There is a body of evidence indicating that the implementation of current Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry business models and practices have caused negative impacts on global energy supply, ecosystems, and local or regional economies. In order to eliminate such negative impacts, AEC practitioners are seeking new business models in which the Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology can be considered an important technology driver. Despite the fact that the majority of AEC practitioners have used BIM tools for construction-level modeling purposes, some early adopters of BIM technology began to use BIM tools to better inform their design decisions. Corresponding to the increasing demand for decision support functionality, a number of studies showed that a part of BIM technology will be developed toward decision support and artificial intelligence domains. The use of computer-based systems to support decision making processes can usually be found in the business management field. In this field, decision support and business intelligence systems are widely used for improving the quality of managerial decisions. Because of its theories and principles, Decision Support Systems (DSS) can be considered as one of the potential information technologies that can be applied to enhance the quality of design decisions. The DSS also has the potential to be constructed as a system platform for implementing building information contained in BIM models associated with other databases, analytical models, and expert knowledge used by AEC practitioners. This study explores an opportunity to extend the capability of BIM technology toward the decision support and artificial intelligence domains by applying the theories and principles of DSS. This research comprises the development of a prototype BIM interoperable web-based DSS for vegetated roofing system selection. The prototype development can be considered a part of an ongoing research agenda focusing on the development of the integrated web-based DSS for holistic building design conducted within the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS), Virginia Tech. Through a post-use interview study, the developed prototype is used as a tool for evaluating the possibility for the DSS development and the usefulness of DSS in improving the quality of vegetated roofing system design decisions. The understanding gained from the post-use study is used to create a guideline for developing a fully functional DSS for holistic building design that will be developed in the future. / Ph. D.

Buildings have a significant impact on energy usage and the environment. Much of the research in architectural sustainability has centered on economically advanced countries because they consume the most energy and have the most resources. However, sustainable architecture is important in developing countries, where the energy consumption of the building sector is increasing significantly. Currently, developing countries struggle with vaccine storage because vaccines are typically warehoused in old buildings that are poorly designed and wasteful of energy. This thesis created and studied a decision support tool that can be used to aid in the design of economically feasible Net Zero Energy vaccine warehouses for the developing world. The decision support tool used a simulation-optimization approach to combine an optimization technique with two simulation softwares in order to determine the cost-optimal design solution. To test its effectiveness, a new national vaccine storage facility located in Tunis, Tunisia was used. Nine building parameters were investigated to see which have the most significant effect on the annual energy usage and initial construction cost of the building. First, tests were conducted for two construction techniques, five different climates in the developing world, and three photovoltaic system prices to gain insight on the design space of the optimal solution. The results showed the difference between an economically efficient and economically inefficient Net Zero Energy building and the results were used to provide generalized climatic recommendations for all the building parameters studied. The final test showed the benefits of combining two optimization techniques, a design of experiments and a genetic algorithm, to form a two-step process to aid in the building design in the early stages and final stages of the design process. The proposed decision support tool can efficiently and effectively aid in the design of an economically feasible Net Zero Energy vaccine warehouse for the developing world.

Esta tese consiste em um estudo comparativo sobre qualidade ambiental interna e satisfação dos usuários de greenbuildings e similares convencionais. A amostra de greenbuildings (edifícios certificados verdes) foi estratificada para agências bancárias paulistas, localizadas na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, certificadas pelo selo verde LEED NC - e agências similares convencionais - cujo período de funcionamento fosse superior a um ano - intervalo mínimo requerido pelo método de avaliação pós-ocupação, adotado neste trabalho.Foram realizados levantamentos nos edifícios escolhidos, bem como aplicados questionários fechados e semifechados com perguntas direcionadas à satisfação e ao conforto dos usuários - funcionários e clientes - bem como medições de conforto ambiental inloco (temperatura, umidade, iluminância e nível de ruído). Foi efetuada análise estatística nos dados obtidos posteriormente a aplicação dos questionários e dos estudos de conforto ambiental, sendo estas medições comparadas também às normas e recomendações vigentes. Com base nos resultados, concluiu-se que os funcionários dos edifícios certificados verdes se sentem mais satisfeitos com a empresa e consideram a qualidade ambiental interna superior aos seus edifícios similares convencionais; e que os clientes não percebem diferenças entre as edificações. Em relação à avaliação física, foram constatados elevados níveis de ruído em todos os edifícios estudados, indistintamente, acima das normas vigentes. Quanto ao conforto térmico, o sistema de condicionamento de ar manteve maior homogeneidade de temperatura nos edifícios certificados verdes, contudo os edifícios convencionais também se mantiveram na zona de conforto térmico. E no que se refere ao conforto luminoso, embora os valores de iluminância nos edifícios certificados verdes tenham se mostrado mais expressivo, ambas as tipologias se adequaram as normas vigentes. / This thesis is a comparative study on indoor environmental quality and user satisfaction in green buildings and conventional counterparts.The green buildings´ sample (green certified buildings) was stratified to São Paulo bank branches located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, certified by green certification LEED NC - conventional and similar agencies - whose operating period was more than a year - minimum interval required by post-occupancy evaluation method adopted in this work.Surveys were conducted in selected buildings and applied closed semi-enclosed and questionnaires with questions directed to the satisfaction and comfort of users - employees and customers - as well as environmental comfort measurements in loco (temperature, humidity, illuminance and noise level). Statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained by the questionnaires and environmental comfort studies - measurements also compared to standards and recommendations. Based on the results, thefounds indicates that green certified buildings employees are more satisfied with the company and consider the indoor environmental quality superior to their conventional counterparts\' buildings; and that customers do not perceive differences between the buildings.Regarding physical evaluation, high noise levels observed in all buildings, without distinction, was above the current standards. As for the thermal comfort air conditioning system kept higher temperature homogeneity in the green certificates buildings, but also conventional buildings have remained in the thermal comfort zone. In addition, when it comes to lighting comfort, although the illuminance values in green certified buildings have been more expressive, both types are suited to local regulations.

