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Designing‐in performance: energy simulation feedback for early stage design decision making
Abstract
With the continued advancement of computational tools for building design, performance has gradually been allowed to claim a more prominent role as a driving force behind design decisions. However, there is currently only limited direct energy performance feedback available for designers early in the design process where such decision making has the highest potential impact on the overall design’s energy performance. Therefore, this research aims to propose a design process framework that can provide designers a “designing-in performance” environment, where design decisions can be influenced by energy performance feedback during the early stages of the design process.
In response to the overall aim of this research, the first objective is to identify the most potentially suitable method through investigating current and past efforts. Extensive literature review revealed that time constraints and interoperability issues between tools and expert domain knowledge are the primary obstacles faced by designers in exploring design alternatives with consideration for energy performance. Moreover, evidence suggests that Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) methodology presents the most potential to overcome these obstacles. This determination stems from the aerospace and automobile industries successfully integrating multiple engineering domains through MDO to optimize and identify the best-fit design among various competing objectives during the design process. As a result, it is the position of this research that providing the designers with a designer-oriented MDO framework during the early stages of design will allow energy performance feedback to influence their design decision-making based on their design goals, thereby resulting in higher-performing designs. However, the applications of MDO to the building industry are still in infancy, especially in relation to bridging energy performance and design form exploration during the early stages of the design process. As the applicability of this approach during the design process is yet to be fully explored, this task is the second objective of this research.
More specifically, the second research objective is to identify the proposed framework characteristics that would assist the designers during the early stage design process and enable a “designing-in performance” environment. Also included in the second objective is the validation of the proposed framework against the identified criteria. In order to achieve this objective, this research first synthesizes the pertinent research findings in order to isolate the criteria for “designing-in performance” and identify the gaps in the extant approaches, which hindered their applicability to the design process. Based on these results, the research presents the theoretical structure of the proposed early stage designer-centered MDO framework, entitled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD), which incorporates conceptual energy analysis and design exploration of complex geometry through an automated evolutionary searching method. EEPFD is a semi-automated design exploration process, enabled by a customized genetic algorithm (GA)-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach, to provide energy performance feedback in assisting design decision-making. In order to realize EEPFD for the purpose of validation and evaluation against the previously identified criteria, a prototype tool, H.D.S. Beagle, is developed to host the customized GA-based MOO algorithm. In H.D.S. Beagle, energy use intensity (EUI) is selected as the energy objective function. Also included are spatial programming compliance (SPC) and a schematic net present value (NPV) calculation for consideration in performance tradeoff studies. A series of hypothetical cases are used to form the initial framework, as well as obtain and evaluate the technology affordance of H.D.S. Beagle. These hypothetical cases are also used as a means to assess whether EEPFD demonstrates the potential to meet the needs of early stage design, where rapid design exploration and accommodation of varying degrees of geometric complexity are needed. Based on these results, EEPFD can be considered as suitable for further exploration in early stage design applications. Finally, the hypothetical cases are used to reaffirm the need of incorporating energy performance feedback during the early stages of the design process.
The last research objective is to evaluate the impact of the proposed framework and availability of energy performance feedback on the early stage design process. To achieve this objective, evaluation metrics are first established to provide the means and measurements by which to conduct process evaluation and comparative studies in both the design profession and pedagogical case-based experiments. In the design profession case-based experiment, EEPFD is applied to a design competition open to professional design firms. In this case study, the chosen design firm utilizes three approaches in pursuing higher performance design: (1) collaboration with mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) consultants; (2) in-house analysis through available analytical tools; and (3) EEPFD application. While this case revealed that the output of these three approaches is not directly comparable, it is observed that EEPFD provides exploration of a greater number of design alternatives and tradeoff studies compared to the two conventional processes. The pedagogical case-based experiments conducted as a part of this study are divided into three sets, based on the setting—a computational classroom, a design studio, and a computational workshop setting. These experiments utilize the established benchmark process to (1) compare the human decision process against the automated EEPFD; (2) observe the ability of students to translate their design intent into a parametric model; and (3) gauge the impact of the availability of energy performance feedback on the early stage design process. The results obtained in these experiments indicate that EEPFD is capable of generating a solution space with a higher Pareto designated solution rate than the students can achieve. Moreover, it eliminates up to 50% of the human error rate, as observed in the manual exploration process. It is also observed that students are able to use the EEPFD-provided feedback to identify a design alternative that is not only consistent with their design exploration intent, but also improves upon the energy performance of their initial design. However, in all these case-based experiments, designers—both students and design professionals—encountered difficulties in translating their design intent into a parametric model compatible with the use of EEPFD. While this is acknowledged, it is likely that increased familiarity with parametric modeling techniques would overcome these observed difficulties.
