Architecture Commons^™

Decon | Recon: Design Strategies For Repurposing Materials, Timothy Hemsath, Lindsey Ellsworth

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

The deconstruction (DeCon) and repurposing (Re- Con) of existing structures and materials are worth- while and relevant endeavors given the potential for such procedures to be more economically and environmentally sustainable than conventional construction methods. Conventional construction methods often utilize virgin materials for produc- tion of architecture requiring extensive energy to harvest, process and manufacture the materials for use. Today we must face the fact that we exist in a carbon sensitive economy, and demand design approaches that reduce architecture’s impact on the environment. Our pedagogical goal was to de- velop a project framework to enable flexible ReCon design methodologies …

A Virtual Supply Airflow Rate Meter In Rooftop Air Conditioning Units, Daihong Yu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Virtual sensing technology aims to estimate difficult to measure, expensive, or new quantities by using multifarious mathematical models along with non-invasive and low-cost measurements. Such embedded intelligence is a key to improving the performance of building systems in terms of functionality, safety, energy efficiency, environmental impacts, and costs. Considering the progress that has been achieved over many various fields (e.g., process controls, automobiles, avionics, autonomous robots, telemedicine) within the last two decades, numerous intelligent features have been incorporated and enabled that would otherwise not be possible or economical.

To identify the potential opportunities and research/development needs of virtual sensing technology …

"Introduction" To Conjuring The Real: The Role Of Architecture In Eighteenth- And Nineteenth-Century Fiction, Rumiko Handa, James Potter

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

Buildings give an immediate presence to the historical or fictional world, which otherwise is unknown or unfamiliar to the audience. The portrayal of a building’s concrete and specific substance makes the world come alive, although the building itself is a mere segment of the world that it represents. This book will trace the genealogy of this representational role of architecture, going back through the history of film and then further in literature, art, and theater, and identify its pedigree in the nineteenth century, where authors, artists, and stage managers used thorough depictions of buildings to effectively feed the audience’s historical …

Developing A Drought Planning Evaluation System In The United States, Mark D. Svoboda, Zhenghong Tang

Community and Regional Planning Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

Drought is a normal part of the climate cycle, affecting every climate regime on the planet. Drought indicates a special period in which an unusual moisture scarcity causes a serious hydrological imbalance. Drought is related to the timing and effectiveness of the rains, high temperature, high wind, and low humidity. The typical impacts of drought may include dry lands, low or empty water-supply reservoirs, low groundwater levels (dried up wells), crop damage, and ensuing environmental degradation. In the United States, drought accounts for losses in the billions of dollars. In fact, a FEMA (1995) report estimates the average annual losses …

The “Bim’S 4d+” Dimension: Real Time Energy Monitoring, Mahmoud Alahmad, Wisam Nader, Adam Brumbaugh, Yong Cho, Song Ci, Hamid Sharif, Jonathan Shi, Jill Neal

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

With the current trend towards Building Information Model (BIM), facility managers have a new tool for raising efficiency. This paper discusses the integration of the BIM software with a real-time monitoring (RTM) system, as a 4D+ dimension in BIM, to track the electrical usage at every location in a building. This ability could be invaluable in identifying what unnecessary loads are connected to a device and could be disconnected. This would result in elimination of needless loads and phantom loads during non-business hours, causing significant reduction in energy consumption. A prototype of the RTM was built and the results are …

An Adaptive Photovoltaic-Inverter Topology, Mahmoud Alahmad, Mohamed Amer Chaaban, Siu Kit Lau

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A new inverter topology for Adaptive photovoltaic (PV) system is proposed. An improvement in the power generation of the system during different operating conditions is achieved. The proposed configuration provides flexible connection between the PV modules and the inverters to meet current conditions of PV array. Preliminary simulation results are provided for an adaptive PV array. Efficiency comparison between traditional PV system configurations is discussed. Potential improvement using the proposed adaptive configuration is sited.

