Search Results (16)

Given the increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression, this research aims to identify design features that enhance the sense of restoration, with the goal of supporting mental and behavioral healthcare facility design. This study employed both screen-based and virtual reality (VR) stimuli to evaluate the perceived restorativeness of different interior settings. The key variables analyzed included window view access, view content, materiality, and room geometry. Thirty-five undergraduate and graduate students assessed 16 distinct interior environments. Findings indicate that the VR presentations generally produced higher restorativeness scores compared with screen-based presentations, though this effect varied across stimuli. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that larger windows consistently correlated with higher restorativeness scores in both presentation modes. Views of water were rated as most restorative, followed by wooded areas. Natural materials were perceived as significantly more restorative than other materials, particularly in VR presentations. Varied ceiling designs, especially vaulted ceilings, were associated with evaluations of higher restorativeness compared with flat ceiling designs, with this effect more pronounced in VR. This research underscores the potential of VR technology to simulate and assess interior design interventions, offering insights into creating more effective and personalized restorative environments in mental health treatment facilities. The findings can inform evidence-based design strategies for healthcare spaces, supporting treatment processes and patient well-being. Full article

This paper focuses on converting complex 3D maps created by LiDAR and SLAM technology into simple 2D maps to make them easier to understand. While 3D maps provide a lot of useful details for robots and computer programs, they can be difficult to read for humans who are used to flat maps. We developed a new system to clean up these 3D maps and convert them into intuitive and accurate 2D maps. The system uses three steps designed to correct different kinds of errors found in 3D LiDAR scan data: clustering-based denoising, height-based denoising, and Statistical Outlier Removal. In particular, height-based denoising is the method we propose in this paper, an algorithm that leaves only indoor structures such as walls. The paper proposes an algorithm that considers the entire range of the point cloud, rather than just the points near the ceiling, as is the case with existing methods, to make denoising more effective. This makes the final 2D map easy to understand and useful for building planning or emergency preparedness. Our main goal is to map the interior of buildings faster and more effectively, creating 2D drawings that reflect accurate and current information. We want to make it easier to use LiDAR and SLAM data in our daily work and increase productivity. Full article

The indoor geometric dimensions of a building are crucial for acceptance criteria. Traditional manual methods for measuring indoor geometric quality are labor-intensive, time-consuming, error-prone, and yield non-reproducible results. With the advancement of ground-based laser scanning technology, the efficient and precise measurement of geometric dimensions has become achievable. An indoor geometric quality measurement method based on ground-based laser scanning is presented in this paper. Initially, a coordinate transformation algorithm based on selected points was developed for conducting coordinate conversion. Subsequently, the Cube Diagonal-based Denoising algorithm, developed for point cloud denoising, was employed. Following that, architectural components such as walls, ceilings, floors, and openings were identified and extracted based on their spatial relationships. The measurement and visualization of the geometric quality of walls’ flatness, verticality, and opening dimensions were automated using fitting and simulation methods. Lastly, tests and validation were conducted to assess the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method. The experimental results demonstrate that time and human resources can be significantly saved using this method. The accuracy of this method in assessing wall flatness, verticality, and opening dimensions is 77.8%, 88.9%, and 95.9%, respectively. These results indicate that indoor geometric quality can be detected more accurately and efficiently compared to traditional inspection methods using the proposed method. Full article

A light shelf is a type of natural daylight system that brings natural light from the outside into an indoor space through a reflector and a ceiling surface. The introduction of light shelves has led to studies evaluating their efficiency. However, past studies on light shelves did not consider the diversity of ceiling types when evaluating their performance. Therefore, this study derives fundamental data involving external light shelf designs by evaluating light shelf performance based on the ceiling type present using a light environment simulation method. This study analyzed the indoor illuminance distribution with Radiance to evaluate the performance according to light shelves and indoor space types. The results derived from this study are as follows: (1) In the case of a flat ceiling, the performance of an external light shelf can be improved by increasing its angle and width. However, adjusting the external light shelf angle to 30° during the middle of the season and 20° in winter is ineffective because natural light is not reflected by the ceiling surface. (2) The performance of a light shelf can be improved by increasing the slope and curvature of the ceiling types specified in this study. However, setting the light shelf angle to 30° during the middle season and to 30° and 20° in winter, when external natural light entering the indoor space is not reflected by the ceiling surface, is ineffective due to the low levels of daylight performance, regardless of the type of space. (3) To increase uniformity levels in gable ceilings and curved ceilings, it is advantageous to increase the number of reflections and diffusion areas on the ceiling’s surface due to the uniqueness of these ceiling shapes. Furthermore, the optimal external light shelf angle for these ceiling types differs from that of other types. (4) Regarding the appropriate external light shelf size according to a particular ceiling type, installing an angle-controllable external light shelf with a width of 1.2 m can improve daylight performance. Full article

