Building Exterior Research Articles

Multi-source point cloud registration for urban areas using a coarse-to-fine approach

ABSTRACT The foundational step in constructing a digital twin involves transforming the physical world into an immersive 3D virtual environment. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry, mobile mapping system (MMS), and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) serve as powerful tools for 3D reconstruction of urban environments. Given the distinctive strengths and weaknesses of each sensor, a multi-source point cloud registration technique is imperative to achieve a detailed and precisely geolocated 3D urban model. Hence, we developed coarse-to-fine approach methods, called building exterior wall-based (BEWB) and building outline-based (BOB) algorithms, to register point clouds captured by diverse sensors in urban scenes. The BEWB algorithm coarsely registers urban point clouds by extracting building exterior walls, establishing correspondence points, and effectively removing outliers within this correspondence point set. The BOB algorithm precisely registers the urban point clouds acquired from multiple sensors by leveraging building outlines and points corresponding to the ground of the point clouds. To validate the proposed algorithms, we initially registered a UAV-based photogrammetry point cloud with the MMS point cloud and subsequently registered the TLS point clouds. Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analyzes of the results demonstrate that our algorithms outperform existing methods in achieving precise registration. By successfully registering three distinct point clouds, we generated a comprehensive urban scene point cloud characterized by enhanced precision, point density, and geolocation accuracy.

Green building future: algal application technology

In the context of rising global energy demands driven by population growth and urbanization, the construction industry significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase and subsequent energy consumption. Fossil fuel dependency for heating and energy needs exacerbates climate change, necessitating urgent solutions. Algal technology emerges as a promising strategy for green building practices, addressing energy efficiency and emissions reduction. Algae's unique ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis is harnessed by deploying photobioreactors on building exteriors. Studies indicate that each kilogram of dry algae consumes 1.83 kg of CO2 while offering applications as organic fertilizer, oil, and protein sources. This technology not only diminishes CO2 emissions but also transforms wastewater and generates bioenergy, catering to building energy requirements. Algal technology's economic and environmental significance becomes evident through carbon capture, energy generation, and circular waste management, aligning with sustainability principles. This study highlights the potential of algal technology to shape the future of eco-friendly conscious construction practices, providing avenues for reduced emissions, efficient energy utilization, and sustainable development.

Unveiling the overlooked microbial niches thriving on building exteriors

Rapid urbanization in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to place two-thirds of its population in concrete-dominated urban landscapes by 2050. While diverse architectural facades define the unique appearance of these urban systems. There remains a significant gap in our understanding of the composition, assembly, and ecological potential of microbial communities on building exteriors. Here, we examined bacterial and protistan communities on building surfaces along an urbanization gradient (urban, suburban and rural regions), investigating their spatial patterns and the driving factors behind their presence. A total of 55 bacterial and protist phyla were identified. The bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria (33.7% to 67.5%). The protistan community exhibited a prevalence of Opisthokonta and Archaeplastida (17.5% to 82.1% and 1.8% to 61.2%, respectively). The composition and functionality of bacterial communities exhibited spatial patterns correlated with urbanization. In urban buildings, factors such as facade type, light exposure, and building height had comparatively less impact on bacterial composition compared to suburban and rural areas. The highest bacterial diversity and lowest Weighted Average Community Identity (WACI) were observed on suburban buildings, followed by rural buildings. In contrast, protists did not show spatial distribution characteristics related to facade type, light exposure, building height and urbanization level. The distinct spatial patterns of protists were primarily shaped by community diffusion and the bottom-up regulation exerted by bacterial communities. Together, our findings suggest that building exteriors serve as attachment points for local microbial metacommunities, offering unique habitats where bacteria and protists exhibit independent adaptive strategies closely tied to the overall ecological potential of the community.

Optimizing thermal insulation in building facades: An examination of human-environment dynamics in Nanjing city, Eastern Asia

The external building walls are significant in mitigating adverse weather conditions. Current research on the thermal insulation of exterior walls often overlooks crucial factors such as human comfort, seasonal changes and environmental dynamics. This study introduced a performance evaluation approach for external walls that considered the human thermal zone, annual air temperature and solar radiation. Taking Nanjing City as a case study, the thermal insulation performance of five distinct types of building exterior walls was investigated. The findings highlight the impact of various insulated wall systems on thermal insulation. While different insulated walls exhibited significant variations in effectiveness during extreme weather episodes, these variations were minor over the course of the year. Analysis revealed a spectrum of performance for insulated exterior walls, ranging from excellent to poor: Outer Insulated Wall > Inside Insulated Wall = Sandwich Insulated Wall = Self-Insulated Wall > Mortar-Insulated Wall. The disparity in thermal insulation performance amongst four wall types was minimal, with the mortar-insulated wall demonstrating the lowest performance. The highest temperature recorded for the mortar-insulated wall surpassed 32.2°C over 68 days. This research contributes insights into the nuanced performance of various insulated walls, paving the way for decision-making in climate resilience strategies.