\"Tetos verdes\", ou a colocação de vegetação sobre coberturas de edifícios, têm se mostrado importantes ferramentas na mitigação de diversos problemas ambientais urbanos. Porém, seus benefícios coletivos apenas se tornam significativos após sua instalação em massa, sendo uma estratégia ambiental altamente dependente do agente privado -- os proprietários. Neste trabalho, buscou-se uma abordagem interdisciplinar com a Economia Ambiental e Comportamental, de modo a revelar os mecanismos de tomada de decisão dos indivíduos, tanto motivações econômicas (como sanções e subsídios), quanto motivações ditas \"irracionais\", como a imitação de comportamento. Depois, reconhecendo os tetos verdes como soluções polivalentes, faz-se uma abordagem múltipla para seu encaixe em políticas públicas existentes: clima urbano, economia de energia, poluição atmosférica, gerenciamento de águas pluviais e biodiversidade, cada uma envolvendo uma breve descrição da teoria e de políticas públicas existentes, desde o contexto mundial até o município de São Paulo. Como estudo de caso, aplica-se o índice ambiental alemão BFF (Biotopflächenfaktor, fator de superfícies ecológicas) a algumas tipologias marcantes de São Paulo, e conclui-se que o índice pode ser importante ferramenta na fomentação não só de tetos verdes, como de outras soluções ambientais de natureza pulverizada, devido à sua flexibilidade e facilidade de aplicação, podendo ser ajustada à realidade do município para melhores resultados. / The placement of vegetation on top of buildings, or \"green roofs\", has been shown to be an important mitigation tool for several environmental problems in cities. However, their collective benefits become more significant with widespread adoption, thus depending heavily on private agents, the building owners. This research took an interdisciplinary approach, making use of Environmental and Behavioral Economics in order to reveal the mechanisms that guide an individual\'s decision making process, including \"rational\" economic motivations (such as sanctions and subsidies) as well as \"irrational\" motivations, such as imitation of peers. Recognizing green roofs as versatile solutions, a multifaceted approach is taken to assess their suitability for inclusion into existing public policy; the approaches include urban climate, energy efficiency, air pollution, stormwater management, and biodiversity, each with a brief description of the theory and existing public policy, at several scales, from a global context to the Municipality of São Paulo. As a case study, the German environmental index BAF (biotope area factor) is applied to one block in different development typologies in Sao Paulo. It is concluded that the index could be an important tool for fostering not only green roofs, but many other pulverized environmental solutions, thanks to its flexibility and ease of implementation. For even better results, there is the possibility of carefullyadjusting the BAF index to Sao Paulo\'s reality.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-11-30T15:52:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thayza Andretta_.pdf: 30668684 bytes, checksum: f5631632f88dc1d9b9d5fb46c4fe8ac2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-30T15:52:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thayza Andretta_.pdf: 30668684 bytes, checksum: f5631632f88dc1d9b9d5fb46c4fe8ac2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-09 / Nenhuma / A arquitetura é uma área que possui a habilidade de manifestar os pensamentos e desejos do homem no seu habitar. As construções dão significado a vida cotidiana, que abrigam em seu interior a diversidade de relações, construindo vínculos com os usuários. Exercendo esta importância nas relações cotidianas, e atenta as mudanças ambientais, a arquitetura atua em um segmento que consumo cerca de 50% dos recursos dos recursos globais naturais. Neste sentido, os arquitetos vêm buscando aplicar a sustentabilidade em seus projetos, sendo importante que o espaço traduza os conceitos sustentáveis, gerando menos impacto aos seus usuários e ao planeta. Dentre os vários tipos de espaços arquitetônicos, esta pesquisa se concentra nos pontos de venda (PDV). Dentro deste contexto, as organizações têm buscado um novo posicionamento de mercado, migrando para táticas de ambientação do PDV e fidelização através do seu ambiente construído e, em muitos casos, já demonstrando sua preocupação com a sustentabilidade. Neste sentido, o problema desta pesquisa é: como o projeto de arquitetura sustentável estimula e favorece a experiência do usuário nos PDVs? Sendo assim, este trabalho buscou em disciplinas adjacentes a arquitetura aproximação com o tema experiência do usuário, bem como temas referentes aos elementos de atmosfera e ambientação de loja, design experiencial, espaço arquitetônico e comercial num viés da sustentabilidade a fim de gerar indícios do projetar para a experiência. A experiência do usuário pode ser entendida como um episódio subjetivo, em que as emoções e sentidos interligam as informações, que podem tomar forma através do espaço arquitetônico. Assim sendo, este trabalho tem como objetivo, desenvolver diretrizes de projeto de arquitetura com premissas sustentáveis que estimulem a experiência do usuário nos espaços projetados. Esta pesquisa possui o caráter aplicado e igualmente exploratório, pois identifica que as temáticas de experiência do usuário, sustentabilidade e arquitetura ainda são pouco exploradas. O método será dividido em duas etapas, sendo etapa ‘A’ composta por coleta de dados através de entrevistas com experts em arquitetura sustentável e estudo de caso. Como critério de escolha deu-se por PDV que possui o discurso sustentável como diferencial de mercado. Um segundo critério de escolha determinou que este caso tivesse ter obtido reconhecimento das suas práticas sustentáveis. A etapa ‘B’ se concentrou na construção de indícios de como a arquitetura sustentável pode contribuir para a experiência do usuário. Chegando-se a construção de 15 indícios principais, tais como: espaço arquitetônico-teatral (tematização); iluminação; mobiliários e expositores; fluxos e percursos e flexibilidade do espaço entre outros, baseados na revisão da literatura, entrevistas com experts e estudo de caso. Diante disso, percebeu-se que as decisões de projeto que objetivem a experiência ainda são tomadas de forma empírica pelos projetistas, e que o termo ‘experiência do usuário’ ainda é emergente e não se encontra consolidado como tal na área. Pesquisas futuras poderiam concentrar esforços em desdobramentos dentro do modelo da web experience a fim de tangibilizar elementos que permitam aos projetistas bases para suas decisões. / Architecture is a field which has the ability to portray the thoughts and wishes of mankind in their habitation. Constructions give everyday life meaning, they hold in its interior the diversity of relationships, making bonds with its users. Playing such an important role in everyday relationships, and minding environmental changes, architecture functions in a segment which consumes around 50% of global natural resources. In this sense, architects have been seeking to apply sustainability in their projects, being important that the space translate sustainable concepts, causing less impact on its users and the planet. Among several types of architectural spaces, this research focuses on points of sale (POS). In this context, organizations have been looking for a new market positioning, shifting to ambience tactics of the POS and customer loyalty through the space built and, in many cases, already expressing concern with sustainability. In this sense, the problem of this research is: how does the sustainable architectural project stimulate and favour the POS user experience? Therefore, this paper turned to adjacent disciplines to architecture for an approximation of the user experience topics, as well as themes regarding store environment and ambience, experiential design, architectural and business space and businesses with a bias towards sustainability in order to trigger indicators of projecting for experience. User experience can be understood as a subjective episode, in which emotions and feelings intertwine information, which can take shape through architectural space. Thus, this paper aims to develop architectural project guidelines with sustainable premises that stimulate user experience in projected spaces. This research has applied and equally exploratory character, for it finds user experience, architectural and sustainability themes still little explored. The method will be divided in two stages, being ‘A’ consisting in data collection via interview with experts on sustainable architecture and case study. Choice criteria focused on POS which had sustainable discourse as differentiation. A second criterion for choice determined that this case needed to have been recognized for its sustainable practices. Stage ‘B’ focused on building indicators of how sustainable architecture can contribute to user experience. In light of this, it has been discerned that project decisions which are meant for experience are still taken empirically by designers, and the term ‘user experience’ is still incipient and not established as such in the field. Future research could concentrate efforts on unfoldings within the web experience model in order to make tangible elements which allow designers grounds for their decisions.

