A preliminary investigation on the sound field properties in the Sagrada Familia Basilica

This paper reports on a preliminary investigation of the sound field properties inside a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia Basilica, which is a World Heritage Site although its construction has not been completed. The impulse responses were measured at 5 sound source positions combined with 14 measurement locations inside the Sagrada Familia Basilica, and the Impulse response to Noise Ratios (INR) were examined to check the reliability of the measured impulse responses. The room acoustic parameters were calculated and the following 5 sound field properties in the Sagrada Familia Basilica were analysed: reverberation, spaciousness, loudness, warmth and clarity. No optimal values of room acoustic parameters for such large volume churches have been found in the literature; thus, the preferred values of the reverberation time (T20) and the Early Decay Time (EDT) for small volume churches, and the preferred values of the middle frequency strength of sound (Gmid), the low frequency strength of sound (G125), the clarity (C80) and the binaural quality index (1 - IACCe) for concert halls were compared with the measurement results to illustrate a primary impression of the listening experience in the Sagrada Familia Basilica. The reverberation time (T20) and the EDT in the Sagrada Familia Basilica are much higher than the preferred values, while the middle frequency strength of sound (Gmid), the low frequency strength of sound (G125) and the clarity (C80) are less than the preferred values. The binaural quality index (1 - IACCE) is just above the typical satisfactory value

Fabricate 2020

Fabricate 2020 is the fourth title in the FABRICATE series on the theme of digital fabrication and published in conjunction with a triennial conference (London, April 2020). The book features cutting-edge built projects and work-in-progress from both academia and practice. It brings together pioneers in design and making from across the fields of architecture, construction, engineering, manufacturing, materials technology and computation. Fabricate 2020 includes 32 illustrated articles punctuated by four conversations between world-leading experts from design to engineering, discussing themes such as drawing-to-production, behavioural composites, robotic assembly, and digital craft

Understanding social behaviors in the indoor environment: a complex network approach

Being able to monitor and analyze human interactions in the indoor environment over time has many architectural applications from spatial planning to post occupancy evaluation. In this paper, we present our interdisciplinary approach that interprets human-spatial interactions as a complex network. We combine methods and techniques from sensor networks, signal processing, data mining, network theory, and information visualization to form a novel framework that facilitates versatile investigations. We will demonstrate the framework with a real-world case study: we have collected and analyzed human-spatial interaction data from a workshop scenario where multiple design projects were conducted within a shared studio space

System remotely inspects, measures, and records internal irregularities in piping

Video electromechanical probe visually inspects and measures internal offset and peaking of welds in relatively large piping. Irregularity dimensions are recorded on peripheral equipment consisting of video tape and X-Y plotter. The probe is used for inspection of vacuum-jacketed liquid lines that cannot be inspected externally

A multimodal toolkit for thermal performance feedback in conceptual design modelling

This paper presents a multimodal toolkit for rapid performance-driven façade design that includes both virtual and physical performance feedback. The toolkit has been user tested in the SmartGeometry 2013 event by the Thermal Reticulations workshop cluster. Although the workshop participants were predominately digital design focused, the authors observed several distinct approaches to the tool selection and workflow involving both physical and virtual simulations, with a favoring to tools that produce fast visual outcomes. The approaches to tool selection are presented here as case studies with their workflow mapped for discussion. We conclude that access to a diverse range of simulation tools for design evaluation is advantageous to the creativity of the design process

A Parametric Representation of Ruled Surfaces

This paper proposes a simple parametric system to generate an almost complete set of ruled surfaces that may be used to describe building geometry. The major classes of regular, named ruled surfaces can be generated from a limited set of curves. Each of these is shown to be reducible to a transformation of a single standard curve, a helix, and therefore represented by a limited set of six parameters. Six extra parameters can position each surface on a global coordinate system. The representation is designed to be flexible enough to represent both planar and curvilinear forms, producing a description of form from minimal data.

Prioritising the most needed paediatric antiretroviral formulations: the PADO4 list

Despite considerable progress in paediatric HIV treatment and timely revision of global policies recommending the use of more effective and tolerable antiretroviral regimens, optimal antiretroviral formulations for infants, children, and adolescents remain limited. The Paediatric Antiretroviral Drug Optimization group reviews medium-term and long-term priorities for antiretroviral drug development to guide industry and other stakeholders on formulations most needed for low-income and middle-income countries. The group convened in December, 2018, to assess progress since the previous meeting and update the list of priority formulations. Issues relating to drug optimisation for neonatal prophylaxis and paediatric treatment, and those relating to the investigation of novel antiretrovirals in adolescents and pregnant and lactating women were also discussed. Continued focus on identifying, prioritising, and providing access to optimal antiretroviral formulations suitable for infants, children, and adolescents is key to ensuring that global HIV treatment targets can be met

The diffusion of a new service: Combining service consideration and brand choice

We propose an individual-level model of a two-stage service diffusion process. In the first stage, customers decide whether to "consider" joining the service. This (Consideration) stage is modeled by a hazard model. Customers who decide to consider the service move on to the Choice stage, wherein they choose among the service alternatives and an outside No Choice option. This stage is modeled by a conditional Multinomial Logit model. The service provider does not observe the transition in the first stage of potential customers who have yet to choose a brand. Such potential customers may have started to consider joining the service, yet chose the outside alternative in each period thereafter. One of the main contributions of the model is its ability to distinguish between these two non-adopter types. We estimated the model using data on the adoption process of newly introduced service plans offered by a commercial bank. We employed the hierarchical Bayes Monte Carlo Markov Chain procedure to estimate individual as well as population parameters. The empirical results indicate that the model outperforms competing models in breadth of analysis, model fit, and prediction accuracy