Development of multi-parametric functional index model for evaluating the indoor comfort in built environment

Abstract

Due to rapid urbanization of developing cities, the planners have a major challenge in designing climate responsive built environment for modern urban dwellers. In order to maintain a good built environmental quality, the various key design parameters of existing built form would need to be reviewed and analyzed to seek appropriate improvement. The present paper highlights the case study of a test room model in an educational campus. The experimentation was carried out in composite climatic zone of Nagpur in India. The desired built environment parameters viz., indoor light intensity, temperature and humidity was recorded and analyzed during experiments under controlled conditions of room openings. A functional index model was developed by this study using the multi-parametric regression analysis of the results. The qualitative assessment of the aforesaid parameters in terms of indoor comfort in the built environment was carried out. The developed mathematical index model for various functional parameters over the given geographic location can suitably be used by the designers for evaluating and enhancing the indoor comfort of a built environment suitable for the climate of Nagpur, India.