A Novel Photovoltaic/Battery Structure For Solar Electrical Vehicles [Pvbs For Sev], Mahmoud Alahmad, Mohamed Amer Chaaban, Lana Chaar

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a new flexible Photovoltaic/Battery charging Structure for Solar Electrical Vehicles (PVBS), where the interconnection of the system is dynamically changing based on current shading conditions across PV modules to provide intelligent system, as well as to provide flexibility, performance, and efficiency enhancement for the SEV. PVBS is expected to 1) provide a battery charging efficiency improvement over existing employed topologies; 2) provide new means to match the computing load with the PV system performance metrics shading and mismatches; 3) and provide elastic reconfigurable system expected to spur research advancements and innovations to make future SEV …

Non-Intrusive Electrical Load Monitoring And Profiling Methods For Applications In Energy Management Systems, Mahmoud Alahmad, Hosen Hasna Hh, Evans Sordiashie

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

"Phantom Loads" cause energy waste in homes and the built environment as a whole. Consumers spend more than $3 billion a year on "Phantom Load" in the United States alone. The goal of this paper is to conserve energy by increasing consumer awareness on their energy usage and reducing and /or eliminating phantom loads in the built environment. A further goal is to improve upon existing power distribution systems in the built environment with limited hardware additions to increase energy conservation. This paper investigates remote identification of load types and the locations along the electrical circuitry where they (load) are …

Optimization Of Energy Storage Systems In Hev's, Mahmoud Alahmad, Mohamed Amer Chaaban

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This paper introduces a novel battery model inspired by molecular structures mainly for applications in HEV’s. This novel 3-D adaptive battery topology shows potential for improvement in input and output performance as well as the charging/ discharging efficiency of batteries. The proposed topology provides flexible connections between battery cells to achieve different configurations of battery. A new switching matrix has been developed to achieve the required configurations. Preliminary simulations provide promising results for an adaptive 3-D battery configuration. Comparison between traditional battery configurations and the adaptive 3-D configuration is considered. A significant improvement in power curves is achieved by the …

Green And Sustainable Technologies For The Built Enviornment, Mahmoud Alahmad, Muhammad Zulfiqar, Hosen Hasna Hh, Hamid Sharif, Evans Sordiashie, Nasser Aljuhaishi

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Energy conservation is among society’s greatest challenges, and the built environment has a concentrated impact on our natural environment, economy, and health. Fundamental understandings of how energy is consumed, monitored, and controlled are key prerequisites for an energy conservation process. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of real-time energy monitors (RTM) to influence behavior change in residential consumers. A methodology for remote identification of load types and the locations along the electrical circuitry where they (load) are being consumed is also presented. The load type and status (on, off, standby) are determined both remotely and in a non-intrusive manner using Non-Intrusive …

Combinatorics & Power Consumption, Mahmoud Alahmad, Wisam Nader

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

in this paper the power consumption possible combinations for a number of loads and a single power source are discussed. The proposed mathematical model depends basically on combinatorics to estimate how many ways are possible to operate different loads powered by a single power source. This paper takes into consideration the different conditions and limitations to operate n number of loads limited by their minimum and maximum values of power consumption. Four different cases of operations are discussed and modeled. A flowchart and a step-by-step method to do the calculations for a general case is also illustrated at the end …

Addressable And Energy Management System For The Built Environment (I), Mahmoud Alahmad, Hosen Hasna Hh, Evans Sordiashie

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The increasing awareness for a cleaner earth has created more interests in the electric vehicle (EV) technology. Electric vehicles (EVs) will not only cause a reduction in our current greenhouse gas emissions, but also stop or reverse the trend at which our natural resources are being depleted. However, the introduction of the EVs into our societies will still require energy usage in the form of electricity. Integration of charging infrastructures will eventually be required in the built environment for these vehicles. This will add to the current energy consumption in the built environment which will mean more emission of CO2, …

Industry-Experienced Graduate Student Program: Innovative Collaboration In Architectural Engineering At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Clarence E. Waters, Steve Alvine, Michelle L. Eble-Hankins

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

In 2001, the Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, along with industry partners, established an industry-experienced graduate student program. The program was developed to bring experienced design professionals to collaborate with the industry while pursuing a Ph.D. in architectural engineering. This program is designed to be mutually beneficial to industry partners, -graduate students, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Architectural Engineering Department, and the building industry at large. The first doctoral candidate in the program graduated, and significant collaborative work was completed for the industry partner. All parties to this initial offering are pleased with the outcome and believe the …

Lv-11-C031: Measured Levels Of Hospital Noise Before, During, And After Renovation Of A Hospital Wing, And A Survey Of Resulting Patient Perception, Cassandra H. Wiese, Lily M. Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Acoustic conditions in hospitals can negatively influence a patient’s physical and psychological health. This paperreports on noise levels measured before, during, and after renovation of a hospital wing in an Omaha, Nebraska, facility thatregularly receives unsatisfactory noise scores on patient satisfaction surveys. Sound pressure levels were logged every 10seconds over four-day periods in three different locations: at the nurses' station, in the hallway, and in a nearby patient’sroom. The resulting data have been analyzed in terms of A-weighted equivalent sound levels (LAeq) as well as variousexceedance levels (Ln). Results indicate that sound levels did not change much due to the …

