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ItemIntegrated assessment of buildings and distributed energy resources (DER) at the neighborhood scale(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-11-13) Carneiro, Gustavo AntonioIn urban regions, traditionally a main electric grid fed by centralized power plants serves the growing energy demand of residential and commercial buildings. However, the advent of new technologies, such as distributed renewable energy generation, local energy storage, and smart controls, is transforming the way buildings interact and transact with the electric grid. When operating in coordination, several buildings or households can leverage their aggregate potential and use their energy flexibility and distributed resources to improve the operation of both the main grid and the pool of integrated and intelligent buildings. Much attention has been drawn to the potential benefits of these types of integration, especially the capabilities they can provide in terms of aggregate demand management and local power resilience. Nevertheless, building energy modeling at the urban level has not yet reached the necessary computational manageability and simulation robustness to assess these novel scenarios. To address this hiatus, the current thesis presents a computer-aided energy simulation method to model the integration of multiple buildings and distributed energy resources (DER) at the neighborhood scale. The proposed methodology uses a reduced order simulation approach to achieve a reliable and tractable dynamic modeling framework that can manage multiple transacting building energy models and DER models in a single platform. To test the modeling approach, this study first carries out a virtual experiment of a small community in Miami, FL, where it is possible to compare the outcomes of community energy consumption from our reduced order model to the outcomes from a higher order simulation approach. When using the community energy model to evaluate the performance of different DER options for community peak load shaving, we can observe that the influence of the model order reduction reveals to be very minor when compared to other uncertainties related to scenario variability and, especially, systems’ efficiencies. Secondly, we apply the reduced order modeling approach to an existing residential community in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County), CA, with solar energy generation and battery energy storage. With this case study, we demonstrate the viability of our approach to construct and calibrate a reduced order model of fifteen households based only on limited and general data related to energy performance of the entire neighborhood. The developed reduced order model is used to evaluate the performance of different energy storage arrangements for reducing the occurrence of community super peak loads. In this virtual experiment, we can demonstrate how the model allows for uncertainty analyses over the influence of input parameters, as well as for more sophisticated optimization studies, including stochastic optimization, in a timely and transparent fashion. Finally, the proposed reduced order simulation approach is used to construct and test relevant energy performance measures at the neighborhood scale. Using the model unique features of manageability, reliability and flexibility, we propose the foundations for quantifying and measuring “community energy resilience” for outage situations, based on concepts of number of sustained hours and respective energy end-use convenience levels. We also measure and monetize DER options for providing “community energy flexibility”, aimed at shaping the load profile of a residential community to match the electric grid needs.
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ItemNouvelles Richesses: Curating the French National Pavilion at the 2016 Biennale(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-11-03) Martinetti, Grichka ; Pimas, Jordi
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ItemLines in the City(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-11-01) Castilla, IsabelUtilizing three projects characterized for their linear form and unique existing conditions, the lecture will describe the design process of public spaces of large scale that seek to activate existing underutilized sectors of the City and in doing so, place the investment in public spaces in the forefront of overall economic development for large city sectors. Projects to be discussed include the Underline a 10-mile long linear park situated on the currently vacant land under an elevated Metrorail, the High Line, a 1.5-mile long linear promenade in New York City built over an abandoned elevated train trestle and the renovation of Lincoln Road, one of the first pedestrian malls built in the USA in the 1960’s.
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ItemCollective Weathers(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-09-29) Hoang, PhuThe crisis of climate change is not simply an environmental project; it is also a socio-cultural project that requires all of the resources of cross-disciplinary design thinking. Phu Hoang and Rachely Rotem, co-directors of MODU, argue that the undeniable truth of climate change can learn from weather itself—requiring design strategies that are varied, differentiated, mediated, and adaptive. Social collectivity in thermally active spaces is at the core of MODU’s work.
