The IEQ Occupant Manikin: a holistic indoor environmental quality assessment tool

Abstract

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) measurement is a fundamental part of quantifying the performance of any space. Performing measurements and interpreting the results require expensive equipment and specialist knowledge for each parameter. Since holistic IEQ assessment requires investigation of multiple parameters across atmospheric, thermal, acoustic, and visual indoor environment, this is a comprehensive and expensive task. The IEQ Occupant Manikin concept presents an operational holistic IEQ assessment based on measurements of various parameters. The paper presents the development of a prototype manikin equipped with various sensors strategically positioned to best represent the exposure occupants would experience. Since the manikin also physically mimics an occupant in the space, the term occupant-centric measurements is used. In addition, the paper presents a preliminary methodology for the assessment, weighting, and aggregation of individual IEQ parameters towards an overall holistic IEQ assessment. Practical implementation of the work is discussed, including the potential implications for standards on IEQ measurement. The paper reflects upon the future perspectives on using machine learning for a black box modelling approach to tackle the complex issues with the interaction effects between IEQ parameters and relative IEQ parameter weights for holistic assessment. Finally, the paper presents suggestions for future work on the IEQ Occupant Manikin concept.