Exterior of the Lower Medieval building (SAS 1). The north-western front of q. 542 before the Middle Ages

Le indagini del 2022 hanno ampliato notevolmente la visione architettonica e funzionale del complesso sacro lungo il fianco nord-occidentale della q. 542. A nord, nei pressi di una cava di gesso, un edificio assiale a tre vani fu in uso fino alla fine del IV/inizio del III secolo a.C. Sugli strati detritici, una nuova frequentazione ebbe luogo tra la fine del III e il II secolo a.C. Sul lato meridionale, un grande spazio scoperto fiancheggiava questo edificio e, dopo un piccolo ambiente trapezoidale con un diverso orientamento, che seguiva il pendio della collina, una grande stanza mostrava una fila di piccole cavità nel terreno. Due cavità contenevano offerte votive intatte, tra cui una statuetta raffigurante Atena. Un incendio distrusse questo edificio tra la fine del IV e l'inizio del III secolo a.C.

Thermal Performance Analysis and Optimization Design of Building Exterior Wall Insulation Layers

Thermal Performance Analysis and Optimization Design of Building Exterior Wall Insulation Layers

Do Consumers Have Colour Aesthetic Preferences for the Facade Materials of Condominium Buildings?

The distinct cultural environment of various regions leads to unique consumer preferences for building facades, including the colours and materials that are used for the exteriors of condominium buildings. Understanding these preferences holds significant industry reference value for urban planning authorities and residential development companies. However, the colour and material aesthetic preferences of consumers for building facades have not received much research attention. To fill this gap, this study empirically investigates these preferences within the cultural context of Fuzhou, China. Using house prices as a reference perspective and econometric methods as research tools, this study explores the specific aesthetic preferences of urban consumer groups and compares the preferences of groups with different levels of consumption. The results confirm the existence of specific consumer preferences for building facade colours and materials and a close connection among the variations in these preferences and various combinations of facade colours and materials. Different quantities and types of materials can lead to distinct preferences for the quantities and features of facade colours. Apart from providing precise professional insights for urban planning authorities and residential developers, this study also offers a feasible conceptual reference for future studies to be conducted in other regions.

Lightweight high output power C-band FMCW SIMO radar system for small drones

ABSTRACT Radar technology is critical for subsurface sensing applications since it enables the extraction of surface information remotely without being affected by environmental factors such as illumination and weather conditions. Hence, their usage on drones has become extremely essential as these vehicles need to accumulate data while flying over different and possibly difficult-to-access terrains regardless of visibility conditions. A frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) single input multiple output (SIMO) radar system is developed to provide near real-time radar images onboard. The system is comprised of a transceiver module, specifically designed for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications, to produce images in real-time. GPU-based computation is utilized to optimize processing power, while enabling range profiles to be generated and SIMO SAR images to be created during flight. The system can be easily mounted on UAV or multirotor systems. The detection and ranging performance of the system are examined by performing several experiments at the campus. Objects up to 100 metres are successfully detected by the radar system. The system demonstrates excellent ability to generate 2D SIMO SAR images, effectively identifying building and guard-box exteriors that are consistent with images from Google Earth.

When Trees Are Not an Option: Perennial Vines as a Complementary Strategy for Mitigating the Summer Warming of an Urban Microclimate

This study evaluates the potential of Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) to reduce building surface temperature in a mid-latitude North American city center where vine use for this purpose is uncommon. Vegetation can regulate city summer temperatures by providing shade and evaporative cooling. While planting trees has been a focus for many urban municipalities, trees require space (above and below ground), access to water, costly planting and maintenance, and may only be desirable to some city residents. To explore viable vegetation alternatives with fewer growth constraints, we deployed temperature loggers on the exterior walls of buildings in the urban core of Toronto, Canada, a large mid-latitude city. Perennial vines shaded some walls, while others were bare. These devices systematically tracked exterior surface temperature fluctuations over six months, including the growing season, with full vine-leaf coverage. During peak solar access periods, average daily temperature differentials between vine-shaded and non-shaded building surfaces ranged from up to 6.5 °C on south-facing building exteriors to 7.0 °C on west-facing walls. Models were developed to estimate daily degree hour difference, a metric integrating the magnitude and duration of the temperature-moderating potential of vines. At ambient temperatures ≥ 23 °C, solar radiation intensity and ambient air temperature were positively correlated with vine effectiveness in mitigating the rise in built surface temperature; relative humidity was negatively associated. Installing vine cover on urban buildings in the form of green façades can complement tree planting as cities become hotter due to climate change, and space for growing trees diminishes with urban densification. Future research into the capacity of green façades to regulate outdoor temperature must establish uniform measurement protocols and undertake evaluations in diverse climatic scenarios.

