GV
Gertjan Verbaan
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1
This thesis evaluates occupancy-aware model predictive control-based HVAC control in comparison with static schedule-based and reactive occupancy-based control within a simulation-based study intended to support early-stage design decisions. A hypothetical small office building in the Netherlands is used as the case study. Occupancy schedules are generated with an agent-based occupancy simulator and used as reference occupancy data. An inhomogeneous Markov-chain model provides predictive occupancy input for MPC, while the building is simulated through a Honeybee–OpenStudio–EnergyPlus workflow. A surrogate model is used for MPC horizon prediction.
Four control strategies are compared: static schedule-based control, reactive occupancy-based control, and two occupancy-aware MPC variants with different control timestep and prediction-horizon configurations. Performance is evaluated in two layers: direct simulation indicators, including total HVAC energy and time-related comfort performance and HVAC operation timing, and design-oriented indicators, including ISSO 74 temperature-based comfort class and total energy cost.
The results show that static control achieves the highest comfort class, but with the highest energy cost and unnecessary conditioning. Reactive control reduces cost by about 14%, but weakens time-related comfort performance. Occupancy-aware MPC reduces cost by about 8–16% compared with static control while improving comfort compared with reactive control. The extent of improvement depends on the prediction horizon and the occupancy pattern. The study concludes that occupancy-aware MPC can support early-stage design decisions by making comfort, energy, and cost trade-offs explicit. Its value depends on occupancy pattern, prediction quality, and the selected MPC formulation.
...
Four control strategies are compared: static schedule-based control, reactive occupancy-based control, and two occupancy-aware MPC variants with different control timestep and prediction-horizon configurations. Performance is evaluated in two layers: direct simulation indicators, including total HVAC energy and time-related comfort performance and HVAC operation timing, and design-oriented indicators, including ISSO 74 temperature-based comfort class and total energy cost.
The results show that static control achieves the highest comfort class, but with the highest energy cost and unnecessary conditioning. Reactive control reduces cost by about 14%, but weakens time-related comfort performance. Occupancy-aware MPC reduces cost by about 8–16% compared with static control while improving comfort compared with reactive control. The extent of improvement depends on the prediction horizon and the occupancy pattern. The study concludes that occupancy-aware MPC can support early-stage design decisions by making comfort, energy, and cost trade-offs explicit. Its value depends on occupancy pattern, prediction quality, and the selected MPC formulation.
...
This thesis evaluates occupancy-aware model predictive control-based HVAC control in comparison with static schedule-based and reactive occupancy-based control within a simulation-based study intended to support early-stage design decisions. A hypothetical small office building in the Netherlands is used as the case study. Occupancy schedules are generated with an agent-based occupancy simulator and used as reference occupancy data. An inhomogeneous Markov-chain model provides predictive occupancy input for MPC, while the building is simulated through a Honeybee–OpenStudio–EnergyPlus workflow. A surrogate model is used for MPC horizon prediction.
Four control strategies are compared: static schedule-based control, reactive occupancy-based control, and two occupancy-aware MPC variants with different control timestep and prediction-horizon configurations. Performance is evaluated in two layers: direct simulation indicators, including total HVAC energy and time-related comfort performance and HVAC operation timing, and design-oriented indicators, including ISSO 74 temperature-based comfort class and total energy cost.
The results show that static control achieves the highest comfort class, but with the highest energy cost and unnecessary conditioning. Reactive control reduces cost by about 14%, but weakens time-related comfort performance. Occupancy-aware MPC reduces cost by about 8–16% compared with static control while improving comfort compared with reactive control. The extent of improvement depends on the prediction horizon and the occupancy pattern. The study concludes that occupancy-aware MPC can support early-stage design decisions by making comfort, energy, and cost trade-offs explicit. Its value depends on occupancy pattern, prediction quality, and the selected MPC formulation.
Four control strategies are compared: static schedule-based control, reactive occupancy-based control, and two occupancy-aware MPC variants with different control timestep and prediction-horizon configurations. Performance is evaluated in two layers: direct simulation indicators, including total HVAC energy and time-related comfort performance and HVAC operation timing, and design-oriented indicators, including ISSO 74 temperature-based comfort class and total energy cost.
The results show that static control achieves the highest comfort class, but with the highest energy cost and unnecessary conditioning. Reactive control reduces cost by about 14%, but weakens time-related comfort performance. Occupancy-aware MPC reduces cost by about 8–16% compared with static control while improving comfort compared with reactive control. The extent of improvement depends on the prediction horizon and the occupancy pattern. The study concludes that occupancy-aware MPC can support early-stage design decisions by making comfort, energy, and cost trade-offs explicit. Its value depends on occupancy pattern, prediction quality, and the selected MPC formulation.
Master thesis
(2024)
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M. Raghunathan, M.J. Tenpierik, A.C. Bergsma, Maaike Lengton, Gertjan Verbaan
Architecture is much more than just built forms on a piece of land. Architecture hinges on user experience and comfort. As such, it is up to us, as designers and engineers to be mindful of the quality of the conceptualized space.
