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

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 nondisruptive 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.

Dynamic façades – An exploratory campaign to assess occupant multi-domain environmental satisfaction and façade interaction

“…Fig. 7 shows the blind position and slat angle during the three experimental scenarios A, B and C. Similar to the findings of previous work [10], the scenario with the façade A, which was the manually operated scenario, registered a very low number of interactions.…”

“…However, the ability of automated controls to prevent glare is also valued by occupants and this is not always achieved by automated controls. For instance, glare prevention can be particularly challenging for roller blinds [14] and switchable glazing [10,15]; • Tailor the control strategies for specific façade technologies. The control strategy plays a key role for the effectiveness of a façade in mitigating discomfort.…”

“…Capturing occupant perception/interaction with automated dynamic façades is challenging for several reasons: (i) window and façades are the preferred means for environmental control by occupants, therefore interactions are frequent and driven by different reasons, such as adaptive behaviours to restore comfort [9] and, therefore, difficult to predict; (ii) façades have a multi-domain influence on occupant environmental perception [10], and often occupant environmental requirements are in conflict (e.g. glare mitigation versus daylight maximisation or vent opening for fresh air versus outdoor noise control); (iii) as in other human comfort problems, occupant requirements are highly individual [11], they change in time and vary with the distance between the occupant and the façade [12].…”

Towards a Human Centred Approach for Adaptive Façades

“…Another study on occupant-centric control strategies for adaptive façades discusses the implementations of adaptive comfort models and personalized control strategies to improve user satisfaction (Tabadkani et al, 2021). In addition, there are a few other research studies on post-occupancy evaluations and real-time occupant feedback in buildings with adaptive façades, demonstrating the influences of different physical factors on the feeling of comfort in users (Alavi et al, 2017;Attia et al, 2018;Bakker et al, 2014;Lassen et al, 2021;Luna-Navarro et al, 2021).…”

“…It may affect all experiences in terms of seeing, feeling, and hearing. Users' interactions with their façade vary due to their distance from it, hence building layout is listed as one of the influential factors for opening/closing windows and adjusting shading elements behaviours (Kwon et al, 2019;Luna-Navarro et al, 2021). In addition to that, as was also mentioned under the socio-personal traits, being in a private or shared office may alter ones adaptive behaviours by creating social pressure (Bakker et al, 2014;Boerstra, 2016;Brager et al, 2004;Buso et al, 2015;D'Oca et al, 2016;Day & Gunderson, 2015;Delzendeh et al, 2017;Fabi et al, 2012;Huizenga et al, 2006;Kim & de Dear, 2012;O'Brien & Gunay, 2014;Roulet et al, 2006;Samani, 2015;Vischer, 2007;Wagner, 2018;Zagreus et al, 2004;Zhang et al, 2018).…”