Influence Of User Behavior Research Articles

Influence of User Behaviour on the Functioning and Performance of Passive Phase-Change Material Systems after More Than a Decade of Operation

Phase-change materials (PCM) in buildings are considered a promising option to prevent overheating in warm seasons. Numerous studies have shown a noticeable improvement in thermal comfort through PCM, but in real applications they have often underperformed. User behaviour is often neglected as an important factor in determining PCM performance and might be a limiting factor. Another factor could be time-dependent degradation, which has also been scarcely researched so far. We used simulations within two case studies to investigate whether the PCM applications, each of which had been in operation for more than ten years, were still functioning from a technical perspective and what influence user behaviour had on their performance. We found that the PCM applications still had a positive influence on the thermal performance of the rooms, although the effect due to behavioural optimizations was significantly greater. The PCM was able to reduce the time of discomfort by 9–45% in the baseline scenario with real documented user behaviour in both rooms. Improved user practices increased the reduction in discomfort to 33–52%. For future studies evaluating PCM and its use, we recommend considering realistic user habits, as implementing optimal behaviour could lead to an overestimation of PCM performance and dissatisfaction with the technology.

Multimodal Biometrics Fusion Algorithm Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

Multimodal biometrics fusion plays an important role in the field of biometrics. Therefore, this paper presents a multimodal biometrics fusion algorithm using deep reinforcement learning. In order to reduce the influence of user behavior, user’s personal characteristics, and environmental light on image data quality, data preprocessing is realized through data transformation and single-mode biometric image region segmentation. A two-dimensional Gobar filter was used to analyze the texture of local sub-blocks, qualitatively describe the similarity between the filter and the sub-blocks and extract the phase information and local amplitude information of multimodal biometrics features. Deep reinforcement learning was used to construct the classifier of different modal biometrics, and the weighted sum fusion of different modal biometrics was implemented by fractional information. The multimodal biometrics fusion algorithm was designed. The Casia-iris-interval-v4 and NFBS datasets were used to test the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the fused image quality is better, the feature extraction accuracy is between 84% and 93%, the average accuracy of feature classification is 97%, the multimodal biometric classification time is only 110 ms, the multimodal biometric fusion time is only 550 ms, the effect is good, and the practicability is strong.

Influence of user behavior on energy consumption in a university building versus automation costs

The objective of this work was to evaluate the interactions of users with air conditioning systems, lighting, natural ventilation, internal shading devices, and costs related to automation of a teaching building. Three behavior patterns (proactive, intermediate and careless) were created. The proactive user seeks to use natural light, uses passive solar shading and integration of natural and artificial ventilation. The intermediate user does not seek integration of natural and artificial lighting, they use hybrid ventilation as a ventilation strategy. The careless user does not use any passive strategy, predominantly uses artificial conditioning and adjusts cooling and heating setpoint to values out of the norms. In addition to the users’ behaviors, the automated building was modeled. Computer simulations were performed in the EnergyPlus program, in order to measure the influence of behavior patterns on the building’s energy consumption. Based on the analysis of the building’s energy consumption profile, results indicate users are between the intermediate and the careless user classification, with a tendency to the intermediate user profile. The paper also presents an analysis of the payback time with the building automation in face of the user profiles.

Indonesian hospital telemedicine acceptance model: the influence of user behavior and technological dimensions

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, several hospitals in Indonesia have started to develop teleconsultation services to expand the reach of health services and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the influence of user and technological dimensions on the acceptance of the use of hospital teleconsultation applications by users. The research was conducted using quantitative methods with data from questionnaires distributed online. The respondent criteria for this study were Indonesians aged 17 years and over who knew about or had used a hospital's teleconsultation application, and this resulted in 534 respondents. Data processing was carried out using the covariance-based structural equation modeling method with the AMOS 24 application. The user behavior and technology dimensions are influence intention to use telemedicine applications. Furthermore, the results showed that contamination avoidance, safety, reliability, professionalism, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and information quality have a significant positive influence on the behavioral intention to use hospital telemedicine applications. Meanwhile, facilitating conditions and social influence were not shown to have a significant positive effect on the behavioral intention to use such applications. Finally, behavioral intention to use significantly and positively influences actual use. This research can help hospitals and the government in providing guidance in terms of developing telemedicine applications.

