Architectural Technology Commons^™

Modulating Recycled Plastic - A Sustainable Solution To Plastic Pollution Through Innovative Recycling, Galo Cruz

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Initially celebrated as a miracle material, modern society’s dependence on plastics has resulted in urgent environmental challenges. The consequences of this dependence are: widespread plastic pollution, an environment grappling with near-indestructible waste, and a health crisis fueled by malignant microplastics. In response to this urgent junction of environmental challenges, this research sets forth to further the transformative approach explored by Janel Sitt’s 2020 thesis and aims to answer the following questions:

1. Why does our dependence on single-use plastic jeopardize our environment, severely impacting food supplies, marine life, and overall quality of life?

2. As designers, are there opportunities for …

Resurgence, Caleb Willis

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

As much as technology has advanced in the past couple of centuries, it appears that the relationship between the architect and the site has only grown thinner. Working from home and technological advancements have created an environment that loosens the grasp that architects have with the site. Documents are sent directly to contractors over email, buildings are standardized and plotted unto any landscape desired, and buildings are demolished at the touch of a button. With this loss in connectivity, this project aims to reconnect the architect to their site, as they shall be issued land for development, not a building. …

Considerations For Virtual Reality In Architectural Design Development, Alexander White

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This is an undergraduate thesis research about the exploration of Virtual Reality (VR) in the architectural design career field at the design development stage for architectural projects. VR is a tool that is available for designers to use to make design decisions for their projects and is used to explore the design in space at a one-to-one scale. VR has proven itself to be a valuable resource for designers and clients; however, it has been personally observed that VR is not as utilized as much as it could be in the architectural design development workflow. The purpose of this research …

Workflow And Best Practices Of Planting Design In Virtual Reality, Becca L. Springer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this study is to develop a technical workflow and deliver an instructional module for teaching planting design in Virtual Reality (VR). The developed workflow and instructional model will be presented to students enrolled at Utah State University in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) Department. The first objective of this thesis project is to explore and create a successful workflow of basic planting design principles and apply them in virtual reality with the use of new technology. The virtual reality and planting design software that were explored were Twinmotion, VR Sketch, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Land FX, Gravity …

An Architectural Approach To Neighborhood Design In The Quarry Road Informal Settlement In Durban, Viloshin Govender, Ameen Shaikjee

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Informal settlements, often characterized by inadequate infrastructure, housing, and services, are a significant urban challenge in the global South. Creating well-functioning and supportive neighborhoods within these settlements is crucial for improving the living conditions and livelihoods of those living there. This paper explores the strategies and principles of creating neighborhoods in informal settlements that promote community empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Conventional top-down development approaches often fail to address these settlements' unique needs and dynamics. In contrast, a bottom-up approach empowers residents, fosters community engagement, and promotes sustainable development. This paper explores how architecture can respond to the needs …

Digitalisation For A Circular Economy (Dice), Jimmy Fahy, Conan O'Ceallaigh

Reports

The construction industry is the world’s largest consumer of resources and is responsible for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions. In EU countries, building infrastructure plays a more significant role in energy consumption (40%) and energy-related Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (36%) (European Union, 2024) and for Ireland, the total GHG emissions of the built environment are estimated at 23 MtCO2eq/yr based on the 2018 level, which accounts for approximately 37% of national emissions, comprising 23% from building operations and 14% from embodied carbon (EC) emissions (O’Hegarty and Kinnane, 2022). These current emissions levels are stark given Ireland’s current commitment …

Parametric Design As A Tool To Reduce Solar Penetration By Outdoor Shades In Hot Arid Climate, Rana O. Aboulfaraj, Iman O. Gawad, Mostafa Khalifa

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Conventional design methods and current tools infrequently link performance with the geometry of the design. These methods rarely enable backtracking through the design process and can't achieve full performance criteria. In this context, using both procedural geometry and information from numerical assessments and performance simulations should be discussed to support the search for effective solutions. Architects have gained control over the process of design by utilizing parametric methods to generate a sustainable design that interacts with sustainable, climatic, and environmental restrictions, particularly in hot arid zones where outdoor life is overlooked. This paper will discuss the performance-oriented design and a …

The Role Of Symbolic Resistance In The Permanence Of Islamic Forms, Riyam Rajab Fanjan Rr.

