Junzo Munemoto

Interactive Evolutionary Computation (IEC) Method of Interior Work (IW) Design for Use by Non-design-professional Chinese Residents

Abstract This paper presents an interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) method for interior design, intended to help non-design-professional Chinese residents conduct interior work (IW) themselves. Seven interior design factors, which are typical of a Chinese apartment living room, primarily color and texture, were selected for adjustment by this IEC method. A material library, coding method, user interface, and different evolutionary processes were developed in this paper. Three experiments were carried out to test this method. It was concluded that the IEC method may facilitate non-design-professional residents determine IW designs for themselves according to their own preferences.

Behavior Concerning Choosing Workstations in Non-territorial Offices

Abstract This paper attempts to clarify how employees choose individual workstations in a non-territorial office, in which they may locate themselves anywhere as they wish. The authors ascertained the preference of employees with regard to the positions of their workstations and the consistency of choosing the same workstations. The results are as follows: for all the investigated employees, there was a tendency to choose workstations that were adjacent to the main corridors and close to the meeting corners. More than 70% of the employees either chose the same workstation every time or nearly every time. In total, 90% of the employees were found to locate in the same or in adjacent areas. Analysis by group showed that while employees in the engineering groups, the renovation design group (Architecture Group 3), and the competition team were inclined to locate in specific areas and use such areas consistently, employees in the other architecture groups were much more open to choosing workstations far away from each other. Further, the analysis showed that leaders were inclined to occupy workstations beside the main corridor in the center of the office while ordinary staff members preferred workstations near the entrance.

Observations on Primary School Children′s Behavior after School by Using the Global Positioning System

Abstract Empirical studies of human behavior have been developed mainly using methods of interview or questionnaire by researchers themselves. These studies have successfully obtained adequate results. To observe the behavior of many subjects at once, for many hours and in a wide area however, an alternative technological method is required. The purpose of the authors′ work is to develop a better objective method based on measurements, observations and experiments to clarify human behavior in urban environments. The purpose of this paper, as a first step, is to show the availability of research methods concerning children′s behavior after school in a suburban city district. The authors asked each primary schooler to wear a compact Global Positioning System receiver after school and to act casually. The collected spatio-temporal data using the Geographical Information System was also analyzed by developing a denoising technique. As a result, the authors clarified the behavior patterns of 35 primary schoolers′ regarding transportation devices, travelling routes, distances, time to arrive home and duration of outdoor activity. In conclusion, the authors showed the validity of a research method concerning the collective subjects′ behavior for a long period and in a wide area based on more reliable data using the Global Positioning System.

Analysis of Behaviors along the Waterside in a Chinese Residential Quarter

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the behaviors of residents along the waterside in a Chinese residential quarter. Based on Hayashis Quantification Theory Type III and Cluster Analysis and information collected through this study, the waterfront spaces are classified into nine types, each of which have unique statistical characteristics concerning behaviors. The results show that the residents tend to wait for companions of their respective defined groups frequently while they are walking along the brook. They rarely play with water in the pond if they are uncertain about the water depth, and also stay longer chatting with friends if they can find vacant benches on the deck along the pond. The residents typically hang around more frequently in waterfront spaces to either play in shallow water, if the weather permits, or enjoy the view of the brook although they may stop for a shorter time on stepping-stones. Scientifically identified human behaviors have shown that they are influenced by these different types of waterfront spaces that are described in detail in this paper.

Household Behavior Selections under CO2 Emission Constraint

Abstract Reducing human–caused CO2 emissions to acceptable levels must become a global objective of our modern society. One way to meet this objective is to introduce a constraint on household annual CO2 emission (HACO2). However, behaviors that reduce CO2 emissions, may appear too expensive, or to worsen living conditions. Although the goal of controlling CO2 emissions is widely accepted, in practice it is not easy to reduce energy consumption. This paper develops a CO2 emission trading scheme (CETS) framework for households based on the definition HACO2. In this study, a city′s CO2 emission is assumed to be the sum of all HACO2. The CO2 constraint for a single household is determined by the city′s total CO2 emission reduction target. Multi–agent simulator is applied to clarify household behavior–selections under such constraint, and to find the effects of total CO2 emission within the urban model. Simulations are performed with CETS (Case 1) and without CETS (Case 2). Results indicate 1) Under a CO2 constraint, agents choose behaviors to meet the HACO2 constraint. Total CO2 emissions within the urban model decrease toward the pre–determined reduction target. 2) The CETS framework for household level is proved not only cost–efficient but also promotes the process of reducing CO2 emissions. 3) An agent that acts for self–benefit will not consider the completeness of the total target. As a result, the reduction target within the urban model is never achieved even with the implementation of CETS.