To meet climate change goals and respond to increased global urbanisation, the building industry needs to improve both its building technology and its design methods. Constrained urban environments and building stock extensions are challenges for standard timber construction. Co-design promises to better integrate disciplines and processes, promising smaller feedback loops for design iteration and building verification. This article describes the integrated design, fabrication, and construction processes of a timber building prototype as a case study for the application of co-design methods. Emphasis is placed on the development of design and engineering methods, fabrication and construction processes, and materials and building systems. The development of the building prototype builds on previous research in robotic fabrication (including prefabrication, task distribution, and augmented reality integration), agent-based modelling (ABM) for the design and optimisation of structural components, and the systematisation of timber buildings and their components. The results presented in this article include a functional example of co-design from which best practises may be extrapolated as part of an inductive approach to design research. The prototype, with its co-designed process and resultant flat ceilings, integrated services, wide spans, and design adaptability for irregular column locations, has the potential to expand the design potential of multi-storey timber buildings. Full article

When performing indoor tasks, miniature swarm robots are suffered from their small size, poor on-board computing power, and electromagnetic shielding of buildings, which means that some traditional localization methods, such as global positioning system (GPS), simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and ultra-wideband (UWB), cannot be employed. In this paper, a minimalist indoor self-localization approach for swarm robots is proposed based on active optical beacons. A robotic navigator is introduced into a swarm of robots to provide locally localization services by actively projecting a customized optical beacon on the indoor ceiling, which contains the origin and the reference direction of localization coordinates. The swarm robots observe the optical beacon on the ceiling via a bottom-up-view monocular camera, and extract the beacon information on-board to localize their positions and headings. The uniqueness of this strategy is that it uses the flat, smooth, and well-reflective ceiling in the indoor environment as a ubiquitous plane for displaying the optical beacon; meanwhile, the bottom-up view of swarm robots is not easily blocked. Real robotic experiments are conducted to validate and analyze the localization performance of the proposed minimalist self-localization approach. The results show that our approach is feasible and effective, and can meet the needs of swarm robots to coordinate their motion. Specifically, for the stationary robots, the average position error and heading error are 2.41 cm and 1.44°; when the robots are moving, the average position error and heading error are less than 2.40 cm and 2.66°. Full article

Sandwich composites are widely used in the manufacture of aircraft cabin interior panels for commercial aircraft, mainly due to the light weight of the composites and their high strength-to-weight ratio. Panels are used for floors, ceilings, kitchen walls, cabinets, seats, and cabin dividers. The honeycomb core of the panels is a very light structure that provides high rigidity, which is considerably increased with fiberglass face sheets. The panels are manufactured using the compression molding process, where the honeycomb core is crushed up to the desired thickness. The crushed core breaks fiberglass face sheets and causes other damage, so the panel must be reworked. Some damage is associated with excessive build-up of resin in localized areas, incomplete curing of the pre-impregnated fiberglass during the manufacturing process, and excessive temperature or residence time during the compression molding. This work evaluates the feasibility of using rigid polyurethane foams as a substitute for the honeycomb core. The thermal and viscoelastic behavior of the cured prepreg fiberglass under different manufacturing conditions is studied. The first part of this work presents the influence of the manufacturing parameters and the feasibility of using rigid foams in manufacturing flat panels oriented to non-structural applications. The conclusion of the article describes the focus of future research. Full article