The Study on the Thermal Load of Building Exterior Walls with Aerogel Slurry Insulation under Microclimate Conditions

This study aims to address the solubility issue of aerogel particles in water while maintaining their low thermal conductivity properties. To achieve this, different proportions of aerogel slurry were incorporated into coral sand to develop enhanced insulation materials. The goal is to make these materials more economically viable and promote their practical application in various engineering scenarios. This study conducted experiments to measure thermal and moisture performance parameters. The results show that higher aerogel content increases the sensitivity of thermal conductivity to relative humidity. Compared to the dry condition (0% aerogel content), the thermal conductivity difference is minimal (43.5%), while it becomes significant (108.34%) at 32% aerogel content. Regarding wall loads, the largest discrepancy occurs in microclimate heat-humidity conditions during summer and in pure heat transfer conditions under meteorological data during winter. The 32% ASECSC wall experiences the greatest impact from both heat-humidity and urban heat island effects.

Active Strategies Based on Parametric Design for Applying Shading Structures

This study aimed to increase the energy independence of buildings by utilizing solar energy to produce renewable energy. The subject of this study was a shading structure installed in an outdoor space to provide solar energy. Solar panels were applied to the shaded structures to generate energy actively. The solar panels were designed to be moved according to the optimal tilt angle each month to produce the optimal amount of renewable energy. The architectural design of the shading structure and the energy simulation of the solar panels were conducted using a parametric design. The results of the energy simulation showed the generation of 31,570 kWh· year−1 of renewable energy. This amount of energy is 10% higher than that produced by fixed solar panels. Thus, the moving solar panel system developed in this study not only increases the energy independence of buildings, but also has the advantage of higher renewable energy production compared with fixed solar panels. Additionally, various types of shading structures can be designed depending on the combination of solar panel modules; in particular, moving solar panels have the potential to facilitate ecofriendly designs when applied to the exterior of buildings.

Application of arc elasticity analysis method combined with CO2 storage technology in building load and energy saving retrofit

Analyzing building loads and energy-efficient retrofits is crucial for effective energy management and sustainable development. Strengthening the identification and analysis of factors that impact energy consumption is informative for devising appropriate measures. In order to address the current limitations in analyzing building energy consumption, the present study proposes a combination of the arc elasticity analysis method with CO2 storage technology. By introducing sensitivity and arc mean elasticity indices, the cooling and heating loads of building energy consumption can be analyzed. Subsequently, a CO2 refrigeration system and compression process can be designed to optimize the storage of CO2 and facilitate its role in energy conservation and reduction of energy consumption. Thus, the research aims to fulfill the potential of CO2 in promoting energy efficiency and reducing consumption. The study utilized software simulation and experimental analysis to examine the impact of the proposed method. The findings revealed a positive correlation between the heat transfer coefficient and the building's annual heat load. In addition, the maximum data variation of the building's cold load was a mere 0.05 per cent, and the relative discrepancy between the software simulation and the actual load values was less than 10 per cent. The exterior building's total cold load value showed a difference of more than 25 per cent when cooled with CO2 intervention compared to the non-intervention result. Furthermore, the building's maximum load reduction reached 3.4 per cent when uniformly varying the thickness of the insulation layer from 40 mm to 100 mm. The proposed method demonstrates a positive impact on building energy sensitivity analysis. Its energy loss design for various parts of the building could offer useful references for practical engineering designs.

THE APPLICATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IN FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF SIXSTOREY BUILDING FACADE

Value engineering analysis is a methodical approach used to find and eliminate superfluous expenses within various domains such as projects, processes, and the construction industry, with the aim of improving both quality and performance. In order to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between time, money, and quality, the present circumstances and methodologies within the construction sector of Myanmar necessitate a substantial amount of dedication and exertion. Due to this rationale, value engineering (VE) is an established management approach that facilitates the enhancement of project value and the realization of cost savings in construction projects. The objective of this study was to identify alternative materials that are more cost-effective than the original design for the exterior of the hospital building, while ensuring that the chosen materials retain their inherent value. Based on the findings of the study, the implementation of value engineering techniques resulted in a cost reduction of up to 7.6 percent for the façade work. This research assesses the financial benefits derived from the use of Value Engineering (VE) in a six-story hospital located in Yangon. The study specifically focuses on the utilization of materials of intermediate grade for the facade construction. This research endeavor aims to contribute to the existing corpus of knowledge on value engineering by conducting a comprehensive analysis of a specific case study.