Integrating Air Handling Units In Office Buildings For High Performance, Yuebin Yu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

This study investigates the thermal load features in office buildings and proposes an innovative Integrated Air Handling Unit (IAHU) concept in order to achieve energy savings with conventional office building air handling systems. The corresponding deduction of IAHU for an acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and better energy performance is conducted. The system variables and constraints are analyzed in detail to understand the feasibility and operability of IAHU. The control logics and implementation methods are elaborated for typical system layouts. With an IAHU operation, the internal heat gain can be transferred from an interior region into an exterior region in …

Searching For Innovation Through Teaching Digital Fabrication, Timothy Hemsath

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

The use of digital fabrication in the discourse and education of architectural students has become a common skill in many schools of architecture. There is a growing demand for computer-aided design (CAD) skills, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) logic, programming and fabrication knowledge in student education. The relevance of fabrication tools for architecture and design education goes beyond mere competence and can pursue innovation in what Branko Koleravic (2003) observed, “The digital age has radically reconfigured the relationship between conception and production, creating a direct digital link between what can be conceived and what can be built through “file-to-factory” processes of computer …

Using Popular Film In The Architectural History Classroom, Rumiko Handa

Architecture Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

Putting popular films to use in the classroom offers many opportunities, starting with the mass appeal that recent movies bring to the study of architecture. More significantly, film can help to teach how architectural scale and space affect the viewer. The historical inaccuracies of many movies can provide teachable moments for the discussion of significant architectural issues. And, surely most importantly, film can breathe human life into the spaces of architecture, allowing students to meet the audience of architecture—past, present, and future.

Industry Participation In The Interdisciplinary Team Design Project Course Of A Master Of Architectural Engineering Program, Lauren M. Ronsse, Lily M. Wang, Clarence E. Waters

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This is a case study of extensive industry participation in the capstone design course of the Master of Architectural Engineering program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. This course, entitled Interdisciplinary Team Design Project, pairs teams of professional engineers and students to provide mentoring, assessment, and feedback, as the students work on interdisciplinary teams to design the building systems for a real-world project. For the spring 2010 semester, over 33 industry professionals participated in the course, each contributing approximately 40 to 50 hours of mentoring and assessment. This paper describes the course format and industry involvement, which provides students …

Hot Swap, Brian J. Mccracken

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Project Abstract : The current home personal computer allows for the exchange of parts so the user can easily upgrade or repair components as the users needs change. Hot Swapping, is the process of exchanging, upgrade/downgrade components with in a computer while the system is fully operational. The idea of maintaining a complex computer system, while it is fully operational and certain components can be exchanged as needed, has direct applications to the construction of a modern home. Current stick-frame housing techniques for home construction do not easily allow for major changes, or updates to the system, without portions of …

Investigation Of Patient Perception Of Hospital Noise And Sound Level Measurements: Before, During, And After Renovations Of A Hospital Wing, Cassandra H. Wiese

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Acoustic conditions in hospitals have been shown to influence a patient’s physical and psychological health. Noise levels in an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital were measured and compared between various times: before, during, and after renovations of a hospital wing. The renovations included cosmetic changes and the installation of new in-room patient audio-visual systems. Sound pressure levels were logged every 10-seconds over a four-day period in three different locations: at the nurses' station, in the hallway, and in a nearby patient’s room. The resulting data were analyzed in terms of the hourly A-weighted equivalent sound pressure levels (𝐿_𝐴eq) as …

Sustainable Environments And Pro-Environmental Behavior, Jessica L. Kirk

Interior Design Program: Theses

This thesis examines the ability of the sustainably designed building to alter occupant behaviors using LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation, Green Building Rating System™ as a standard of measure. A cross sectional survey compares the pro-environmental behaviors, intentions, environmental knowledge, and pro-environmental orientation of occupants working in a traditionally designed building and occupants working in a LEED-NC certified building located on the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Campus. While there is a visible increase in the pro-environmental variables for occupants working in the sustainable environment, data analysis indicates that these differences are not statistically significant for any of …

Multi-Channel Orchestral Anechoic Recordings For Auralizations, Michelle C. Vigeant, Lily M. Wang, Jens Holger Rindel, Claus Lynge Christensen, Anders Christian Gade

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Multi-channel orchestral anechoic recordings were obtained at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in June 2005. Every orchestral part of specific movements of two symphonies, Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, 3rd movement, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in g minor, 1st movement, were digitally recorded using five 0.5” DPA microphones, with four surrounding the musicians in the horizontal plane and the fifth directly above. The recordings were made in DTU’s large anechoic chamber, which has free space of about 1000 m3 and a lower frequency limit of 50 Hz. Each musician was recorded individually, and to assist with overall synchronization of …