In the historical period, different mosques were built in the Anatolian side; the differences in size, typology and style were affected by the climate conditions, cultural and social aspects, availability of materials and the construction techniques of the region they were built in. The ceiling structure, which is the most influencing factor for mosque acoustics, is designed with either curvilinear elements or a flat ceiling for mosques. In the context of our case study, the eight historical mosques in Turkey, with different materials and types of ceiling structures, are investigated in terms of acoustical characteristics in the main prayer hall. Acoustical data are collected by measurements to reveal how the formal differences and material change in ceiling structures affect the acoustic environments of mosques with similar volume. Distribution of acoustical parameters and the suitability of the values obtained through measurements are compared to reflect the effect of architectural features on the acoustical characteristics of the prayer hall. Full article

The Ochtiná Aragonite Cave (Slovakia, Central Europe) is a world-famous karst phenomenon of significant geological, geomorphological, and mineralogical values. Its specific origin is determined by particular lithological and hydrogeological conditions of the Ochtiná karst formed in lenses of Paleozoic crystalline limestones, partly metasomatically altered to ankerite and siderite. Although the cave is only 300 m long, it represents a combined labyrinth consisting in parallel tectonically controlled halls and passages, that are largely interconnected through transverse conduits of phreatic and epiphreatic morphology with many medium- and small-scale forms originated in slowly moving or standing water (flat solution ceilings, wall inward-inclined facets, water table notches, convectional cupolas, and spongework-like hollows). The highly dissected and irregular morphologies of the cave were surveyed with terrestrial laser scanning and digital photogrammetry. Both used surveying technologies proved to be suitable for quick and accurate mapping of the complicated cave pattern. While terrestrial laser scanning can provide a rapid survey of larger and more complex areas with results delivered directly in the field, digital photogrammetry is able to generate very high-resolution models with quality photo-texture for mapping of small-scale morphologies. Several data on cave morphometry were generated from terrestrial laser scanning (e.g., the area of cave ground plan, the peripheral surface of underground spaces, and their volume). The new detailed map, sections, and 3D model create an innovation platform for a more detailed study on the morphology and genesis of this unusual cave also for its environmental protection and use in tourism. Full article

One of the main needs of the modern society is the availability of low-cost energy sources, and solar energy arises as an interesting alternative for both the generation of heat and electricity. In this work, a low-cost solar energy reservoir is proposed for domestic water heating. It is comprised of a thermoplastic (polyethylene) water tank thermally insulated by means of two different polymeric coatings: an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber foam, NBR, and a metalized polyester layer. The solar system also contains a flat collector based on a ceiling panel made of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) coated with carbon black-filled glaze. The system design is cost effective because all of the parts involved in the solar heating are made from commodity plastic materials. These plastic components present wide commercial availability and are easily handled, so that they can be rapidly assembled to build the entire system. Therefore, the solar heating system is simple, modular, easily scalable, and may be even self-manufactured by the final user. It is an affordable option to the traditional high-cost copper, aluminum and glass solar panels, boilers or tanks used for heat storage. Full article

For a water diversion hydropower system with a flat ceiling tail tunnel with high elevation, during transient states with relatively low tail water levels, free-surface-pressurized flow inevitably appears and its transient characteristics have obvious effects on the system’s operating stability. Using Newton–Raphson linearization in the characteristic implicit format for modeling of the free-surface-pressurized flow in the tail tunnel, the mathematical models for necessary boundary conditions were derived and linear algebraic equations with a band coefficient matrix were grouped for further transient simulation. Then, a unified mathematical model was established for hydraulic transient analysis of the hydropower system with free-surface-pressurized flow. Combined with experimental research and numerical simulation, the wave speed for the free-surface-pressurized flow was experimentally analyzed for further correctness in the unified model, and by comparative analysis the hydraulic characteristics of the free-surface-pressurized flow in the flat ceiling tail tunnel were investigated. It was found that the derived mathematical model can basically represent water behaviors in the water-surface-pressurized flow, the wave speed for the mixed water-surface-pressurized flow can be set to approximately 50m/s, and with this correctness the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Therefore, the obtained mathematical model combined with an experimental wave speed or a reference wave speed of 50 m/s for the free-surface-pressurized flow is preferable during the design stage of the hydropower system. Full article

