The Development and Valuation of Intelligent and Adaptive Building Systems

Energy consumption by buildings, especially high-rise buildings, has increased to the point that it has overtaken the industrial and transportation sectors (Perez-Lombard et al., 2008). This unsustainable phenomenon has prompted research into intelligent and adaptive building systems (IABS) for more energy efficient buildings that current architectural practice and building operations overlook. IABS are bottom-up strategies that provide energy consumption and comfort solutions at any scale of the built environment. In addition to the benefit of reduced energy consumption, occupant physiological and psychological well-being can also be addressed through better control and feedback mechanisms. These improvements can be made through the widespread application of systems that blend many different and readily attainable components. This research seeks to address these issues through the development and study of IABS prototypes, virtual models, and material/component libraries that address the needs of all stakeholders. Prototypes that form contextually aware and flexible agent networks will be presented, along with the results from those that have been completed Suggestions for design and interfacing are also discussed. Controlled environments are constructed in and around physical prototypes to carefully observe performance results. Also discussed is how high-rise buildings are ideal candidates for IABS integration.