This research investigates risks arising from the mechanism of green building assessment tools that may impact on the consistency of their outcomes and render them ineffective in reliably fulfilling their goals in the building industry. None of the past efforts at developing assessment tools have focused on the risk aspects of assessment tools. Moreover, slowly the building industry has started placing considerable reliance on them without completely understanding the consequences of potential risks. The origin of risks lies in the realization that assessing sustainability in buildings is complex and full of conflicting concepts and opinions, and that amidst all this, assessment tools are expected to deliver multiple performance objectives and goals. Given that the importance of assessing sustainability in buildings cannot be ignored, it becomes extremely important that assessment tools are understood well and are free from risks. To accomplish this, an array of potential risks are systematically brought together using a risk categorization method, which facilitated a basis to critically analyse the literature in the light of risks. This addressed the acknowledged gap in the literature on risks relating to assessment tools. Four categories are discussed under this categorization. These categories provide a basis for the quantitative investigation, which applies techniques of uncertainty analysis to quantify these risks. In the quantitative investigation, uncertainty in 40 input parameters is propagated through several alternative forms of the mechanism of assessment tools. The input parameters are selected using the assessment data of a case study (Arts Faculty building, University of Sunshine Coast). The design of alternative forms of the mechanism is based on the identified risk categories and is carried out using a vehicle assessment tool (Green Building Tool). The uncertainty propagation is carried out using a risk analysis tool (@Risk). Descriptive statistics is deployed to analyse the results of the uncertainty propagations. Analysis of the results has brought an understanding and insights into various aspects of the mechanism in the context of their predisposition to increase or decrease risks. To ensure that an assessment tool's specific goals are fulfilled, the mechanism needs to be designed carefully so that it is low-risk and appropriate to the intent. By providing in-depth insights into the mechanism, the methodology and outcomes of this research are important for the future development of green building assessment tools.

This paper combines two research publications working toward the development of an integrated framework for commercial sustainable building design. Current methodologies utilize a traditional architectural top-down approach to sustainable building design practices that consumes financial and temporal resources early in the design process. By identifying the array mechanical subsystems required to meet modern building standards such as net-zero energy and water, and recognizing the importance of these interactions, designers can mitigate this resource consumption. The first paper presents an anthropological case study of the schematic design process of the Oregon Sustainability Center, a net-zero building slated for construction in Portland, Oregon. This research outlines the complexity of mechanical subsystems required to achieve net-zero standards and how project stakeholders affect the design process. The second paper further explores this concept by analyzing building subsystems in the context of a traditional complex system (airplane, automobile, etc.), and uses optimization techniques to understand significant system interactions. A computer model is created that optimizes lighting availability for a commercial workspace incorporating cost, building standards, and user environment. By considering post construction building usage, each subsystem can be designed for maximum user productivity, reducing costs associated with sustainable design practices. / Graduation date: 2012

