Development of early design tool for aquaculture buildings using building performance simulation: A case study of an indoor fish farm

Abstract

Energy scarcity and environmental damage necessitates efficient design, which requires significant information from different sources. As decisions affecting energy performance are made at early stages based on minimal information, support tools for the energy-efficient design of buildings are necessary during this period. Energy efficiency is a critical initial planning stage factor when designing smart farms. This study developed early design tool using building performance simulation (BPS) model for indoor fish farms which was validated with on-site measurement data for 120 days. The average MBE and the Cv(RMSE) values of the BPS model satisfied the error rate within the hourly criteria ranges for the entire measurement period. Design parameters for an early design tool were determined through a Morris sensitivity analysis. An early design tool was developed using the MATLAB graphical user interface, facilitating the search for variables that increased energy efficiency and enabling energy consumption comparisons of different alternatives.