digitalisation processes were implemented to increase material reuse. These processes enabled proactive, data-driven decision-making, minimising CO2 emissions. The building's concrete structure was preserved, and various components such as plasterboards, radiators, ceiling panels, doors were all reused and evaluated for CO2 emissions. The Total BIM approach was enhanced by attaching material reuse data to objects to reduce waste. The data draws on interviews, workshops and a study visit from a unique case study project in Sweden. Findings highlight how tougher emissions regulations could be the tipping point for pushing BIM implementation in projects as we think about constructing for the future.
36.
Domhagen, Fredrik, 1987, et al.
(författare)
Impact of weather conditions and building design on contaminant infiltration from crawl spaces in Swedish schools—Numerical modeling using Monte Carlo method
2022
Ingår i: Building Simulation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1996-8744 .- 1996-3599. ; 15:5, s. 845-858
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Some Swedish school buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s experience indoor air quality problems, where the contaminants are suspected to come from the crawl space underneath the building. The poor indoor air quality causes discomfort among pupils and teachers. Installing an exhaust fan to maintain a negative pressure difference in the crawl space relative to indoors or increasing the ventilation in the classroom are two examples of common measures taken to improve the indoor air quality. However, these measures are not always effective, and sometimes the school building has to be demolished. The relation between pressure distribution, contaminant concentration in the classroom, outdoor temperature, wind, mechanical ventilation, and air leakage distribution is complex. A better understanding of these relations is crucial for making decisions on the most efficient measure to improve the indoor air quality. In this paper, a model for contaminant infiltration from the crawl space is used together with the Monte Carlo method to study these relations. Simulations are performed for several cases where different building shapes, building orientations, shielding conditions, and geographical locations are simulated. Results show, for example, that for a building with an imbalanced ventilation system, air is leaking from the crawl space to the classroom for the majority of cases and that concentration levels in the classroom are usually the highest during mild and calm days.
37.
Domhagen, Fredrik, 1987, et al.
(författare)
Pressure distribution around the thermal envelope - a parametric study of the impact from wind and temperature on contaminant transport within a building
2020
Ingår i: E3S Web of Conferences. - : EDP Sciences. - 2555-0403 .- 2267-1242. ; 173:11004
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Several school buildings in Sweden have indoor air quality problems. The contaminant source is often assumed to come from within the construction, for example from the crawl space or attic space. Contaminants, in these cases, are transported by air leaking between compartments in the building. Here, the driving force for the air leakage is difference in pressure and, therefore, determining pressure also determines the direction of contaminant transport. In many cases, measures to improve the air quality are taken without a thorough understanding of how it might affect the pressure distribution in the building. In this paper a numerical model is used to examine how different climate scenarios and different building configurations affect the leakage and contaminant transport in a building with a crawl space. Results show that for leaky buildings the ventilation rate increases with increased wind and therefore the contaminant concentration decreases. The worst scenario in terms of high contaminant concentration is mild days with little wind. Also, when installing an exhaust fan in the crawl space with the purpose to prevent air from leaking from the crawl space to the classroom it is advisable to also consider the airtightness and the climate, not only the pressure difference across the floor.
38.
Forssén, Jens, 1968, et al.
(författare)
How can we plan for a good urban sound environment, focusing on road traffic noise?
2020
Ingår i: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. - : IOP Publishing. - 1755-1307 .- 1755-1315. ; 588:5
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The sound environments in our cities are affected by unwanted sounds, i.e. noise, to an extent that is largely undesired, affecting health and wellbeing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated the burden of disease from traffic-related noise within the western part of Europe and concluded that we each year lose at least one million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and that only air pollution has a larger disease burden among environmental factors. The burden of environmental noise is mainly sleep disturbance and annoyance. And the dominant source is road traffic. Methods. This paper describes the mechanisms behind road traffic noise and how we can use them in an urban sound planning perspective to improve the sound environment, as an integral part of sustainable cities and communities. The results are based on calculations and measurements made in previous and ongoing projects. Results. Treatments at source consider tyre, road, engine (whether electric or combustion), driving speed and acceleration, and further vehicle restrictions. Methods for reduction of noise during propagation and more general urban planning aspects include low-height barriers and ground treatments; acoustically absorbing facades and roofs of buildings, e.g. including vegetation; and building morphology and quiet side. Quantitative reductions, in decibels, as well as qualitative aspects are presented. Conclusions. The described possible improvements to the urban sound environment, with focus on road traffic noise as the dominant impairing factor, inform us about how a good urban sound environment can be reachable. However, to reach a good sound environment in reality, the work process of applied urban sound planning demands work across disciplines, also at early-stage planning, instead of traditional noise control applied late in the planning process.
39.
Javanroodi, Kavan, 1988, et al.
