Lighting in the third dimension : laser scanning as an architectural survey and representation method

This paper proposes tridimensional (3D) laser scanning to architects and lighting designers as a lighting enquiry and visualization method for existing built environments. The method constitutes a complement to existing lighting methods by responding to limitations of photometric measurements, computer simulation and HDR imagery in surveying and visualizing light in actual buildings. The research explores advantages and limitations of 3D laser scanning in a case study addressing a vast, geometrically complex and fragmented naturally and artificially lit space. Lighting patterns and geometry of the case study are captured with a 3D laser scanner through a series of four scans. A single 3D model of the entire space is produced from the aligned and fused scans. Lighting distribution patterns are showcased in relation to the materiality, geometry and position of windows, walls, lighting fixtures and day lighting sources. Results and presented through images similar to architectural presentation drawings. More specifically, the lighting distribution patterns are illustrated in a floor plan, a reflected ceiling plan, an axonometry and a cross-section. The point cloud model of the case study is also generated into a video format representing the entire building as well as different viewpoints. The study shows that the proposed method provides powerful visualization results due to the unlimited number of images that can be generated from a point cloud and facilitates understanding of existing lighting conditions in spaces

Les transmissions intergénérationnelles au sein des familles réfugiées

Cette recherche porte sur les transmissions intergénérationnelles au sein des familles réfugiées au Québec. Il s'agit d'une étude qualitative et exploratoire, dont le but est de porter plus loin la compréhension des transmissions intergénérationnelles, notamment en identifiant et en analysant des contenus et des processus de transmission, tout en faisant le lien entre la vision contemporaine des transmissions intergénérationnelles et certains concepts de l'approche systémique. Pour ce faire, des entrevues de une à deux heures ont été réalisées auprès de quatre familles réfugiées, installées au Québec depuis plusieurs années. Afin de comparer les points de vue, deux entrevues ont été réalisées auprès de chaque famille : l'une avec les parents, interviewés en couple; l'autre avec leur enfant, arrivé au Québec avant l'adolescence et aujourd'hui jeune adulte. L'entrevue, de type semi-dirigé, a été séparée en deux parties : une première portait sur l'expérience de la migration; une seconde se concentrait sur différentes dimensions des transmissions intergénérationnelles. Les résultats, obtenus à l'aide d'une analyse de contenu thématique, ont mis en lumière les particularités du parcours migratoire des familles et de leur insertion, tant au niveau personnel que familial. Des contenus de transmission ont été relevés et séparés en cinq différents thèmes : la langue, la mémoire familiale, les habiletés, la religion et les valeurs. Ces contenus ont permis de décrire trois processus montrant que les transmissions se font de différentes manières : par l'informel, l'abstrait et le relationnel; par l'évolution d'un équilibre à un autre, entre l'insertion et le maintien de liens avec la famille; par la création d'un espace intermédiaire permettant aux enfants l'appropriation et le développement d'une identité souple. \ud ______________________________________________________________________________ \ud MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Famille immigrante, famille réfugiée, migration, transmissions intergénérationnelle

Beyond the Pixel: a Photometrically Calibrated HDR Dataset for Luminance and Color Prediction

Light plays an important role in human well-being. However, most computer vision tasks treat pixels without considering their relationship to physical luminance. To address this shortcoming, we introduce the Laval Photometric Indoor HDR Dataset, the first large-scale photometrically calibrated dataset of high dynamic range 360{\deg} panoramas. Our key contribution is the calibration of an existing, uncalibrated HDR Dataset. We do so by accurately capturing RAW bracketed exposures simultaneously with a professional photometric measurement device (chroma meter) for multiple scenes across a variety of lighting conditions. Using the resulting measurements, we establish the calibration coefficients to be applied to the HDR images. The resulting dataset is a rich representation of indoor scenes which displays a wide range of illuminance and color, and varied types of light sources. We exploit the dataset to introduce three novel tasks, where: per-pixel luminance, per-pixel color and planar illuminance can be predicted from a single input image. Finally, we also capture another smaller photometric dataset with a commercial 360{\deg} camera, to experiment on generalization across cameras. We are optimistic that the release of our datasets and associated code will spark interest in physically accurate light estimation within the community. Dataset and code are available at https://lvsn.github.io/beyondthepixel/

Thermal comfort and comparison of some parameters coming from hospitals and shopping centers under natural ventilation : The case of Madagascar Island