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The Islamic forms reflect a symbolic content and spiritual and ideological dimensions. Between their resistance to change and their response to the formal transformations resulting from technology and contemporary techniques, new ideas and forms are generated. This puts the Islamic form in a challenge that could lead to its emptying of its symbolism and semantic expressions and between its flexible transitions across time and space. Therefore, the research raises the concept of resistance (symbolic-formal) that is known as the interconnected relationship between form, meaning, symbol, and spiritual values. Therefore, the research problem appears " The variation and formal diversity of …

Hygrothermal Risk Assessment Of External Wall Insulation Retrofit To Non-Traditional Wall Types In An Irish Context, Using The Glaser Method And A Heat, Air And Moisture Transient Model, Gareth Mcdonnell, Joseph Little

Articles

The Climate Action Plan 2019 targets the low-energy retrofit of 500,000 existing Irish homes before 2030.1 Up to 80 per cent of building failures can be attributed to moisture risks.2 The literature indicated that external wall insulation (EWI, ETICS) failures are mostly due to moisture ingress at junctions and interfaces. A hygrothermal risk assessment of EWI on three walls with rendered concrete/concrete blockwork/cavity walls in Dublin, Belfast and Belmullet was undertaken using transient numerical simulation and the Glaser method. The guidance, common practice indicates a preference for Glaser. The initial simulation results were compared to assess the appropriateness of Glaser. …

An Investigation Of The Physical And Thermal Properties Of Irish Hemp Fibres As A Loose-Fill Insulation Product, Killian Markey, Sameer Mehra Dr., David Palmer, David Knight, Timothy O'Leary

Conference papers

Construction and built environment sectors account for approximately 37% of Ireland’s carbon emissions. Of this 37%, 14% of the emissions consist of embodied carbon emissions from the construction materials from the production to the end-of-disposal of buildings. The construction industry can reduce its embodied carbon by using materials with a lower embodied carbon. Hemp fibre batt insulation is an example of a bio-based material and a lower embodied carbon alternative to conventional insulations. The existing hemp fibre batt insulation is typically composed of hemp fibres with a polyester binder. These polyester binders have higher embodied carbon while also being a …

Exploring The Impact Of Design Professionals On The Energy Retrofit Of Dwellings In Ireland: A Qualitative Methodology, Olivia Golden

Conference papers

A qualitative approach was taken to investigate the role of design professionals in the energy retrofit of external wall insulation to dwellings in Ireland. The research method combines document analysis with semi structured interviews. Document analysis is used to both inform the questions for the interviews and for validation. The SEAI One Stop Shop grant scheme and PAS 2035 framework were selected for detailed document analysis to gain an understanding of the context in which design professionals are working in Ireland and compare it to the energy retrofit framework in the United Kingdom. This was investigated by mapping the data …

Artificial Intelligence Can Help Detect Ada Accessibility Assets And Compliance, Camille Tischner

Research on Capitol Hill

Asset management is expensive. Computer vision makes collecting data efficient and saleable.

Using Biomimicry To Increase Daylighting Efficiency In Egyptian Office Buildings, . Nervana Osama Hanafy

Journal of Engineering Research

The aim is to design a biomimicry-inspired building skin for Giza City's business towers. Tasks to complete include enhancing daylighting efficiency and promoting visual comfort To improve the daylighting performance of office buildings in Giza City, Egypt, this article presents 144 alternatives for biomimicry-inspired building skin to improve daylighting efficiency and visual comfort for Giza City's business towers For modeling, Revit, Rhino v6, and Grasshopper were utilized. The suggested daylighting simulation application, ClimateStudio (v1.8.8244.25334), was chosen. The building orientation, used materials, surface level measurement, working hours, and pertinent weather file data have all been provided. The evaluation criteria include Annual …

Visual Privacy As An Approach To Improve Human Needs In Residential Buildings In Egypt, Inas Samir Ibrahim, Walaa Nour, Mustafa Alwan

