Urban identity through quantifiable spatial attributes: coherence and dispersion of local identity through the automated comparative analysis of building block plans

This analysis investigates whether and to what degree quantifiable spatial attrib-utes, as expressed in plan representations, can capture elements related to the ex-perience of spatial identity. By combining different methods of shape and spatial analysis it attempts to quantify spatial attributes, predominantly derived from plans, in order to illustrate patterns of interrelations between spaces through an ob-jective automated process. The study focuses on the scale of the urban block as the basic modular unit for the formation of urban configurations and the issue of spa-tial identity is perceived through consistency and differentiation within and amongst urban neighbourhoods

Coronal shocks associated with CMEs and flares and their space weather consequences

We study the geoeffectiveness of a sample of complex events; each includes a coronal type II burst, accompanied by a GOES SXR flare and LASCO CME. The radio bursts were recorded by the ARTEMIS-IV radio spectrograph, in the 100-650 MHz range; the GOES SXR flares and SOHO/LASCO CMEs, were obtained from the Solar Geophysical Data (SGD) and the LASCO catalogue respectively. These are compared with changes of solar wind parameters and geomagnetic indices in order to establish a relationship between solar energetic events and their effects on geomagnetic activity.Comment: Universal Heliophysical Processes, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, IAU Symposium, Volume 257, p. 61-6

(Extra) short film study: an emerging narrative practice within global community

This article documents a research on the emerging phenomenon of (extra) short film production, that transcends the limits of national characteristics, while having a worldwide distribution, in mostly young audiences. Social media have brought in the frame of audiovisual narratives, through the use of filmic language, a popular practice of storytelling. All kinds of genre are allowed, with a time constraint of a few minutes, not to say seconds. These genres not only have their own audiences, but also gain new ones, due to the way the extra short films are being projected, in a non-linear and often random sequence. In this new “filmic” landscape, the notion of copyright takes a whole new meaning: copy becomes a kind of recognition and homage to the original director, who in turn, becomes instantly famous among thousands of followers. Are these (extra) short films capable of forming a sur-genre themselves? In the context of social media, is video production becoming a new form of folk art

Urban identity through quantifiable spatial attributes: Coherence and dispersion of local identity through the comparative analysis of building block plans

The present analysis investigates whether and to what degree quantifiable spatial attributes, as expressed in plan representations, can capture elements related to the experience of spatial identity. Spatial identity is viewed as a constantly rearranging system of relations between discrete singularities. It is proposed that the structure of this system is perceived, inter alia, through its reflection in patterns of variable associations amongst constant spatial features. The examination of such patterns could thus reveal aspects of spatial identity in terms of degrees of differentiation and identification between discrete spatial unities. By combining different methods of shape and spatial analysis it is attempted to quantify spatial attributes, predominantly derived from plans, in order to illustrate patterns of interrelations between spaces through an objective automated process. Variability of methods aims at multileveled spatial descriptions, based on features related to scalar, geometrical and topological attributes of plans. The analysis focuses on the scale of the urban block as the basic modular unit for the formation of urban configurations and the issue of spatial identity is perceived through consistency and differentiation within and amongst urban neighbourhoods. The abstract representation of spatial units enables the investigation of the structure of relations, from which urban identity emerges, based on generic spatial attributes, detached from specific expressions of architectural style

Integrated energy design: education and training in cross-disciplinary teams implementing energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD)

In Europe, energy and climate policies started to take shape from the 1990s onwards culminating with the ambitious 20-20-20 climate goals and the Low-Carbon Europe roadmap 2050. The European Commission empower the importance of achieving the objective of the recast Directive on energy performance of buildings (EPBD) that new buildings built from 2021 onwards will have to be nearly zero-energy buildings. The general belief is that the energy performance optimization of buildings requires an integrated design approach and cross-disciplinary teamwork to optimize the building's energy use and quality of indoor environment while satisfying the occupants' needs.In this context, there is a substantial need for professionals such as architects and engineers specifically trained and educated in integrated design approach and trained to work in cross-disciplinary teams. To be able to push forward the development, it is essential that educational institutions foster professionals with such knowledge, skills and competences. An initiative toward this direction is the EU-project of IDES-EDU: "Master and Post-Graduate education and training in multi-disciplinary teams".The paper describes the necessity of more integrated and cross-disciplinary approaches to building design through state-of-the-art of the building sector and educational initiatives in the participating countries in the project, and through theory of design processes. The paper also communicates the results of newly developed cross-disciplinary education established by fifteen different educational institutions in Europe. Finally, the paper explains and discusses the challenges encountered during development and implementation of the education across different professions and countries. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

IDES-EDU – new interdisciplinary education program for Integral design of built environment

Buildings fulfilling all requirements related to energy, economy and environment are necessary to be designed by interdisciplinary teams with efficient transfer of information and good knowledge base. IDES EDU is a project co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe program in which 15 European universities make a concerted effort to develop and implement balanced master and postgraduate courses on Sustainable Energy Design providing skills and knowledge that exceed the requirements of the EPBD. The resulting courses focus on different aspects of sustainable building design from the perspective of architecture, building construction and building technologies.European Commission - Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation - IIE - Inteligent Energy Europ

Analysis of thermal comfort in a complex atrium under current and future climatic conditions

Because of their multiple functions atria have become very popular among low-energy buildings. In terms of energy efficiency their most significant function is probably their ability to induce stack ventilation and act as a buffer zone for surrounding offices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the thermal performance of a naturally ventilated case study atrium under current and future climatic conditions and their impact on thermal comfort. Thermal comfort conditions under current climatic conditions was estimated through field measurements of Dry Bulb Temperature ( C) and Relative Humidity (%) while possible impacts of global warming were estimated through analysis of dynamic simulation results from TAS with the help of a DSY (Design Summer Year) weather file. In order to understand better the effect of several design characteristics on the thermal performance of the atrium, different simulations were run in TAS initially including and afterwards lacking those design characteristics. The characteristics found significant to be studied in the certain way involved the large internal gains occurring from the basement plant room and the protection border around the cafe area. Conclusions on the effect of the cafe entrance on thermal conditions in the atrium were drawn from a single simulation as it was allowed to do so by its operation schedule. What occurred from this study is that the cafe area of the atrium space does overheat and this tendency will increase significantly in the future. To the overheating, the gains occurring from the plant room have the most critical contribution. However, even though ambient temperatures might seem high, the corresponding dry resultant temperatures that are closely related to thermal comfort, are reduced by the enhanced air flow resulting from the excess heat gains from the basement plant room. Their existence helps maintain internal temperatures higher than external during hot spills thus maintaining the stack for longer. In reducing overheating in the cafe area the protection border also contributes positively. The stack and therefore air flow are strong because of the excess gains of the plant room and the large air intake, but the protection border manages to prevent warm buoyant air from the basement to enter the cafe area. Also, the cafe entrance, when opened, provides an extra air flow into the atrium space that increases the cooling capacity of ventilation. During heating season the buffer zone formed by the atrium space is responsible for maintaining internal temperatures over the often very low external temperatures. In fact, the heat gains from the plant room provide heating to the unconditioned atrium that not only make thermal comfort conditions bearable in the cafe area but also help reduce heating energy demand for the surrounding offices. However, the protection border of the cafe prevents the weak warm buoyant air flow from entering the cafe area and provide heating effectively