High performance jointing systems for timber

In current timber design, member sizes are often determined by the need to have an adequate section size for jointing. The use of high performance jointing systems has the potential to achieve substantial reductions in the volume of timber used in conventional structures such as roof trusses. In this programme four different jointing systems which are suitable for large timber sections have been tested: Standard black bolts, Split ring/shear plates, resin bonded steel dowels and butt joints with uni-axial glass reinforcement. The results have shown that the shear plates and the glass-reinforced joints offered the best performance.     

Development of a building performance rating and labelling system in Canada

The recent GBC '98 conference presented the results of a two-year process of developing and testing a new approach to the performance assessment of buildings. The international process is continuing, but in many jurisdictions, including Canada, there is a desire to test the implementation of a system, one that includes ratings and labelling as well as performance assessments. This paper attempts to outline some of the factors that are seen by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) as relevant to the need, market potential and barriers to such a system. The roles of various actors are considered including industry and government organizations, investors, utilities, building information centres, standards organizations, performance assessors, building owners and operators, tenants. La conference GBC 98 a recemment presente les resultats d'un exercice qui s'est deroule sur deux ans et qui etait consacre a l'elaboration et au test d'une nouvelle methode d'evaluation des performances des batiments. Ce projet se poursuit a l'echelon international mais de nombreux etats, notamment le Canada, souhaitent faire l'essai d'un systeme qui integrerait des notations et des classements ainsi que des evaluations de performances. Cet article tente de mettre en lumiere quelques-uns des facteurs que le ministere canadien des ressources naturelles (NRCan) a juges pertinents par rapport aux besoins, au marche potentiel et aux obstacles qui se dresseraient devant un tel systeme. L'article examine le role des divers acteurs, y compris l'industrie et les organisations officielles, les investisseurs, les services publics, les centres d'information sur le batiment, les organisations de normalisation, les evaluateurs de performances, les proprietaires et les exploitants de batiments, les locataires.     

Comparison of the performance of fuzzy controllers for the management of the indoor environment

Fuzzy logic control applied in Indoor Environment Management Systems provides a significant advantage in terms of energy conservation and users’ indoor comfort requirements satisfaction compared with the classical control systems. The aim of the present paper is to compare the performance of five fuzzy controllers (fuzzy P, fuzzy PID, fuzzy PI, fuzzy PD and adaptive fuzzy PD) developed in the framework of the BUILTECH (JOE3-CT97-0044) project which is in part funded by the European Commission JOULE Programme. The performance criteria are the response performance and the energy consumption.     

Exploring the effects of geotextiles in the performance of highway filter drains

Highway Filter Drains (HFD) are one of the most utilised drainage systems for roads, being considered as an environmental solution for sustainable drainage in transport infrastructures. However, little research has been done to understand their performance, representing a significant knowledge gap. This article therefore determines the hydraulic and clogging response of 3 different HFD designs in the laboratory; one standard design with British Standard Type B aggregate, and 2 new designs including a geotextile located at 50?mm and 500?mm depth from the surface of the HFD structure in order to assess the effect of the geotextile. The laboratory models were initially subjected to 9 rainfall scenarios with 3 rainfall intensities (2.5, 5 and 10?mm/h) and 3 storm durations (5, 10 and 15?min). Subsequently, the equivalent of 2-years’ worth of pollutants were added to test possible clogging issues under the highest intensity rainfall event, corresponding to a 1 in 1 year return period for the West Midlands, UK. No clogging issues were found in any of the models although the majority of the sediments were concentrated in the first 50?mm of the HFD profile, with higher percentages (>90% of the sediment added) in those models with an upper geotextile. Location of the geotextile significantly influenced (p-value?=?0.05) the hydraulic performance of the HFD.     

Application of an integrated indoor climate,HVAC and showcase model for the indoor climate performance of a museum

This paper presents a case study on the performance based design of a HVAC system and controller of a museum. A famous museum in The Netherlands has reported possible damage to important preserved wallpaper fragments. The paper provides an evaluation of the current indoor climate by measurements, showing that the indoor climate performance does not satisfy the requirements for the preservation of old paper. To solve this problem we developed an integrated heat air and moisture (HAM) model consisting of models for respectively: the indoor climate, the HVAC system and controller and a showcase. The presented models are validated by a comparison of simulation and measurement results. The integrated model is used for the evaluation of a new HVAC controller design and the use of a showcase. It is concluded that it is not possible to satisfy the indoor climate within the recommended limits, exclusively by the use of a new control strategy. Furthermore in order to meet the recommendations, the wallpaper fragments should be placed in a showcase and a similar control strategy as presented in the paper, has to be implemented in order to limit the room air temperature change.     

Analysis of retrofit air source heat pump performance: Results from detailed simulations and comparison to field trial data

In the UK, gas boilers are the predominant energy source for heating in housing, due primarily to the ready availability of natural gas. The take-up of heat pumps has lagged far behind Europe and North America. However, with the development of standards for low and zero-carbon housing, gas price rises and the depletion of the UK's natural gas reserves, interest in heat pump technology is growing. Heat pumps, particularly air source heat pumps (ASHPs), have the potential to be a direct, low-carbon replacement for gas boiler systems in housing.In this paper, monitored data and simulations were used to assess the performance of an ASHP when retrofitted into a dwelling. This required the development and calibration of a model of an ASHP device and its integration into a whole-building, dynamic simulation tool. The predictions of the whole-building model were compared to field trial data, indicating that it provided a suitable test bed for energy performance assessment. Annual simulations indicated that the ASHP produced 12% less carbon that an equivalent condensing gas boiler system, but was around 10% more expensive to run. However, the proposed UK renewable heat incentive transforms this situation, with income from ASHP heat generation exceeding the fuel costs.     