Journal of Engineering Research

Architecture reflects a nation’s cultural, social, and environmental characteristics. As a result of the recent globalization, countries have lost their distinctive architectural identities; due to this, it is difficult to identify A country’s unique identity locally and regionally. Specifically, in Egypt, houses in the traditional style are considered one of the most iconic architectural styles. There is an amazing local identity and a unique spatial quality in the region that characterizes Egypt. On the other hand, Western influences have caused many of the values and attributes of houses to fade. One of the most prominent values is the home’s loss …

The Effect Of Building Information Modeling Technology On The Future Of Architecture Education Development In Universities, Mohamed Abd Elnaser Hamoda, Mahmoud Ahmed Zaki, Marwa Ahmed Kamer Faculty Of Engineering, Tanta University

Journal of Engineering Research

At the beginning of the current century , and with the development of computer technology , a new system based on three-dimensional drawings and modeling appeared with an accurate definition and description of all the elements in the submitted design , with the big development of construction methods and the advancement of the related technology and software, the advantages of the new system were defined and became more specific and relied in many organizations , companies and in design and construction institutions , and this system was called the building information modeling (BIM) .

Despite the importance of the system …

Biobased Construction From Agricultural Crops: Paper 1 - A State Of Play Of Commercial Solutions In Europe, Patrick Daly, Paula G. Barril

Articles

In response to environmental concerns and the global warming issue in particular there is a growing drive to decarbonise the building sector and transition it to more circular practices.

Biobased construction materials, products and systems are an important low carbon and circular strategy as they can enable low to negative carbon construction and have strong circularity advantages notably being able to enter the bio cycle, using renewable, low to zero toxic resources and provide a range of other performance benefits, including moisture and vapour regulation.

This novel research presents a unique state of play on the commercial application of biobased …

Biobased Construction From Agricultural Crops: Paper 2 - Supply Chain Dynamics Of European Case Studies, Patrick Daly, Paula G. Barril

Articles

Energy security, economics and environmental factors are key drivers toward greater energy efficiency, decarbonisation and circularisation of the building sector.

Bio-based construction provides a potential low carbon and circular strategy toward these aims, as these materials can sequester carbon, are derived from renewable and nontoxic sources and can be re circulated in either technical or bio cycles.

This innovative research undertakes a state of play into select agri-crop biobased construction materials, products and systems across Europe focusing on their supply chain types and dynamics.

The research is based on a multi case study applying a range of mainly qualitative research …

A Framework For Enhancing Building Maintainability Through Facilitating Early Suppliers’ Involvement In The Design Process, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ahmed Ramadan Kamal

Architectural Engineering

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to develop a framework to enhance building maintainability through facilitating early suppliers’ involvement (ESI) in the design process. Design/methodology/approach – A research methodology consisting of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire was designed to achieve the above-mentioned aim. Firstly, literature review was used to examine the concepts of building maintenance, maintainability, the design process and ESI. Secondly, three case studies were presented and analysed to investigate the role of ESI towards enhancing building maintainability during the design process. Thirdly, a survey questionnaire was carried out with a representative sample of architectural …

การพัฒนาชุดข้อมูลเทคโนโลยีคู่แฝดดิจิทัลเพื่อประเมินการใช้พื้นที่อาคาร: กรณีศึกษา อาคารในต่างประเทศของกระทรวงการต่างประเทศ, ฐิติชญา ชาตรูปะมัย