The significant contribution of this research is the EEPFD—a designer-oriented MDO framework enabling the combination of complex geometric form exploration via energy performance feedback. This tool addresses the observed gaps in the currently available solutions, thereby enabling further exploration of MDO application to the early stage design. Subsequently, this research provides the means and measurements to explore and evaluate the application of EEPFD to the early stages of design, identifying potentially advantageous adjustments from previously implemented MDO frameworks and the early stage design process. Considering the nature of early stage design in the architectural field—which consists of subjective and objective design requirements, time constraints, uncertainty regarding design components, and the unique conditions of each design problem—a best practice is proposed in applying EEPFD to early stage design, which significantly differs from the more common MDO application method of seeking a mathematically-defined convergence “best fit” solution set. Finally, this research provides a “designing-in performance” environment in which designers can use available energy performance feedback to influence their design decisions during the early stages of the design process, where such decisions have the greatest impact on the overall design’s energy performance.
... Of the 99 dissertations, 12 (Abdallah, 2014;Arroyo, 2014;Attallah, 2014;Berghorn, 2014;Hogan, 2014;Johnson-Ferdinand, 2014;Karatas, 2014;Kwok, 2014;Langevin, 2014;Lin, 2014;Vanhoozer, 2014;Wao, 2014) were selected based on their relevance to our research topic. The major areas for the future research of the assessment of sustainable buildings are found and illustrated in the following. ...
... After comparing these methods, this research proposed CBA could be the better multiple-criteria decision-making method to creating transparency, building consensus, and continuous learning in the design process. Lin (2014) presented the theoretical structure of an early stage designer-centered multidisciplinary design optimization framework, entitled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD). EEPFD enabled by a customized genetic algorithm (GA)-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach can be used to provide energy performance feedback in assisting design decisionmaking. ...
This research investigates recent developments in assessment methods of green buildings and compares the differences in rating systems among the United Kingdom, USA, and Germany. There are indications that the rating systems are moving from green buildings to sustainable buildings. In order to understand the recent research in academic areas, we survey the recent Ph.D. dissertations and literature related to green building assessment. Discussion is provided on the major research areas of green buildings, which cover accountability of life cycle cost, methodology for balancing the three pillars, and government vision and public policy.
... Since 2000, this new technique that combines energy simulation with optimization has started an emerging technology that generates new designs based on computational modeling results. This efficient methodology guarantees an optimal design, providing solutions to several problems (Lin, 2014). Yi & Peng (2014) proposed coupled outdoor-indoor microclimate simulation for the passive design of urbanscale buildings. ...
Due to climate change consequences, microclimate effects, and heat islands in cities, this research seeks to evaluate the natural potential ventilation and energy use at an urban scale in the Casco Antiguo of Panama City. The Natural Ventilation Climate Potential (NVCP), the Natural Ventilation Satisfied Hours (NVSH), and the Electricity Consumption Indicator (ECI) were used as indicators to evaluate natural ventilation. For this purpose, a methodology based on dynamic energy simulations was conducted by coupling ENVI-met and DesignBuilder software. Furthermore, an optimization process based on parametric studies, sensitivity, and uncertainty analysis allow for comparing envelopes of construction materials, glazing, and operating hours of windows with thermal discomfort hours. Results showed that the area under study does not have a beneficial micro-climate for natural ventilation (NVCP = 19.41%), affecting indoor thermal comfort (NVSH = 3.11%). Finally, an optimization process showed that envelope materials do not generate significant changes concerning hours of thermal discomfort in passive mode at the urban scale. However, energy use in active mode was reflected by implementing walls and roofs of superinsulated material.
