Contents
Declaration i
Approval . iii
Abstract v
Acknowledgements . vii
List of figures xi
List of tables xi
1. Introduction 1
1.1. Background . 1
1.2. Purpose statement . 2
1.3. Research question . 2
1.4. Research objectives. 2
1.5. Significance of the study . 2
2. Literature Review 3
2.1. Data visualization 3
2.1.1. Components of data visualization 4
2.1.2. Principles of a good visualization design 5
2.2. Communication of complex energy simulation data 5
2.2.1. Energy simulation related data and tools 5
2.2.2. Spatial and temporal representations 6
2.3. Integrating energy analysis with design stages 7
2.4. Summary 8
3. Research Methodology 9
3.1 Interviews 9
3.1.1. Preparation of an outline for the interview 9
3.1.2. Conducting the interviews 9
3.1.3. Qualitative analysis of literature review and interviews. 10
3.2. Classification of existing representations . 10
3.2.1. Collection and classification of representations . 10
3.2.2. Identification of the representation gap 12
3.3. Demonstration of representations . 12
3.3.1. Building selection criteria . 12 3.3.2. Identification of a building . 12
3.3.3. Building the energy model . 12
3.3.4. Development of representations to address the gap 12
4. Analysis and Results 13
4.1. Interviews . 13
4.2. Classification of design decisions and corresponding metrics 15
4.2.1. Pre-design Stage . 15
4.2.2. Concept Design Stage. 15
4.2.3. Preliminary Design Stage . 16
4.2.4. Analysis of the relationship between design decisions and output metrics 17
4.3. Classification of representations . 18
4.3.1. Pre-design Stage . 18
4.3.2. Concept Design Stage. 19
4.3.3. Preliminary Design Stage . 20
4.4. Proposed representations 21
4.4.1. Solar Insolation . 22
4.4.2. Heat Flux 22
4.4.3. Indoor Temperature 23
4.4.4. Envelope Load in the space 25
4.4.5. Cooling Load 26
4.4.6. Comfort hours . 27
4.5. Discussion . 28
5. Conclusions . 28
5.1. Recommendations for future study . 29
References 30
Appendix 33
1. Appendix A: Components of data visualization . 33
2. Appendix B: Principles of data visualization 35
3. Appendix C: List of architects and energy consultants interviewed . 37
4. Appendix D: Questions for the interview . 38
5. Appendix E: Representations in the pre-design stage . 39
i. Climate Analysis 39
ii. Site Analysis 40
6. Appendix F: Representations in the concept design stage 40
i. Orientation . 41
ii. Orientation + Aspect Ratio 41
iii. Massing + Space Planning . 41
iv. Window Design . 42
v. Shading Device 44
vi. Envelope Assembly . 45
vii. Envelope assembly + Shading Device . 45
7. Appendix G: Representations in the preliminary design stage . 46
i. Window Design . 46
ii. Envelope Assembly + Window Design . 47
iii. Envelope Assembly . 48
iv. HVAC System . 48
v. Shading Device 50
8. Appendix H: Scripts prepared in Grasshopper using Ladybug and Honeybee . 51
i. Solar Shade Benefit 51
ii. Surface Energy Flux 52
iii. Operative Temperature 53
iv. Envelope Load with Daylight Autonomy and Annual Sun Exposure . 54
v. Energy shade benefit 55
vi. Comfortable hours . 56