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การบริหารพื้นที่อาคารเป็นหลักการที่จะช่วยให้พื้นที่ส่วนต่างๆภายในอาคารถูกใช้งานได้อย่างเต็มประสิทธิภาพและคุ้มค่า กระทรวงการต่างประเทศมีสำนักงานหลายแห่งทั่วโลก จึงมีทรัพยากรทางกายภาพที่ต้องดูแลทางไกลเป็นจำนวนมาก สำหรับในงานวิจัยได้ทำการศึกษาลักษณะการใช้งานพื้นที่กงสุลจาก 7 กรณีศึกษาเเละทำการเเบ่งพื้นที่ส่วนกงสุลออกเป็น 3 ส่วนหลัก ได้เเก่ พื้นที่พักรอ พื้นที่เคาน์เตอร์ เเละพื้นที่อื่นๆวัตถุประสงค์ของงานวิจัยนี้คือการศึกษาการใช้เทคโนโลยีคู่แฝดดิจิทัลในการบริหารจัดการพื้นที่อาคาร เพื่อหารูปแบบของชุดข้อมูลที่จำเป็นในการเป็นแนวทางสำหรับการพัฒนาระบบการจัดการพื้นที่สำหรับพื้นที่กงสุล โดยทำการศึกษาการทำงานของเทคโนโลยีคู่แฝดดิจิทัลในระดับ Descriptive ซึ่งเป็นระดับการศึกษาหาชุดข้อมูลเพื่อเตรียมสำหรับการนำไปใช้งานในระดับอื่นๆต่อไปจากการศึกษาพบว่าชุดข้อมูลที่จำเป็นสำหรับการนำเทคโนโลยีคู่แฝดดิจิทัลมาใช้ในการประเมินพื้นที่อาคาร สามารถเเบ่งข้อมูลแบ่งเป็น 2 ประเภท คือ Static (พื้นที่ห้อง ความจุ พื้นที่ต่อคน) และ Dynamic (จำนวนชั่วโมงการใช้จริงและจำนวนพนักงานที่ใช้ห้องต่อสัปดาห์) ข้อมูล Dynamic จำเป็นต้องมีใช้เทคโนโลยีเซ็นเซอร์ในการเก็บข้อมูลซึ่งในงานวิจัยนี้ได้ทำการศึกษาข้อดีเเละข้อจำกัดของเทคโนโลยีเหล่านี้ Wifi technique, Proximity sensor, Infrared IR sensor, และ Camera-based systems (กล้องนับคนด้วยวิดีโอ, กล้องนับคนด้วย AI, และกล้อง 3D นับคน)จากการศึกษาพบว่าเทคโนโลยีเซ็นเซอร์แต่ละประเภทมีข้อดีและข้อจำกัดที่เเตกต่างกัน พื้นที่พักรอเหมาะสมที่จะใช้ กล้องนับคนด้วยวิดีโอเเละ Infrared IR sensor เนื่องจากเป็นพื้นที่ที่มีผู้ใช้งานจำนวนมาก พื้นที่เคาน์เตอร์เหมาะสมที่จะใช้ กล้องนับคนด้วยวิดีโอเเละกล้องนับคนด้วย AI เพื่อยืนยันตัวตนเเละเก็บข้อมูลที่ต้องการในกรณีที่มีผู้เข้ามาใช้งานเป็นจำนวนมาก พื้นที่อื่นๆเช่นพื้นที่ห้องสัมภาษณ์ พื้นที่ห้องทำบัตรประชาชน ควรมีการใช้ กล้องนับคนด้วยวิดีโอ เเละ Infrared IR sensor ซึ่งจะช่วยในการดูเเลรักษาความปลอดภัยเเละเก็บข้อมูล อย่างไรก็ตามเซ็นเซอร์เเต่ละชนิดมีข้อดีเเละข้อจำกัดที่เเตกต่างกัน จำเป็นต้องศึกษาและวิเคราะห์การใช้งานพื้นที่อย่างละเอียดเพื่อเลือกเทคโนโลยีที่เหมาะสมที่สุดต่อไป

Architectural Design Criteria For Achieving Feng Shui Balance For Chinese Immigrant Houses In Chonburi, Thailand, Yu Peng Huang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis examines how Form School Feng Shui principles can guide residential design for Chinese migrant workers in Chonburi, Thailand. The study addresses the problem of cultural and environmental incongruence in local townhouse layouts, particularly in the arrangement of Yin and Yang spaces and natural ventilation, which are essential to creating a balanced living environment in Feng Shui. The work is significant as it adapts Feng Shui architecture—a system deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy—to a modern context, fostering cultural familiarity and comfort for migrants. Using a comparative analysis of traditional Chaoshan courtyard houses and townhouses in Chonburi, the research evaluates …