Architecture Commons^™

The Effect Of Room Environment On Patient Experience In A Prenatal Genetic Counseling Session, Elizabeth C. Baack

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

An important facet of aesthetic design, a topic of increasing interest in healthcare, is the concept of using positive distractions to promote wellness (Ulrich, 1991). To date, this concept has largely been explored in long-term, in-patient care settings and findings suggest these positive distractions decrease patient anxiety. This study sought to understand the effects of a supportive healthcare design characterized by positive distractions on patients receiving short term, out-patient care, specifically prenatal genetic counseling. Participants were patients at a Houston high-risk pregnancy clinic randomly assigned to one of two room environments: an experimental room which incorporated positive distractions, …

Green Roof Energy Balances For Native Grasses And Sedum, Chris Schwarz

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Green roofs offer a possible solution to reduce urban heat island effects caused by urbanization. Conventional green roofs use sedum for plant cover but growing evidence suggests native species offer better results for harsher environments. However, more information is needed to understand the potential of native species for green roof use in terms of survivability and cooling potential. This study was conducted from July 2013 through October 2013 to quantify the energy balance components for native grasses and sedum on a Midwestern green roof. The semi-intensive green roof located on the Larson Building parking garage in Lincoln, NE was used …

Sustainable Design In The Healthcare Environment, Shannon M. Griffin

Honors College Theses

From creating an efficient business to helping people heal, there are various and difficult goals in a healthcare project. There are significant issues in healthcare design that can be harmful to the people that inhabit the spaces and to the environment. Through evidence-based research, this paper will outline the latest developments in sustainable design and how they can be implemented to solve the current building-related issues in healthcare facilities. Lastly, the solutions will be put into practice in a Healthcare Design Capstone Project utilizing the elements of sustainable design to achieve the goal of sustaining the health of occupants, the …

Visual Translation Of Urban Typography, Fahinaz Ferdous

Open Access Theses

This paper focuses on aspects that can be looked upon in translating typography found in the urban environment of Dhaka and Chicago, how we can relate and interpret typography with the help of contextual design elements, images as well as historic references. Layers behind perception of typefaces, variation in the geographic location of two cities moreover the cultural differences make it an even more interesting subject matter to examine.

Darndale Park Report, Ciaran Cuffe, Daniel Blanchfield, Andrea Culjak, Meadhbh Ní Lochlainn, Orla Gilleece, Lin Zhao, Niall Thomas, John Lucey, Zainab Mansary

Students Learning with Communities

No abstract provided.

Forensically Discovering Simulation Feedback Knowledge From A Campus Energy Information System, Clayton Miller, Arno Schlueter

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Simulation model calibration has been long identified as a key means of reconciling the consumption and efficiency characteristics of buildings. A key step in this process is the creation of the actual diversity factor profiles for occupancy and various energy end uses such as lighting, plug-loads, and HVAC. Creation of these model inputs is conventionally a tedious process of site surveys, interviews or temporary sensor installation. Sometimes measured energy data can be used to create these schedules, however there are many challenges, especially when the sensor network available is large or unorganized. This paper describes a process applying a series …

Moor Movement: Automated Docking On Drought-Stricken Reservoirs, Daniel Beck

Landscape Architecture

Moor Movement establishes a mechanized docking system for unpredictable shoreline fluctuations on inland lakes and reservoirs. Due to climate change and warmer global temperatures, the threat of ocean level rise has initiated massive proposals to address the interface between ocean and man-made infrastructure. While this is a monumental problem, ocean level rise is not the only immediate threat. The recently declared emergency drought conditions in California are finally bringing attention to inland lakes and reservoirs. While ocean levels might rise 2-7 feet in 100 years, a lake could drop 100 feet in 5 years. What happens to access roads, marinas, …

Alive! A Dynamic Process Of Renewal At Pier 70., Kalyn Crosier

Landscape Architecture

Alive is a project proposal for the most northern portion of Pier 70 in San Francisco at the historical slip number four. The project strives to reinvigorate a toxic brownfield with remediation systems, transforming the location into a productive landscape beneficial to surrounding neighborhoods. The project strives to revitalize adjacent communities as well as natural ecosystems.

Conservation Through Limited Development: An Approach For Land Conservancies, Catherine Joy Tarone

Master's Theses

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County is interested in determining the approach that it may take if it decides to pursue conservation and limited development as a strategy to preserve land. In using conservation and limited development, the Conservancy may put into practice its core values by employing this intensely-collaborative conservation tool and informing itself about development, conservation, collaboration and financing, in order to meet multiple community needs.

Information about the limited development process was collected from books, news articles and personal communications with professionals to determine its components. Each chapter of this report analyzes one component, putting …

Parametric Performance-Driven Passive Solar Designed Facade Systems, Thomas Paul Shorey Jr.

