Showing papers in "Indoor and Built Environment in 2021"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the basic theories and transformation of urban design, discussing new concepts, technologies and methods of urban designs, as well as scientifically recognizing the challenges and opportunities of the development of urban development can provide effective solutions based on urban design for outstanding problems.
Abstract: At present, more than 55% of the world’s population lives in cities, and this is expected to rise to 68% by 2050, with nearly 90% of the increase in the urban population occurring in Asia and Africa, especially for India and China. Thanks to the rapid urbanization, the proportion of China’s urban population has increased from 17.92% in 1978 to 58.5% in 2017, which is expected to exceed 60% in 2020. The urbanization process has brought about the rapid socio-economic development of cities, yet the rapid urbanization process has also led to some problems related to urban development, such as overconsumption of resources, increasingly prominent pollution, frequent occurrence of ‘urban diseases’ and extreme weather events, continuous deterioration of living environment quality, etc., which have brought new challenges to sustainable urban design. Under this background, analysing the basic theories and transformation of urban design, discussing new concepts, technologies and methods of urban design, as well as scientifically recognizing the challenges and opportunities of the development of urban design can provide effective solutions based on urban design for outstanding problems in the rapid process of urban construction and sustainable development.
51 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that estimates of airborne infection can be accurately reconstructed, thereby offering scope for more informed retrospective modelling should outbreaks occur in spaces where CO2 is monitored, and well-ventilated spaces appear unlikely to contribute significantly to airborne infection.
Abstract: The risk of long range, herein ‘airborne', infection needs to be better understood and is especially urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a method to determine the relative risk of airbo...
38 citations
TL;DR: Although well-established technologies can remove certain toxins from indoor environments, methods capable of eliminating all of them do not yet exist as discussed by the authors, however, which are based on biological methods, however, they are not yet available.
Abstract: Although well-established technologies can remove certain toxins from indoor environments, methods capable of eliminating all of them do not yet exist. Biological methods, however, which are based ...
36 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a need to investigate potential connections between the built environment and mental health in urban environments is highlighted. But the authors do not consider the relationship between mental health and urban environments.
Abstract: Global urbanization, combined with evidence of increased prevalence of mental illness in urban environments, highlights a need to investigate potential connections between the built environment and...
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors employ passive design strategies and with the use of alternative energy resources mainly solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy resources to reduce energy consumption in buildings.
Abstract: Energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by employing passive design strategies and with the use of alternative energy resources mainly solar photovoltaic and solar thermal. These measures no...
28 citations
TL;DR: Aerosol generated from a human cough can be a potential major indoor health risk due to the possible transmission of infectious respiratory diseases to surrounding individuals within the same room as mentioned in this paper, which can be considered as a potential health risk.
Abstract: Aerosol generated from a human cough can be a potential major indoor health risk due to the possible transmission of infectious respiratory diseases to surrounding individuals within the same room ...
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a demand controlled demand-controlled indoor air quality control system is proposed. But, the authors point out that the quality can be impacted by indoor atmospheric pollutants present.
Abstract: Occupant health can be strongly influenced by indoor air quality due to time spent indoors (90%). Such quality can be impacted by indoor atmospheric pollutants present. Therefore, demand-controlled...
27 citations
TL;DR: China’s pledge to bring forward its strengthened national plan is a major boost to the progress of the upcoming UN climate congress, COP26 to be hosted by the UK in Glasgow in November 2021.
Abstract: The term ‘carbon neutrality’ was originally introduced in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC COP21 Paris Climate Accord, December 2015. This has become a household buzzword in recent years. Carbon neutrality is a balance between carbon source reduction and carbon absorption, i.e. reducing carbon emission sources while also having an important consideration on carbon elimination and absorption. On 22 September 2020, the President Xi of China stated that ‘Achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is a profound economic and social revolution, and it should be incorporated into the overall planning of ecological civilization construction, so as to achieve carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060’. China’s pledge to bring forward its strengthened national plan is a major boost to the progress of the upcoming UN climate congress, COP26 to be hosted by the UK in Glasgow in November 2021. China’s carbon neutrality goal is feasible both technically and economically. China, UK and the EU have set stronger commitment targets for reduction of carbon emission. China pledges:
26 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of the transient airflow and bacteria-carrying particles spread caused by the opening of a sliding door in an OR with mixing ventilation showed that quantifying only the air volume exchange is not sufficient for a valid and reliable assessment of the impact of door openings on the risk of SSIs.
