Building Impulse Toolkit (BIT): A novel IoT system for capturing the influence of façades on occupant perception and occupant-façade interaction. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luna-Navarro, Alessandra; Fidler, Paul; Law, Alistair; Torres, Santiago; Overend, Mauro
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 193(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Internet of things -- Façade -- Occupant interaction -- Multi-domain occupant comfort; C2HCl3 Trichloroethylene -- C2Cl4 Tetrachloroethylene -- C6H6 Benzene -- C10H8 Naphthalene -- CO Carbon Oxide -- CO2 Carbon Dioxide -- CH2O Formaldehyde -- C1A / C1B VOC Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Compounds -- DGP Daylight Glare Probability -- DT Target Daylight Factor -- DR Draft Rate -- ET Equation of time -- HDR High Dynamic Range -- RH Relative Humidity -- IEQ Indoor Environmental Quality -- IoT Internet of Things -- Leq Equivalent Continous Sound Level -- MQTT Message Queuing Telemetry Transport -- MRT Mean Radiant Temperature -- NO2 Nitrogen dioxide -- PAHs .Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- PMV Predicted Mean Vote -- PPD Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied -- PD Percentage Dissatisfied -- Rn Radon -- SPL Sound Pressure Level -- Top Operative Temperature -- Top* Adjusted Operative Temperature -- TVOC Total Volatile Organic Compounds -- UDI Useful Daylight Illuminance; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107656
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: The design and operation of responsive resource-efficient buildings requires high resolution data in space and time on building performance and the associated occupant response, but capturing this high quality data has traditionally been technologically challenging, costly and disruptive to building occupants. Recent developments in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies provide an opportunity to monitor holistic indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and related occupant perception and behaviour in a more cost-effective and less disruptive manner whilst providing higher granularity data in space and time. Façades have a significant and dynamic influence on IEQ and building performance, and occupants often interact with them, but there is a dearth of IoT solutions for monitoring the façade-induced effects. This paper describes the development, deployment and assessment of the Building Impulse Toolkit (BIT), a prototype IoT system for capturing the holistic and transient influence of façades on IEQ and occupants. The methodology adopted in the design and development of the BIT prototype is first explained. The results obtained from a 9-month deployment in a real-world office are then reported and discussed, in particular the capabilities and limitations of the BIT prototype in: 1) capturing the influence of the façade on IEQ in space and time; 2) monitoring occupant environmental discomfort and satisfaction and in a non-disruptive manner; 3) monitoring occupant interaction with the façade. It was found that BIT is largely successful at meeting these objectives, but occupant engagement could be improved in the next generation prototypes. Highlights: The requirements for IoT solutions aimed to monitor the effect of facades on IEQ and occupants are reviewed. A novel IoT toolkit to capture the multi-domain effect of facades on IEQ and occupants is described. The toolkit design is tested by collecting data during 9-months in a real office space. Results on IEQ, occupant perception to and interaction with the façade are shown. The potentialities and limitation of the toolkit are discussed to guide further developments.