Master's Theses

Buildings in the United States account for nearly 68% of all U.S. energy consumption due to their reliance on electrical lighting and mechanical systems. Beginning in the 20^th century, emphasis on developing the glass curtain wall created increased energy demands on lighting and mechanical systems. Consequently, the building’s curtain wall is a direct cause of significant energy loads. This research project investigated how current parametric design tools and energy analysis software are used during a performance-driven passive solar design process to develop facade systems that lower the energy use intensity (EUI) of a building and increase natural daylight to …

Net Zero Residential Design For Solar Calpoly, Bryce Reiko Willis

Master's Theses

The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed Team Solar Cal Poly from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as a competitor in the 2015 Solar Decathlon in February 2014. The Solar Decathlon is a biennial collegiate competition to construct a net-zero home and operate it for a week of “normal use”. Solar Cal Poly needed assistance with passive and active HVAC systems for the design, and thermal load models. The competition will take place in Irvine, CA [33.67⁰, 117.82⁰ W] from September 27 – October 3, 2015. After the completion, a potential final location for the house will be Santa …

Bicycle Tourism Plan For Economic Development: A Template For Rural Agricultural Towns And A Case Study For The City Of Winters, California, Marisa Rene Lee

Master's Theses

Bicycling is a method of tourism transportation that is healthy, non-invasive, environmentally responsible, and economically sustainable. It allows freedom, mobility, and sightseeing potential that is not made possible by other modes of transit. Thousands of bicycle tourists travel from all over the globe annually to explore California on touring bikes via established cycling routes and robust determination. Thousands of additional domestic and international visitors take weekend trips, plan family vacations, travel for business, or tour California from abroad, many of whom are excellent candidates for local and regional bicycle touring at a more gentle intensity level.

The increasing popularity and …

Towards A Collective Spatial Form:An Analysis Of Achill’S Deserted Village, Noel Brady

Conference papers

This paper examines an earlier study by Bob Kingston and along with onsite observations develops an environmental theory behind the particular siting and location of the deserted village in Achill, Ireland. The paper relies on the survey conducted by Kingston in the first instance but then by translating the material into a different format has concluded on statistically significant evidence of willful and careful planning and design in the construction of the houses.

Green Infrastructure Performance In Stormwater Quality, Hailey Wall

Research on Capitol Hill

No abstract provided.

Sensible Air To Air Heat Recovery Strategies In A Passive House, Santiago Martin Rodriguez-Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

Due to rising energy costs and concerns about global climate change, high performance buildings are more in demand than ever before. With roughly 20% of the total energy consumption in the United States being devoted to residential use, this sector represents a significant opportunity for future savings. There are many guidelines and standards for reducing building energy consumption. One of the most stringent is the Passive House Standard. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference (ACH 50), annual heating energy is less than …

Ua12/13 2015 Sustainability Report [Western Kentucky University], Wku Office Of Sustainability, Christian Ryan-Downing

Sustainability Publications and Resources

2015 was a great year for WKU Sustainability, marked by significant new initiatives, special recognitions, and continued progress in advancing sustainability in the way Hilltoppers live, learn, and work. This report highlights the sustainability accomplishments of WKU students, faculty, staff, the Office of Sustainability, and the campus community in 2015.

Establishing A Framework For The Recognition Of Local Arboricultural Practitioners, Paul Yuen King Chan

Faculty of Design & Environment (THEi)

No abstract provided.

Air Change Rate Vs Airflow Pathway: Bioaerosol Containment And Removal In Patient Rooms, Kevin R. Grosskopf

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Recent studies have shown that higher air change rates may have the unintended consequence of creating turbulent airflows that entrain high concentrations of infectious particles within the breathing zone, and possibly, breakdown pressure relationships necessary to contain the spread of infectious particles to other clinical spaces.

Use Of Fiber-Reinforced Cements In Masonry Construction And Structural Rehabilitation, Ece Erdogmus

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The use of fiber reinforcement in traditional concrete mixes has been extensively studied and has been slowly finding its regular use in practice. In contrast, opportunities for the use of fibers in masonry applications and structural rehabilitation projects (masonry and concrete structures) have not been as deeply investigated, where the base matrix may be a weaker cementitious mixture. This paper will summarize the findings of the author’s research over the past 10 years in these particular applications of fiber reinforced cements (FRC). For masonry, considering both mortar and mortar-unit bond characteristics, a 0.5% volume fraction of micro fibers in type …

M.Sc. Sustainable Development Group Project On The Environmental Design And Management Of Darndale Park., Daniel Blanchfield, Andrea Culjak, Meadhbh Ní Lochlainn, Orla Gilleece, Lin Zhao, Niall Thomas, John Lucey, Zainab Mansary

Students Learning with Communities

No abstract provided.

