Improving occupant-related features in building performance simulation tools

Mohamed M. Ouf; William O’Brien; H. Burak Gunay

doi:10.1007/s12273-018-0443-y

Building Simulation 2018, 11(4): 803-817 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-018-0443-y

Research Article | Issue | Published: 02 April 2018

Improving occupant-related features in building performance simulation tools

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Mohamed M. Ouf(

), William O’Brien, H. Burak Gunay

Department of Civil Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada

Keywords:

building performance simulation, occupant behaviour, occupancy, building simulation software tools, occupant modelling

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Ouf MM, O’Brien W, Gunay HB. Improving occupant-related features in building performance simulation tools. Building Simulation, 2018, 11(4): 803-817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-018-0443-y

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Despite the research advances and demonstrated benefit of occupant modelling and simulation in recent years, its uptake in building simulation practice has been relatively slow. One of the underlying causes of this issue is limited occupant-related features of building performance simulation (BPS) tools. To this end, we present a detailed breakdown of occupant-related features and compare them between common BPS tools. Based on the outcomes of a stakeholder workshop, and an international survey that focused on occupant modelling, we provide detailed recommendations to improve occupant-related features in BPS tools. We finally present a case study demonstrating the suggested occupant-related features to apply multiple occupancy assumptions, and integrate occupant behaviour models from the literature. Results are presented as part of a non-functional mock-up graphical user interface (GUI) to demonstrate potential features of BPS tools given the suggested occupant-related improvements. These suggested improvements for BPS tools would enable users to quickly assess proposed designs’ sensitivity to different occupancy scenarios, and ultimately increase the robustness of their final designs. The presented recommendations are relevant to practitioners, researchers, and BPS tool developers as part of the efforts to increase the uptake of detailed occupant modelling in building simulation practice.

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Improving occupant-related features in building performance simulation tools

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Mohamed M. Ouf(

), William O’Brien, H. Burak Gunay

Department of Civil Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada

Abstract

Keywords: building performance simulation, occupant behaviour, occupancy, building simulation software tools, occupant modelling

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Publication history

Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 28 December 2017

Revised: 23 February 2018

Accepted: 19 March 2018

Published: 02 April 2018

Issue date: August 2018

Copyright

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), under the Clean Energy Innovation (CEI) component of the Energy Innovation Program (EIP). The workshop was funded by Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The authors would also like to thank the workshop participants for devoting over a day of their time to travel to Ottawa to provide valuable input to workshop.