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ItemAddressing data informativeness in risk-conscious building performance simulation applications(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-08-02) Li, QiBuilding performance management remains an important aspect in reducing building energy consumption and enhancing occupants’ thermal comfort and work productivity. Recent decades witnessed the maturity and proliferation of numerous methods, software and tools that span the whole spectrum of common building performance management practice. Among those related research and applications, the use of information and data in calibration and validation of building performance simulation (BPS) models constitutes an important subject of study especially in fault detection, operations management, and retrofit analysis. An extensive review of BPS model calibration and validation studies reveals two major research gaps. First, contemporary model calibration practice calls for an effective and robust method that can systematically incorporate a variety of information and data, handle modelling and prediction uncertainties, and maintain consistent model performance. Second, current approaches to collecting information and data in real practice largely depend on individual experience or common practice; further study is needed to understand the value of information and data, i.e. assess data informativeness, such as to support specific decision-making processes in choosing data monitoring strategies and to avoid missed opportunities or wasted resources. To this end, this dissertation develops a new framework to address data informativeness in model calibration and validation to answer two major research questions: 1) how to make optimal use of available information and data to calibrate a building simulation model under uncertainty, and 2) how to quantify the informativeness of information and data for risk-conscious building performance simulation applications. This framework builds upon uncertainty propagation using detailed measurements, and inverse modelling using Bayesian inference. It introduces probabilistic performance metrics to assess model prediction consistency and quantify data informativeness. Following an explanation of the framework’s theoretical soundness, this dissertation provides two case studies to demonstrate its practical effectiveness. The first is a controlled experiment in the Flexlab test facility at Lawrence Berkeley lab. A new validation methodology is proposed to validate a simulation model under uncertainty, in which the validation criteria build upon the introduced probabilistic performance metrics. Given the experiment setup, uncertainty propagation based on synthetic measurements is applied, which effectively improves prediction agreement and reduces the risk of accepting invalid simulation outcomes. The second is to determine the appropriate model form and metering data for a hypothetical intervention analysis of an existing building with hydronic heating on the Cambridge, UK campus. A three-level modelling method is proposed to enable modelling all thermal processes occurring in individual rooms while efficiently modelling the whole building to estimate heating system performance. Different sets of metering data are then used to calibrate the physical model, and the result indicates the superiority of Bayesian inference in exploiting the value of data, the necessity of room temperature and electricity monitoring under uncontrolled conditions, and the potential of daily metering data for calibration in real building performance management practice.
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ItemMulti-aspect energy performance of building form in eight U.S. climate zones(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-07-19) Feng, TianyuThis 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.
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ItemBIM synapse: A framework for BIM interoperability in the cloud(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-07-11) Afsari, KereshmehIn the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, collaboration within Building Information Modeling (BIM) process is mainly based on transferring files. BIM data is being exchanged in either vendor specific file formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as open BIM standard. However, since the web enables cloud-based BIM services, it provides an opportunity to exchange non-file based data via the web and over the networks. Alternative BIM data sharing solutions have been developed based on the federation of BIM models with BIM server technologies or using an interchange hub for data exchange in real-time. These solutions face several challenges, are vendor locked, and integrate two or multiple applications to a third new system which is tightly coupled. In addition to scalability issues, these data sharing technologies make the collaborating applications dependent upon each other which end up with high complexity. In fact, current cloud-based interoperability solutions do not provide a loosely coupled system with the flexibility to reduce dependencies among collaborating applications. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to propose an interoperability framework that supports a network-based BIM data exchange for loosely coupled collaboration in the cloud. This research emphasizes that there is a need to reshape BIM collaboration in the cloud by using web technologies. This study indicates that Cloud-based Building Information Modeling needs to deploy major components of the cloud interoperability including the APIs, data transfer protocols, data formats, and standardization to redefine BIM dataflow in Cloud-BIM applications. BIM Synapse framework proposed in this research utilizes web technologies- as the enabler for a cloud-based collaborative process- to restructure current BIM dataflow. BIM Synapse deploys cloud interoperability features and IFC data model to address current challenges of BIM data exchange in the cloud and provides a loosely-coupled network-based data interoperability solution for Cloud-BIM. The study also applies the proposed framework on BIM collaboration in the conceptual design process of precast concrete buildings and evaluates the correctness, accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the BIM Synapse framework. BIM Synapse framework has a major contribution to standardization of Cloud-based BIM data exchange and can enable the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) - that requires network connectivity and provision of resources through the Web of Things (WoT)- with the BIM process. The study also recommends required revisions to the IFC specification so that the IFC schema can perform as the basis for Cloud-BIM interoperability.
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ItemSpatiotemporal occupancy in building settings(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-05-30) Gomez Zamora, Paula AndreaThis thesis presents an investigation of methods to capture and analyze spatiotemporal occupancy patterns of high resolution, demonstrating their value by measuring behavioral outcomes over time. Obtaining fine-grain occupancy patterns is particularly useful since it gives researchers an ability to study such patterns not just with respect to the geometry of the space in which they occur, but also to study how they change dynamically in time, in response to the behavior itself. This research has three parts: The first is a review of the traditional methods of behavioral mapping utilized in architecture research, as well as the existing indoor positioning systems, offering an assessment of their comparative potential, and a selection for the current scenario. The second is an implementation of scene analysis analyses using computer vision to capture occupancy patterns on one week of surveillance videos over twelve corridors in a hospital in Chile. The data outcome is occupancy in a set of hospital corridors at a resolution of one square foot per second. Due to the practical detection errors, a two-part statistical model was developed to compute the accuracy on recognition and precision of location, given certain scenario conditions. These error rates models can be then used to predict estimates of patterns of occupancy in an actual scenario. The third is a proof-of-concept study of the usefulness of a new spatiotemporal metric called the Isovist-minute, which describes the actual occupancy of an Isovist, over a specified period of time. Occupancy data obtained using scene-analyses, updated with error-rate models of the previous study, are used to compute Isovist-minute values per square feet. The Isovist-minute is shown to capture significant differences in the patient surveillance outcome in the same spatial layout, but different organizational schedule and program.