Northside Partnership Healthy Communities Pilot Area Walkability Audit, Lin Zhao, Meadhbh Ní Lochlainn

Students Learning with Communities

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Predictive Functional Controller, Fadi Alsaleem, Arvind Rao

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A controller device and a method for controlling a system that utilizes an adaptive mechanism to self-learn the system char acteristics and incorporates this adaptive self-learning ability to predict a control parameter correctly to provide precise control of a system component.

An Adaptive Photovoltaic Topology To Overcome Shading Effect In Pv Systems, Mohamed Amer Chaaban, Lana El Chaar, Mahmoud Alahmad

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Shading in photovoltaic systems can cause many undesired effects.When shading occurs, the power generated from the PV system is much less than nominal power, increasing the electrical mismatching losses between PV system components. Active research to address this power loss focuses on static and adaptive systems.This paper addresses an adaptive system solution and proposes a new method to adaptively overcome losses due to shading during low radiation conditions. In addition, a statistical analysis for choosing the most feasible and efficient configuration for the system size is presented. The proposed system has been validated under shade conditions in a simulation and …

Building Envelope And Interior Grading Systems And Methods, Fadi Mohammad Alsaleem

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A difference module determines differences between an out door ambient temperature and an indoor temperature, deter mines a first average of the differences, and determines a second average of the differences. A storing module stores a first data point, the first data point including the first average and a first total run time of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, and stores a second data point, the second data point including the second average and a second total run time of the HVAC system. A fitting module fits a line to the first and second data points. An …

Rapid Urbanization And The Informational Metacity In China, David Grahame Shane

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

An informational revolution created a new awareness of recent rapid global urbanization, with China providing a clear case study. Big data and global statistics created a governmental model ofan informational Metacity exemplified by China's Shanghai Expo, but this model has unintended consequences. Some consequences such as mass tourism are global in character with Chinese characteristics. Others such as the conversion of old factory Danwei and urban villages are local and specifically Chinese. The scale and speed of China's urbanization and the Shanghai Expo provides a special laboratory for the study of the development of multi-scalar and mixed-use in a context …

Smart City: A Case Of Seoul, Myounggu Kang

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Smart City is a city that efficiently and effectively solves its challenges in advancing the quality of life and work of its citizens by adequately making use of the best available technologies, which are mainlyinfrastructure technology in the early stages of urbanization and information technology for everyday use. In addition, it is also argued that a city requires not only technology but also new regulations to become a smart city. With new technology and rules Smart City successfully achieves prosperity and sustainability. This paper briefly reviews what defines a smart city and discusses the case of Seoul.This paper discusses two …

Urban Spatial Development To Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effectin The Inner Area Of Bangkok, Jittisak Thammapornpilas

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

An urban heat island is one of the factors that cause a climate change to become more critical. Bangkok is one of the mega cities in the world in which urban areas have been affected by the urban heatisland, especially the inner area of Bangkok and its CBD. The survey data from a satellite confirmed the hypothesis of the affected area in the inner zone of Bangkok. From the study it has been found that the urban heat island problem in the urban area of Bangkok was developed by the augmentation of its physical surroundings of all the man-made construction. …

.Flt.Cn, Timothy Jachna

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This paper presents a near-future scenario for urban China, derived through application of scenario planning techniques to extrapolate components of a possible urban future, based on analysis ofrecent and current digitally-mediated urban spatial practice in Chinese cities. The scenario provides a framework for exploring the interplay of top-down modes of control and bottom-up "performance" in the digital city; the co-forming relationship between urban spatial practices and the appropriation of digital communications networks for social and spatial experimentation; and the culturally and socially conditioned roles that digital technologies play in the formation and evolution of urban morphology and urban societies.

White Building: Smart City, Pen Sereypagna

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This article examines a single purpose building known as the "White Building" that has the acquired complexity as a microcosm of an Asian Smart City due to its adaptability from being a well-planned,minimal housing unit in the well-known 1960s Bassac waterfront district, to becoming an art-based, community, mixed - use building.

Bhutanese Dwellings: Sustaining The State Of Wellbeing-Ness, Waricha Wongphyat

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Although Gross National Happiness (GNH) is acclaimed as the Bhutanese overarching goal of development, the country's pursuit of modernization and urbanization has inevitably brought about adecline in vitality of traditional communities and indigenous dwellings. This paper aims to explore how to sustain the state of wellbeing-ness of the Bhutanese dwellings in the evolving context. Considering the abundance of natural and cultural landscape vis-à-vis the deficiency of human resource and skill in agriculture, Shari village is selected as the case study representing the nationwide concerns. Based on field surveys, interviews and documents provided by the DCHS, this paper proposes the smart …