Organizational Unit:

School of Architecture

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https://hdl.handle.net/1853/70770

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Organizational Unit

College of Design

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https://finding-aids.library.gatech.edu/agents/corporate_entities/1120

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Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 76

A conceptual framework of adaptive architecture: A cybernetics approach to bio-inspired strategies

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019-05-21) Mehta, Shilpa

This thesis develops the conceptual framework of adaptive architecture, where adaptability is defined by the capacity of an organism or a system to act in response to variations in natural conditions. This research considers how living beings catch, convert, store and process energy, water and daylight. It asks how does nature chill off, warm up, give shade, and control light. In contrast with living creatures, buildings are ordinarily considered as static, lifeless objects. However, a building's environment and its inward conditions are dynamic, and there exists the potential to use inspiration and examples from nature to cultivate greater adaptability of the façade for upgraded building performance. To implement this process of adaptability in architecture one needs to understand the change and a sense of intelligence that architecture must possess. This research examines principles of cybernetics, to learn from it, and to establish a bridge between intelligence and architecture that can lead to adaptability. Cybernetics can help bridge organic and inorganic aspects of architecture and machines. This thesis will help develop a better understanding of climate adaptive architecture and other disciplines contribution to it. Essentially, architects need to develop an understanding of the framework that involves design computation, intelligent environment and role of nature coming together for achieving adaptive architecture while it addresses the issue of climate change
What is leftover: The residual space

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019-05-01) Rickles, Carley Jaclyn

By considering the existing value of undesinged space in the city, the residual space, alternative perspectives on field research, analysis, and the representation thereof were examined and offered. The urban design research process was reformatted applying a multi-tiered, dialectical approach to research with the scrutinized examination of an artist. Prior to analyzing and reflecting upon findings, empirical evidence relied on photography, video, writing, and drawing, allowing for the aesthetics and unseen factors to be revisited at a later time. Through the act of composing empirical findings with ecological and socio-cultural data and histories a deeper understanding of the importance of the residual space was uncovered and expressed dialogically.
Optimizing microgrid distributed energy resources with varying building loads: Analysis and simulation

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-08-09) Haroon, Sohail

As microgrids continue to evolve and become more prevalent, there arises a need to understand how best to design while addressing the fundamental objective of meeting energy loads. As a localized energy entity, a microgrid brings together distributed energy resources such as photovoltaics and energy storage systems with an array of building loads within a well-defined electrical boundary. Microgrids can vary considerably in scope, co-existing with the utility grid infrastructure, or being able to operate independently of it, or some combination in between of grid-tie and off-grid operation. Many challenges face the design and operation of a microgrid involving intelligent controllers and dispatchers, balancing generation resources, interacting with the utility grid, and doing all this in a cost-effective manner. This study examines the role of building load profiles in optimization of distributed energy resources, in particular, photovoltaics and storage system. The grid is assumed to be stable and contrasting rate structures are explored. Similarly, contrasting load profiles can shed light on a microgrid’s ability to meet demand versus energy loads. Modeling and simulation is done via an industry standard tool, HOMER GRID. Detailed hourly load profiles for various building mix profiles are generated via an expanded building energy modeling tool, Energy Performance Calculator (EPC), developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Demand response is also handled via EPC. Optimization is across the spectrum of net present cost, operating cost, return on investment, and a redefined levelized cost of electricity metric. A simple methodology is derived that can aid in the general design of balancing and optimizing distributed energy resources based on the findings of optimization across scenarios. Of vital importance to a microgrid stakeholder is risk mitigation in the deployment and usage of distributed energy resources, operating costs, and load fulfillment. This study paves the path of better understanding of integration of microgrids within an evolving smarter utility grid. Future studies will explore an even wider mix of buildings, the effect of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations via the building load profiles, and the evolution of microgrid rate structures from the perspective of Independent System Operators (ISO) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO). In addition, scope will be expanded to include microgrids that service villages and islands where grid stability cannot be assumed thus covering the gamut of microgrid presence worldwide.
The synergistic effects of thermal environment and visibility upon the popularity of street retail area: A case study of a retail arcade in Guangzhou

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-08-01) Li, Yifan

For every building design process, three elements should be taken into considerations: building type, geometry and environment. These elements mutually influence one another; the aim of architectural design is to find the most appropriate combination of them. The three elements could be analyzed and modeled by using tools and methods in the fields of architecture typology, space syntax, and building performance simulation. The use of such tools supports not only qualitative research and evaluation, but also quantitative comparison. This work focuses on the arcade, a type of street retail space in South China. The overhanging 2nd floor not only moderates the thermal and environmental quality of the passage beneath it, but also affects the visibility of store fronts. In this study the conditions created in arcaded environments are compared to those in a normal street retail environment. Several analysis tools are used: Isovist and daylighting analyses are combined in order to model the visibility of store fronts; environmental simulation is used to assess thermal performance (e.g. temperature, wind speed, and humidity). The results are used to characterize the attraction of stores which are similar regarding size, location and retail type but are interfaced to different types of outdoor space. By combining the results of the analysis with observations of the stores’ popularity the research concludes with recommendations about the design of store environments that are more likely to attract visitors. Tools: Depthmap, Grasshopper, Diva, Ladybug, Honeybee, IES-VE
Multi-aspect energy performance of building form in eight U.S. climate zones