... The basic requirement for high performance building design is that it works as an integrated energy system that creates a good indoor environment suitable for the building's functions [4: 3]. While performancebased design refers to a design process that covers an emphasis or individual design goal that focuses on improved performance [27], it requires designers to explore the potential design alternatives parametrically and choose the best alternative for the project [38]. ...
... The analysis on an urban scale can be achieved through simulations with tools that allow evaluating the behavior of energy exchange on buildings. As of the year 2000, the new technique that combines energy simulation with optimization gives rise to an emerging technology that allows generating new designs based on computational modeling results; This being an efficient methodology that probably guarantees the optimal design by providing a solution to various problems [2]. ...
A numerical approach between standard weather and urban microclimate data have been analyzed. This study applies a methodology that integrate microclimatic boundary conditions to predict energy cooling demand. It was evaluated in the climatic context by coupling ENVImet and DesignBuilder (EnergyPlus). The coupling was explored at urban scale in Panama, tested for a case study considering morphological configuration, construction materials, occupation profiles and equipment usage. Results show an average difference percentage of as 5.07% in cooling demand when the microclimatic weather data is considered. Also resulting indoor operative temperature indicated that thermal comfort levels are not achieved, which natural ventilation is not a suitable strategy to be implemented even at night hours.
... where making a decision in one field affects the other (Forest Flager & Haymaker, 2007). Previous researchers have mainly clustered climate-related issues such as heating, cooling, daylighting, and ventilation Lin, 2014;Palonen, Hamdy, & Hasan, 2013;, or structure-related issues such as structural topology, shape, sizing, and material design (F. . However, consideration of multiple disciplines and their interaction is uncommon, which is key for an inclusive interdisciplinary design approach, which is not common. ...
With the advancement of computational design tools paired with performance assessment technologies, taking an interdisciplinary design approach at the early stages of design is largely facilitated. The Master Builder whose role has been fragmented between multiple professionals of many disciplines is being recreated, this time by facilitating seamless collaboration among a plethora of minds and perspectives. In this mode of collaboration, studying disciplinary tradeoffs also becomes part of the design process. This calls for a new design approach with an understanding of other disciplines. A building needs to stand up and needs to be illuminated, thus the structural and daylighting disciplines are associated with the purpose of architectural design. Despite the interaction between the two, there is little research showing the overlaps. Understanding this integration helps designers better understand how making a decision affects other stakeholders. This dissertation is at the intersection of computational design, structural performance, and daylighting performance assessment. Shells are the ideal typology for investigating this interrelation as their form is related with force flow, while adding holes to the shell’s surface not only introduces daylight but also affects force flow thus structural performance. By employing a computational interdisciplinary design approach, and by choosing perforated concrete shell structures as the main structural typology, I ask: How can the designer identify the design parameters that are shared between the discipline of architecture and an engineering discipline? What are the design parameters that co-exist in the structural and daylighting design disciplines? How may these parameters be used by designers? How do the design parameters affect performance in structural and daylighting discipline? What is the tradeoff between performance in structural and daylighting design? How can the results of a specific design case be useful for application to other design cases that do not necessarily have the same boundary conditions? This research demonstrates how daylighting performance can be affected in the design of shell structures, a typology that is mainly driven by its structural design criteria in the literature. Also important is its demonstration of how a continuous shell can be perforated to the point at which becomes a grid shell; therefore, continuous and grid shells are two ends of a spectrum rather than two distinct structural typologies. A high-level significance of this dissertation is its marriage of the structural and daylighting disciplines and demonstration of how the two are closely related in shells by the perforation ratio. I find that perforation ratio is the most significant parameter that affects both disciplines and a number between 10% to 20% is the recommended limit for shell structures when translucent glazing is installed without any external or internal shading. One of the most significant contributions of this research is its methodological approach, which uses a formalized framework for categorizing design parameters in the structural and daylighting disciplines and then identifying overlapping design parameters. This design method, presented as a roadmap is the fundamental new component arising from this research. The final contribution of this dissertation explores how a generated solution space may become useful for other design projects which do not necessarily have the exact same boundary conditions. By abstracting the boundary conditions of new projects to match those in the solution space, the designer can examine possibilities and compare how making a decision in one field may affect performance in other fields.