Esta tese consiste em um estudo comparativo sobre qualidade ambiental interna e satisfação dos usuários de greenbuildings e similares convencionais. A amostra de greenbuildings (edifícios certificados verdes) foi estratificada para agências bancárias paulistas, localizadas na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, certificadas pelo selo verde LEED NC - e agências similares convencionais - cujo período de funcionamento fosse superior a um ano - intervalo mínimo requerido pelo método de avaliação pós-ocupação, adotado neste trabalho.Foram realizados levantamentos nos edifícios escolhidos, bem como aplicados questionários fechados e semifechados com perguntas direcionadas à satisfação e ao conforto dos usuários - funcionários e clientes - bem como medições de conforto ambiental inloco (temperatura, umidade, iluminância e nível de ruído). Foi efetuada análise estatística nos dados obtidos posteriormente a aplicação dos questionários e dos estudos de conforto ambiental, sendo estas medições comparadas também às normas e recomendações vigentes. Com base nos resultados, concluiu-se que os funcionários dos edifícios certificados verdes se sentem mais satisfeitos com a empresa e consideram a qualidade ambiental interna superior aos seus edifícios similares convencionais; e que os clientes não percebem diferenças entre as edificações. Em relação à avaliação física, foram constatados elevados níveis de ruído em todos os edifícios estudados, indistintamente, acima das normas vigentes. Quanto ao conforto térmico, o sistema de condicionamento de ar manteve maior homogeneidade de temperatura nos edifícios certificados verdes, contudo os edifícios convencionais também se mantiveram na zona de conforto térmico. E no que se refere ao conforto luminoso, embora os valores de iluminância nos edifícios certificados verdes tenham se mostrado mais expressivo, ambas as tipologias se adequaram as normas vigentes. / This thesis is a comparative study on indoor environmental quality and user satisfaction in green buildings and conventional counterparts.The green buildings´ sample (green certified buildings) was stratified to São Paulo bank branches located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, certified by green certification LEED NC - conventional and similar agencies - whose operating period was more than a year - minimum interval required by post-occupancy evaluation method adopted in this work.Surveys were conducted in selected buildings and applied closed semi-enclosed and questionnaires with questions directed to the satisfaction and comfort of users - employees and customers - as well as environmental comfort measurements in loco (temperature, humidity, illuminance and noise level). Statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained by the questionnaires and environmental comfort studies - measurements also compared to standards and recommendations. Based on the results, thefounds indicates that green certified buildings employees are more satisfied with the company and consider the indoor environmental quality superior to their conventional counterparts\' buildings; and that customers do not perceive differences between the buildings.Regarding physical evaluation, high noise levels observed in all buildings, without distinction, was above the current standards. As for the thermal comfort air conditioning system kept higher temperature homogeneity in the green certificates buildings, but also conventional buildings have remained in the thermal comfort zone. In addition, when it comes to lighting comfort, although the illuminance values in green certified buildings have been more expressive, both types are suited to local regulations.

