Accurate Guidance Method and App Development for Assigning Parking Spaces Based on Indoor Wi-Fi

Existing parking guidance systems only provide road guidance outside the parking lot but do not provide accurate guidance to specific parking spaces inside the parking lot. By using a Kalman filter, the Grubbs test, and a neural network algorithm to improve the RSSI-based location fingerprint identification technology, an accurate location method based on indoor Wi-Fi is obtained, which implements precise route guidance and a reverse search function for parking spaces. We utilize Beidou positioning to develop a Gaode map for outdoor navigation and use an integrated system of ultrasonic detector/indicators and ground locks to manage parking spaces. Through the secondary development of an Android system and the application of a MySql database, an app for precise parking guidance was developed. The system makes full use of the Internet and parking information, eliminates information asymmetry, improves the utilization ratio of the urban static traffic resources, allocates parking spaces in real-time, breaks information islands, provides parking search and recommendation functions for users, achieves parking information-sharing, and effectively improves parking efficiency and the parking utilization ratio

The early design stage of a novel Solar Thermal Façade (STF) for building integration: energy performance simulation and socio-economic analysis

This paper provides a feasibility study of a new solar thermal façade (STF) concept for building integration from both technical and economic aspects in Shanghai area of China. The whole set of technical evaluation and economic analysis was investigated through simulation of a reference DOE residential building model in IES-VE software and a dedicated dynamic business model consisting of several critical financial indexes. In order to figure out the cost effectiveness of the STF concept, research work consisted of: (1) exploring the overall feasibility, i.e. energy load, energy savings, operational cost and environmental benefits, and (2) investigating the financial outputs for investment decisions within three different purchase methods. This paper presents a multidisciplinary research method that is expected to be beneficial and supportive for the strategic decision at the early design stage and it also offers a different angle to assess the economic performance of the STF application

A study on influential factors of occupant window-opening behavior in an office building in China

Occupants often perform many types of behavior in buildings to adjust the indoor thermal environment. In these types, opening/closing the windows, often regarded as window-opening behavior, is more commonly observed because of its convenience. It not only improves indoor air quality to satisfy occupants' requirement for indoor thermal comfort but also influences building energy consumption. To learn more about potential factors having effects on occupants' window-opening behavior, a field study was carried out in an office building within a university in Beijing. Window state (open/closed) for a total of 5 windows in 5 offices on the second floor in 285 days (9.5 months) were recorded daily. Potential factors, categorized as environmental and non-environmental ones, were subsequently identified with their impact on window-opening behavior through logistic regression and Pearson correlation approaches. The analytical results show that occupants' window-opening behavior is more strongly correlated to environmental factors, such as indoor and outdoor air temperatures, wind speed, relative humidity, outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, solar radiation, sunshine hours, in which air temperatures dominate the influence. While the non-environmental factors, i.e. seasonal change, time of day and personal preference, also affects the patterns of window-opening probability. This paper provides solid field data on occupant window opening behavior in China, with high resolutions and demonstrates the way in analyzing and predicting the probability of window-opening behavior. Its discussion into the potential impact factors shall be useful for further investigation of the relationship between building energy consumption and window-opening behavior

A review of air filtration technologies for sustainable and healthy building ventilation

Urbanization increased population density in cities and consequently leads to severe indoor air pollution. As a result of these trends, the issue of sustainable and healthy indoor environment has received increasing attention. Various air filtration techniques have been adopted to optimize indoor air quality. Air filtration technique can remove air pollutants and effectively alleviate the deterioration of indoor air quality. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the synergistic effect of different air purification technologies, air filtration theory, materials and standards. It evaluated different air filtration technologies by considering factors such as air quality improvement, filtering performance, energy and economic behaviour, thermal comfort and acoustic impact. Current research development of air filtration technologies along with their advantages, limitations and challenges are discussed. This paper aims to drive the future of air filtration technology research and development in achieving sustainable and healthy building ventilation

Assessment of the effectiveness of investment strategy in solar photovoltaic (PV) energy sector: a case study

