This research constructs the virtual environment of a multi-floor building and provides some navigation assistance to enhance the navigation experience of users in the virtual environment. Based on the 2D architectural floor plans and photographs of Engineering and Information Technology Complex (EITC), a virtual environment of the multi-floor building is created using visualization modeling. Geometric modeling, texture mapping, and lighting procedures are employed to increase the visual effect. Two navigation assistance functions, walking through and optimal path navigation guiding tour, developed in the virtual environment helps users navigating in the virtual environment. Walking through allows users to navigate freely to obtain the spatial and geographical information of the virtual environment. Optimal path navigation guiding tour function leads users moving from a specified start position to the destination position along the optimal path. An improved shortest path algorithm is used for calculating the optimal path.

This research constructs the virtual environment of a multi-floor building and provides some navigation assistance to enhance the navigation experience of users in the virtual environment. Based on the 2D architectural floor plans and photographs of Engineering and Information Technology Complex (EITC), a virtual environment of the multi-floor building is created using visualization modeling. Geometric modeling, texture mapping, and lighting procedures are employed to increase the visual effect. Two navigation assistance functions, walking through and optimal path navigation guiding tour, developed in the virtual environment helps users navigating in the virtual environment. Walking through allows users to navigate freely to obtain the spatial and geographical information of the virtual environment. Optimal path navigation guiding tour function leads users moving from a specified start position to the destination position along the optimal path. An improved shortest path algorithm is used for calculating the optimal path.

Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is currently used more and more within construction design and planning as well as construction as a streamlining tool aiming to improve communication and decrease the number of construction defects. VDC is constantly developing, but what comes next? The augmented reality (AR) technology is currently not used within construction in Sweden but should be considered as the next step in line regarding the integration of reality and digital information. Using this technology design can become reality even before it’s actually built. The purpose of this study has been to carry out an inventory of the existing AR technology and its shortcomings, and also to identify possible applications within the construction phase. VDC has also been investigated in order to identify the weaknesses in this technology and an assessment has been made as to how these can be eliminated and hence how VDC can be improved. Based on that this thesis has been carried out with the following main question: How can augmented reality be implemented in the construction industry and how can it become integrated with VDC in order to achieve a streamlining effect in construction? The theoretical background is based on a literature study where information about augmented reality has been collected from technical reports from all over the world. A study of the technology behind augmented reality and its possible areas of application as well as a description of the future possibilities and ongoing research has been made. VDC has only briefly been examined in the literature study. Interviews with construction staff and experts within AR and VDC have been conducted in order to obtain a basis for an analysis of the current situation. Based on these interviews gains and shortcomings of the VDC technology have been identified, and requests for the AR technology’s future applications have been plotted. The result of the literature study is that a positioning technique that is more accurate and more robust than the ones on the market today needs to be developed in order for the AR-technology to work properly. There are a number of beneficial areas of application for AR in construction given that the previously mentioned problem is overcome. VDC in construction brings substantial benefits in terms of financial and time savings. It serves the communication between design and construction. AR will be easier to use for marketing purposes and early stages of projects than in construction. As for VDC more focus needs to be put on the implementation of the technology to a broader crowd rather than developing the technology further in a small group of experts. In order for augmented reality to be implemented in the construction industry VDC and its support need to be further developed towards construction before yet another technology is introduced. Augmented reality will not solve the shortcomings of VDC today. / I dagsläget används Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) mer och mer inom byggprojektering såväl som inom byggproduktion som ett effektiviserande arbetssätt för att förbättra kommunikation och minska byggnadsfel. VDC är