Low Energy Ground Cooling System for Buildings in Hot and Humid Malaysia

This thesis presents an investigation into the viability of Low Energy Earth Pipe Cooling Technology in providing thermal comfort in Malaysia. The demand for air-conditioning in buildings in Malaysia affects the country escalating energy consumption. Therefore, this investigation was intended to seek for a passive cooling alternative to air-conditioning. By reducing the air-conditioning demand, there would be a higher chance of Malaysia government to achieve their aim in reducing CO2 emissions to 40 per cent by the year 2020, compared to 2005 levels. The passive technology, where the ground was used as a heat sink to produce cooler air, has not been investigated systematically in hot and humid countries. In this work, air and soil temperatures were measured on a test site in Kuala Lumpur. At 1m underground, the result is most significant, where the soil temperature are 6oC and 9oC lower than the maximum ambient temperature during wet and dry season, respectively. Polyethylene pipes were buried around 0.5m, 1.0m and 1.5m underground and temperature drop between inlet and outlet were compared. A significant temperature drop was found in these pipes: up to 6.4oC and 6.9oC depending on the season of the year. The results have shown the potential of Earth Pipe in providing low energy cooling in Malaysia. A parametric study on the same experiment was carried out using Energy Plus programme. Energy Plus data agreed with the field work data and therefore, this confirms Energy Plus is reliable to investigate Earth Pipe Cooling in Malaysia. Furthermore, thermal comfort of air at the Earth Pipe outlet was analyzed and the result has shown that the outlet air is within the envelope of thermal comfort conditions for hot/humid countrie

Ecotect: as part of the learning experience for young architecture students to raise awareness in environmental responsive building design

This study investigates the feasibility of introducing environmental analysis software called Ecotect to final year LAM Part 1 Architecture students in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The study evaluates the students’ response and perception towards the software after completing the environmental analysis assignment. The assignment was given during the Environmental Conscious Design course and the students were required to conduct natural daylight analysis and average indoor thermal analysis of their studio design project using the Ecotect software. A student feedback survey on the Ecotect assignment was conducted among 64 students. Rather positive feedbacks were obtained from the students. In overall, 72% students were fully satisfied and 22% students were neutral with the Ecotect Assignment. However, 89% of the students agreed for the assignment to remain within the Environmental Conscious Design course since they had benefitted from the exercise. Majority of the students suggested the assignment to be introduced at earlier stage. Based on the high percentage of positive feedbacks from the IIUM architecture students, the teaching and exercise of Ecotect should be extended to more students and a brief introduction of such software to students in the 1st year of LAM Part 1 Architectural Studies could make the learning experience more effective

Assessing the potential of augmented reality (AR) as attributes of successful learning of heritage architecture

The usage of Augmented Reality (AR) in architecture field is considered in an infant stage as compared to other disciplines such as medical science and entertainment. Thus, this research explores possibilities of using AR to enhancing architectural representation of heritage buildings. The objectives of the research are to identify potential and challenge of AR in enhancing architectural representation of heritage buildings in Malaysia; to explore the processes of producing architectural virtual modellings of 13 types of the Malay traditional houses, and their AR prototypes; and to recommend how implementation of AR could be used in teaching and learning architecture, specifically in relation to timber construction class and heritage architecture class. This research will be conducted using qualitative approach, with substance of exploratory action research. It is anticipated that this research will contribute in providing clear knowledge on the advancement of Augmented Reality in Architecture; regulating the ranges of process involved in the development and application of Augmented Reality (AR) in architecture; and recommending ranges of possibility of applying AR technology in Architectural learning. The findings of the research may implicate the ways advanced technology is used in architecture, to the extent that visualization of projects could be simulated in a clearer manner prior to construction

The potential of low energy earth pipe cooling in hot and humid Malaysia

This paper presents a study on the performance of Low Energy Earth Pipe Cooling in Malaysia which has hot and humid climate throughout the year. The increasing demand of air-conditioning for cooling purposes motivates this investigation in search for better cooling alternative. The passive technology, where the ground was used as a heat sink to produce cooler air, has not been investigated systematically in hot and humid countries. Therefore, in this work, air and soil temperatures were measured on a test site in Kuala Lumpur. At 1m underground, the result is most significant, where the soil temperature are 6oC and 9oC lower than the maximum ambient temperature during wet and dry season, respectively. Polyethylene pipes were then buried around 0.5m, 1.0m and 1.5m underground and temperature reduction between inlet and outlet were compared in two different seasons; wet and dry seasons. A significant temperature reduction was found in these pipes: up to 6.4oC and 6.9oC depending on the season of the year. The results have shown the potential of Earth Pipe in providing low energy cooling in Malaysia. The temperature reduction is enough to help reduce escalating energy consumption in Malaysia

Solar power assessment for photovoltaic installation in Malaysia University Campus

This research was carried out as preliminary studies before installing photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Mosque. Poor application strategies for saving energy in mosques constitute high energy consumption and cost. Due to their functional and operational characteristics, Mosques consume relatively more power than other types of buildings. The first objective is to determine energy consumption in IIUM Mosque. The second objective is to assess the Solar Photovoltaic power potential in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Campus. The research methodology was carried out through literature review and fieldwork measurement of the available solar power on the International Islamic University campus. The total amount of solar energy collected has shown the potential of installing Photovoltaic Solar Panels in IIUM, aligned with the Sustainable Campus initiative