No description available.

As the architecture and construction industry places an increased emphasis on sustainability, building researchers are seeking more comprehensive methods to evaluate and reduce a building's environmental impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as one of the most capable tools to aid in this assessment. Presently there are no guiding principles for the use of LCA in the building industry. This thesis aims to provide guidelines to help architects utilize LCA methodology as part of the design process. This study reviews a number of previously-completed whole-building LCA case-studies to understand different LCA scenarios of use in the building industry. In addition, a set of North American and international LCA tools were evaluated for their utility in different scenarios. The state of research was assessed to find answers to some critical issues concerning LCA. Based on these analyses, a number of scenarios of use of LCA were identified and a set of guidelines was proposed to conduct LCA for buildings. It was concluded that the present use of LCA is limited due to limited tool capabilities, deficient databases and lack of a building-specific methodology. The study recognizes these limitations and recommends specific research opportunities for future researchers. However, it is concluded that approximate LCA results obtained from the tools available today can be useful in informing design-decisions, keeping in mind the lack of precision in the results.

As more owners seek to develop sustainable buildings, the construction industry is adapting to new requirements in order to meet owner's concerns. Material selection has been identified as an area where designers and contractors can have a significant impact on the sustainable performance of a building. Objective factors such as design considerations and cost constraints can play a role in the selection of materials. However, there may be subjective factors that could also impact the selection of materials. Building upon the potential impact of sustainability perceptions in an optimization model that can be used to help decision makers to select materials, this study defines and tests an instrument to identify and measure such perceptions. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a conceptual instrument that measures the user-based assessment of product sustainability and validates decision-maker's perceptions in order to evaluate the contribution of subjective characteristics in materials selection. A survey of design and construction students and practitioners is carried out to capture the subjective factors included in the instrument. A Factor Analysis approach is used to refine and validate the measurement instrument and predict decision-makers' sustainability appraisal due to the factors considered.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Architectural Technology)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2013. / The aim of this study was to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of a Green Star SA certified office building in order to determine to what extent this building performs in terms of the Internal Environmental Quality (IEQ) from the perspective of the occupants as well as the effect of POE on the occupants' health and productivity. The objectives were to measure employees' satisfaction with the IEQ in a green building; to determine whether the health of the occupants is satisfactory in a green building; and to determine whether the health of the employees and their perceived productivity are influenced by IEQ in a green building.