Building Activities Research Articles

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN INTERVENTION AS A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF LACK OF SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE HOUSING IN NIGERIA

Housing offers shelter and a feeling of security for the future and helps form communities. In Nigeria, several challenges are associated with houses and architecture, particularly in the context of sustainability and traditional building practices. One of the primary concerns is the lack of awareness and comprehension among the general population, developers, and policymakers regarding the concept and advantages of flexible architecture. Nigeria's lack of sustainable and equitable housing poses many challenges impacting residents and the community. It is unknown how the use of design models/interventions in actual building situations and virtual simulations can aid the nation of Nigeria in becoming more resilient and dynamic by emphasizing inclusive and sustainable housing options that meet varied requirements and promote social fairness. This study examined the various interventions and efforts (architectural design and non-design interventions). The research aims to investigate whether or not design improvement through simulation studies on building typology could effectively and economically provide housing equity in slum areas in Nigeria. The study focused on the various architectural intervention variables, such as typology, segregation, centrifugation, and morphology, emphasizing typology most suitable for Nigeria’s peculiar housing challenges.

Collapse of an RC Building Under Construction with a Flat Slab System: Reasons, Calculations, and FE Simulations

The using of flat slab systems is a common structural solution for residential and commercial buildings as they are a cost-effective structural solution that simplifies and speeds up the construction phase. However, the flat slab systems have complex behavior, particularly in the slab–column connection zones, because of punching shear. Therefore, to prevent brittle flat slab collapse because of punching shear, there are some conditions which must be met in regulations such as Eurocode 2, American Concrete Institute’s Code, and Türkiye Building Earthquake Code—2018. Flat slab collapses because of punching shear can be caused by deficiencies in the design phase as well as deficiencies in the construction phase. The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of flat slab collapses due to punching shear, focusing on whether these failures arise from design or construction deficiencies. The study highlights the importance of adhering to regulations to prevent brittle flat slab collapses. A case study of an actual building collapse due to punching shear was conducted. Theoretical punching shear strength was calculated based on the Türkiye Building Earthquake Code—2018. A finite element model of the collapsed part of the building was created, and collapse mechanism simulations were performed. It was examined whether the punching collapse mechanism was caused by deficiencies in the design or the construction phase. The findings revealed the critical role of proper design phases and construction practices in ensuring structural integrity.

The Urban Park Green Spaces Landscape Premium Functional Value Accounting System: Construction and Application

Urban park green spaces have the functions of improving the urban ecological environment and providing recreational services, and at the same time, they have a certain effect on the value of the surrounding residential property. To quantitatively assess the value of the landscape premium function of park green space, many scholars have carried out research exploration and adopted a variety of methods (such as the contingent valuation method (CVM), travel cost method (TCM) and hedonic price method (HPM)), which have developed from simple theoretical models with single factors to complex empirical models with multiple factors. Among them, the hedonic price method has become the mainstream research method, and in recent years, it has been widely adopted in combination with GIS technology. In terms of research objects, single park green space or multiple park green spaces in large cities are the main focus, while there are fewer studies on park green spaces in built-up areas of small and medium-sized cities. In terms of research content, there are more studies on the value-added coefficient of landscape premium and influence distance, and there are fewer studies on the total value of landscape premium. This article aims to calculate the total landscape premium value of all park green spaces in the built-up areas of small and medium-sized cities, proposing a complete and operable accounting system for the functional value of park green space landscape premiums by combining GIS with a hedonic pricing model and remote sensing image interpretation methods. For the first time, a method for interpreting the height of residential buildings within the benefit range of landscape premium through remote sensing images is proposed, and then the floor area ratio of residential plots is estimated, so as to estimate the total area of actual beneficial buildings. Therefore, this paper takes Chifeng City, a small and medium-sized city, as a case study, and empirically demonstrates the assessment of the landscape premium function of parks and green spaces in the built-up area of Chifeng City by using this accounting system. Research shows that this method has certain feasibility, not only calculating the total value of landscape premium but also addressing the issue in existing studies where all areas within the potential range of landscape premium function are counted as appreciated areas, leading to an overestimation of the premium. It further advances the accuracy of accounting for the value of landscape premium function of urban park green space and provides theoretical reference for the planning and construction of urban park green space.