Mobile augmented reality learning: design exploration toward student learning trends

The advancement of educational technologies and students learning trends have forced the educationist to adapt a new innovative learning method in disseminating learning content. This approach inspired the research to explore the Mobile Learning (mLearning) platform designed specifically for architectural history education via Augmented Reality (AR) app. Throughout the research, the researchers highlight the mLearning platform’s theory, potential, requirements as well as challenges in responding to students learning trends. The research objectives are; First, to investigate the students learning trends in utilizing educational technology infrastructures available at the higher education institution. Second, to explore the development of Mobile Augmented Reality Learning Platform toward learning experiences. The qualitative approach is applied which involved exploratory literature reviews, expert interviews and document analysis for formative evaluation. The reflection promises a new way of students learning experience by enhancing the traditional learning method via Mobile Augmented Reality Learning Platform

Architectural history education: students’ perception on mobile augmented reality learning experience

Learning Architectural History in architecture schools remains as a challenge to many students in the built environment institutions. Historical buildings information can be very complicated and complex, that make learning considerably difficult, especially when there are too many variations of building shapes, forms, and treatments. The implementation of traditional learning and teaching method, solely via lecture that is currently still in practice, may have contributed to students’ difficulty to understand and experience historical buildings to the optimum level. As Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) application's popularity is increasing in the educational field, it inspires researchers to evaluate students’ perception on MAR usage for the architectural history education. Hence, this research aims to explore the usage of Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) application as a new innovative method for students to learn architectural history intuitively and interestingly. The research has two objectives; firstly, to investigate the MAR current practice on architectural history education, and secondly, to evaluate students’ perception of MAR in assisting students’ learning experience. The researchers adopt mixed methods approaches, consisting of literature reviews, and survey questionnaires. As a conclusion, MAR promises a new wave of the learning experience for students, which provides flexible and intuitive learning activities to them

Materials for the earth air pipe heat exchanger (eaphe) system as a passive ground cooling technology for hot-humid climate

The implementation of the earth-air pipe heat exchanger (EAPHE) system as a passive cooling technology for both residential and commercial buildings in the hot humid climate of Malaysia is relatively new. To date this technology has not been implemented in Malaysia, although it is proven in many studies particularly in drier climates, that it has the potential to reduce energy consumption for passive cooling. Studies by local researchers on EAPHE are also limited as a passive cooling system for the country. Thinner on the ground are the potentials of the appropriate pipe materials for the EAPHE system. The study investigated the most appropriate pipe materials that will predict the optimum air temperature reduction through computer simulation studies for achieving thermal comfort. The study utilizes the EnergyPlus environmental simulation program to investigate the performances of three pipe materials system: single pipe material, hybrid pipes and insulated hybrid pipes system. Through an exhaustive enumeration process the study found that the insulated hybrid pipes system gave the best temperature reduction indicating promising cooling and energy savings potentials. Keywords: EAPHE, pipe materials, temperature reduction, ground cooling, environmental simulation

A numerical investigation on the impacts of voids combinations on natural ventilation of high-rise residential building

This paper aims to investigate the impacts of introducing voids combinations on natural ventilation performance in high-rise residential building living unit. This study was carried out through field measurement and computational fluid dynamics methods. The parameters of the study are void types and sizes, and a wind angle was used to formulate case studies. The results indicate that the provision of a single-sided horizontal void larger by 50% increase the indoor air velocity performance up to 322.37% to 0.471 m/s in the living unit and achieves the required velocity for thermal comfort. Passive design features are the most desirable techniques to enhance natural ventilation performance in the high-rise residential apartments for thermal comfort and indoor air quality purposes

The impact of landscape setting and architectural element on the outdoor and indoor microclimate: a case study of Masjid Al-Mukarramah, Bandar Sri Damansara

Being in the tropical region, Malaysia experience relatively high air temperature and humidity throughout the year. People are trying to avoid the sun. Improper landscape design could contribute further in the increasing outdoor air temperature. This would further affect the indoor microclimate. Nowadays people are turning to the mechanical solution when indoors. Hence, this paper aims to identify the impact of landscape setting and its microclimate, and the architectural dimension on the indoor microclimate of a mosque, by taking the Masjid Al-Mukarramah, Bandar Seri Damansara in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur as a case study. Variables of this study includes environmental data such as relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction, air temperature and surface temperature for the outdoor microclimate, air temperature and relative humidity for the indoor microclimate; landscape setting that involves ground surface material, vegetation, landscape furniture; as well as the orientation of the mosque. Therefore, this paper deals with the understanding of two components which are the architectural dimension and the landscape setting of the mosque that affects its indoor and outdoor environment. For the indoor, the focus is given to the main prayer hall of the mosque. The data were obtained through site inventories and analysis; and the environmental data collection using several equipment. The result shows that the air temperature differ between the west and east area of the indoor prayer hall following the orientation of the mosque