Climate based facade design for business buildings with examples from central London

There is a disconnection between commercial architecture and environmental thinking, where green features can be included as part of a strategy for gaining approvals and marketing projects, but those features are not reviewed after completion and occupation of the building and knowledge is not shared. High levels of air conditioning are still considered unavoidable. Elaborate double skin façades and complex motorized shading systems are adopted; often masking an underlying lack of basic environmental thinking. This article returns (in principle) to the physics of comfort in buildings and the passive strategies which can help achieve this with a low energy and carbon footprint. Passive and active façade design strategies are outlined as the basis of a critical tool and a design methodology for new projects. A new architectural sensibility can arise based on modeling the inputs of sunlight, daylight and air temperature in time and space at the early stages of design. Early but sound strategies can be tested and refined using advanced environmental modeling techniques. Architecture and environmental thinking can proceed hand in hand through the design process

Network emulation focusing on QoS-Oriented satellite communication

This chapter proposes network emulation basics and a complete case study of QoS-oriented Satellite Communication

Robust Parameter Design of Functional Responses Based on Bayesian SUR Models

As for the robust parameter design of functional responses, a Bayesian Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model is proposed to take into account the model uncertainty and response variability in this paper. First of all, the SUR model is used to build the functional relationship between the output responses and the input factors at different time points. Also, Bayesian analysis of the SUR model is performed to consider the influence of the model parameter uncertainty on the research results. Secondly, the process means and variances of the functional responses at different time points are estimated by the posterior samples of the simulated responses. Moreover, an integrated performance index (i.e. mean square error) is establish by using the above process means and variances. Then, the optimal parameter settings may be found by minimizing the MSE performance index. Finally, the advantages of the proposed method are illustrated by an example from the literature

Project benefit management: a conceptual framework of target benefit formulation

Successful realization of project benefits is strongly associated with organizational performance. Formulating project target benefits is regarded as the first and critical step in the benefit management process. In this study, we drew upon relevant theories and conducted in-depth interviews with senior managers in Australia to develop a conceptual framework of project target benefit formulation and corresponding propositions. Our findings highlight the important role of project target benefits in funding decision-making and suggest seven criteria for their appraisal (strategic fit, target value, measurability, realism, target date, accountability and comprehensiveness) and four constructs which improve the formulated target benefits (a formal benefit formulation process, senior executive leadership, senior executive supports, and public service motivation). These findings extend the current literature on project benefit management by providing a holistic view on how project target benefits should be formulated and appraised