Abstract: Operating rooms (ORs) often have door openings connected to uncontrolled areas that are more contaminated. Opening the door may allow an inflow of contaminated air, degrade the microbiological air ...
26 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the design of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system, airsupply speed (ventilation rate) and air-supply tempera...
Abstract: Rational and scientific design of indoor air conditioning is essential. In the design of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system, air-supply speed (ventilation rate) and air-supply tempera...
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a photo questionnaire containing scenes of different types of campus landscapes was distributed to students to find appropriate landscape patterns of campus based on students' preferences, and a survey was conducted to find suitable landscape patterns.
Abstract: This study seeks to find appropriate landscape patterns of campus based on students’ preferences. A photo questionnaire containing scenes of different types of campus landscapes was distributed amo...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report a comprehensive study on indoor air quality in 30 dwellings in the temperate region of the United States and report that IAQ is a key factor that could affect the indoor environment and people's health.
Abstract: Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a key factor that could affect the indoor environment and people's health. In this study, we report a comprehensive study on IAQ in 30 dwellings in the temperate...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focused on the potential effects of flower colours on stressed people and found that they can positively affect human wellbeing, despite the existence of plentiful studies on how plants can positively impact human wellbeing.
Abstract: Despite the existence of plentiful studies on how plants can positively affect human wellbeing, few have focused on the potential effects of flower colours on stressed people. The present study was...
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of work groups on occupant satisfaction with workplace environments was compared between commercial buildings and academic buildings, and the number of occupants sharing an office was found to be a predictor of occupant satisfaction.
Abstract: The influence of work groups (the number of occupants sharing an office) on occupant satisfaction with workplace environments was compared between commercial buildings and academic buildings. Using...
TL;DR: The objective of this study was to develop a modelling methodology for predicting individual occupant's behaviour relating to the manual control of windows by using machine learning algorithms, which showed the best fitness with the monitored data set.
Abstract: The manual control of windows is one of the common adaptive behaviours for occupants to adjust their indoor environment in homes. The cross-ventilation by the window opening provides a useful tool ...
TL;DR: The importance of better understanding of the dynamics and transmission routes of the expelled virus-laden droplets or aerosols, which are largely affected by complex flow interactions in human microenvironment, is highlighted.
Abstract: The global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased the demand of effective control of the disease transmission between people, especially when they are in close distance bet...
TL;DR: In this paper, the building environment and thermal comfort of occupants were investigated at a university building located in severe cold climate zone in the northwest of China during winter, and the authors investigated the thermal comfort and building environment.
Abstract: In this paper, the building environment and the thermal comfort of occupants were investigated at a university building located in severe cold climate zone in the northwest of China during winter, ...
TL;DR: In recent years, the pollution of the air environment has been increasing, which has seriously endangered human health as mentioned in this paper, and the large amount of coal burning and automobile exhaust emissions in winter h...
Abstract: In recent years, the pollution of the air environment has been increasing, which has seriously endangered human health. The large amount of coal burning and automobile exhaust emissions in winter h...
TL;DR: The COVID-19 infection has emerged as a disruptive pandemic at worldwide level as mentioned in this paper, and the study of the mechanism of contagion is one of the greatest challenges before a mass vaccination campaign that wou...
Abstract: The COVID-19 infection has emerged as a disruptive pandemic at worldwide level. The study of the mechanism of contagion is one of the greatest challenges before a mass vaccination campaign that wou...
TL;DR: Based on the excellent properties of light guiding and elasto-optic effect of optical fibre, a novel transparent concrete with plastic optical fibres arranged into the concrete was developed and evaluated and showed that PTCP possesses excellent light transmittance property, which was proportional to the content of the optical fibre.
Abstract: Buildings consume large amounts of energy, and lighting consumes a substantial amount of this energy. Therefore, an alternative technology that depends more on natural lighting is needed in order t...
TL;DR: The paper shows that existing ABFs must be further developed for northern applications in terms of the physical structure and configuration of components, and develops a holistic parametric methodology to integrate and optimize major design variables of ABF’s components.
Abstract: This paper develops an integrated design framework of adaptive building facades (ABFs) to respond to photobiological and thermal needs of occupants, biophilic factors, energy requirements and clima...