under ständig utveckling, men vad kommer efter denna? Förstärkt verklighet (AR, eng. Augmented Reality) används i dagsläget inte i byggproduktion i Sverige men ses som nästa steg i ledet av integrering av verklighet och digital information. Med hjälp av denna teknik kan projektering bli verklighet innan det är byggt. Syftet med denna studie har varit att inventera existerande AR-teknik, dess brister samt att kartlägga möjliga användningsområden inom byggproduktion. VDC har även undersökts för att identifiera denna tekniks svagheter och en bedömning av hur dessa kan avhjälpas och VDC förbättras har gjorts. Utifrån detta har arbetet utförts utifrån följande huvudfrågeställning; Hur kan AR-teknik implementeras i byggbranschen och hur kan den integreras med VDC för att uppnå en effektivisering i byggproduktionen? Teoribakgrunden bygger på en litteraturstudie där information om AR-teknik från tekniska rapporter inhämtats. En studie av tekniken bakom Augmented Reality och dess möjliga tillämpningsområden inom byggproduktion har gjorts, samtidigt som framtida möjligheter och pågående forskning har beskrivits. VDC har endast undersökts flyktigt i litteraturstudien. Intervjuer har genomförts med produktionspersonal och sakkunniga inom VDC och AR för att erhålla underlag för en nulägesanalys. Utifrån intervjuerna har nytta och brister med VDC-tekniken kunnat utrönas, samtidigt som önskemål på AR-teknikens framtida tillämpning har kunnat kartläggas. Resultatet av litteraturstudien är att en positioneringsteknik som är noggrannare och mer robust än de som finns idag måste utvecklas för att AR-tekniken ska fungera i syftet. Det finns ett flertal fördelaktiga tillämpningsområden för AR i byggproduktion förutsatt att ovanstående problem övervinns. VDC i produktion innebär stora fördelar i form av ekonomiska och tidsmässiga besparingar. Det främjar kommunikationen mellan projektering och produktion. AR kommer att vara lättare att använda i marknadsföringssyfte och i tidiga skeden än i produktion. Vad gäller VDC behöver mer fokus läggas på att implementera tekniken till den stora massan istället för att utveckla tekniken ytterligare i en liten expertgrupp. För att AR-tekniken ska kunna implementeras i byggbranschen bör VDC-tekniken och dess stöd först utvecklas fullt ut mot produktion innan ytterligare en teknik introduceras då denna inte kommer att åtgärda de brister med VDC som finns idag.

Byggsektorn har brottats med flertal problem såsom låg produktivitet, kvalitetsbrister och höga byggkostnader. På senare tid har företag börjat satsat på nya arbetssätt som med hjälp av tekniken gör det möjligt att minska dessa problem. Ett arbetssätt som ska minska dessa problem är VDC, Virtual Design and Construction. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka ifall VDC gynnar produktionen samt vilka hinder man kan stöta på inom VDC. Undersökningen kommer utföras med hjälp av litteraturstudier och via intervjuer med personer av relevant utbildning eller som är arbetsförande på marknaden. För att undvika fall av fel information kommer undersökningen att kompletteras med litteraturstudier av böcker, artiklar, rapporter samt företagssidor. VDC är ett arbetssätt som bland annat går ut på att alla parter arbetar ständigt med varandra under byggprocessen. VDC i produktionen förbättrar bland annat kommunikationen, slutprodukten och arbetsplatsen i form av bättre kvalite och arbetsmiljö. Hinder som kan förekomma i produktionen är att den äldre generationen inte är redo för en sådan avancerad teknik. Med en kortare utbildning och uppmuntran så bör alla yrkesarbetare kunna hantera en 3D-modell. Undersökningar visar att impementering av VDC i produktionen skulle ge positiva framgångar. Yrkesarbetarna skulle bli mer delaktiga och få en större förståelse för projektet, vilket ger bland annat en förbättrad slutprodukt. / The construction sector has struggled with some problems such as low productivity, lack of quality and high construction costs. Recently, companies have started investing in new ways of working, that with the help of the technology and make it possible to reduce these problems. One way to reduce these problems is through VDC, Virtual Design and Construction. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether VDC support production in a positive way and what type of blocks you can bump into using VDC. Literature studies and interview studies will be conducted with experts in order to answer the purpose of this study. This report is limited to production. In order for the information not to be incorrect, we have chosen to do literature studies on books, articles, reports and company pages. VDC is a working method where all the parties work continuosly with each other during the process. VDC in production improves communication, workplace, end product and more. Obstacles that may occur in production are that the older generation is not ready for such advanced technology. With a shorter education and encouragement, all workers should be able to handle a 3D model. Studies show that VDC impregnation in production would produce positive results. The skilled workers would be more involved and gain a greater understanding of the project, which among other things provides an improved end product.