(författare)
Impacts of Microclimate Conditions on the Energy Performance of Buildings in Urban Areas
2019
Ingår i: Buildings. - : MDPI AG. - 2075-5309. ; 9:8
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Urbanization trends have changed the morphology of cities in the past decades. Complex urban areas with wide variations in built density, layout typology, and architectural form have resulted in more complicated microclimate conditions. Microclimate conditions affect the energy performance of buildings and bioclimatic design strategies as well as a high number of engineering applications. However, commercial energy simulation engines that utilize widely-available mesoscale weather data tend to underestimate these impacts. These weather files, which represent typical weather conditions at a location, are mostly based on long-term metrological observations and fail to consider extreme conditions in their calculation. This paper aims to evaluate the impacts of hourly microclimate data in typical and extreme climate conditions on the energy performance of an office building in two different urban areas. Results showed that the urban morphology can reduce the wind speed by 27% and amplify air temperature by more than 14%. Using microclimate data, the calculated outside surface temperature, operating temperature and total energy demand of buildings were notably different to those obtained using typical regional climate model (RCM)-climate data or available weather files (Typical Meteorological Year or TMY), i.e., by 61%, 7%, and 21%, respectively. The difference in the hourly peak demand during extreme weather conditions was around 13%. The impact of urban density and the final height of buildings on the results are discussed at the end of the paper.
40.
Johansson, Pär, 1986, et al.
(författare)
Super insulation materials in the building sector: Field studies and future challenges
2018
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 7th International Building Physics Conference, IBPC2018. ; , s. 131-136
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The global rate of improvement in energy efficiency have to be increased to reach the UN sustainable development goals by 2030. Super insulation materials (SIM) can maintain the same thermal transmittance with a thinner insulation layer compared to conventional insulation materials. Recommendations and experiences from practical applications are needed to raise the knowledge and awareness of using SIM in buildings. Evidences related to real-condition performance need to be presented and independently assessed. The aim of this paper is to describe the state-of-the-art in the area of SIM in building applications based on monitoring data related to long-term performance of vacuum insulation panels (VIP). Both VIP and advanced porous materials (APM) have been successfully installed over the past 15 years in buildings. This paper presents a case study where the temperature and relative humidity of a wall were monitored for seven years. The results of the monitoring indicate that the VIP fulfil its function with no sign of degradation. By continuous product development, the performance of the SIM are improved for every generation which gives a promising outlook for the wider implementation of SIM in the building envelope.
41.
Moazami, Amin, et al.
(författare)
Impacts of future weather data typology on building energy performance – Investigating long-term patterns of climate change and extreme weather conditions
2019
Ingår i: Applied Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-9118 .- 0306-2619. ; 238, s. 696-720
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Patterns of future climate and expected extreme conditions are pushing design limits as recognition of climate change and its implication for the built environment increases. There are a number of ways of estimating future climate projections and creating weather files. Obtaining adequate representation of long-term patterns of climate change and extreme conditions is, however, challenging. This work aims at answering two research questions: does a method of generating future weather files for building performance simulation bring advantages that cannot be provided by other methods? And what type of future weather files enable building engineers and designers to more credibly test robustness of their designs against climate change? To answer these two questions, the work provides an overview of the major approaches to create future weather data sets based on the statistical and dynamical downscaling of climate models. A number of weather data sets for Geneva were synthesized and applied to the energy simulation of 16 ASHRAE standard reference buildings, single buildings and their combination to create a virtual neighborhood. Representative weather files are synthesized to account for extreme conditions together with typical climate conditions and investigate their importance in the energy performance of buildings. According to the results, all the methods provide enough information to study the long-term impacts of climate change on average. However, the results also revealed that assessing the energy robustness of buildings only under typical future conditions is not sufficient. Depending on the type of building, the relative change of peak load for cooling demand under near future extreme conditions can still be up to 28.5% higher compared to typical conditions. It is concluded that only those weather files generated based on dynamical downscaling and that take into consideration both typical and extreme conditions are the most reliable for providing representative boundary conditions to test the energy robustness of buildings under future climate uncertainties. The results for the neighborhood explaining the critical situation that an energy network may face due to increased peak load under extreme climatic conditions. Such critical situations remain unforeseeable by relying solely on typical and observed extreme conditions, putting the climate resilience of buildings and energy systems at risk.
42.
