Real-time rolling-horizon energy management of public laundries: A case study in HSB living lab

Energy Management Systems (EMSs) play a vital role in managing energy consumption for both utilities and consumers. By using EMSs, utilities can influence on energy usage and ensure a more reliable and efficient grid operation, while consumers can make informed decisions about their energy consumption, leading to significant cost savings and reduced environmental impact. In this paper, a real-time rolling-horizon model is developed for managing energy consumption in public laundries aiming at minimizing energy costs, peak demand, and CO2 emission under the traditional Energy-Based Tariff (EBT) and the Power-Based Tariff (PBT). The developed model can not only reduce energy costs, peak demand, and CO2 emission by optimal task scheduling for washing machines and tumble dryers but also ensure users\u27 preferences for a comfortable lifestyle. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed EMS, several simulations were performed under different scenarios using real data and by a realistic case study in HSB living lab demonstration site. The simulation results reveal that implementing the proposed EMS can significantly decrease energy costs and peak demand in public laundries by 13.59% and 39.40%, respectively, when using the PBT tariff. However, the reduction in energy costs and peak demand is negligible when using the EBT tariff. Likewise, the results indicate that using the EMS and changing tariffs have a minimal impact on CO2 emissions reduction

End-user activity-based service design in the built environment context : Exploring everyday life in KTH Live-in-Lab

The main goal of this thesis is to communicate the motivation, process, and result of the research project dedicated to exploring the topic of Service Design, based on end-user activities analysis in the built environment context. We have elected to use a KTH Live-in-Lab as a testbed in relation to the chosen living lab network of actors and stakeholders. We see an opportunity to increase the interaction between the building system and the human activity system through the service system integration. In other words, this thesis aims to investigate how new services in the built environment should be designed to support end-user's daily activities and well-being, and at the same time, help operate the building more sustainably (decrease electricity, water usage, and waste production).   By following a T-shape research approach, we started with a broader perspective on service design in the context of the built environment. A Delphi method was used for consensus building, and a co-creation approach between multiple stakeholders was adopted for the broad exploration part. The insights of the general study have become a foundation for several case studies that used mixed methods (Sustainable food service and Sleeping quality assessment). The result of the study consists of theoretical and practical implications. From the theoretical perspective, the thesis contributes to service design process improvement using a living lab environment and method and developed a framework for Bi-directional value exchange between the Building System (BS) and the Human Activity System (HAS). During the case studies a service concepts portfolio for KTH Live-in-Lab was co-created with multiple stakeholders, and two concepts were tested with active end-user engagement. The findings have been presented in four journal and two conference papers appended.     Keywords: service design, human activity system, building system, service system, actors network analysis, living lab, sustainable building.    Huvudsyftet med denna avhandling är att kommunicera motiv, process och resultat från detta forskningsprojekt som fokuserat på att utforska ämnet Slutanvändaraktiviteter i byggd miljö med tjänstedesign som metodikbas. För att kunna genomföra studien med en socioteknisk inriktning valde vi att använda KTH Live-in-Lab som testmiljö med dess ingående nätverk av flera olika typer av aktörer. Vi såg en möjlighet att öka interaktionen mellan byggnadssystemen i sig och mänskliga aktivitetssystem genom att tillämpa tjänstesystemsintegration. Med andra ord syftar denna avhandling på att undersöka hur nya tjänster i byggd miljö kan utformas för att kunna assistera slutanvändares dagliga aktiviteter och välmående. Samtidigt syftar avhandlingen till att supportera en mer hållbar byggnadsdrift så som att minska användandet av el och vatten samt minskning av avfallsproduktion.   För att kunna ta ett bredare grepp om tjänsteutveckling inom byggd miljö inledde vi studierna genom att tillämpa T-Shape-metoden som forskningsansats. För den bredare utforskningsdelen använde vi Delphi-metoden där vi arbetade med samdesign och skapa konsensus mellan flera olika aktörer. Insikterna från den bredare studien skapade en bas för utformning av fördjupade studier vid vilka en blandning av både kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder användes (utvärderingar kring hållbar mat och sömnkvalitetfallstudier). Resultatet av bredd- och djupstudierna består av både teoretiska och praktiska implikationer. Från ett teoretiskt perspektiv bidrog vi till att förbättra tjänsteutformningsprocessen för byggda miljöer. Detta gjordes genom att använda KTH Live-in-Lab- koncept och - miljö som bas för utformning av ett ramverk där syftet är att skapa ett ömsesidigt värdeutbyte mellan byggnadssystem och mänskliga aktivitetssystem. I praktiken utformade vi, tillsammans med flera olika aktörer, en tjänstekonceptsportfölj för KTH Live-in-Lab och testade två olika koncept med hjälp av aktivt deltagande från de boende i denna miljö. Alla insikter och slutsatser från de utvalda ämnena i denna avhandling har presenterats i fyra vetenskapliga artiklar och två konferensartiklar.   Nyckelord: tjänstedesign, mänskligt aktivitetssystem, byggnadssystem, servicesystem, aktörsnätverksanalys, living lab, hållbart byggande