Examining The Relationships Between Monaural And Binaural Classroom Acoustics Parameters And Student Achievement, Lauren M. Ronsse, Lily M. Wang, Paul L. Sim

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This study investigates the relationships between several classroom acoustics parameters and student achievement. Detailed binaural room impulse response measurements were conducted in four elementary school classrooms in a midwestern public school system in the United States. Unoccupied background noise levels were also recorded in these spaces. Previous studies have compared how different room acoustics metrics predict speech intelligibility, while another investigation examined perception-based binaural metrics in a typical classroom. This study extends these previous research areas by comparing both binaural classroom acoustics metrics and unoccupied background noise levels to each other and to the standardized student achievement scores of students …

Regulating Green Buildings, Jeffrey S. Webert

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

Green buildings are becoming the new fixation for the building industry because of the impact they have on the carbon footprint and the cost savings they offer for utility costs. Governments have begun to produce policies and regulations that implement and mandate green buildings due to these successes. However, the policies are having troubles increasing the popularity and quantities of green buildings. There is a need for a way to produce better policies and regulations that will increase both the amount of green buildings their popularity. A decision-making tool, such as a decision tree, should be created to help policymakers …

Preservation Ethics In The Case Of Nebraska’S Nationally Registered Historic Properties, Darren Michael Adams

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation focuses on the National Register of Historic Places and considers the geographical implications of valuing particular historic sites over others. Certain historical sites will either gain or lose desirability from one era to the next, this dissertation identifies and explains three unique preservation ethical eras, and it maps the sites which were selected during those eras. These eras are the Settlement Era (1966 – 1975), the Commercial Architecture Era (1976 – 1991), and the Progressive Planning Era (1992 – 2010). The findings show that transformations in the program included an early phase when state authorities listed historical resources …

Awareness Of Daylighting On Student Learning In An Educational Facility, Alana S. Pulay

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This study examines how awareness of the interior architecture of a building, specifically daylighing, affects students academic performance. Extensive research has proven that the use of daylighting in a classroom can significantly enhance students’ academic success. The problem statement and purpose of this study is to determine if student awareness of daylighting in their learning environment affects academic performance compared to students with no knowledge of daylighting. Research and surveys in existing and newly constructed high schools were conducted to verify the results of this study. These design ideas and concepts could influence the architecture and design industry to advocate …

Drivethru 2050, Thomas W. Weingarten Jr.

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This thesis explores the architectural ramifications brought about by increased integration of our changing personal vehicles and the emerging business model of locally incorporated drive-thru/online shopping.

Site 27th & Capital Parkway, Lincoln, NE

Goals Building Integrated Vehicular Shopping

Short Term Create an architectural system for retail development that is more conscious of the personal vehicle and associated vehicular land uses (i.e. parking)

Long Term Reduce the need for under-utilized parking “dead-space” at retail destination centers

Bleeding Edge, C. Brett Rottinghaus

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Memorial Stadium can be a better contributor to it’s environ’s. The stadium currently is the largest element on the University of Nebraska at Lincoln’s Campus; however, it is used the least. In the year 2009 it was used for 12 events most of which were Cornhusker football games. Other events include a Larry the Cable Guy comedy show and State High School tournament finals. The circulation around the stadium is dynamic in the sense that it has a high level of fluctuation in its traffic. The traffic is either High density or low. I call this being turned into a …

Future Bionic, Ryan J. Huber

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Future Bionic is a study into how biological processes can be reinterpreted and applied to revolutionize the idea of performance in buildings. The term bionic refers to the combining of a natural system and a mechanical system or technology [bionics]. Biomimicry refers to the copying or imitation of a natural systems processes [biomimicry]. Future Bionic is a hybrid of both concepts, in which I am looking at how principles of bionics and biomimicry can be used to design a built environment that begins to blur the edges between the natural and man-made world. Both bionics and biomimicry can be used …

Riparian Efformation, Laura C. Brodersen

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This thesis deals with two widespread issues facing contemporary society and the environment which it finds itself: 1. It is often assumed that what and where one calls home is straightforward, that our sense of home and identity are singularly rooted in a local place. Rather than being seen as an integral aspect of social life, mobility has been regarded as a special and temporary phenomenon classified under such headings as migration, refugee studies, and tourism. But increasingly, modern forms of dwelling, working, and playing involve circulating through a geographically extended network of social relations and a multiplicity of widely …