Importance driven environment map sampling

In this paper we present an automatic and efficient method for supporting Image Based Lighting (IBL) for bidirectional methods which improves both the sampling of the environment, and the detection and sampling of important regions of the scene, such as windows and doors. These often have a small area proportional to that of the entire scene, so paths which pass through them are generated with a low probability. The method proposed in this paper improves this by taking into account view importance, and modifies the lighting distribution to use light transport information. This also automatically constructs a sampling distribution in locations which are relevant to the camera position, thereby improving sampling. Results are presented when our method is applied to bidirectional rendering techniques, in particular we show results for Bidirectional Path Tracing, Metropolis Light Transport and Progressive Photon Mapping. Efficiency results demonstrate speed up of orders of magnitude (depending on the rendering method used), when compared to other methods

Energy Performance Analysis of Pelotint Dynamic Sun Responsive Thermochromic (SRT) Windows

This study presents the energy performance test results of the Pleotint Sun Responsive Thermochromic (SRT) windows by using the Iowa Energy Center Energy Resource Station (ERS) test systems and data acquisition resources. The data includes experimental test results by using the ERS test, instrumentation and data acquisition resources. The experimental procedures were conducted under controlled environments. The controlled environments consists of test rooms, office space, air handling units and air cooled chillers. The weather data were also collected at the facility and used for both experimental and simulation test procedures. The experimental performance results presented in this thesis for the SRT windows include the analysis of natural gas and electricity energy use for heating loads, cooling loads, pump energy, fan energy and lighting energy at the test room level. Considering energy efficiency, the results of this study show that Pleotint SRT window technology can save more energy compared to Low-E dark tinted performance windows while still satisfying comfort level requirements. The results of the study show that most of the energy savings were from lighting energy compared to cooling and heating loads

Effect of facilities management components on the quality of life of Chinese elderly in care and attention homes

© 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) for elderly residents of care and attention (C&A) homes has become an important consideration, given the increasingly aging population. Due to the number of hours such residents spend indoors, the quality of the facilities can contribute to their day-to-day QoL. This study aims to investigate the effect of facilities management (FM) on the QoL of Chinese elderly people living in C&A homes. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of perceived satisfaction with the components of FM and QoL was carried out with a sample of residents. A total of 18 FM components and five QoL domains, including physical health, independence, psychological health, social relationships and living environment, as well as overall QoL, were identified. Findings: The findings show that physical health is influenced by accessibility, doors and windows and signage; independence can be improved by enhancing accessibility, water supply, lighting and ventilation; accessibility, water supply, distance and doors and windows all predict psychological health; social relationships are improved by lighting and ventilation; distance impacts positively on the living environment; and overall QoL is predicted by lighting, ventilation, accessibility, doors and windows, handrails, recreation and signage. Originality/value: The study recommends that designers and facilities managers review the micro-climate settings to harness available natural lighting and ventilation, introduce bimetallic strips to the heating systems to maintain a suitable water temperature and install large, easy-to-understand and graphic signage for straightforward wayfinding in C&A homes

Analysis of Energy Conservation Options for USDOE Child Development Center, Final Summary Report

This report presents the results of a study that verifies the energy savings due to the individual ECOs through the use of a calibrated DOE-2 simulation. The results show that roughly 73% of the savings estimated by the GSA architect can be accounted for by the calibrated simulation. This compares very well when one considers that the large differences were contributed by the envelope improvements and the clerestory windows. If these two ECOs were omitted, 90% of the savings can be accounted for by the calibrated simulation.The U.S.D.O.E. Forrestal Child Development Center (CDC) was designed to be a "showpiece" model building. Its construction included energy efficient features such as efficient lighting, a photovoltaic system, an energy management system, lighting controls, envelope improvements, clerestory windows, energy efficient heat pumps, and a solar hot water system. The architect's estimate of the energy savings from these measures totaled 31.6 million Watt-hours per year (MWh/yr), an annual savings of about $1,580 (at$0.05/kWh). This study calculated a total annual energy savings of 23.2 MWh per year for the CDC; a savings of $1,160

Acting Areas

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story

Lighting Section: Homey Top Light

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story

Cultural Matrix

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story

Lighting Section: Silvery Moon Back Diagonal Light

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story

Scene Breakdown

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story

Conceptual Hookup

Lighting for this show created a nostalgic feeling in the kitchen as well as a false sense of safety and privacy from the swirling world of rumors and gossip outside. A sunset that penetrates through the windows of the house, moonlight that calms and focuses with the revelation of facts, and a sunrise that violates the kitchen in the same way as before were the bigger vocabularies of light used to help tell this story