Analysis of thermal characteristics and thermal storage performance of energy-saving phase change thermal storage materials in buildings

In order to explore the thermal characteristics and thermal storage performance analysis of energy-saving phase change heat storage materials in buildings, taking the common exterior wall insulation composite wall structure in southwestern China as an example, the influence of insulation board structure thickness design on the total cost of residential air conditioning energy consumption and insulation board cost is studied, thus clarifying the concept and calculation origin of economic insulation thickness. The experimental results show that by drawing mathematical functions of energy consumption cost, total cost, and insulation material cost in the same 2-D coordinate, it is intuitively demonstrated that the minimization of total cost can be ensured when the insulation thickness is in an economic state, and the specific economic thickness can be accurately calculated through example data. Therefore, specific measures for improving external wall insulation from refined insulation structure design are proposed. It has been proven that the design of the exterior wall insulation layer structure is an important way to improve the overall energy-saving benefits of building exterior wall insulation.

Research on energy-saving construction technology of campus building exterior wall under the restriction of energy consumption quota

Research on energy-saving construction technology of campus building exterior wall under the restriction of energy consumption quota

Research on energy-saving construction technology of campus building exterior wall under the restriction of energy consumption quota

Research on energy-saving construction technology of campus building exterior wall under the restriction of energy consumption quota

Study on The Durability of Self - Luminous Magnesium Phosphate Cement in Low Temperature Climate Building Exterior Wall

Self-luminous magnesium phosphate cement is a new material that combines long-afterglow luminescent material with magnesium phosphate cement. This paper studies the performance of self-luminous magnesium phosphate cement material through experiments, so as to expand the applicability of this material to exterior walls of buildings in a cold climate. The experiment indicates that the Self-luminous magnesium phosphate cement has excellent corrosion resistance, impermeability, and salt-freeze resistance in a cold climate. It can be used as a new kind of beautiful, energy-saving and environment-friendly exterior wall paving material.

Research on Integrated Art Design of Building Exterior Finishing with Photovoltaic Application Technology

This study is based on the cold regions of China, namely severe and cold regions. By fully utilizing photovoltaic technology, local green energy can be reasonably utilized, and feasible reference can be provided for architectural design in cold regions of China. Based on the “dual carbon” goal, the application of photovoltaic technology in building skins is discussed. Through the research of this project, it is possible to clarify ways to reduce carbon emissions and promote local green and sustainable development. Examples were provided to illustrate the main manifestations of photovoltaic building integration. Through the specific application and analysis of photovoltaic housing projects, photovoltaic curtain walls, photovoltaic components, and photovoltaic materials in the skin system, it is explained that photovoltaic materials can play an important role in participating in the shaping of building form and space. The key to the integration of photovoltaic building technology is to find the best balance between energy, comfort, indoor lighting environment, economy, and design aesthetics.

An integrated assessment of the financial and environmental impacts of exterior building insulation application

In the literature, optimum thermal insulation thickness on building's exterior was examined by many researchers. Optimum insulation thickness was generally studied with the aim of minimizing the total cost, and suitable values were determined within this scope. In this study, it has also considered the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere due to the fuels used in building heating and cooling processes, as well as insulation materials, in addition to the total cost. This study has been focused on optimization of the determination of the ideal insulation thickness of buildings by simultaneously minimizing the total cost and CO2 emission, using the knee point approach. In this context, a multi-objective optimization study has been conducted for thermal insulation applied to buildings located in different climatic zones considering the solar radiation. A comprehensive analysis has been carried out to determine the impact of the heating source type (natural gas, electricity, fuel oil), insulation material (expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, mineral wool, polyurethane foam), climatic zone (I, II, III, IV) and the purpose of the building's use (summer house, winter house or all-season house) on the optimum insulation thickness. The degree-day approach has been used to calculate annual energy consumption, and accordingly the life-cycle cost (LCC) method has been used in economic analysis. The optimum insulation thicknesses have been calculated with two separate objectives: one to minimize only the total cost and the other to minimize only the CO2 emissions. It has been found that when the primary goal of insulation application is to minimize CO2 emissions, the calculated optimum insulation thicknesses are consistently higher compared to situations where the main goal is minimizing total cost. Furthermore, for various climatic zones and different purpose of the building's use, an ideal insulation thicknesses that simultaneously minimizes both the cost and CO2 emissions have been identified. In this research, the equations providing environmentally optimum insulation thicknesses to minimize CO2 emissions have been derived and presented to researchers. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that the knee point approach can be applied in insulation scenarios where two objective functions need simultaneous optimization.

Convolutional neural network for building exterior and interior classification (Kemerovo, Tomsk)

Purpose: The concept development of convolutional neural network for real-time distinguishing between building interior and exterior.The relevance of the topic of the scientific article is determined by the technology integration into everyday life. Houses are increasingly referred to as a smart house. One of the elements of this control system, is robot vacuum cleaner, which cleans various surfaces. Difficulties encountered by such a technique largely depend on the environment definition, in which it is located.The intelligent system can independently distinguish between building interior and exterior, thereby greatly increasing the performance of the firmware complex of modern technology in both domestic and industrial segments.