... Looking at the literature and regarding engineering disciplines in architecture, many previous researchers have clustered climate-related issues together. Some examples include integration of energy, daylighting, and cost analysis in high rise buildings in [11]; integration of energy, financial, and spatial programming compliance performance in [12]; determination of heating energy and investment cost analysis of a house in [13]; assessment of heating, cooling, and lighting performance in an open space office building in [14]; and implementation of a computer program named ENER-RATE to compare the energy use, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, operating plant load, financial costs, and other environmental degradation of design alternatives in [15]. On the other hand, another group of researchers have clustered structurerelated issues together such as shape and sizing optimization of truss and frame structures in [16]; shape optimization of a free form shell surface inspired by the Kakamigahara Crematorium in [17]; shape optimization of the continuous surface that forms the roof of the greenhouse facility in Gringrin Fukuoka in [18]; and implementation of a generative structural design system named eifForm in roof trusses in [19]. ...
Employing an interdisciplinary approach in design is an important part of the future of architecture. Therefore, taking a step toward better understanding the overlaps between disciplines, and formalizing the process of integration between disciplines accelerates progress in the field. In examining an interdisciplinary design approach using computational design and simulation tools, while considering shell structures as a special case for spanning large-span roofs, structural and daylighting discipline are considered. The aim is to understand what are the design parameters that co-exist in the structural and daylighting design disciplines, and how may these parameters be implemented in a parametric model created by designers. The parametric model that includes discipline specific parameters can later be used for interdisciplinary performance-based design. Implementing design parameters calls for an understanding of the ways in which parameters affect design and performance. This research considers the application of parametric design methods at the early stages of design for designing high-performance buildings.
... However, a tool that supports multi-objective design optimization is expected to further improve and assist the decision-making process. While this approach has been successfully adopted by the aerospace industry and has begun to be explored in its applicability to the AEC field [17], it has yet to be adopted in the tarso design process, and therefore is still a research in question as part of the framework development. ...
Given the importance of a tensile membrane architecture's corner condition (termed " tarso " by this research), a series of expert interviews were conducted as the foundation for proposing a design framework to improve tarso design in the tensile membrane field. Synthesizing from the literature review and the interview results, this paper first summarizes the current tarso design process and identified issues. Following this is a discussion regarding the need for a designer-centered tarso design framework and a subsequent outline for the said proposed framework. In order to further detail the necessary components and essential steps of the framework, a mast top tarso design example is detailed bases on the framework's outline. Finally, the paper concludes with observed current challenges of the framework's development and plans for the framework's validation while serving as the foundation for further developing tarso design guidelines and computer-aided tools.
Building is not merely design and construction a location, but it define as a location for supply comfort of user .The human and the environment have long been focus of architects, traditional architecture indicates it. In the past, architecture was evaluated after operation in terms of success or failure in responding to human - environmental parameters .Now, it can be achieved by Building simulation before construction. In this process, in addition to 3 D modeling of building, the energy consumption of the building, comfort conditions, active and inactive solutions can also be considered .One Of the important issues in simulation is optimize and increase the efficiency of existing buildings, because they have a lot of energy loss .Building energy simulation is not only used to reduce energy consumption or improve building performance, but also at pre-design stages. For example, determination of the optimal direction of the building relative to sunlight is one of these.in this paper is tried to study the energy simulation role at the pre - design, design and operation stages in buildings and present its importance in this industry. Investigations show which best time to do simulation is at pre - design and design stages.