TL;DR: The results show that the polyhedral meshes could save almost 95% of computing time without sacrificing model accuracy, compared with the other two mesh types with the approximately same grid numbers.
Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been proven to be a versatile tool for indoor environment simulations. The discretization of computational domain (mesh generation) determines the reliability...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors tested the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office environment and developed design strategies and methods by testing the dynamic interplay.
Abstract: The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office. The double dynamic light...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the AC systems of air-conditioning at the airport terminals in order to guarantee the normal operation of the air conditioning at the air-convex terminals.
Abstract: Airport terminals are key infrastructures with rapid development currently, where the air-conditioning (AC) systems aim to guarantee the normal operation. This research investigated the AC systems ...
TL;DR: The effectiveness of the increase in passive ventilation was studied as remedial action for high concentrations of indoor radon gas activity as discussed by the authors, and the rationale has been to apply the provisions of Direc...
Abstract: The effectiveness of the increase in passive ventilation was studied as remedial action for high concentrations of indoor radon gas activity. The rationale has been to apply the provisions of Direc...
TL;DR: In this paper, a hybrid radiant cooling (HRC) system combines the best features of a typical all-air and convention-convex cooling system to achieve thermal comfort.
Abstract: The study investigates a hybrid radiant cooling system's potential to achieve thermal comfort. The hybrid radiant cooling (HRC) system combines the best features of a typical all-air and convention...
TL;DR: The contribution of solar radiation on the global thermal comfort and local thermal comfort condition for a person sitting near a glass window in a building located in a tropical climate was studied in this article.
Abstract: The contribution of solar radiation on the global thermal comfort and local thermal comfort condition for a person sitting near a glass window in a building located in a tropical climate was studie...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors found that tropical or subtropical climates result in considerable heat stress in outdoor environments, which handicaps social activities in public spaces such as urban parks.
Abstract: Tropical or subtropical climates result in considerable heat stress in outdoor environments, which handicaps social activities in public spaces such as urban parks. This study aims to find out the ...
TL;DR: It is concluded that seemingly wasted light in people's homes can serve a purpose for the residents, such as avoiding visual or aesthetic discomfort, making the home inviting, benefitting people outside and providing safety.
Abstract: Promoting resource- and energy-efficient home lighting through technology and behaviour change requires an understanding of how residents currently use lighting and what they want from it. However,...
TL;DR: In order to achieve and maintain standardized medical facilities with a highquality disinfection hygiene, there is an urgent need to develop a systematic and reliable methodology to quantitatively evaluate and optimize routine disinfection devices and HVAC system towards efficient control of the airborne disease.
Abstract: COVID-19 (Corona virus disease, 2019) is a worldwide public health emergency and the disease has been spreading globally at an alarming rate. There is an urgent need to reduce the healthcare transmission risk among healthcare workers and patients in hospitals due to the pandemic. In the indoor environment, the respiratory infection can be transmitted via direct contact with surfaces contaminated by respiratory droplets, by inhaling airborne respiratory aerosol or by faecal–oral transmission. Therefore, professional measures are indispensable to effectively control respiratory disease, including personal protection, social distancing, routine disinfection and a control of the indoor environment by using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In hospital, routine disinfection and HVAC system should be combined to control airborne diseases. Routine disinfection is widely utilized to efficiently disinfect contaminated air/surface and control transmission of airborne infectious disease in hospital. Routine disinfection includes running air disinfection machines, direct ultraviolet radiation and wiping indoor surface with chlorine containing disinfectant. The operation of HVAC is also essential for air disinfection to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. The HVAC system with a proper design and operation can disinfect polluted air, provide fresh air, interfere with air transmission route and remove airborne respiratory droplets/aerosols. In order to achieve and maintain standardized medical facilities with a highquality disinfection hygiene, there is an urgent need to develop a systematic and reliable methodology to quantitatively evaluate and optimize routine disinfection devices and HVAC system towards efficient control of the airborne disease. This paper discusses advantages/disadvantages of different hospital disinfection methods and summarizes relevant quantitative design/simulation methods. To satisfy requirements of high-quality engineering design, some suggestions are provided to improve available quantitative design methods of disinfection devices and HVAC system. For routine disinfection of indoor environment in hospital, both the air disinfection and indoor surface disinfection should be considered.