Development of Software Tools for the Design of Energy Efficient Buildings

The aim of this project is the development of an expandable software application, which is based on an integrated approach for collaborative and efficient decision making throughout a building`s life cycle. Decisions throughout the life cycle of a building, from design to construction and from commissioning to operation and demolition, require the involvement of multiple interested parties. The performance of alternative designs must be assessed with respect to a range of criteria, such as comfort, aesthetics, energy, cost and environmental impact. Several stand-alone computer tools are currently available that address specific performance issues during various stages of a building`s life cycle. However, these tools are not linked in any way, so significant work is required to maintain and distribute information to all parties. The proposed software tool will provide the data management and process control required for collaborative decision making throughout a building`s life cycle, by supporting multiple concurrent users, and facilitating discussions leading to decision making. It allows users to define rules and functions for automating tasks and alerting all participants to issues that require attention. The implementation of a very abstract decision-making model for data and processes, in order to address the specific needs of the various disciplines, makes that model (theoretically) infinitely expandable as the application-specific data and process information about a building grows. The software supports the management of simulated as well as real data and continuously generates information which is useful for improving the performance prediction and understanding of the effects of proposed technologies. Although the tool is infinitely expandable, the main emphasis within this project will be on the verification of building performances against regional energy standards and codes.