智能交通地理空间数据框架及建设方法研究

介绍了一种以城市交通管理部门为服务主体的智能交通地理空间数据框架及建设方法,通过在广州市智能交通管理指挥系统的实践,证明其能有效地支持各项交通管理应用,有助于提升交通管理部门的服务、决策和指挥控制能力.     

Building in the Soviet Union

This summary of a book on the subject published by Statens Institut för byggnads-forskning, Stockholm, reviews the history of design and planning which has evolved into a more flexible application of centrally standardised designs.     

Research information: Who cares about overall industry

Andre Manseau reports on the creation of a new CIB Task Group on Construction Innovation Systems. The main objectives of the Task Group are to advance an understanding of the practical measures that can be taken to strengthen innovation systems in the construction industry. CIB members and other stake-holders are invited to participate in this study.     

Systems thinking in innovation project management: A match that works

This paper discusses why conventional project management practices lead to the failure of publicly funded innovation deployment projects, and investigates how the use of systems thinking in project management can help projects be more successful. Based on 12 case studies of two EU innovation policies, we provide evidence that by using systemic project management, which entails providing flexibility in planning, communicating and controlling activities, innovation projects are more successful. This research refutes previous theory that claims that we should formalize to manage complexity and uncertainty. The key finding is that systems thinking methods provide the flexibility to manage innovativeness, complexity and uncertainty in innovation projects more successfully. Suggestions for further research include suggestions of how to embed flexibility in project management methods using the constructs of equifinality and causal embeddedness.     

以制度创新发展城市规划

分析影响城市规划发展的内、外部制度，对城市规划中的纯技术和泛技术进行讨论，然后结合公众参与、法定图则、指标体系和城市保护等城市规划中的具体问题展开论述并形成以制度创新发展城市规划的结论。     

Market strategies and core capabilities in the building industry

The objective of this study is to show that the core competence approach has validity when applied to construction. The focus is on the analysis of the fit between market strategies of firms in the building industry and their core capabilities. Certain strategies require specific core capabilities and key external and internal conditions supporting these capabilities. The resource-based approach focuses on the conditions in a firm, the internal capabilities, and supports a core capability that is demanded. The network literature will be related to external conditions that support a core capability of a firm active in a certain market. In a multiple case study, firms are analysed that are involved in different stages of the building process. The case studies demonstrate firms with consistent patterns of market strategies, core capabilities, and supporting internal and external conditions. The specific core capability of the firm under investigation determines the types of external and internal conditions that are critical.     

“未来系统”的最新计划

“未来系统”即崇尚生态学,又十分关注高新科技的发展,提出了“高新生态科技”的概念,即建立了新技术,新材料和相关尖端科学基础上的生态学,在这一理念指导下,“未来系统”的作品既具有鲜明的个性,又具有高度的逻辑性。     

An investigation into the merits of encouraging conflict in the construction industry

Considerable energy is being directed towards an indiscriminate policy of conflict reduction in the construction industry but the problem of construction conflict may be in its management rather than in its incidence. Conflict reduction is a response to the industry's inability to manage conflict constructively, and it may be more productive to focus upon building skills in this area as a basis for encouraging conflict. This paper explores the merits of this idea. It does so by discussing the results of a survey which used two psychometric tests to investigate whether the industry has an attitudinal and socio-structural base which is receptive to such efforts.     

Ecological Planting Imperative: Functional Systems,Not Stylized Ecologies

The ability of landscape architectural projects to mitigate the worst effects of climate change will depend upon designed ecological systems. These systems will be built with plants. Despite the recognition of ecology as an essential driver of landscapes, the professionals of landscape architecture too often lack the knowledge and practical skills to create robust vegetative systems. New approaches and tools are required. This article outlines principles and methods for designing biodiverse plant systems for urban sites. Planting methods that increase species richness, functional diversity, and spatial complexity are emphasized as a way of developing more resilient plantings. Selecting species with similar evolutionary adaptions to stress, disturbance, and competition—as well as creating multi-layered compositions of diverse plant morphologies—allows designers to create compatible, long-lived plant mixes. To balance the increased visual complexity of diverse plant mixes, the article explores design techniques to make plantings more appealing to the public. The strategies explored here are based on the projects, experience, and research of Phyto Studio, a Washington, D.C. based studio. The methods build on work described in the author’s book, Planting in a Post-Wild World, an exploration of how to create designed plant communities.     

基于绿色标准的传统街区更新评价

传统街区更新的问题已经成为我国城市化进程的严重阻碍,缺乏科学的评价体系是问题的根本,引入绿色标准是一种可行的解决方案。在研究传统街区更新和绿色标准的基础上,结合实践项目中出现的评价问题对三大绿色社区标准进行了综合归纳,验证了可行性并形成了研究框架。     

Measuring the global construction industry: improving the quality of data

In the context of a truly global market for construction, an international strategy is required to ensure that national and international statistical systems are able to provide accurate and valid information. In many parts of the world the collection of reliable national information on construction activity is not an easy task, and the measurement of comparable, cross-national data can be problematic. This paper considers possible strategies for the improvement of data collection systems in the context of user needs.     

Evaluating intelligent buildings according to level of service systems integration

The intelligent building is supposed to provide the environment and means for an optimal utilization of the building, according to its designation. This extended function of a building can be achieved only by means of an extensive use of building service systems, such as HVAC; electric power; communication; safety and security; transportation; sanitation, etc. Building intelligence is not related to the sophistication of service systems in a building, but rather to the integration among the various service systems, and between the systems and the building structure. Systems' integration can be accomplished through teamwork planning of the building, starting at the initial design stages of the building. This paper examines some existing buildings claimed to be “intelligent”, according to their level of systems' integration.