Im Rahmen eines Dissertationsvorhabens am Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin wurde die „Entwicklung beruflicher Handlungskompetenz in der gärtnerischen Berufsausbildung durch die Anwendung des Lernfeldkonzepts“ untersucht und in einem pädagogischen Unterrichtsexperiment an gartenbaulichen Berufsschulen in sechs Bundesländern durchgeführt. Damit eine durchgängige Kompetenz- und Outcome-Orientierung Berücksichtigung finden kann, erweiterte der Autor die Untersuchung zur Kompetenzentwicklung um die Aspekte Kompetenzmessung und Kompetenzbewertung. Basierend auf einer Arbeitsprozessanalyse zum Ausbildungsberuf Gärtner der Fachrichtung Garten- und Landschaftsbau wurden im Dialog mit dem Berufsstand Kriterien und Indikatoren beruflicher Handlungskompetenz von Landschaftsgärtnern definiert sowie berufliche Handlungsfelder (Tätigkeitsfelder) gebildet, aus denen Lernfelder abgeleitet und ein lernfeldstrukturierten Rahmenlehrplan für den berufsbezogenen Unterricht der Berufsschule konzipiert werden konnte. So war es möglich, handlungs- und kompetenzorientierte Lernaufgaben für den Berufsschulunterricht zu entwickeln, die sich an berufstypischen Arbeitssituationen orientieren. Durch die Bearbeitung dieser Lernaufgaben wurden bei den Versuchspersonen didaktisch begründete Lernhandlungen ausgelöst und angestrebte Kompetenzen entwickelt, die mittels eines standardisierten Bewertungsbogens durch Beobachtung (Fremdeinschätzung) und Befragung (Selbsteinschätzung) gemessen werden konnten. Die Bewertung ausgeprägter Kompetenzen erfolgte durch den Einsatz eines outcome-orientierten Abschlusstests „Virtuelle Kleinbaustelle“. Diese schriftliche Mehrfach-Situations-Aufgabe wurde nach Maßgabe eines systematischen Bewertungsrahmens unter Berücksichtigung der Anschlussfähigkeit an DQR und EQR ausgewertet, sodass auf den Erwerb beruflicher Handlungskompetenz in der Ausbildung zum Landschaftsgärtner geschlossen werden kann. / Within a PhD project at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin the “development of vocational action competencies regarding the training of gardeners based on the application of the concept of domains of learning” was studied in a teaching experiment at six horticultural vocational schools in six German states. To allow for a consistent focus on competencies and outcome, aspects of competencies measurement and competencies evaluation were included in the study of competency development. Based on an analysis of work processes in occupational training of landscape gardeners, criteria and indicators of vocational action competencies in this field were defined in collaboration with the gardening profession; furthermore, vocational fields of activities were developed. On their basis “domains of learning” (“Lernfelder”) could be derived and accordingly a framework curriculum could be developed for vocational lessons at vocational schools. In this manner it was possible to develop activity- and competence oriented learning tasks for lessons at vocational schools. These learning tasks focus on typical work situations in landscape gardening. When the test persons performed these learning tasks, didactically meaningful learning activities were initiated and the test persons developed the desired competencies. These competencies were measured by means of a standardized evaluation form by observation (external evaluation) and questioning (self-evaluation). The evaluation of profound competencies was carried out using an outcome-oriented final examination tool “small virtual building site”. This written multi-situation task was evaluated according to a systematic evaluation frame under consideration of compatibility with GQF and EQF, so that conclusions can be drawn regarding the acquisition of vocational action competencies during the training for landscape gardener.