Experimental Evaluation Study of the Comfort and Energy Performance of Suspended Particle Device Smart Windows in a Residential Building: Achieving Optimal Control during the Cooling Season

In contrast to traditional windows, smart windows dynamically affect indoor visual and thermal environments through Visible light transmittance (VT) and Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) changes. Therefore, for enhancing smart window application effects, it is necessary to analyze comprehensively the impacts of smart window tinting on indoor visual and thermal environments, and to establish appropriate tinting control methods. This study aimed to determine optimal smart window control strategies for residential buildings during the cooling season by evaluating visual and thermal comfort and energy performance in an actual building equipped with SPD smart windows. An experimental building was located in Sejong, South Korea (36.5°N latitude, 127.3°E longitude; temperate climate zone), and the measurements were conducted from July to August 2023 to compare glare, indoor daylight illuminance, thermal comfort, and cooling and lighting energy between typical and smart windows. And, optimal control methods were proposed from general comfort and energy performance perspectives. The measurements indicated that it was difficult to satisfy all aspects of the visual and thermal environment, and comprehensively it was recommended to employing “always tinting” on summer. However, on a clear day, jointly applying smart windows and lighting dimming control and controlling automatically based on indoor daylight illuminance levels were found to be the most effective as it not only secured visual comfort performance but also reduced lighting energy consumption.

Effect of infill walls on the seismic performance of a severely damaged substandard RC building during the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence

On February 6, 2023, two catastrophic earthquakes with moment magnitudes of Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6 struck southern cities of Türkiye, occurring only nine hours apart. Spectral accelerations obtained from some of the recorded ground motions exceeded the design spectrum specified in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC 2018) for the maximum credible earthquake level. This has prompted a review of seismic design practices within the framework of TBEC 2018. To address this concern, this study evaluates the performance of a reinforced concrete (RC) building with a ribbed slab that sustained heavy damage, according to official damage assessments, after the February 6th earthquake sequence. Numerical models were developed both with and without infill walls to assess their influence on the building’s response. Time history analysis and static pushover methods were used for its seismic performance assessment. Time history analyses were conducted under ground motions recorded at three different stations in close proximity to the investigated building. The inclusion of infill walls in the numerical model significantly influences the seismic performance analysis results. Peak floor accelerations of the building are determined to be higher at infilled model compared to the bare frame. The distribution of damaged columns in the actual building aligns well with the analysis results of the numerical model that includes infill walls. Notably, the numerical analysis using the ground motion record of the closest station to the building most accurately represents the actual damage distribution observed after the earthquakes. Finally, while the inclusion of infill walls in the model increases the lateral stiffness of the structure, it was also observed that displacement-dependent results obtained in the nonlinear time history analysis, such as relative story drifts, could increase depending on the selected ground motion record. This highlights the complex interaction between the infill walls, modal properties of the building, and the dynamic characteristics of the earthquake record.

Performance Analysis of Dynamic Building‐Integrated Photovoltaic Shading System for High Technology Readiness Level Validation

This article presents the performance analysis of a new dynamic and vertically oriented building‐integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) shading device. The work forms part of a Swiss Pilot and Demonstration project. From technology readiness levels 5–7, it aims to validate the technology's consistency and replicability in the operational building and cost‐effectiveness for marketability. The shading slats comprise two‐string PV modules realized with laminated glazing layered by an outer white satin glass pane. For the small‐scale mock‐up, two designs are compared to quantify the effectiveness of temperature reduction and energy gain: 1) optimized—each string is connected to a bypass diode, and 2) standard—two strings are connected to a bypass diode. It is demonstrated that optimized slats have consistently lower module temperatures and higher energy yield, achieving more than 20% gain during spring and summer. There are no additional risks for consideration since no extreme temperature and humidity measurements are observed for the pilot installation at the actual building. The first floor's system produces a lower specific energy yield due to partial shading. Still, it can be worsened if the standard PV is used instead, highlighting the importance of a BIPV‐specific consultancy for successfully implementing BIPV systems.

