Georg Reichard

Object Model Framework for Interface Modeling and IT-Oriented Interface Management

The intense complexity of interfaces in a construction project makes information technology (IT) applications a must for effective interface management (IM). This largely requires a unified, accurate, and efficient way of modeling interface information. Conventionally, interfaces are simply modeled as dependencies/relationships between project entities; various interface information is loosely presented in different ways, which reduces the accuracy and completeness of interface information as well as the efficiency in information exchange and application. This paper introduces an object view of interfaces and its inherent interface object modeling technique, and then presents an interface object model (IOM) framework. The IOM is the first in the literature that aims to systematically define the data structure and dependencies of interface information for modeling. It is at the core of a conceptually proposed systematic model-based IM strategy. When fully developed, the IOM can be used to accurately model ...

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Energy consumption in the United States’ residential sector has been marked by a steady growth over the past few decades, in spite of the implementation of several energy efficiency policies. To develop effective energy policies for the residential sector, it is of utmost importance to study the various factors affecting residential energy consumption. Earlier studies have identified and classified various individual factors responsible for the increment in household energy consumption, and have also analyzed the effect of socio-economic factors such as standard-of-living and income on overall household energy consumption. This research study identifies the socio-economic factors affecting household energy consumption. Potential reasons for the variation in residential energy efficiency consumption have been investigated in previous studies that only represent viewpoints of investigators analyzing specific problems. Additionally, a comprehensive review of literature failed to reveal existing research that had systematically explored the interdependencies among the various factors that could possibly affect residential energy consumption to give an overall perspective of these factors. Widely used academic and scholarly scientific databases were employed by two independent investigators to search for original research investigations. A total of more than 200 research studies were found by the investigators, with almost ninety percent agreement between the two investigators. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this research study the authors systematically reviewed 51 prominent research studies to create a comprehensive list of factors affecting residential energy consumption. The results are discussed in this review.Copyright

Experimental Characterization of the Vibro-Acoustic Response of a Simple Residential Structure to a Simulated

Experiments performed to validate a model used to predict the transmission of weak sonic booms into a residential building are discussed in detail. The experimental effort encompassed the construction of a simple structure that retains the essential characteristics of a residential building, the instrumentation of this structure, and the production of a realistic simulated sonic boom with the use of detonating cord. Vibro-acoustic data were collected using the simulated sonic boom as excitation. The sonic boom transmission mechanism was identified by analyses of the structural and interior acoustic cavity responses in conjunction with data from modal tests. These results are presented and discussed in detail.

A Comparison of Focus and Effectiveness of European Versus U.S. Energy Efficiency Programs for Buildings

The authors present a comparative study on effectiveness of energy policies for the building sector that are presently implemented in selected countries in Europe versus selected states in the U.S. Socio-economic factors affecting energy consumption on both sides of the Atlantic are identified from a human behavior perspective. Various identified factors known to affect energy efficiency and consumption have been positioned in diagrams based on four primary directions: lifestyle, economy, environment, and technology. In a second step various programs and incentives are positioned in the same diagram to demonstrate how well these strategies address the factors identified before. This is done for selected countries and continents in sub-diagrams to allow a comparison of effectiveness and provide a tool for predicting the effectiveness of a possible policy or program transfer to other nations. The research conducted so far suggests that energy efficiency policies and measures implemented in the United States do not always target the factors that have been identified to most significantly influence energy consumption. The results indicate that there might be a significant gap between parameters that are guiding factors affecting energy consumption, and parameters targeting a proper implementation of energy efficient policies. The authors strive to provide a tool that will help policy makers and other decision makers to evaluate and compare their incentives and programs against those from other countries and benefit from lessons learned by mapping various policies towards specific efficiency parameters.Copyright

Identification of elements to control and regulate residential energy consumption

Residential energy consumption in the USA has been marked by a steady growth over the past decades in spite of the implementation of various energy efficiency policies. To develop effective energy efficiency policies for the residential sector, it is important to understand the causal factors and their effects on residential energy consumption. There is a dearth of literature on plausible ways to modify and manipulate factors that influence residential energy consumption. This paper builds on previous study by the authors that identified a list of factors affecting residential energy consumption and grouped them under four major categories, such as demographics, consumer attitude, economy, and climate. The study analyzed the correlates of each of the energy consumption factors and an ecological framework of residential energy consumption was created using fishbone diagram method. Subsequently, the “affinity diagram” technique was adopted to generate energy efficiency control elements from the energy consumption factors. Findings of the paper shed light on how the identified control elements govern energy consumption factors to a great extent. These control elements will assist policy-makers in ameliorating and targeting the most critical factors that will help to curb the increasing energy consumption of the residential sector in the USA.

