Atefe Makhmalbaf

Toward automated generation of parametric BIMs based on hybrid video and laser scanning data

Only very few constructed facilities today have a complete record of as-built information. Despite the growing use of Building Information Modelling and the improvement in as-built records, several more years will be required before guidelines that require as-built data modelling will be implemented for the majority of constructed facilities, and this will still not address the stock of existing buildings. A technical solution for scanning buildings and compiling Building Information Models is needed. However, this is a multidisciplinary problem, requiring expertise in scanning, computer vision and videogrammetry, machine learning, and parametric object modelling. This paper outlines the technical approach proposed by a consortium of researchers that has gathered to tackle the ambitious goal of automating as-built modelling as far as possible. The top level framework of the proposed solution is presented, and each process, input and output is explained, along with the steps needed to validate them. Preliminary experiments on the earlier stages (i.e. processes) of the framework proposed are conducted and results are shown; the work toward implementation of the remainder is ongoing.

2D Vision Tracking Methods’ Performance Comparison for 3D Tracking of Construction Resources

In construction sites, tracking personnel, equipment, and materials is necessary in many applications such as asset management and progress monitoring. Vision tracking as a tracking technique has two unique capabilities which make it ideal for tracking on large scale, congested construction sites; tracking from a distance and tracking multiple elements from a single camera. 2D tracking results can be obtained through each camera and the 3D positions can be calculated by calibrating multiple cameras. 2D vision tracking methods vary and each method has unique capabilities, but little is known about the appropriateness of each method for tracking construction resources. This paper presents an evaluation of these methods that aims to identify the one most suitable for 3D tracking in construction sites. To satisfy this goal, 2D tracking methods are categorized, metrics are identified and performance of two categories of methods is evaluated based on these metrics. This evaluation has been used to find some preliminary results that can ultimately help with selection of the most suitable category of 2D vision tracking methods for construction applications.

Development of building energy asset rating using stock modelling in the USA

The US Building Energy Asset Score helps building stakeholders quickly gain insight into the efficiency of building systems (envelope, electrical and mechanical systems). A robust, easy-to-understand 10-point scoring system was developed to facilitate an unbiased comparison of similar building types across the country. The Asset Score does not rely on a database or specific building baselines to establish a rating. Rather, distributions of energy use intensity (EUI) for various building use types were constructed using Latin hypercube sampling and converted to a series of stepped linear scales to score buildings. A score is calculated based on the modelled source EUI after adjusting for climate. A web-based scoring tool, which incorporates an analytical engine and a simulation engine, was developed to standardize energy modelling and reduce implementation cost. This paper discusses the methodology used to perform several hundred thousand building simulation runs and develop the scoring scales.

Extend EnergyPlus to Support Evaluation, Design, and Operation of Low Energy Buildings

During FY10-11, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in collaboration with the EnergyPlus development team implemented the following high priority enhancements to support the simulation of high performance buildings: (1) Improve Autosizing of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Components; (2) Life-Cycle Costing to Evaluate Energy Efficiency Upgrades; (3) Develop New Model to Capture Transformer Losses; (4) Enhance the Model for Electric Battery Storage; and (5) Develop New Model for Chiller-Tower Optimization. This report summarizes the technical background, new feature development and implementation details, and testing and validation process for these enhancements. The autosizing, life-cycle costing and transformer model enhancements/developments were included in EnergyPlus release Version 6.0, and the electric battery model development will be included in Version 7.0. The model development of chiller-tower optimization will be included in a later version (after Version 7.0).

Transactive Systems Simulation and Valuation Platform Trial Analysis

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A Runtime Verification Framework for Control System Simulation

In a standard workflow for the validation of a control system, the control system is implemented as an extension to a simulator. Such simulators are complex software systems, and engineers may unknowingly violate constraints a simulator places on extensions. As such, errors may be introduced in the implementation of either the control system or the simulator leading to invalid simulation results. This paper presents a novel runtime verification approach for verifying control system implementations within simulators. The major contribution of the approach is the two-tier specification process. In the first tier, engineers model constraints using a domain-specific language tailored to modeling a controllers response to changes in its input. The language is high-level and effectively hides the implementation details of the simulator, allowing engineers to specify design-level constraints independent of low-level simulator interfaces. In the second tier, simulator developers provide mapping rules for mapping design-level constraints to the implementation of the simulator. Using the rules, an automated tool transforms the design-level specifications into simulator-specific runtime verification specifications and generates monitoring code which is injected into the implementation of the simulator. During simulation, these monitors observe the input and output variables of the control system and report changes to the verifier. The verifier checks whether these changes follow the constraints of the control system. We describe application of this approach to the verification of the constraints of an HVAC control system implemented with the power grid simulator Grid LAB-D.

Preliminary Feasibility Assessment of Integrating CCHP with NW Food Processing Plant #1: Modeling Documentation

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has launched a project funded by the Bonneville Power Association (BPA) to identify strategies for increasing industrial energy efficiency and reducing energy costs of Northwest Food Processors Association (NWFPA) plants through deployment of novel combinations and designs of variable-output combined heat and power (CHP) distributed generation (DG), combined cooling, heating and electric power (CCHP) DG and energy storage systems. Detailed evaluations and recommendations of CHP and CCHP DG systems will be performed for several Northwest (NW) food processing sites. The objective is to reduce the overall energy use intensity of NW food processors by 25% by 2020 and by 50% by 2030, as well as reducing emissions and understanding potential congestion reduction impacts on the transmission system in the Pacific Northwest.