<p>With rising temperatures, urbanization, population growth, improving economic wellbeing, decarbonization and electrification efforts, the demand for space cooling and heating equipment is continuously increasing around the world. To counteract the effect of rising demand for air conditioners and heat pumps on total energy consumption, peak electricity demand, and emissions, it is crucial to promote the development and market penetration of energy-efficient systems. Establishing minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), energy labeling and utility programs are some of the effective and tested methods for achieving this goal. The technical basis for these energy efficiency standards is a testing and rating procedure for estimating equipment seasonal performance from laboratory tests. Although the current rating procedures provide standardized metrics to compare different equipment performances, they fail to appropriately characterize the field representative performance of systems by not considering the effects of: 1) test unit embedded controls, thermostat, and realistic interactions with the building load and dynamics; 2) different climate zones and building types; and 3) and other integrated accessories for improving energy efficiency such as economizer for rooftop units (RTUs). Therefore, current approaches for performance ratings neither incentives the development and implementation of improved system and control designs nor consumers with a metric that represents the advanced systems' actual energy savings. To address this, a load-based testing methodology that enables dynamic performance evaluation of equipment with its integrated controls, thermostat, and other accessories was recently proposed. The test methodology is based on the concept of emulating the response of a representative building conditioned by the test unit in a test lab using a virtual building model. </p> <p>In this work, the proposed load-based testing methodology was further extended, evaluated, and validated for residential heat pumps to integrate it into next-generation energy efficiency testing and rating procedures and to serve as a tool for engineers to develop and validate improved control algorithms in a laboratory setting. Further, a load-based testing method for evaluating the dynamic performance of RTUs with integrated economizers was also developed and demonstrated.</p> <p>A load-based testing approach previously developed for residential cooling equipment is extended for heat pump heating-mode and demonstrated for a variable-speed system. The heat pump's typical dynamic behaviors are captured along with controller imperfections that aren't reflected in current testing approaches. Further, a comprehensive comparison was performed between the proposed load-based testing approach to the current steady-state testing approach in the U.S., AHRI 210/240, based on performance evaluation of three residential variable-speed heat pumps to understand the differences and their significance for the next-generation rating procedure. For cooling mode, steady-state testing estimates higher seasonal performance, but for heating mode, the steady-state testing approach estimates higher seasonal performance for warmer climates and is comparable for colder climates. The load-based testing methodology was validated by comparing the laboratory performance of a heat pump to that of a residential building in a controlled environment. The virtual building modeling approach for building loads and thermal dynamics effectively captured these characteristics of the house. The heat pump's cycling rate response with run-time fraction, which represents the unit's overall dynamic response, matched well between lab load-based tests and house tests. The test unit's COP difference for cooling and heating tests was within 3% between the two facilities, except for 9% in 95°F and 6% in 104°F cooling dry-coil test intervals. To evaluate the applicability of the developed load-based testing methodology as next-generation rating standards, its repeatability and reproducibility were assessed based on multiple heat pump round-robin tests conducted in two labs. Overall, reasonable to good repeatability was observed in load-based test results in both labs, however, poor reproducibility was observed except for one heat pump heating mode results. A root cause analysis of the observed differences along with recommendations for a next-generation rating approach are presented. This work aided in the development of a CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard EXP07:19 and its subsequent revision for equipment rating based on load-based testing.</p> <p>The application of the load-based testing methodology as a tool for the development and evaluation of a residential heat pump controller design was demonstrated. Further, a load-based testing methodology was developed and demonstrated for the dynamic performance evaluation of RTUs with integrated economizers in a test laboratory setting. Recommendations for future work to further develop and improve the repeatability, reproducibility, and representativeness of the load-based testing and rating approach for residential and commercial air conditioners and heat pumps are summarized at the end of the dissertation. </p>