Climate change constitutes one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, as it will influence the way we live and work in future decades. Excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are recognized as the key contributor to climate change, and the construction sector has an indispensable role to play in emission reduction, as building facilities are energy- and emission-intensive to construct and operate. Previous research indicates that up to 30 percent of buildings’ lifecycle emissions can be minimized through the careful selection of low-carbon materials. Although building environmental assessment (BEA) tools have been widely used in identifying and mitigating the lifecycle environmental impacts of building facilities, the existing BEA tools provide no rigorous regime for assessing the embodied GHG emissions of building materials. Therefore the aim of this research is to bridge the research and practical gaps by developing an integrated BEA assessment model that comprehensively audits and benchmarks the embodied GHG emissions of building materials at product level. The research began by examining the limitations of current BEA tools, in particular their means of evaluating the embodied GHG emissions of buildings. Then, an embodied GHG emissions evaluation module model under an existing BEA scheme was proposed. The proposed model comprised (i) product category, (ii) product-based GHG auditing framework, and (iii) emissions benchmarking measure. After that, a thorough review of the relevant literature and international classification systems was carried out to establish a systematic product categorization regime for building materials. An auditing framework comprising system boundary, process map, emission sources, and a carbon auditing tool in Microsoft TM Excel has been developed by reviewing international standards on product carbon footprint assessments and eliciting knowledge from domain experts through a series of interviews. The emission benchmarks for each product category have been determined through the application of fuzzy set theory to facilitate easy comparison and decision-making. Finally, the developed product categorization regime, GHG auditing framework, and benchmarks were validated through a Delphi study, a discussion of which concluded the thesis. The research outcomes confirm that the GHG emissions embodied in a building facility can be meticulously analyzed and integrated into the BEA. The research also improves the understanding of how the materials’ embodied emissions can be accurately calculated at the product level. More importantly, it enhances existing BEA tools by incorporating embodied GHG emissions into the analysis, thus makes the lifecycle emission assessment of building facilities possible. The proposed integrated BEA model will enable clients and design teams to minimize the carbon footprints of buildings and assist users and the general public in identifying green building facilities. The originality of this research lies in the establishment of a set of emissions benchmarks for five most emission-intensive building materials using fuzzy set theory. These benchmarks provide a seamless platform allowing the assessment of materials’ embodied emissions to be integrated with the existing BEA model, thereby not only encouraging the adoption of low-carbon building materials but also fostering ongoing product carbon footprint reductions. / published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Hospital sound environments are complex and hard to understand. One of the most important factors in these environments is the effective communication between staff members in regards to patient care and successful communication depends in part on the hospital’s sound environment. In this study, objective sound measurements as well as occupant perceptive data were collected at three hospitals. Sound pressure levels; including maximum, peak, minimum and equivalent levels were recorded in these hospitals, in addition to active impulse response measurements. Acoustic descriptors of the sound environment such as spectral content, level distributions, energy decay and temporal patterns were examined. The perception of the hospital soundscape (sound environment) was evaluated through surveys of the staff, patients and visitors to units. It was found that noise levels in all patient rooms and work areas were significantly higher than guidelines laid out in previous literature and by professional organizations. This work contributes to the field by broadening the metrics used to quantify hospital acoustic environments. In addition, this work added to the field by providing the most rigorous acoustic field measurement set published to date. This was done to create an accurate portrayal of the hospital soundscape environment.

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Xiong, Yan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-202). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; some appendixes in Chinese.

Ng Yat Chiu Patrick. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1997-98, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-113). / Synopsis / Existing State / Background of Hong Kong --- p.2-3 / Background of Astronomy --- p.4-7 / Astronomy in Hong Kong --- p.8 / Client Profile & Users Group --- p.9-11 / Site Selection --- p.12 / Site Analysis --- p.13-18 / Constraints --- p.19 / Opportunities --- p.20-21 / Discussion of Issues --- p.22-24 / Future State / Formulatoin of Program --- p.25-33 / List of Activities --- p.34 / Schedule of Accommodation --- p.35-36 / Design Proposal / Design Philosophy --- p.37 / Site Aspect --- p.38-41 / Design Development --- p.42-66 / Final Design / Site Approach --- p.67 / Site Zoning --- p.68 / Site Setting out --- p.69 / Museum Sequence --- p.70 / Modern Astronomy & Space Science Museum --- p.71 / Star Odyssey --- p.72 / Myth and Legend --- p.73 / Zodiac --- p.74 / Ancient Astronomical Instrument --- p.75 / Cosmology and Observatory --- p.76 / Reservoir and Water Edge --- p.77 / "Cafeteria, Internet Cafe & Contemporary Interest Topic" --- p.78 / Astronomical Observatory & Star Gazing Classroom --- p.79-80 / Environmental / Use of Energy --- p.81-86 / Lighting --- p.87-88 / Natural Ventilation --- p.89 / HVAC System --- p.90-91 / Plumping & Drainage --- p.92-93 / Life Safety / Means of Escape --- p.94-95 / Construction / General Structure --- p.96 / Special Structure --- p.97-98 / Construction Sequence --- p.99-101 / Cost Analysis Appendices --- p.102-103 / Appendices / Precedents Studies --- p.104-111 / Bibliography --- p.112-113 / Acknowledgement --- p.114