The increase in global environmental concerns as well as advancement of computational tools and methods have had significant impacts on the way in which buildings are being designed. Building professionals are increasingly expected to improve energy performance of their design. To achieve a high level of energy performance, multidisciplinary simulation-based optimization can be utilized to help designers in exploring more design alternatives and making informed decisions. Because of the high complexity in setting up a building model for multi-objective design optimization, there is a great demand of utilizing and integrating the advanced modeling and simulation technologies, including BIM, parametric modeling, cloud-based simulation, and optimization algorithms, as well as a new user interface that facilitates the setup of building parameters (decision variables) and performance fitness functions (design objectives) for automatically generating, evaluating, and optimizing multiple design options.
This study presents an integrated framework for Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based Performance Optimization (BPOpt). This framework enables designers to explore design alternatives using a visual programming interface, while assessing the environmental performance of the design models to search for the most appropriate design alternatives. BPOpt integrates the rich information stored in parametric BIM with building performance simulation tools to make performance optimization more accessible in the process of design. This framework uses evolutionary multi-objective optimization to explore the design space and provides a set of Pareto Optimal solutions to the designers. Using this framework, multiple competing objective functions such as construction and operation costs and environmental performance can be studied and a potential set of solutions can be presented.
The BPOpt framework is developed by systematic integration of: 1) Parametric BIM-based Energy Simulation (PBES); 2) Parametric BIM-based Daylighting Simulation (PBDS); and 3) Optimo – an open-source Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) in a visual programming interface tool, developed as part of this research, to provide efficient design space exploration for achieving high-performance buildings. This dissertation describes the prototype development and validation of PBES, PBDS, and Optimo, tools for BPOpt. Furthermore, the present document details the development process of BPOpt and also demonstrates the usefulness of this framework through multiple case studies. The case studies show the use of BPOpt in optimizing multidisciplinary conflicting criteria such as minimizing the annual energy cost while maximizing the appropriate daylighting level for the building models.
The increase in global environmental concerns as well as advancement of computational tools and methods have had significant impacts on the way in which buildings are being designed. Building professionals are increasingly expected to improve energy performance of their design. To achieve a high level of energy performance, multidisciplinary simulation-based optimization can be utilized to help designers in exploring more design alternatives and making informed decisions. Because of the high complexity in setting up a building model for multi-objective design optimization, there is a great demand of utilizing and integrating the advanced modeling and simulation technologies, including BIM, parametric modeling, cloud-based simulation, and optimization algorithms, as well as a new user interface that facilitates the setup of building parameters (decision variables) and performance fitness functions (design objectives) for automatically generating, evaluating, and optimizing multiple design options.
This study presents an integrated framework for Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based Performance Optimization (BPOpt). This framework enables designers to explore design alternatives using a visual programming interface, while assessing the environmental performance of the design models to search for the most appropriate design alternatives. BPOpt integrates the rich information stored in parametric BIM with building performance simulation tools to make performance optimization more accessible in the process of design. This framework uses evolutionary multi-objective optimization to explore the design space and provides a set of Pareto Optimal solutions to the designers. Using this framework, multiple competing objective functions such as construction and operation costs and environmental performance can be studied and a potential set of solutions can be presented.
The BPOpt framework is developed by systematic integration of: 1) Parametric BIM-based Energy Simulation (PBES); 2) Parametric BIM-based Daylighting Simulation (PBDS); and 3) Optimo – an open-source Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) in a visual programming interface tool, developed as part of this research, to provide efficient design space exploration for achieving high-performance buildings. This dissertation describes the prototype development and validation of PBES, PBDS, and Optimo, tools for BPOpt. Furthermore, the present document details the development process of BPOpt and also demonstrates the usefulness of this framework through multiple case studies. The case studies show the use of BPOpt in optimizing multidisciplinary conflicting criteria such as minimizing the annual energy cost while maximizing the appropriate daylighting level for the building models.
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