Collaborative Authoring for On-Line Construction Curricula

This work is part of a regional initiative to build training and employment services into a career pathways system for the green building industry sector, with a particular focus on construction and retrofitting towards more energy-efficient buildings, and installation of alternative energy systems. It addressed the challenges of collecting and disseminating relevant information for innovative technologies and sustainability in a format that supports systems integration. The research team developed a collaborative content authoring and dissemination portal as part of an U.S. Department of Labor Energy Training Partnership grant with participation from Virginia Tech, regional community colleges, certification training institutions, and other industry stakeholders. The paper discusses the process of collaborative content collection and authorship, the potential of open-source software for content management, the development and implementation of envisioned concepts into a single online portal, and the feedback processes through multiple channels from various program participants. While comparing the resulting software implementation with the initial project goals, this paper provides recommendations on how to sustain an online project and the currentness of its content. Further work will examine the adaptability of the educational collaboration portal to address specific pedagogical formats, language barriers, and interoperability with recognized software formats. BACKGROUND With the flatter world economy and global environmental issues, the construction industry is experiencing rapid change on three major fronts: innovative technologies, sustainability, and integrated building systems. Once driven by highly localized material supply and design strategies, construction is now rapidly transformed by the globalization of innovative products, standards, and technologies, which are actively disseminated by an increasingly international ownership of construction companies (Lee et al. 2011). At the same time, the built environment is faced with a higher level of expectations to address the industry’s share of global energy challenges and consumer demand for comfort, indoor air quality, and energy management. As a result, the field of building design, construction, and operation has

Vibro‐acoustic response of a simplified residential structure exposed to sonic booms. Part I: Numerical model.

This paper presents a numerical model to predict the vibro‐acoustic responses of simplified residential structures exposed to sonic booms. The model is validated experimentally in a companion paper. The dynamics of the fluid‐structure system, including their interaction, is computed in the time domain using a modal‐decomposition approach. In the dynamic equations of the system, the structural displacement is expressed in terms of summations over the in vacuo modes of vibration. The pressures inside the interior volumes are expressed as summations over the acoustic modes of rooms with perfectly reflecting surfaces. The structural modes are computed numerically using the finite element method. A shell element was specifically derived to model the structural components of typical residential buildings, e.g., plaster‐wood walls, windows, and doors. The acoustic modes are computed for rectangular geometries using analytical expressions. Using modal decomposition, the dynamics of the fluid‐structure system may ...

Output‐only modal testing of simple residential structures and acoustic cavities using the response to simulated sonic booms and ambient excitation.

Structural modal properties of single‐room and two‐room rectangular structures built with typical residential construction are extracted using only the vibration responses to (1) a sonic boom simulated with a linear distribution of detonating cord and (2) ambient excitation. Then, the acoustic modal properties of the cavities enclosed by the residential structures are extracted using the pressure responses to the same two types of excitation. The technique involves cross‐correlating the responses measured at many points to the responses at a few different reference points on the structure or in the cavity. This allows for the calculation of impulse responses at many points around the structure or cavity due to excitation at the reference points. Structural natural frequencies, modal damping ratios, and mode shapes obtained from the output‐only analyses are presented and compared to the results from conventional impact hammer modal testing and from a finite element model, demonstrating good agreement. Acoustic natural frequencies and modal damping ratios extracted in the output‐only analyses are presented and compared with room pressure spectra measurements made with speaker noise excitation and analytically calculated results for the single room and the two room configurations, also showing good agreement between analyses. [Work supported by NASA Langley.]

Vibro‐acoustic response of a simplified residential structure exposed to sonic booms. Part II: Experimental validation.

In a companion paper, a model was derived to predict the vibro‐acoustic responses of simplified residential structures exposed to sonic booms. In the present paper, the experimental validation of the numerical model is presented. First, the experimental setup is described, including the structure, instrumentation, and external pressure loading. The structure was a single room made of plaster‐wood walls and includes two double‐panel windows and a door. The structure was extensively instrumented with accelerometers and microphones to record its vibro‐acoustic response. Sonic booms with realistic amplitudes and durations were generated by an explosive technique. Subsequently, numerical predictions on the vibration of the structure and pressures inside the room are compared to experimental data, showing a fairly good agreement overall.