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-07-19) Feng, Tianyu

This research examines how building massing and building form impacts on multiple levels of building energy usage and inspects sensitivity of form parameters against other components using a building energy simulation-based framework. Based on literature review, a new concept, Relative Compactness (RC) is implemented throughout the research as the leading form characteristic to evaluate and validate the energy performance impact of building massing and form parameters. From an architectural design perspective, the RC is coupled with window sizes, window distribution and orientation; they are collectively treated as defining building form. It was found that a decrease of RC shows strong correlation with the increase of building energy usage in comparison to a cubic form for major building types located in different climate zones. In the study of the building form, a comprehensive comparison of multiple energy saving measures is conducted to rank the energy saving potentials of various parameters, include HVAC system type, cooling EER, heating COP, lighting power density, daylighting sensor, occupancy sensor, window U-value window and roof R-value, in a building energy simulation-based model. Building form impacts energy usage significantly depending on the range of the parameters defined in this study, especially the window related properties including the unit U-value, window area and distribution over different building facade orientations. Overall, the energy saving variation of all the evaluated strategies is highly interactive, and one component could affect the total energy consumption greatly. It is important to make sure each aspect of a project guarantees a proper efficiency level to maximize its effect. The results are discussed and shown to vary by climate zone.
The use of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) towards ultra energy efficient buildings

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-01-03) Kishore, Pranav

This study talks about the energy efficient buildings from demand side of management as well as supply side of management too. It mainly covers feasibility and challenges of BIPV integration in the buildings. This study can also be used for deciding that whether a dynamic simulation modeling is required about the feasibility of BIPV integration in a commercial building.
Solar shift: A perspective on building energy performance under haze pollutions in China

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-05-31) Jia, Yiyuan

The severe haze pollution in China has arisen concerns among the public and government officials, due to its impacts on pubic health, visibility, climate and agriculture. To augment these findings of the negative impacts of haze pollution, this study investigates the “solar shift” effect due to haze pollutions and the potential (unreported) impacts on buildings’ energy performance in China. This study takes the aerosol optical depth (AOD) as a measure of the solar blocking effect of haze pollutions. By plugging in the measured and projected AOD data in solar models, three weather files for Beijing are developed that represent different haze pollution for the following scenarios: the 2014 situation, the optimistic projection of 2050 (2050A) and the pessimistic projection of 2050 (2050B). Together with the TMY, these weather files serve as the boundary conditions in building energy modeling practices. The results indicate the district heating energy consumption under the 2014 aerosol emission levels would increase 5 % compared to the current practice using TMY weather file. In the pessimistic scenario where we assume to keep the current pace of aerosol emissions, the district heating energy would increase 10 %. The current ASHRAE design day sizing method would assure the heating load being met under all possible scenarios investigated in this study.
Sustainable energy in military base design & layout

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-05-10) Campbell, Ira Lee, Sr.

The purpose of this study is to exlpore the possibilities of power generation using human and mechanical means. This paper will introduce alternative means, methods, and procedures for the implementation of cutting edge technologies to address the energy needs for today and the future. Further, this project will serve as an aid in the development of a base camp facility layout optimization system by understanding the proximity relationships between base camp components, developing a facility layout domain, and comparing generated layouts to existing models and camps.
Application of the functional scenarios method on alternative settings

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-05-09) Bushehri, Yousef

Goals of this study are to set up the frame-work for analyzing residential buildings using the functional scenarios method and to tests the applicability of the method on large scale projects. The metrics for the analysis are based on guidelines for designing spaces that promote healthy aging. In addition, the study was providing an opportunity to developing and refined the method. The result of the analysis determines that the functional scenarios method is applicable to large scale buildings as effectively as smalls scale buildings; design configurations can be extracted from the results of the analysis to inform future designs. The limitations of the analysis are due to the available resources. Opportunities for continued work include 1) developing standard ways of representing the results of the analysis; and 2) developing a systematic approach for extracting design configurations based on the research questions asked.
Towards modeling of retrofit processes

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-08-05) Szymkiewicz, Paul M.

Energy retrofits can be executed by a building owner with or without the supervision of a third-party agent. We define process models to capture third-party energy retrofit inspection activities, and refine, augment, and generalize those models to then examine the impact of third-party retrofit inspections. Buildings included in the study vary considerably in type, and so do retrofit programs applied to those buildings.