Sustainable Socio-cultural Aspect Within Green Building User Behavior in Bali, Indonesia

The definition of green building is related to the design strategy and use of technology in buildings to create efficient energy utilization and minimize negative impacts on both the environment and the health of its users. User behavior is a significant determinant because to achieve green building parameters in the technical aspects alone is hard and, in the long term, must be supported by user behavior patterns with a responsive understanding of energy efficiency goals. This paper aims to conduct an initial study that focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of green building users’ behavior in Bali. This paper does not discuss quantitative matters on the green building parameters. Instead, it focuses on formulating a basic knowledge about the influence of user behavior with Balinese socio-cultural characteristics to become a reference at the building management level for the specific green building’s success. The method used in this paper is a qualitative descriptive method with literature review approach. The socio-cultural factor that affected Bali’s user behavior was influenced by green building principles’ technical issues and pro-environmental action in general. The more specific element is culture, local wisdom, and the religious value that leads to environmental awareness. The perspective of Bali’s green building user can be defined as the user’s local socio-culture views, the principles of green building perspectives and organization and management level perspective..

Mini-Review: The Influence of User Behavior on the Success of Information System Implementation: Towards the Development of Behavior-Based Information System Requirements

The characteristics and behaviour of information system users have a big influence on the successful implementation of information systems. There have been many studies that reveal the effects of user behaviour related to technology and information systems. The majority of research conducted deals with the impact of culture on user behaviour after the implementation of information systems. Very few journals discuss how the characteristics and factors of user behaviour are used as inputs that affect the information system development process. This research was conducted to conduct a literature review regarding the dominant factors in user behaviour and to see their impact on the development of information systems. The results of the study are in the form of synthesis to see the opportunity to include these user behaviour factors into components of the information system requirements.

Имитационное моделирование работы пункта взимания платы с транспортных средств на внутригородской дороге

A large number of toll road projects with a barrier toll collection system are currently being implemented in Russia. Therefore, it seems relevant to study the toll plaza as an element of the transport infrastructure. Insuffi cient attention to the issues of assessing current and predicted intensity on TPscan cause regular traffi c congestions on toll roads. The goal of this study is to build a simulation model that allows to evaluate the capacity of the toll collection point during the operation of the toll road at different traffi c fl ow rates, taking into account the ratio of different types of vehicles and user behavior errors. Visual observation materials are used, the research method is discrete-event simulation of PVP using AnyLogic software, processing of the results is performed in the statistical package R. The toll point (TP) the Western High-Speed Diameter toll road in St. Petersburg, Russia was considered as a case for the study.As a result was build simulation model of TP was developed, taking into account the traffi c specifi cs and user behavior errors. Conducted experiments established the peak traffi c intensities, when traffi c congestion begins to form at the TP, with different ratios of electronic toll collection usage. During the analysis, few cases of service time distribution were considered — from low to high traffi c intensities. Main conclusions of the study: -for the low intensity case, the results of the analysis showed the splitting of the total distribution of the service time into two distributions for different operating modes of toll lanes, — for high intensity, the infl uence of user behavior on service time distribution was revealed, — for each case, the parameters of the gamma laws of service time distribution were determined, — in case of insuffi cient throughput capacity, the TP stops working effi ciently, and service time distribution increases, regardless of the type of payment. Estimated peak hours of TP operation, when there is a potential for congestion at the TP were defi ned. Possible ways of further increase thetoll collection system throughput capacity for the TP were indicated.