Energy optimization of an institutional building to reduce the energy and air conditioning demand

Around 40 percent of global energy is used by buildings, and in Pakistan, the building sector consumes 23 % of total energy consumption. Significant energy savings can be achieved by improving building envelope designs, operational practices, and retrofitting existing buildings. This study aims to reduce the energy and air conditioning demand of an institutional building in Islamabad's hot and humid climate. EQuest is used to optimize key building parameters, such as wall insulation, roof insulation, window types, windows-to-wall ratio (WWR), windows shading, building orientation, and cooling set point. These parameters are categorized into various market options. A market survey was conducted to collect technical specifications and prices of the building's sub-parameters. This study also investigates the potential for achievable energy savings by implementing the recommendations published by the Energy Conservation Building Code of Pakistan (ECBC-2023). The building model is calibrated using actual and simulated building data, following ASHRAE Guide 14 criteria, yielding an MBE of 4.55 % and a CV (RMSE) of 9.3 %. Moreover, the study validates the simulation procedure of EQuest software. After calibration, this model assesses the energy performance of various parameters. Results demonstrate that retrofitting the building can save 24.28 % of energy compared to the baseline building. The retrofit cost is estimated at 51.56 million Pakistani rupees (US $185,669) with a payback period of 4.45 years. The study pioneers the application of ECBC and concludes that a code compliant building can save up to 17.05 %, with a cost of 24.36 million rupees (US $87,721) and a payback period of 3 years.

A novel blockchain-based system for improving information integrity in building projects from the perspective of building energy performance

Global population growth has long been intertwined with environmental concerns and sustainable development. The building sector, a significant energy consumer worldwide, contributes substantially to total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. With the projected global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, building energy consumption is expected to rise continuously, emphasizing the need to optimize energy performance for environmental sustainability. Despite efforts by many countries to formulate energy conservation objectives and strategies, empirical evidence reveals a substantial disparity between designed and actual building energy consumption, known as the building energy performance gap (BEPG). This gap poses a significant challenge to energy conservation efforts, and the lack of information integrity is a significant contributor to this gap. To address the challenge of inadequate information integrity in building energy projects, this research proposes an innovative solution based on blockchain technology. By utilizing blockchain's decentralized, transparent, and tamper-resistant nature, the proposed model aims to enhance information transmission mechanisms among stakeholders. Ten key energy-related stakeholders and various information flows within building projects are identified. Based on this, an exploratory architectural information management model incorporating blockchain technology is developed. The model features functionalities such as data recording, retrieval, transmission, and incentive mechanisms to ensure data immutability and reliable access security. Through a case study, the model's performance is evaluated in terms of storage cost, latency, and privacy, demonstrating significant time savings in uploading and transferring files. The proposed blockchain-based model offers a feasible solution to the challenges of inadequate information integrity in building energy projects, promoting collaboration and accurate information transmission. This model contributes to improving project outcomes and advancing sustainable development in the construction industry.

Examining Use of the Schoolwide Expectations Survey for Specific Settings to Build Expectation Matrices: A Pilot Study

The Schoolwide Expectations Survey for Specific Settings (SESSS) is a free-access tool school leadership teams can use to gather opinions from faculty and staff regarding what student behaviors are critical for success in various school settings. While the SESSS has been used for over a decade to inform the building of schoolwide expectation matrix as part of their Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered model of prevention, little is known about the extent to which data from the SESSS informs the actual building of schoolwide expectation matrices. In this pilot descriptive study, we examined SESSS data from 10 elementary, middle, and high schools from two Midwestern districts in the United State to determine how much and which data from the SESSS were included in their expectation matrices. Using a standardized rubric to score each school’s inclusion rate of SESSS items, results indicated all schools included most items rated as critical for success by 75% or more faculty and staff. We discuss implications and future directions.