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is now promising to offer potential solutions for sustainable development, especially in China. A representative Chinese solar PV manufacturer - Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (SFCE) - is therefore assessed in this paper, including (1) investment strategies in China's recent macroeconomic exposure; (2) the market exposure and vulnerability. The macroeconomic challenges in case of China's continuous GDP growth would have significant implications for SFCE's investment strategy. Although SFCE's vulnerability is high, it has mediated its macro exposure and protect itself by advanced non-pricing competition, product/service differentiation, vertical and horizontal integration, and high-profit diversification etc. The research result is expected to offer useful indications for solar PV companies to adapt and succeed in the future energy industry and simultaneously help the world to mitigate climate change

Experimental study of a compact unglazed Solar Thermal Facade (STF) for energy-efficient buildings

This paper presents a real-time experimental measurement of a novel compact unglazed solar thermal facade (STF) system at outdoor environment in Shanghai, China for about a whole summer week. It demonstrates the daily average solar thermal efficiency fluctuated from 40% to 45.5%. The overall result indicates the advantages of the STF with simple structure, low cost and high feasibility in architectural design for energy-efficient building application, especially at future district or city levels

Impact of Vehicular Countdown Signals on Driving Psychologies and Behaviors: Taking China as an Example

Countdown signal control is a relatively new control mode that can inform a driver in advance about the remaining time to pass through intersections or the time needed to wait for other drivers and pedestrians. At present, few countries apply vehicular countdown signals. However, in China, some cities have applied vehicular countdown signals for years, though it is unclear how and how much such signals influence driving psychologies and behaviors compared with non-countdown signal controls. The present work aims to clarify the impact of vehicular countdown signals on driving psychologies and behaviors on the cognitive level. A questionnaire survey with 32 questions about driving psychologies and behaviors was designed, and an online survey was conducted. A total of 1051 valid questionnaires were received. The survey data were analyzed, and the main results indicate that most of the surveyed drivers prefer countdown signal controls and think that such controls can improve not only traffic safety but also traffic operational efficiency. The surveyed drivers also think that countdown signal controls have an impact on driving psychologies and behaviors and the survey results have demonstrated that the driving behaviors of female drivers surveyed are not conservative under the clear conditions of green countdown signal control. Further studies and methods concerning the effects of countdown signals on driving psychologies and behaviors are discussed. Document type: Articl

Conceptual development of a compact unglazed solar thermal facade (STF) for building integration

This research aims to develop an initiative modular unglazed Solar Thermal Facade (STF) concept initially for hot water generation to facilitate the integration of solar energy with buildings. The new STF concept is simple structure, low cost, and aesthetically appealing with easy installation but is expected to achieve the equivalent thermal efficiency as the conventional STFs. It delivered alternative design in terms of material, colour, texture, shape, size, architectural design, installation method, array connection, hypothetical system application, and solar coverage. Two common design variants i.e. (a) the STF cladding system and (b) the prefabricated STF wall system were described respectively for existing and new low-rise building typologies. Interaction of inclination, orientation, and insolation were discussed for the optimum STF position on the building. Four currently available methods for installation of such STF with buildings were summarized and three typical array connection methods were identified. The decentralized connection was recommended for different types of STF hot water systems. It is customary to design for a solar coverage of 50 to 60 percent for water heating in detached houses; in apartment buildings 30 to 40 percent are more commonly assumed. The concept design in this paper hereby illustrates the precedence for the hypothetical function by the creation of new ideas and also forms up the physical structure or operating principle for the investigations in near future

Optimizing the configuration of a compact thermal facade module for solar renovation concept in buildings

Solar concepts show potentially an improved cost-performance (energy) ratio when applied as the integrated parts of building renovations. This paper reported a compact solar thermal facade (STF) module with the internally extruded flow channel suiting for solar renovation concept in buildings. A few of impact factors were considered for the parametric study in order to optimize the STF's configuration for various applications through the validated simulation model. The overall research results are expected to be useful for further improvement in the thermal performance of solar renovation measures