The pressure to provide social housing in a fast and economic way, as well as outdated regulations, constrain the design of these buildings, having serious implications for the comfort of occupants and the environment. This becomes more critical in hot-humid climates, such as Malaysia, with uniformly high temperature and humidity and low wind speeds. In its capital, Kuala Lumpur, an extensive program of construction for high-rise social housing is being carried out, however, shortly after the flats are occupied, or as soon as they can afford it, the residents fit wall mounted air conditioning units. This research started by looking at Malay vernacular architecture and the traditional strategies for ventilation and cooling. After a review of current building regulations and green tools employed in the country, two campaigns of fieldwork were carried out to assess the actual indoor and outdoor thermal and air quality conditions in the buildings, which were found to be inadequate for both the local regulations and international recommendations. The fieldwork also allowed the identification of the critical design issues to address. A ventilation and filtering ceiling system has been identified as one of the possible solutions for the current situation and has been tested through physical and computer models. The system improves comfort by reducing the air temperature, humidity, and amount of airborne particles and gases, as well as constantly providing an adequate airflow rate. It is the first attempt to develop what we have named the ‘airhouse’ standard for tropical countries. Full article

The acoustic analysis provides additional information on building tradition and related indoor practice that includes sound, thus deepening our understanding of architectural heritage. In this paper, the sound field of the Orthodox medieval church Lazarica (Kruševac city, Serbia) is examined. Lazarica is a representative of Morava architectural style, developed in the final period of the Serbian medieval state, when also the chanting art thrived, proving the importance of the aural environment in Serbian churches. The church plan is a combination of a traditional inscribed cross and a triconch. After the in situ measurement of acoustic impulse response using EASERA software, we built a computer model in the acoustic simulation software EASE and calibrated it accordingly. Following the parameters (reverberation time (T₃₀), early decay time (EDT) and speech transmission index (STI)), we examined the acoustic effect of the space occupancy, central dome and the iconostasis. In all the cases, no significant deviation between T₃₀ and EDT parameter was observed, which indicates uniform sound energy decay. Closing the dome with a flat ceiling did not show any significant impact on T₃₀, but it lowered speech intelligibility. The height of iconostasis showed no significant influence on the acoustics of Lazarica church. Full article

Automated segmentation of planar and linear features of point clouds acquired from construction sites is essential for the automatic extraction of building construction elements such as columns, beams and slabs. However, many planar and linear segmentation methods use scene-dependent similarity thresholds that may not provide generalizable solutions for all environments. In addition, outliers exist in construction site point clouds due to data artefacts caused by moving objects, occlusions and dust. To address these concerns, a novel method for robust classification and segmentation of planar and linear features is proposed. First, coplanar and collinear points are classified through a robust principal components analysis procedure. The classified points are then grouped using a new robust clustering method, the robust complete linkage method. A robust method is also proposed to extract the points of flat-slab floors and/or ceilings independent of the aforementioned stages to improve computational efficiency. The applicability of the proposed method is evaluated in eight datasets acquired from a complex laboratory environment and two construction sites at the University of Calgary. The precision, recall, and accuracy of the segmentation at both construction sites were 96.8%, 97.7% and 95%, respectively. These results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method for robust segmentation of planar and linear features of contaminated datasets, such as those collected from construction sites. Full article

Light shelves have been discussed in numerous studies as suitable solutions for controlling daylight in side-lit spaces. It is a system that can be easily modified, offering a range of design solutions. It can be easily mounted on the exterior and/or the interior of a vertical opening, it can come in various shapes from static flat forms to curved reflective surfaces, or it can even be actively controlled. A light shelf can offer shading and at the same time can redirect a significant part of the incoming light flux towards the ceiling improving daylight uniformity. Due to the aforesaid functions, light shelves are among the most popular system design solutions when it comes to daylight exploitation. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to present the main research findings in relation to light shelves as daylighting systems and secondly to analyze the results, trying to establish a common basis for some efficient and practical design rules. The present paper is a review of the research realized in the last three decades concerning these systems together with their associated implications in a building’s daylight performance as well as in its energy balance in a few cases. In addition, the critical review of their design principles is included, which makes the presented information useful for design teams trying to select the optimal available system for any specific project. Full article