Invoking Household Cooperation in the Commons Dilemma of CO2 Emission Reduction

Abstract In the modern community, global effort is required to reduce the CO2 emissions resulting from human actions to acceptable levels. However, global objectives may contradict individual benefits; attempts to reduce CO2 emissions can result in the commons dilemma. This paper explores how the cooperation of individual households can be invoked to achieve a global target of reducing CO2 emissions from households (HACO2) in cities. A commons payoff function linked household benefits to the number of cooperators in a city: a CO2 emission trading scheme (CETS) for households was introduced into the payoff function as a way to support cooperators. A multi-agent simulator was applied to a search for relationships among parameters in the payoff function and social cooperation from households (R). Results indicate that levying only household maintenance charges is an ineffective way to gain the cooperation of more than half of the households in a city, and extremely high maintenance also discouraged cooperative behavior; the use of CETS could increase cooperation, and R > 0.6 when emission trading prices were five times higher than unit reduction costs, and when unit maintenance charges were almost the same as reduction costs; and it was impossible to gain cooperation from all households until opinions about resource use and reducing emissions were changed.

Housing Arrangements in Pursuit of Maximum GFA Under CO2 Emission Constraint

abstract This paper attempts to develop a management instrument for housing arrangements under given constraints regarding household annual CO2 emissions (HACO2). HACO2 was defined as the sum of the life cycle CO2 emission from house construction and operation (LCCO2) and the CO2 emission from commuting (CTCO2). Under such an instrument rule, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to find a housing arrangement scheme in pursuit of the maximum average gross floor area (GFA) in an urban area. Simulation tests were performed and compared on three traffic modes: public-mode, self-mode, and mixed-mode. The results indicated that, 1) the closer the house was to the workplace (the nucleus of the city), the larger the GFA would be; 2) different traffic modes might lead to different patterns of housing arrangement; and 3) the self-mode had high-energy demand resulting in the lowest evaluation value, and was the least efficient in obtaining better living conditions under the constraints.

Emergence of a Parallel Layout Arising from Users′ Pursuits of Better Living Conditions of Their Dwelling Units in MRHC with MAS

This paper attempted to present a method to solve site-planning problems of the Multistory Row House Cluster (MRHC) with parallel layout by the Multi-Agent System (MAS). The solutions were generated entirely by the interactions of the agents, who represented the users in pursuit of better living conditions for their dwelling units. Thus, they are analogous to the ″user-oriented″ layout. The standard solution differed from the popular layout in Beijing in that the public Green Land (GL) was separated and located on the southeast and southwest corners of MRHC. Comparing a diversity of layouts, the solution showed the following characteristics: 1) the highest average level of living conditions of dwelling units; 2) the comparatively homogeneous living conditions in dwelling units; and 3) the fewest dwelling units with poorly evaluated living conditions. In addition, this study also examined the relationships between the average living conditions in the solutions and the attributes of the plot, including the plot ratio and aspect ratio.

Relation between People's Evaluations on Living Conditions and Plan Locations of Dwelling Units in MFRHC with Parallel Layout in Beijing

The purpose of this study is to examine and clarify the relation between people′s evaluations on the living conditions and the plan locations of the dwelling units in Multi-Floor Row House Cluster (MFRHC) with the parallel layout. Instead of the on-site survey, four models were used to collect people′s evaluations in the investigation. The evaluation indices included: the Sunlight situations (ES), Views from dwelling units (EV), Privacy (EP), Noise situations (EN), and Comprehensive Evaluation index (CE). The plan locations of the dwelling units were described with four nominal variables indicating the positions in a row house, the relations with the green land, the north-south locations and the east-west locations in MFRHC respectively. The Ordinal Regression models were utilized to make clear the specific relation between the subjective evaluations and the physical variables indicating plan locations. The results were found accordant with the most preferred and the most disliked dwelling units selected by the respondents. The order of the relative contributions of the item indices in CE from high to low is EV, EN, EP and ES.

Research on the Formation Process of a Multi-ethnic Network in Urban Mixed-use District by Ethnic Minorities Living in Mixed-use Buildings, Wanchai, Hong Kong

abstract The function of urban space in multi-ethnic network formation by ethnic minorities in urban mixed-use district, in Wanchai, Hong Kong, was studied in this paper. A hearing survey was conducted in February 2004 to collect the chronology of network development with people in HK, as fundamental analysis. It was found that five urban space components are important for formation of a multi-ethnic network in the mixed-use district. These are (1) Entertainment business (tourism) related - bars, discos, nightclubs, ethnic restaurants; (2) Construction related - architects, engineering firms, interior material retailing showrooms; (3) Public leisure facilities - open public parks, basketball grounds, playgrounds; (4) Public places - streets, market places; (5) Residence - self or others. Sequences of multi-ethnic network formation in these places were analysed in a networked graph, though the representation of ″an ethnic minority gather with acquaintances in one place (X) has his acquaintance network extends and gather in other place (Y)″ by a directional network relationship between sender (X) and receiver (Y). It is found that among these components, (1) and (2) are the major places, which attract ethnic minorities to form multi-ethnic networks in Wanchai. From networks formed in these places, further networks are induced to form in places (3) and (5) and further to (4). A directional relationship of multi-ethnic formation in these places suggests the process of multi-ethnic network formation and extension in the mixed-use district.