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ItemOptimal strategies for demand charge reduction by commercial building owners(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-05-23) Zhang, YunaA substantial part of electricity bills in various types of commercial buildings, such as office buildings, hospitals and retails can consist of demand charges. Demand charges represent the penalty for an electricity consumer levied by the utility provider. They are typically a direct result of the shape of the power duration curve, in particular, the hours that a certain power level is exceeded in a given billing period (normally a month). Lowering the peak and/or reducing the hours that a power threshold is exceeded can drastically reduce demand charges. The ability to do so by dynamic, operational adjustments reflects the “energy flexibility” of the building. This term is now widely used in Europe and is the subject of a new international effort (IEA Annex 67) in this area. This thesis targets the optimal choice among design and operational measures in a retrofit or new design project that delivers the most effective way of reducing demand charges and increasing energy flexibility of commercial buildings. This goal will be achieved through an analysis of all feasible energy and peak reduction measures in different building types and in different use contexts. A search algorithm that compares all possible interventions will deliver the optimum, first with a deterministic analysis then with the recognition of the effects of all possible sources of uncertainty. This thesis evaluates the measures that are commonly adopted to decrease energy consumption and increase energy flexibility and thus reduce demand charges, including (1) upgrading building components and installing energy efficient equipment; (2) applying dynamic building load control strategies such as demand-side management; (3) installing a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panel array. Operational interventions include the manipulation of thermostat settings and possibly the voltage reduction of lighting and appliances (in some cases including HVAC components) in the building, which may reduce thermal and visual comfort for certain periods. In order to support retrofit and design improvement decisions, an approach is developed that finds the optimal mix of measures that maximize the net present value of the investment in energy flexibility measures over twenty years for the owner. This study will analyze optimal solutions for three commercial building types. Differences between them in terms of energy use and peak demand will be investigated and a generically applicable measure of energy flexibility will be developed. These three buildings are chosen (by scaling their total floor area) such that their demand charges are in the same range. The monetary benefit of energy flexibility will be studied under different demand charge rate structures and under variable building consumption scenarios. This research will result in a new optimization framework for choosing the optimum among multiple options. Based on the proposed framework, this research will determine optimal ways to increase energy flexibility, leading to the best investment decisions for different commercial building types in different locations and under different rate structures.
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ItemExpansion and contraction: Goethean polarity and architecture(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-05-10) Gokmen, SabriAs a historic figure, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) has been drawing interest in contemporary research in humanities due to his involvement in multiple fields such as literature, philosophy, natural sciences and aesthetics while having direct influence on the shaping of the Enlightenment era. Although his body of work has been mostly evaluated under the rubric of phenomenology, this dissertation will aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of his works using his ideas on polarity as the core principle. Polarity stems from Goethe’s early involvement in botany where he describes the development of annual plants through cycles of expansion and contraction as opposite sexual forces of natural productivity. This principle forms the foundation of morphology; a unifying science where Goethe applies polarity to formulate ideas on osteology, geology and color. The thesis will be developed in three main chapters that primarily establish the theoretical aspects of polarity in Goethe’s works and then extends it towards developing a novel morphological understanding of architecture as well as formulating polarity tools for design. The first chapter presents an extensive analysis of Goethe’s most controversial novel—Elective Affinities—as a prototypical literary work applying the concept of polarity for the structuring and development of its story. Using the novel as a theoretical-philosophical framework, the role of polarity is analyzed through character typology, affinity relations among characters, landscape formation and production of architectural projects. The allegorical aspects of the story show that Goethe’s scientific writings and engagement with contemporaneous philosophy informed his novel, producing a literary expression of the transition from Idealism to Romanticism. In the second chapter, polarity in Goethean morphology is analyzed focusing particularly on leaf morphogenesis to demonstrate formal principles of growth. Metamorphosis of Plants acts as the theoretical foundation of polarity, explaining the cyclic behavior of expansion and contraction in plants through Goethean principles. The terms “polarity” and “intensification” are further explored in Goethe’s works applied to other natural sciences such as botany and osteology, as well as color; extending both terms as core principles of an ontological system of nature. This system is explored through leaf morphogenesis studies developed in a computational framework to introduce a parametric understanding of topological polarity rules that explain leaf forms using alternating growth cycles. In the third chapter, Goethe’s statement “All is Leaf” is extended to architecture by applying the concept of polarity through planar and vertical development of architectural massing organized through body-limb duality. Polarity is compared to the classical notion of symmetry and proportion to establish a new look at architectural morphology operating through axiality, primitive huts and parametric application of abstract polarity rules devoid of style. These rules are extracted from a historical analysis of various architectural case studies using samples of Palladian villas, Baroque palaces, Gothic cathedrals, and English manor houses. After developing an understanding of polarized architectural body-limb relations, a procedural polarity machine is developed to apply principles of metamorphosis towards generative studies of architectural massing focusing on Gothic cathedrals as a case study. In the last part of the thesis, polarized morphology is considered as an ecological strategy to approach architectural design under variable conditions of climate and altitude.