User-driven automation for optimal thermal-zone layout during space programming phases

Abstract

Although environmental performance-based methodologies are increasingly considered in the early design stages due to their potential for improving the final building performance, few studies have scrutinized the interoperation of floor-plan design and thermal zoning for the purpose of optimized building energy use and indoor comfort. The absence of effective tools, which aid designers incorporate an environmentally adapted thermal zoning into the space arrangement process, invokes the strong necessity for a new space layout design methodology based on optimal thermal zoning. Thus, this paper presents a highly practical decision support tool named EASL (Environmental Architecture Space Layout) optimizer to bridge the gap between thermal and spatial zoning within architectural workflows. In this software, performance evaluation using the whole building simulation tool (Ecotect) and zone-based layout creation techniques is integrated for the automated generation of an optimal geometry of space and envelope glazing, employing a simulated annealing algorithm. As a beta version, EASL uses typical office building space programmes and adopts four major performance criteria for evaluation such as annual energy use intensity, Predicted Mean Vote, daylight level, and room shading. Utilizing the tool provides two major strengths: (1) by introducing performance indicators to floor planning with an easy-to-use computerized interface during early design stages, architects can maximize the potential use of other sustainable strategies and technologies for later design decisions and (2) a time-efficient thermal zoning optimization process is achieved by exploring various scenarios that users are interested in testing. To this end, a case study was conducted of an office building located in South Korea using the developed simulation tool. The existing plan was tested to be rearranged and compared with the optimal layout obtained from EASL. The experimental findings demonstrate that this software can be implemented in practical operations, advancing early processes of design work, and be extended to embrace broader future applications to promote innovative environmental buildings.