Building physics is one such field that addresses the concerns of users. It outlines topics that play an integral role in the quality of life; thermal comfort, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics. The first three factors have something in common. They have evolved and been developed to the point where the user has the luxury of controlling this factors at a scale local to the user itself. This creates an enhanced user experience. Acoustics, on the other hand, poses numerous problems when the topic of personal control is broached. There are many factors that impact the quality of sound in a space. That is, there are simply too many variables one must take into account while addressing the topic of personalised control of sound in a room. Acoustic control systems, while existent, heavily hinge on the usage of technology to provide user control, resulting in bulky or expensive systems that makes this very concept of personalised control a distant reach to the average user.
Schools, particularly primary schools and middle schools pose an interesting challenge. In addition to the varying functions that happen in a classroom over the span of a day or a lesson plan, the users also have differing sound demands. Teachers’ main concern is related to vocal strain and fatigue, while the poor acoustic conditions affect students’ learning and social development.
While acoustic standards are largely enforced in the built environment during and post construction, it is imperative that we acknowledge that these standards are set for adults, by adults. They are values that make sense to a person with fully developed auditory and sensory systems. They are limited by the general function of a space and do not necessarily address the nuances of spatial usage. As a result, applying these standards as an unwavering rule to architectural typologies aimed at children might not be the most ideal approach. The still developing auditory and sensory systems of children, and the resulting requirements must be taken into account in spaces aimed at them.
This thesis aims to explore the possibilities that passive (dynamic) systems offer in the realm of acoustic and sound control set in the context of a middle school classroom. This process is done by theoretical calculations and digital simulations.
...
Building physics is one such field that addresses the concerns of users. It outlines topics that play an integral role in the quality of life; thermal comfort, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics. The first three factors have something in common. They have evolved and been developed to the point where the user has the luxury of controlling this factors at a scale local to the user itself. This creates an enhanced user experience. Acoustics, on the other hand, poses numerous problems when the topic of personal control is broached. There are many factors that impact the quality of sound in a space. That is, there are simply too many variables one must take into account while addressing the topic of personalised control of sound in a room. Acoustic control systems, while existent, heavily hinge on the usage of technology to provide user control, resulting in bulky or expensive systems that makes this very concept of personalised control a distant reach to the average user.
Schools, particularly primary schools and middle schools pose an interesting challenge. In addition to the varying functions that happen in a classroom over the span of a day or a lesson plan, the users also have differing sound demands. Teachers’ main concern is related to vocal strain and fatigue, while the poor acoustic conditions affect students’ learning and social development.
While acoustic standards are largely enforced in the built environment during and post construction, it is imperative that we acknowledge that these standards are set for adults, by adults. They are values that make sense to a person with fully developed auditory and sensory systems. They are limited by the general function of a space and do not necessarily address the nuances of spatial usage. As a result, applying these standards as an unwavering rule to architectural typologies aimed at children might not be the most ideal approach. The still developing auditory and sensory systems of children, and the resulting requirements must be taken into account in spaces aimed at them.
This thesis aims to explore the possibilities that passive (dynamic) systems offer in the realm of acoustic and sound control set in the context of a middle school classroom. This process is done by theoretical calculations and digital simulations.
...
Architecture is much more than just built forms on a piece of land. Architecture hinges on user experience and comfort. As such, it is up to us, as designers and engineers to be mindful of the quality of the conceptualized space.
Building physics is one such field that addresses the concerns of users. It outlines topics that play an integral role in the quality of life; thermal comfort, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics. The first three factors have something in common. They have evolved and been developed to the point where the user has the luxury of controlling this factors at a scale local to the user itself. This creates an enhanced user experience. Acoustics, on the other hand, poses numerous problems when the topic of personal control is broached. There are many factors that impact the quality of sound in a space. That is, there are simply too many variables one must take into account while addressing the topic of personalised control of sound in a room. Acoustic control systems, while existent, heavily hinge on the usage of technology to provide user control, resulting in bulky or expensive systems that makes this very concept of personalised control a distant reach to the average user.
Schools, particularly primary schools and middle schools pose an interesting challenge. In addition to the varying functions that happen in a classroom over the span of a day or a lesson plan, the users also have differing sound demands. Teachers’ main concern is related to vocal strain and fatigue, while the poor acoustic conditions affect students’ learning and social development.
While acoustic standards are largely enforced in the built environment during and post construction, it is imperative that we acknowledge that these standards are set for adults, by adults. They are values that make sense to a person with fully developed auditory and sensory systems. They are limited by the general function of a space and do not necessarily address the nuances of spatial usage. As a result, applying these standards as an unwavering rule to architectural typologies aimed at children might not be the most ideal approach. The still developing auditory and sensory systems of children, and the resulting requirements must be taken into account in spaces aimed at them.
This thesis aims to explore the possibilities that passive (dynamic) systems offer in the realm of acoustic and sound control set in the context of a middle school classroom. This process is done by theoretical calculations and digital simulations.