Nowadays, in several countries in the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar island, Comores island, Seychelles island and Mayotte, no adopted and regulated building standards exist. Human health essentially depends on the quality of indoor air, and so several actions should be taken to solve this problem. The purpose of this study is to develop a database of thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings inordertoimproveindoorairquality,mainlyinhospitals andshoppingcentersinthelargestislandoftheIndian Ocean.Toachievethisobjective,andduetoalackofdataregardingcomfortinbuiltenvironmentsinthisregion, experimental and subjective studies were carried out in 5 big hospitals and 50 small and large shopping centers, distributed in 25 districts of urban areas in Northern Madagascar. The adaptive approach was used for this purpose. A specific questionnaire based on the ISO7730 and 10551 was designed to collect these data. A total of 400 people participated in this study, and the survey was conducted during rainy and dry seasons. This study discusses the influence of gender, clothing, activities, voters’ mind state and occupants’ control strategies on adaptive comfort assessment. In addition, various comfort parameters were calculated for these buildings. Results show that, in both studied places, the lower and upper acceptable temperatures for 80% of the voters were 23.2 °C and 26.8 °C, while 90% of the customers and patients reported a comfortable temperature range of 24.5–26.2°C. This will help to define proper guidelines to build more comfortable buildings in Madagascar and other countries of the Indian Ocean

Patchwork Gridshells::Using Modularity to Facilitate Prefabrication and Simplify Construction

Modern architectural design has seen a shift towards iconic doubly-curved envelopes enclosing large column-free spaces. Gridshells have long been considered an efficient solution to such designs, but their actual use in practice has not spread worldwide. For elastic gridshells, their advantages in terms of substantial material savings can often be overshadowed by the significant challenges associated with their construction. Similarly, for rigid gridshells, the manufacture of a large number of different members and nodal connections is often a barrier to their implementation. This paper proposes an effective way of designing, fabricating and erecting gridshells. The “Patchwork Gridshell” consists of a number of efficient elastic gridshell patches assembled using rigid gridshell frames. It can easily generate a number of different configurations, use a wide range of materials, and allows more architectural expression of practical long-span forms. The benefits of combining the ingenuously simple efficiency of elastic lattices and the power of digital fabrication are demonstrated by digitally rebuilding four alternative configurations of the Japan Pavilion of the Hanover Expo 2000 as a case study. The result is a flexible digital workflow which creates large column-free spaces that are capable of being constructed efficiently by nonspecialist contractors.</p

A photobiological approach to biophilic design in extreme climates

This paper proposes the biophilic design approach as a plausible hypothesis for the challenging conditions related to living and working in extreme cold climates. Biophilic design has recently been developed to overcome the adverse effects of the built environment and to improve human well-being by redefining the human-nature relationship. Yet, biophilic design should be adapted to extreme cold climates in order to meet the biological needs of people in northern territories. This issue becomes more important when considering the availability of natural light due to the strong seasonal photoperiod and its effects on human well-being in such regions. The present paper critically reviews biophilic design patterns and identifies their main shortcomings. These shortcomings include the lack of (1) recommendations applicable to extreme cold climates (2) adaptation to the local photoperiods, and (3) a systemic framework integrated into the design process. The paper draws attention to the image-forming and non-image-forming effects of light as a basis of the human-nature design approach. In this regard, photobiological outcomes have been reviewed. Then, the paper discusses the existing lighting standards and guidelines in North America and how they have mainly been developed to fulfil the image-forming demands for light. Further efforts are needed to revise these standards with respect to the non-image-forming effects of light and the biophilic design requirements. Finally, adaptive building envelopes are presented as a hypothetical solution to optimize the biophilic qualities of buildings and address the biological needs of people living and working in extreme cold climates in northern territories

Biophilic, photobiological and energy-efficient design framework of adaptive building façades for Northern Canada

This paper develops an integrated design framework of adaptive building façades (ABFs) to respond to photobiological and thermal needs of occupants, biophilic factors, energy requirements and climatic features in Northern Canada, i.e. near and above 50°N. The paper discusses the importance of biophilic and photobiological factors and ABFs to improve occupants’ health and human-nature relations and deal with the extreme climate in Northern Canada where non-adapted buildings that could negatively affect occupants’ wellbeing. The paper shows that existing ABFs must be further developed for northern applications in terms of (i) the physical structure and configuration of components (ii) the design of solar shading/louver panels to address photobiological and biophilic requirements (iii) the development of lighting adaptation scenarios to respond to biophilic and photobiological needs, local photoperiods and energy issues, and (iv) the overall biophilic quality for accessibility to natural patterns. The ABFs’ framework was developed in three phases including (1) process environmental data (2) produce adaptation scenarios, and (3) operate adaptation scenarios. The research discussed major issues of all phases that must be further studied, especially the development of hourly/daily/seasonally lighting adaptation scenarios. The paper develops a holistic parametric methodology to integrate and optimize major design variables of ABF’s components