Diagnostics of valves on the gas pipeline

The work of the gas transmission pipeline system is regulated by the thousands of valveses and other elements of the shut-off valves, located in different places. Information about the current status of each valve, and confidence in its technical serviceability is an important element in the control of pipeline system. There are a number of problems that adversely affect the  valving operation. Principal among them - is the lack of siystematical approach in valving diagnostics. To solve this problem, developed a new approach to the valving diagnostics – multi-level diagnostics. Depending on the level of diagnosis, we get a different amount of information about the object.   The focus is on the 3rd level of diagnosis, which allows to determine the leackages of valves, and identify type of defects quantitatively. This level of diagnosis is regarded as an example of Method «Micropuls». The method «Micropuls» based on the theory of mechanical vibrations and forced with high accuracy to set the time, frequency and spectral characteristics of noise in the details of the valve, and their spatial location and intensity of that in the presence of a system of analysis allows to determine the state of the object, its faults and defects. Micropulse technology is based on the impact on the measured object micropower impulses, records the response and subsequent filtering, decoding and analyzing the data.                    Specially designed calibrated pulses can effectively influence the measured objects (valve) over a wide range of structural dimensions and mounting schemes, regardless of physical location of the valve.

End-user activity-based service design in the built environment context : Exploring everyday life in KTH Live-in-Lab