A low-cost framework to establish internal blind control patterns and enable simulation-based user-centric design

The literature emphasises the important role that occupants play on the energy performance of buildings, and increasing knowledge of drivers for human-building interactions is required. However, innovative sensors or technology are not always available – especially in developing countries – and stakeholders from the building sector may struggle to reach meaningful outcomes. Therefore, we propose a low-cost framework to assess patterns of internal blind control that can be replied in different locations. It is a questionnaire-based evaluation, which infers self-reported patterns of behaviour, as well as non-physical parameters and building characteristics that influence internal blind adjustments. A case study applying the framework was conducted in Florianópolis, southern Brazil, and the results are presented. Three control patterns were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis, which provides valuable insights to estimate building energy consumption considering the influence of user behaviour in performance simulations. Also, Chi-square tests showed an association of building characteristics – solar orientation and distance between user and window – to the internal blind adjustments. This case study supports the role of user-centric design as by understanding drivers for occupant behaviour one may adapt buildings and systems to the needs or preferences of users. Along these lines, if typical patterns of behaviour, as well as main triggers for adjustments, are found, simulation-based evaluations may present to stakeholders the best options of blind properties (e.g., considering finishings or colours). Finally, this framework makes room to combine information found on field studies to published models and algorithms of internal blind control.

The role of the design and operation of individual heating systems for the energy retrofits of residential buildings

The feasibility of individual natural gas fired boiler-based heating systems in the retrofitting of buildings constructed in the 50–60s in Bilbao (northern Spain) is evaluated in this paper. A holistic approach through dynamic simulations using TRNSYS is employed for the purpose. An existing dwelling previously monitored and used to validate the model applied is selected as a case study. 54 different scenarios are evaluated, which arise from the combination of 3 different envelope options, 2 types of heat production units, 3 heat production temperatures and 3 comfort temperature set-points. The cases are evaluated in terms of energy results, economic aspects, and the influence of user behaviour. Regarding the latter, the influence of the potential rebound effect is also evaluated. The results show energy savings nearby 10% when condensing boilers are compared with high efficiency boilers. In relation to hot water production temperature, energy savings between 5 and 10% are found when the temperature is lowered from 60 to 50°C. The greatest impact on energy consumption is related to the occupants’ behaviour: reductions up to 89% are achieved if the indoor temperature set-point is lowered 2°C. This is reinforced with the results related to the rebound effect, which show significant differences on energy consumption values. These evidences demonstrate that the user behaviour is an essential feature to be considered in studies regarding buildings energy performance. As a consequence, the holistic approach herein employed emerges as a key tool to be applied in further works related with the topic.

The Influence of User Behaviour on Energy Use in European Shopping Centres

AbstractEuropean society spends increasing amounts of time in shopping centres. There is an urgent need to reduce energy use and to provide stakeholders with the tools to develop the next generation of sustainable shopping centres. The intention here is to identify how user behaviour, in particular owners, managers, tenants and customers, influences energy performance in European shopping centres. The causes of energy use are often primarily technical; but user behaviour influences whether actions to reduce energy use are implemented and how effective the actions are. Customers are not interested in energy use or sustainability issues when doing their shopping, and this influences how shopping centres act with regard to energy use reductions. This has implications for their sustainability and suggests a design potential in shopping centres, one which lies in considering social and behavioural issues alongside the implementation of more technical aspects associated with energy use in retail environments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Influence of user behavior on unsatisfactory indoor thermal environment

In areas of China that have hot summers and cold winters, the overall performance of HVAC systems in the poorly-insulated existing office buildings is generally not satisfactory, especially in extreme weather conditions. The reasons for the unsatisfactory indoor thermal environment were deduced, and to validate the findings, a methodology of numerical simulation for 3D heat-flux visualization was proposed. A full-scale model of a prototype office room was created, with representative working conditions for the characteristics of particular building. The results of the heat-flux visualization and temperature distribution showed that the overall effect was resulted from merged reasons, and that significance ranking of each reason varied when the outside environmental conditions changed. The simulation results were compared with the indoor occupant comfort levels of the volunteers who worked in the target room. Models of possible influential factors such as the outdoor temperature, opening or closing windows, and the effect of window shading devices (WSD) were set up. The influence of user behavior on indoor temperature in opening window, or not using WSD was proven to be significant in causing unfavorable indoor conditions. According to the visualized evaluation and analysis of the various factors, corresponding methods for both improving indoor thermal conditions and saving energy are proposed.