Nielsen, Stig Anton, 1981
(författare)
Propositional architecture and the paradox of prediction
2015
Ingår i: Archidoct Vol. 4. - 2309-0103. ; 4, s. 72-85
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
What if we could predict trends, rising phenomena and future necessity in our build environment? If we could trace behaviors and forecast the needs for the future? If we had a tool for proposing architecture, that was able to point out potentialities and suggest additions, subtractions and modifications.If Architects had a tool to predict future demands, modification of the build environment could meet the changing behaviors and emerging phenomena in society. Research on existing building stock is reviewed in a context where prediction on complex indeterminate environments is possible. And an entirely new type of architectural tool is proposed, an algorithm for prediction.The algorithm, capable of making prediction in unstructured environments, is presented, and basis and idea of the algorithm is described in detail. The discussion focus on possible applications for this new tool, and the paradox of prediction is debated. Finally, improvements to the computational system are proposed.
43.
Norrman, Jenny, 1971, et al.
(författare)
The significance of planning and management of the subsurface to achieve sustainable cities
2020
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Introduction: The subsurface is the foundation upon which all cities rest. But the subsurface is not only a construction basis which provide physical space for infrastructure and the possibility to create a better surface living environment: the subsurface is a multifunctional natural resource. Apart from physical space, it provides water, energy, materials, habitats for ecosystems, support for surface life, and a repository for cultural heritage and geological archives. Currently, the subsurface is often utilised according to the “first-come-first-served” principle, which hinders possibilities to take strategic decisions on prioritisation and optimisation of competing subsurface uses, as well as fair inter- and intragenerational distribution of limited natural resources. A great disadvantage is the invisibility of the subsurface and consequently a lack of understanding of it as a multifunctional resource: the recently launched concept of geosystem services could help mitigate its underrating. Methods: In order to better acknowledge and lift forward the significance of the subsurface in achieving a sustainable future, the 17 SDGs are scrutinized in relation to the resources of subsurface, and specifically how better planning and management of the subsurface can contribute in achieving the goals. Results: Subsurface planning and management is relevant to at least seven (3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13) out of seventeen SDGs. Although the subsurface is not explicitly mentioned in the SDGs (except for aquifers), the subsurface can significantly contribute in achieving several of these goals. Conclusions: Sound planning and management of the subsurface can support the achievement of the mapped SDGs in various ways. The subsurface must be recognised as a precious and multifunctional resource which require careful planning and sensitive management in accordance with its potential and its value to society. Grant support: Swedish Research Council Formas (942-2016-50), Swedish Rock Engineering Research Foundation (BeFo 385), Swedish Institute Visby Programme (23887/2017).
44.
Nägeli, Claudio, 1987, et al.
(författare)
Best practice reporting guideline for building stock energy models
2022
Ingår i: Energy and Buildings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7788. ; 260
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Buildings are responsible for 38% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, therefore, pathways to reduce their impact are crucial to achieve climate targets. Building stock energy models (BSEMs) have long been used as a tool to assess the current and future energy demand and environmental impact of building stocks. BSEMs have become more and more complex and are often tailored to case-specific datasets, which results in a high degree of heterogeneity among models. This heterogeneity, together with a lack of consistency in the reporting hinders the understanding of these models and, thereby, an accurate interpretation and comparison of results. In this paper we present a reporting guideline in order to improve reporting practices of BSEMs. The guideline was developed by experts as part of the IEA's Annex 70 and builds upon reporting guidelines from other fields. It consists of five topics (Overview, Model Components, Input and Output, Quality Assurance and Additional Information), which are further subdivided into subtopics. We explain which model aspects should be described in each subtopic, and provide illustrative examples on how to apply the guideline. The reporting guideline is consistent with the model classification framework and online model registry also developed in the Annex.
45.
Nägeli, Claudio, 1987
(författare)
Bottom-Up Modeling of Building Stock Dynamics - Investigating the Effect of Policy and Decisions on the Distribution of Energy and Climate Impacts in Building Stocks over Time
2019
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
In Europe, residential and commercial buildings are directly and indirectly responsible for approximately 30–40% of the overall energy demand and emitted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A large share of these buildings was erected before minimum energy-efficiency standards were implemented and are therefore not energy- or carbon-efficient. Consequently, buildings offer significant potential in terms of energy efficiency and the reduction of GHG emissions compared to the status quo. To make use of this potential at scale, targeted policy measures and strategies are needed that should be based on a quantitative assessment of the feasibility and impact of these measures. Building stock models (BSMs) have long been used to assess the current and future energy demand and GHG emissions of building stocks. Most common BSMs characterize the building stock through the use of archetype buildings, which are taken to be representative of large segments of the stock. The increasing availability of disaggregated datasets—such as building registries, 3D city models, and energy performance certificates—has given rise to building-specific BSMs focusing on describing the status quo as an input to energy planning, primarily on the urban scale. Owing to the availability of building-level data, BSMs can be extended beyond policy advice and urban planning, to the assessment of large building portfolios. Thus far, the advances made in building-specific BSMs on the urban scale have not been transferred to the national scale, where such datasets are often not available. Moreover, the focus on an increasingly detailed description of the existing stock has left approaches for modeling stock dynamics without much development. Stock dynamics, therefore, are still primarily modeled through exogenously defined retrofit, demolition, and new construction rates. This limits the applicability and reliability of model results, as the influence of economic, environmental, or policy factors on stock development is not considered. This thesis addresses these shortcomings and advances modeling practices in BSMs. The thesis with appended papers provides a methodology for how the modeling of national building stock can be further developed in terms of building stock characterization through synthetic building stocks as well as stock dynamics through the use of agent-based modeling. Furthermore, the thesis extends BSM applications to inform the strategic planning of large building portfolios through the integration of a maintenance and renovation scheduling method to project the future development of building portfolios.