Hybrid building energy modeling method with parameterized prototype models and rapid calibration

Building energy models were widely used in building energy performance analysis and efficiency improvement, such as building demand response assessment and energy system optimization. However, building energy modeling was a time-consuming and complex process. Therefore, this paper proposed a hybrid building energy modeling method based on parameterized prototype models and rapid calibration. The main feature of the method was the rapid generation of target building energy models using the prototype building energy performance database. The parameterized prototype building energy model considered 13 uncertainty parameters. Based on the range of 13 uncertainty parameters, such as wall U-value and solar heat gain coefficient, 1000 simulations were performed by Monte Carlo sampling to generate the prototype building energy performance database. The target building energy model was quickly calibrated by learning from this database. It filtered the models that met the requirements based on the actual building measurement data. Based on this hybrid modeling method, the rapid modeling tool AutoBPS-Hybrid was developed in a ruby environment. Shopping mall buildings located in three different climate zones were selected as case studies for this study. The results showed that if only one building energy model meeting the percentage errors was needed, only 3–4 simulations were required. If it was necessary to match the real uncertainty parameter distributions, an average of about 53 simulations was needed. The building energy models were applied to plug load and lighting control in buildings. The shopping mall buildings in Harbin, Beijing and Chengdu could reduce energy consumption by 10.18–13.33 kWh/m2, 14.43–18.15 kWh/m2 and 11.54–14.69 kWh/m2 per year, respectively.

Reduction in Floor Impact Noise Using Resilient Pads Composed of Machining Scraps.

Floor impact noise is a significant social concern to secure a quiescent living space for multi-story building residents in South Korea. The floating floor, consisting of a concrete structure on resilient pads, is a specifically designed system to minimize noise transmission. This floating structure employs polymeric pads as the resilient materials. In this study, we investigated the utilization of helically shaped machining scraps as a resilient material for an alternative approach to floor noise reduction. The dynamic elastic modulus and loss factor of the scrap pads were measured using the vibration test method. The scrap pads exhibited a low dynamic elastic modulus and a high loss factor compared to the polymeric pads. Heavyweight impact sound experiments in an actual building were conducted to evaluate the noise reduction performance. The proposed pads showed excellent performance on the reduction in the structure-borne vibration of the concrete slab and resulting sound generation. The analytical model was used to simulate the response of the floating floor structure, enabling a parametric study to examine the effects of the resilient layer viscoelastic properties. Both experimental and analytical evidence confirmed that the proposed scrap pads contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for the minimization of floor impact noise.

Adapting Sustainability Certification Systems for Historic Buildings: A Qualitative Comparative Study in Denmark

Historical buildings are unique assets in any society, embodying cultural significance and architectural heritage. Denmark, with its rich architectural background, has taken steps to preserve these values. As the imperative of sustainability continues to grow, recognizing the social, economic, and environmental values of historic buildings is becoming increasingly important. As an important step towards adapting sustainability certification systems for historic buildings in order to identify and preserve their historical values, this paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis between the GBC and HB (Green Building Council–Historic Building), which has been adapted for historic buildings in Italy and the Danish GBC system (GBC-DK or so-called DGNB-DK). The study is based on a theoretical framework underpinned by a systematic approach utilizing a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) alongside the triangulation method. This includes a systematic literature review comparing the GBC-DK and GBC-HB systems and an analysis of an actual building renovation project at a municipal hospital in Aarhus, Denmark. The findings indicate a notable absence of criteria and sub-criteria pertaining to the protection of tangible and intangible values in the application of the GBC-DK system. It is justified that in order to improve the sustainability of historic buildings in Denmark, a broader and more in-depth study on the adaptation of the GBC-DK system for historic buildings is needed.