Building physics is one such field that addresses the concerns of users. It outlines topics that play an integral role in the quality of life; thermal comfort, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics. The first three factors have something in common. They have evolved and been developed to the point where the user has the luxury of controlling this factors at a scale local to the user itself. This creates an enhanced user experience. Acoustics, on the other hand, poses numerous problems when the topic of personal control is broached. There are many factors that impact the quality of sound in a space. That is, there are simply too many variables one must take into account while addressing the topic of personalised control of sound in a room. Acoustic control systems, while existent, heavily hinge on the usage of technology to provide user control, resulting in bulky or expensive systems that makes this very concept of personalised control a distant reach to the average user.
Schools, particularly primary schools and middle schools pose an interesting challenge. In addition to the varying functions that happen in a classroom over the span of a day or a lesson plan, the users also have differing sound demands. Teachers’ main concern is related to vocal strain and fatigue, while the poor acoustic conditions affect students’ learning and social development.
While acoustic standards are largely enforced in the built environment during and post construction, it is imperative that we acknowledge that these standards are set for adults, by adults. They are values that make sense to a person with fully developed auditory and sensory systems. They are limited by the general function of a space and do not necessarily address the nuances of spatial usage. As a result, applying these standards as an unwavering rule to architectural typologies aimed at children might not be the most ideal approach. The still developing auditory and sensory systems of children, and the resulting requirements must be taken into account in spaces aimed at them.
This thesis aims to explore the possibilities that passive (dynamic) systems offer in the realm of acoustic and sound control set in the context of a middle school classroom. This process is done by theoretical calculations and digital simulations.
Climate adaptation concept on a stadium
The new Feyenoord Stadium
Master thesis
(2019)
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Sofia Mori, Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Arie Bergsma, Xiao Guo, Gertjan Verbaan
The practice of almost any sport requires friendly and comfortable environmental conditions, cool temperatures and medium humidity levels, as well as satisfactory lighting and ventilation performance (Torsing et al., 2016). The complex challenge of designing sport infrastructure is likely to become even bigger in the expected future warmer scenario. This research focuses on the development of a climate adaptation concept for the new Feyenoord Stadium, with the goal to make it adaptable to the future climate scenario, characterized by global warming, which will lead to an increase in temperatures and heat waves. The focus of the design is mainly on the integration of passive strategies to cool down the stadium and control the indoor temperature to guarantee proper livability to users, thus reducing the need for active cooling. The research explores mainly possibilities for the design of the envelope, which represents the connection between the stadium and its surroundings. A proper design of the envelope would bring benefits both to the stadium itself and the outdoor environment, by mitigating the urban heat island effect. Indeed, the main question of this research is “how can the envelope of a large-scale stadium be designed to integrate passive strategies to provide cooling in a future warmer scenario and guarantee a comfortable micro-climate to users, while reducing the UHI in the surroundings?” Based on the literature review, different strategies were explored, and those more likely to make the Stadium adaptable to the climate of Rotterdam have been selected and analyzed in detail to be integrated into the new design. Through means of calculations and simulations, outcomes were obtained, which show that with a proper design of the envelope and some areas of the stadium, it is possible to control the indoor temperature to avoid overheating, guarantee comfort to users, and reduce the cooling demand of the building. The ultimate goal of this research is to give guidelines for a replicable design approach to be applied to stadiums around the world to deal with local climate potentials and hazards, and rely on the resources offered by the surroundings.
...
The practice of almost any sport requires friendly and comfortable environmental conditions, cool temperatures and medium humidity levels, as well as satisfactory lighting and ventilation performance (Torsing et al., 2016). The complex challenge of designing sport infrastructure is likely to become even bigger in the expected future warmer scenario. This research focuses on the development of a climate adaptation concept for the new Feyenoord Stadium, with the goal to make it adaptable to the future climate scenario, characterized by global warming, which will lead to an increase in temperatures and heat waves. The focus of the design is mainly on the integration of passive strategies to cool down the stadium and control the indoor temperature to guarantee proper livability to users, thus reducing the need for active cooling. The research explores mainly possibilities for the design of the envelope, which represents the connection between the stadium and its surroundings. A proper design of the envelope would bring benefits both to the stadium itself and the outdoor environment, by mitigating the urban heat island effect. Indeed, the main question of this research is “how can the envelope of a large-scale stadium be designed to integrate passive strategies to provide cooling in a future warmer scenario and guarantee a comfortable micro-climate to users, while reducing the UHI in the surroundings?” Based on the literature review, different strategies were explored, and those more likely to make the Stadium adaptable to the climate of Rotterdam have been selected and analyzed in detail to be integrated into the new design. Through means of calculations and simulations, outcomes were obtained, which show that with a proper design of the envelope and some areas of the stadium, it is possible to control the indoor temperature to avoid overheating, guarantee comfort to users, and reduce the cooling demand of the building. The ultimate goal of this research is to give guidelines for a replicable design approach to be applied to stadiums around the world to deal with local climate potentials and hazards, and rely on the resources offered by the surroundings.