46.
47.
Sasic Kalagasidis, Angela, 1968
(författare)
The whole model validation for HAM-Tools—case study: Hygrothermal conditions in a cold attic under different ventilation regimes
2004
Ingår i: Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings. - 2166-8469.
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
HAM-Tools is a software library specially constructed for hygrothermal system analysis in building physics. The software is developed as a modular structure of standard building elements and systems using a graphical programming environment. Due to its modular structure and transparency, each of the existing components can be easily changed and adjusted to specific user demands. In order to asses the software’s ability to predict the building hygrothermal response under given climatic and operating conditions, validation tests against measurements have been performed. As a case study, temperature and relative humidity of a cold ventilated attic space in real operating conditions was selected. Validation results are presented as a comparison between measurements and calculations. Parametric sensitivity analyses were performed and necessary adjustments for the missing input parameters have been fully documented. The code has shown a high degree of reliability, both in a qualitative and a quantitative way.
48.
Sateei, Shahin, 1992, et al.
(författare)
Transitioning from 2D to VR in design-review - Resistance to engagement
2023
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality, CONVR 2023. ; 23, s. 85-96
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Although immersive virtual reality (VR) has been shown to facilitate collaborative understanding of a design, many users remain resistant to its use. Moreover, there is currently a lack of real-world studies investigating why certain users (e.g., architects) are resistant to use VR during design reviews. The aim of this study is to understand the resistance that influence client representatives’ and architects’ interaction with a VRsystem that supports both fully- and non-immersive experiences of the virtual environment. Data were gathered from three VR-workshops, which were part of 3 design review sessions of a new elementary school. Additional data were gathered from four semi-structured interviews with both the architects and client representatives participating in all workshop sessions, the interior architect involved in the project as well as an additional six semi-structured interviews. These additional six interviews involved exterior architects from different firms, who had previously used VR for both informative and design review purposes. The findings suggest that client representatives and the architects had initially been resistant to use VR during the design reviews, but their attitudes changed progressively during the three workshops, in particular that of the architects. The findings also indicate that interactive features in VR (e.g., object manipulation, multi-user) help end users negotiate design requests more efficiently and make informed decision-making. This paper highlights how immersive VR could improve the design review process.
49.
Siesjö, Björn, et al.
(författare)
Inledning
2018
Ingår i: Hus mot himlen. Hållbar hybris? Olshammar, G., Olsson, K. och Siesjö, B. (red.). - Malmö : Arena. - 9789178435210
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
50.
Soust-Verdaguer, B., et al.
(författare)
Implications of using systematic decomposition structures to organize building LCA information: A comparative analysis of national standards and guidelines- IEA EBC ANNEX 72
2020
Ingår i: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. - : IOP Publishing. - 1755-1307 .- 1755-1315. ; 588:2
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
Introduction: The application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to a building requires the collection and organization of a large amount of data over its life cycle. The systematic decomposition method can be used to classify building components, elements and materials, overcome specific difficulties that are encountered when attempting to complete the life cycle inventory and increase the reliability and transparency of results. In this paper, which was developed in the context of the research project IEA EBC Annex 72, we demonstrate the implications of taking such approach and describe the results of a comparison among different national standards/guidelines that are used to conduct LCA for building decomposition. Methods: We initially identified the main characteristics of the standards/guidelines used by Annex participant countries. The “be2226” reference office building was used as a reference to apply the different national standards/guidelines related to building decomposition. It served as a basis of comparison, allowing us to identify the implications of using different systems/standards in the LCA practice, in terms of how these differences affect the LCI structures, LCA databases and the methods used to communicate results. We also analyzed the implications of integrating these standards/guidelines into Building Information Modelling (BIM) to support LCA. Results: Twelve national classification systems/ standards/guidelines for the building decomposition were compared. Differences were identified among the levels of decomposition and grouping principles, as well as the consequences of these differences that were related to the LCI organization. In addition, differences were observed among the LCA databases and the structures of the results. Conclusions: The findings of this study summarize and provide an overview of the most relevant aspects of using a standardized building decomposition structure to conduct LCA. Recommendations are formulated on the basis of these findings.
