Methodology for the integration of information, communication and automation technologies in housing rehabilitation

This paper addresses the integration of Information, Communication and Automation Technologies (ICAT) in the dwelling space in order to meet the user’s needs. We describe an ongoing PhD research which deals with the rehabilitation of the existing housing stock in order to fulfil the new needs of dwellers in the current Information Society as well as the impact of the integration of ICAT in dwellings. For this purpose we establish a rehabilitation methodology which enables architects to fulfil the client’s needs and requirements in home automation, from the beginning of the architectural process. This will enable the creation of a compatible and properly integrated ICAT infrastructure in homes,paving the way for ambient intelligence and promoting sustainable strategies at the environmental and social levels.The research described in this paper project was funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) with grant SFRH / BD / 18225 / 2004

Integration of Information, Communication and Automation technologies in Housing Rehabilitation

This paper addresses the integration of Information, Communication and Automation Technologies (ICAT) in the dwelling space so as to meet the needs of users. ICAT systems can have a very important role in contemporary dwellings because of the benefits they bring to residents both from the ecological and social perspectives. The paper describes an ongoing PhD research that is concerned with the rehabilitation of the existing housing stock to fulfill the new needs of dwellers in the current Information Society and with the consequences of the integration of ICAT in dwellings. The research aims at the development of a rehabilitation methodology devised to enable architects to take user needs and requirements in home automation matters into account from the beginning of the architectural design process. Ultimately, the proposed methodology will enable a compatible and properly integration of ICAT in architectural spaces and in their built envelope. The incorporation of new housing functions calls for a new approach to the design of domestic space, in which the diversity of conventional spaces must interact with the inclusion of new multifunctional areas that accommodate activities such as telework and telehealth in order to respond to the growing demand of information access and of comfort at home. After a brief description of the general methodology, this paper focuses on the ecological and social benefits that ICAT brings to the environment, the construction industry,and the dwellers. Then it describes the impact of ICAT integration on the functional organization of the dwelling and on construction elements and it lays down the strategies for an adequate integration from these two viewpoints.The research described in this paper project was funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) with grant (SFRH / BD / 18225 / 2004)

A transformation grammar-based methodology for housing rehabilitation: meeting contemporary functional and ICT requirements

This research starts from the premise that the future of the real estate market in Portugal will require the rehabilitation of existing residential areas in order to respond to new life-styles and dwelling requirements that have emerged in an era in which information plays a structuring role in society. The goal of this research is the definition of design guidelines and a rehabilitation methodology to support architects involved in the process of adapting existing dwellings, allowing them to balance sustainability requirements and economic feasibility with new dwelling trends such as the incorporation and updating of Information Communication and Automation Technologies and the need to solve emerging conflicts affecting the use of space prompted by the introduction of new functions associated with such technologies. In addition to defining a general methodology applicable to all the building types, the study focuses on a specific type, called “rabo-de-bacalhau” (“cod-tail”), built in Lisbon between 1945 and 1965 for which a specifc methodology has been generated. Both shape grammar and space syntax were used as part of the rehabilitation methodology as tools to identify and encode the principles and rules behind the adaptation of existing houses to new requirements.FCT PhD Gran

Promoting the social integration of the eldery: housing rehabilitation and assistive technologies

This paper addresses the need to respond to the new demographic reality, namely the increase of the elderly population, regarding new housing requirements. The research carried out focuses on defining housing rehabilitation strategies to fulfil the elderly needs and on how the integration of Information and Communication Technologies and Assistive Technologies (ICAT) in the dwelling space will assist this group of population and enable “ageing in place”

Housing and information society: integration of ICT in the existing housing stock

This paper describes an ongoing research concerned with the insertion of technology in domestic spaces, and more specifically in the existing housing stock. The study evolves with the premise that the insertion of technology in domestic spaces can reduce energy consumption and the environmental impact, in general, of the use and functioning of buildings, while contributing for improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. It also considers that the rehabilitation of existing buildings and urban areas is preferable to the construction of new housing, if one is concerned with the environmental impact of construction activity in the city. The study focus on the buildings built in Lisbon during the period 1950-1970 which accounts for a considerable part of the existing housing stock. The goal is to identify the strategies to follow in the refurbishment of these buildings so that they fulfill the requirements of modern life. The strategy should specify the level of technology to incorporate considering the profile of the targeted households.The project described in this paper project is sponsored by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) with grant (SFRH / BD / 18225 / 2004)

Strategies for housing rehabilitation in the search for mixing generations and family types: an approach based on a transformation grammar

This abstract describes a Ph.D. research that sets off with the premise that the future of real estate market in Portugal will require the rehabilitation of existing residential areas and that it will be of utmost importance the incorporation of Information, Communications and Automation Technologies (ICAT) as well as the transformation of dwellings to respond to the new demands of dwellers which incorporate the rising of different forms of co-habitation. The study focus on a specific building type (“rabo-de-bacalhau”) built between 1945 and 1965. The final research objective is the definition of design guidelines to support architects in the adaptation of existing residential areas with the purpose of ICAT incorporation and the creation of diversity within the building and the sorrowing residential area. The goal is to use Shape Grammar and Space Syntax as tools to identify and encode the principles and rules behind the adaptation of the existing houses.ADETTI-IUL, FC

Future bathroom: A study of user-centred design principles affecting usability, safety and satisfaction in bathrooms for people living with disabilities

Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2010-11 (Department of Health) Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 197

Building Information Modeling as Tool for Enhancing Disaster Resilience of the Construction Industry

As frequencies of the disasters are increasing, new technologies can be used to enhance disaster resilience performance of the construction industry. This paper investigates the usage of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in enhancing disaster resilience of the construction industry and in the establishment of the resilient built environment. In-depth literature review findings reveal BIM’s contribution to the disaster resilience in the pre-disaster and post-disaster phases especially through influencing the performance of the supply chain, construction process, and rescue operations. This paper emphasises the need for BIM’s integration to the education and training curriculums of the built environment professionals. Policy makers, construction professionals, professional bodies, academics can benefit from this research

Review of the current status of research on smart homes and other domestic assistive technologies in support of the TAHI trials

The study provides an overview of developments in smart home technology and its use in the assistive technology sector. It includes an extensive literature review and detailed descriptions of current smart home installations in the UK and Europe. The report highlights the complexity of providing products and services in this area, and the relative immaturity of smart home technology in this sector. Many of the available products have emerged from office automation technologies developed for use in building control applications or from small niche markets in the assistive sector. Smart home developments have also concentrated on home control applications, but larger potential markets are also now being identified in other areas. Many of the trials described use technology to improve the safety and security of older and disabled people, concentrating more on the monitoring rather than home environment control. The report also demonstrates the practical difficulties faced in developing services in this sector. For many organisations these have been exploratory first steps in the use of technology to support care, and this lack of experience is reflected in common difficulties in specification and installation of equipment especially when retrofitting installations into buildings. Many developments have suffered from the lack of relevant experience of electrical and other contractors, so that it has proved difficult for organisations to identify both suppliers of equipment and people with the skills to install the technology. In the majority of cases there has been no formal evaluation of the developments, and it is therefore difficult to obtain evidence of the costs and benefits of using such technology to provide care and support independent living