The main goal of this thesis is to communicate the motivation, process, and result of the research project dedicated to exploring the topic of Service Design, based on end-user activities analysis in the built environment context. We have elected to use a KTH Live-in-Lab as a testbed in relation to the chosen living lab network of actors and stakeholders. We see an opportunity to increase the interaction between the building system and the human activity system through the service system integration. In other words, this thesis aims to investigate how new services in the built environment should be designed to support end-user's daily activities and well-being, and at the same time, help operate the building more sustainably (decrease electricity, water usage, and waste production).   By following a T-shape research approach, we started with a broader perspective on service design in the context of the built environment. A Delphi method was used for consensus building, and a co-creation approach between multiple stakeholders was adopted for the broad exploration part. The insights of the general study have become a foundation for several case studies that used mixed methods (Sustainable food service and Sleeping quality assessment). The result of the study consists of theoretical and practical implications. From the theoretical perspective, the thesis contributes to service design process improvement using a living lab environment and method and developed a framework for Bi-directional value exchange between the Building System (BS) and the Human Activity System (HAS). During the case studies a service concepts portfolio for KTH Live-in-Lab was co-created with multiple stakeholders, and two concepts were tested with active end-user engagement. The findings have been presented in four journal and two conference papers appended.     Keywords: service design, human activity system, building system, service system, actors network analysis, living lab, sustainable building.    Huvudsyftet med denna avhandling är att kommunicera motiv, process och resultat från detta forskningsprojekt som fokuserat på att utforska ämnet Slutanvändaraktiviteter i byggd miljö med tjänstedesign som metodikbas. För att kunna genomföra studien med en socioteknisk inriktning valde vi att använda KTH Live-in-Lab som testmiljö med dess ingående nätverk av flera olika typer av aktörer. Vi såg en möjlighet att öka interaktionen mellan byggnadssystemen i sig och mänskliga aktivitetssystem genom att tillämpa tjänstesystemsintegration. Med andra ord syftar denna avhandling på att undersöka hur nya tjänster i byggd miljö kan utformas för att kunna assistera slutanvändares dagliga aktiviteter och välmående. Samtidigt syftar avhandlingen till att supportera en mer hållbar byggnadsdrift så som att minska användandet av el och vatten samt minskning av avfallsproduktion.   För att kunna ta ett bredare grepp om tjänsteutveckling inom byggd miljö inledde vi studierna genom att tillämpa T-Shape-metoden som forskningsansats. För den bredare utforskningsdelen använde vi Delphi-metoden där vi arbetade med samdesign och skapa konsensus mellan flera olika aktörer. Insikterna från den bredare studien skapade en bas för utformning av fördjupade studier vid vilka en blandning av både kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder användes (utvärderingar kring hållbar mat och sömnkvalitetfallstudier). Resultatet av bredd- och djupstudierna består av både teoretiska och praktiska implikationer. Från ett teoretiskt perspektiv bidrog vi till att förbättra tjänsteutformningsprocessen för byggda miljöer. Detta gjordes genom att använda KTH Live-in-Lab- koncept och - miljö som bas för utformning av ett ramverk där syftet är att skapa ett ömsesidigt värdeutbyte mellan byggnadssystem och mänskliga aktivitetssystem. I praktiken utformade vi, tillsammans med flera olika aktörer, en tjänstekonceptsportfölj för KTH Live-in-Lab och testade två olika koncept med hjälp av aktivt deltagande från de boende i denna miljö. Alla insikter och slutsatser från de utvalda ämnena i denna avhandling har presenterats i fyra vetenskapliga artiklar och två konferensartiklar.   Nyckelord: tjänstedesign, mänskligt aktivitetssystem, byggnadssystem, servicesystem, aktörsnätverksanalys, living lab, hållbart byggande

Product-Service Systems Delivered by SMEs During Building Use Stage: Sustainability Criteria Framework

Part 2: Sustainability via DigitalizationInternational audienceThe building use stage offers the opportunity to provide valuable and sustainable product-service systems (PSS)that enhance the buildings' value for the end-users. Many of them are delivered by networks of stakeholders that actively involve small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We have combined an existing literature review with the multiple stakeholders' feedback to identify several problems and define the main hypothesis: diverse and presented in a structural way information about PSS can contribute to a better understanding of the added value by multiple stakeholders. We have co-created a list of criteria, which were formed into the sustainability multi-criteria framework. The proposed framework also supplements PSS-specific criteria, such as PSS type, PSS collaborative partnership networks type, and PSS integration type. A list of findings related to the topic was declared to help further develop the study, such as the correlations between PSS-related and PSS sustainability-oriented criteria

Actors’ Network Analysis and Bi-Directional Value Exchange Matrix Development for Living Labs: KTH Live-In-Lab Case Study

In the scientific literature and in practice, quite a lot of attention is paidto the actors’ network analysis in living labs. Still, there is a lack of studies onvalue exchange between different actors in living laboratories. This study selectedthe distributed structure of the actors’ network in living lab since most European residential laboratories function according to this model. In the course of this exploratory study, we conducted two workshops: the first with participants from several European residential laboratories to discuss and co-design a framework for analyzingthe exchange of value between different stakeholders, and the second workshop—case study, where the proposed framework was applied on the actors network of the existed living laboratory—KTH Live-in-Lab. As a result, we got a detailed pictureof the network of actors and value exchange within the value co-creation model forKTH Live-in-Lab (Smart Home Services project).QC 20220817</p