Adaptive fusion graph convolutional network based interpretable fault diagnosis method for HVAC systems enhanced by unlabeled data

Fault diagnosis is critical in maintaining the operational stability and reliability of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are crucial for ensuring indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency in buildings. However, traditional fault diagnosis methodologies face substantial challenges in accurately capturing the dynamic interactions within these systems and effectively utilizing unlabeled data. To overcome these limitations, an innovative fault diagnosis approach utilizing the Adaptive Fusion Graph Convolution Network (AFGCN) is proposed in this paper. This method significantly enhances the model's learning and inference abilities, particularly in scenarios with limited labeled data, by adaptively integrating the associative graph features of both unlabeled and labeled data. Furthermore, to augment the transparency and trustworthiness of the diagnostic outcomes, this paper introduces an interpretability analysis module. This module is designed to quantify the contribution of each sensor node in the fault diagnosis process. Experimental evaluations using the ASHRAE RP-1043, actual building operating chillers datasets, and LBNL FDD Data Sets_SDAHU indicate that this method offers substantial performance improvements in diagnosing faults in HVAC systems.

Integrating Web-Based Weather Data into Building Information Modeling Models through Robot Process Automation

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has revolutionized the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, driving the wide-spread adoption of digital twins for structures. These virtual replicas, developed using Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, incorporate extensive information databases, proving indispensable for enhancing project management throughout a structure’s entire lifecycle and towards smart city development. As the impact of climate change continues to grow, hazardous weather alerts play a critical role as an early-warning system that notifies stakeholders of imminent threats, thereby influencing decision-making processes in construction projects. Surprisingly, despite its evident value, the integration of alert systems for hazardous weather conditions into BIM is often overlooked. To fill this gap, this paper proposes Robot Process Automation (RPA) protocols to automate the integration of real-time weather parameters into a structure’s BIM models. These very protocols are also used as alert systems, enabling the timely notification of stakeholders in the event of detected hazardous weather conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through its practical application in enhancing the safety of an actual building in Viña del Mar, Chile.

Ecological validity of architectural cognition: a framework

Architects are often criticized for not using psychological evidence in design. This paper explores whether the issue lies in the relevance of this evidence for predicting behaviour, perception and cognition in unbuilt buildings. Psychological experiments often fail to mirror real-world building experiences. We introduce the Ecological Validity of Architectural Cognition (EVAC) framework, which evaluates the generalizability of experimental results to real buildings by comparing experimental participants with actual building users in behavioural, perceptual and cognitive terms. We apply EVAC to studies on perceived spaciousness to identify research gaps and suggest methods that better align with real-world building experiences.

Experimental insights into the seismic behaviour of flanged URM walls

Considerable attention has been given to understanding and modelling the seismic response of unreinforced masonry piers with rectangular cross-sections. However, the seismic performance of load-bearing masonry walls with flanges, commonly found in actual building configurations, remains less explored. This study investigates the behaviour of flanged walls through cyclic quasi-static tests on four full-scale C-shaped specimens comprising two primary seismic-resistant walls (webs) interconnected by a single flange. The construction of the specimens varied: two were built using standard solid calcium-silicate bricks with general-purpose mortar, while the other two utilised large-sized calcium-silicate blocks with tongue-and-groove interlocks and a thin layer of cement-based adhesive mortar. All specimens were subjected to cyclic horizontal loading parallel to the webs under consistent overburden load and double-fixed boundary conditions. The primary variable in testing the two walls of each type was the number of cyclic loading repetitions. This paper initially describes the key characteristics of the wall specimens, including geometry, construction details, and mechanical properties. Subsequently, it details the instrumentation plan and test protocol, and summarises the major observations from the tests, illustrating damage evolution and hysteretic force-displacement response. The results highlight the effect of the flange on initial stiffness and lateral force resistance, as well as the influence of block type and loading repetitions on failure mode, displacement capacity, and energy dissipation. Additionally, the study demonstrates the impact of floor slab uplift due to in-plane rocking of the webs on the top boundary conditions and the out-of-plane stability of the flange.