Co-Creating Service Concepts for the Built Environment Based on the End-User’s Daily Activities Analysis: KTH Live-in-Lab Explorative Case Study

The purpose of this study is to synthesize the widely used theories about co-creation from two main perspectives: co-creation as an innovation process and co-creation as a design process applied to the service concept design in the built environment context. The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry do not have much application of end-user-oriented service design in general, especially with intensive co-creation processes. To facilitate such a process, we are using a living lab environment as a laboratorial model of the real built environment, but with the opportunity to have access to the end-users and different types of stakeholders. Using the KTH Live-in-Lab explorative case study, we were able to discuss the concept of co-creation by distinguishing between co-creation as innovation and co-creation as a design process, facilitating the process of co-creation of service concepts for the proposed built environment including methods from both perspectives: innovation and design, and evaluating the process of service concepts co-creation for the built environment from the point of innovation, knowledge transfer, sustainability, and user experience

Co-Creating Service Concepts for the Built Environment Based on the End-User’s Daily Activities Analysis: KTH Live-in-Lab Explorative Case Study

The purpose of this study is to synthesize the widely used theories about co-creation from two main perspectives: co-creation as an innovation process and co-creation as a design process applied to the service concept design in the built environment context. The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry do not have much application of end-user-oriented service design in general, especially with intensive co-creation processes. To facilitate such a process, we are using a living lab environment as a laboratorial model of the real built environment, but with the opportunity to have access to the end-users and different types of stakeholders. Using the KTH Live-in-Lab explorative case study, we were able to discuss the concept of co-creation by distinguishing between co-creation as innovation and co-creation as a design process, facilitating the process of co-creation of service concepts for the proposed built environment including methods from both perspectives: innovation and design, and evaluating the process of service concepts co-creation for the built environment from the point of innovation, knowledge transfer, sustainability, and user experience

Monitoring and Predicting Occupant’s Sleep Quality by Using Wearable Device OURA Ring and Smart Building Sensors Data (Living Laboratory Case Study)

Today’s commercially-off-the-shelf (COST) wearable devices can unobtrusively capture several important parameters that may be used to measure the indoor comfort of building occupants, including ambient air temperature, relative humidity, skin temperature, perspiration rate, and heart rate. These data could be used not only for improving personal wellbeing, but for adjusting a better indoor environment condition. In this study, we have focused specifically on the sleeping phase. The main purpose of this work was to use the data from wearable devices and smart meters to improve the sleep quality of residents living at KTH Live-in-Lab. The wearable device we used was the OURA ring which specializes in sleep monitoring. In general, the data quality showed good potential for the modelling phase. For the modelling phase, we had to make some choices, such as the programming language and the AI algorithm, that was the best fit for our project. First, it aims to make personal physiological data related studies more transparent. Secondly, the tenants will have a better sleep quality in their everyday life if they have an accurate prediction of the sleeping scores and ability to adjust the built environment. Additionally, using knowledge about end users can help the building owners to design better building systems and services related to the end-user’s wellbeing

Identification of everyday food-related activities with potential for direct and indirect energy savings : KTH Live–in–Lab explorative case study

This exploratory study analyses the daily activities of the end-user in terms of assessing the potential for conserving direct and indirect energy. In the course of the study, a socio-technological system approach was applied, which made it possible to combine the methods of analysis and interaction of the social group (students) and technical infrastructure (living laboratory). The method of creating personas was also applied to segregate a large group of the population within one segment. This approach allowed us to consider in more detail the different types of behavior in the same segment. As a result, we got more personalized strategies for changing a behavior tailored for each individual persona. In conclusion, a recommendation was given on which policies implications and to which organizations to address.QC 20220422</p