Sound environment design using flexible wood-based sound absorbers

A sound-absorbing material made of flexible wooden boards with air permeability was developed to improve the indoor sound environment of buildings. The flexible wood-based material has sound absorbing characteristics with the Helmholtz resonator by its air permeability. In other words, various sound absorption characteristics could be realized owing to the cross-sectional shape (flat or curved) and machining conditions (cut width, cut pitch, and plate thickness). In this paper, the application of flexible wood-based sound-absorbing materials to acoustic design in actual buildings (nursery schools and a church) where acoustic considerations are required is presented. In their application to a newly built nursery school, one of the considerations was to prevent the loss of design by installing sound-absorbing materials. In their application to acoustic renovation, the sound environment improvement effect was confirmed by measuring sounds before and after the installation, and it was also confirmed that the users were able to feel the improvement effect. These results will lead to the development of sound-absorbing wooden boards as an interior material and the promotion of the use of wood in buildings to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.

A hybrid load prediction method of office buildings based on physical simulation database and LightGBM algorithm

Building load prediction plays an important role in building energy savings and mechanical and electrical system optimization control. The dynamic energy consumption can be accurately calculated using the traditional physical energy simulation method that entails a complex setup and verification process due to the numerous input parameters required. It is also difficult to change the physical model once it has been determined. The data-mining method is fast in calculation and simple to use, but its prediction accuracy is limited by historical data quality. It is difficult to predict the load of new buildings without historical data. To solve these problems, this study proposes a hybrid building load prediction method for office buildings. The proposed method uses EnergyPlus to generate a building load database that includes than 25.14 million data cases, covering 35 types of building geometry and 2870 building examples. Based on the above database, the LightGBM algorithm was selected to extract feature variables that affect the load and build a load prediction model. The training results show that there are 24 key feature variables for office building load prediction. The hourly MAPE of the cooling load prediction model is 6.95 % and RMSE is 4.31 W/m2, and the hourly MAPE of the heating load prediction model is 7.09 % and RMSE is 11.64 W/m2 compared with EnergyPlus model. Two actual office buildings are selected as case studies to validate the model prediction accuracy. Results show that comparing predicted results with measured data, the hourly cooling load of the MAPE is 12.42 %. Coparing predicted results with actual heating load, daily MAPE is 7.97 %.

Soil-structure interaction analysis of nuclear power plant structure using multi-step method in time-domain

Recently, several countries have experienced strong earthquakes, and there has been growing interest in the seismic design of structures. Particularly, consideration of soil-structure interaction (SSI) has become important when performing seismic response analysis for nuclear power plant (NPP) structures. A seismic analysis method that considers SSI in the time domain has been proposed in previous studies. This method is applicable to the seismic response of structures, because it can consider the influence of the SSI effect with the impedance function in the frequency domain and simultaneously considers the structural nonlinearity. However, it has only been applied to the structure comprising a single beam-stick. In this study, a modified method for applying it to more general structures is proposed, and its applicability is validated with an actual reactor containment building (RCB) structure comprising a three beam-sticks. Validation was performed by comparing the seismic responses with those of ACS SASSI. Using the proposed method, SSI analysis was performed with three soil profiles and the results were compared to investigate the effect of SSI on seismic responses, including the in-structure response spectrum (ISRS) and time history acceleration. For more realistic analysis, soil profile and earthquake input motion occurred in South Korea are adopted. Further, a multi-step method considering nonlinear behavior was also performed and compared with the linear case.

Improved understanding of thermal comfort could yield energy savings in heritage buildings

Abstract It is necessary to improve the understanding of thermal comfort to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling in heritage buildings, which are often energy inefficient and where interventions are limited. Personal thermal comfort models based on measurements of environmental conditions and the individual’s physiological and subjective responses represent a potential solution to ensure the optimization of existing systems. Past research shows that lighting could impact thermophysiology and subjective perception of thermal conditions, but it is not clear whether the impact is sufficient to make light adaptation an appropriate solution to reduce energy consumption in heritage buildings, where people live and work. The research conducted under realistic semi-controlled conditions in an office environment of an existing building addresses this research gap. The paper presents the first partial simplified analyses and preliminary results of a wider ongoing study, mainly showing a correlation between skin temperature and air temperature and a partially promising effect of light on subjective thermal perception. Our research on the effect of light on thermal comfort does not provide definitive conclusions but rather highlights the need for further investigation in actual heritage buildings.