Population Health Initiative awarded a Climate Change Pilot Grant to two teams that includes CBE researchers. Projects will begin January 2024, and were awarded $50,000. Read the full story here. Project title: “Sustainable metamaterials for insulation applications.” Project team: Eleftheria Roumeli, Materials Science & Engineering Tomás Méndez Echenagucia, Architecture Project abstract: Amidst an urgent global shift towards a circular economy, the demand for sustainable materials has reached a critical juncture. This transformation requires materials sourced from renewable sources, processed via…
Department: Architecture
Research Methods in Daylighting and Electric Lighting
Inanici, M. (2021). Research Methods in Daylighting and Electric Lighting. In: Azari, R., Rashed-Ali, H. (eds) Research Methods in Building Science and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73692-7_4
Abstract
Research in daylighting and electric lighting focuses on the physical quantity of light, physiological response to the physical stimuli, and the resulting visual perception. This chapter starts with an overview of the measurement and simulation-based research approaches used in understanding and quantifying the lighting availability and variability in the luminous environment. Field and laboratory measurements are discussed along with computational techniques. The rest of the chapter focuses on psychophysical research methods that aim to quantify the human physiological and psychological responses to the quantity and distribution of light.
Keywords
Daylighting; Electric lighting; Visual comfort; Visual performance; Visual perception; Energy efficiency; Circadian lighting
A Critical Investigation of Common Lighting Design Metrics for Predicting Human Visual Comfort in Offices with Daylight
Van Den Wymelenberg, K., & Inanici, M. (2014). A Critical Investigation of Common Lighting Design Metrics for Predicting Human Visual Comfort in Offices with Daylight. Leukos, 10(3), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502724.2014.881720
Abstract
Existing visual comfort metrics are reviewed and critiqued based upon their ability to explain the variability in human subjective responses in a daylit private office laboratory environment. Participants (n = 48) evaluated visual comfort and preference factors, totaling 1488 discreet appraisals, and luminance-based metrics were captured with high dynamic range images and illuminance-based metrics were recorded. Vertical illuminance outperformed all commonly referenced visual comfort metrics including horizontal illuminance, IES luminance ratios, daylight glare probability (DGP), and daylight glare index (DGI). The bounded borderline between comfort and discomfort is introduced, and preliminary visual comfort design criteria are proposed for several existing metrics. Fundamental limitations of glare indices are documented, and the implications of inconsistent application of luminance ratio calculation methods are quantified. Future research is detailed.
Keywords
daylight glare; daylight metrics; luminance ratio; vertical illuminance; visual comfort
Non-ionizing radiation modeling to predict ambient irradiance in work areas at an indoor cannabis farm
Chmielinski, M., Yost, M. G., Cohen, M., Inanici, M., & Simpson, C. D. (2023). Non-ionizing radiation modeling to predict ambient irradiance in work areas at an indoor cannabis farm. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxad048
Abstract
Agricultural workers frequently experience potentially hazardous exposure to non-ionizing radiation from both solar and artificial sources, and measurement of this exposure can be expensive and impractical for large populations. This project develops and evaluates a vegetative radiative transfer model (VRTM) to predict irradiance in a grow room of an indoor cannabis farm. The model uses morphological characteristics of the crop, manufacturer provided lamp emissions data, and dimensional measurements of the grow room and cannabis hedgerows to predict irradiance. A linear regression comparing model predictions with the measurements taken by a visible light spectroradiometer had slopes within 23% of unity and R2 values above 0.88 for visible (400–700 nm), blue (400–500 nm), green (500–600 nm), and red (600–700 nm) wavelength bands. The excellent agreement between the model and the measured irradiance in the cannabis farm grow room supports the potential of using VRTMs to predict irradiance and worker exposure in agricultural settings. Because there is no mechanistic difference between visible and other non-ionizing wavelengths of radiation in regards to mechanisms of radiative transfer, the model developed herein for visible wavelengths of radiation should be generalizable to other radiation bands including infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
Keywords
horticulture; indoor; Marijuana; non-ionizing radiation; radiative transfer; UV
Window View Quality: Why It Matters and What We Should Do
Ko, W. H., Schiavon, S., Altomonte, S., Andersen, M., Batool, A., Browning, W., Burrell, G., Chamilothori, K., Chan, Y.-C., Chinazzo, G., Christoffersen, J., Clanton, N., Connock, C., Dogan, T., Faircloth, B., Fernandes, L., Heschong, L., Houser, K. W., Inanici, M., … Kent, M. (2022). Window View Quality: Why It Matters and What We Should Do. Leukos, 18(3), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502724.2022.2055428
Office of Research Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023
The College of Built Environments Office of Research has completed the fiscal year 2023 Annual Report. This report highlights outcomes, accomplishments, and steps for future development related to research at CBE. The report features metrics on grants and contracts funding, along with other types of funding including internal UW support. Additionally, the report highlights spotlight stories that were published on the research portal, and other portal metrics such as publications added. The full report is available on the CBE Intranet…
Carb talk: CBE’s Climate Solutions Community of Practice sparks interdisciplinary collaborations
The CBE Climate Solutions Community of Practice was featured in a story on the CBE website. See the excerpt below. “Through the materials we use and the ecosystems we alter, arguably more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions are related to the built environment,” says Kate Simonen, a professor of architecture at UW’s College of Built Environments and founding director of the Carbon Leadership Forum. Simonen’s primary research focus is reducing the environmental impact of building materials, and she’s been…
Alternative gentrification: coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts through transfer of development rights in Dihua Street, Taiwan
Sho, K., Chen, Y.-L., & Oshima, K. T. (2023). Alternative gentrification: coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts through transfer of development rights in Dihua Street, Taiwan. International Journal of Heritage Studies : IJHS, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2023.2250776
Abstract
The transfer of development rights (TDR) has been widely used in the preservation of historic districts. The Dihua Street TDR (DS-TDR) in Taipei, Taiwan, successfully preserves the exteriors of historic buildings and traditional landscape in Dihua Street, without significant displacement of previous residents or increases in rents. This study describes this process as 'alternative gentrification', which facilitates the coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts, unlike typical gentrification in other cities. Although new shops gradually replace existing shops, the rent level remains relatively affordable compared with other shopping streets in the Taipei city centre. These aspects enable the coexistence of a clustering of new creative-industrial stores and existing stores within the buildings restored and landscaped by the DS-TDR.
Keywords
Historic district; transfer of development rights; historic buildings; restoration; landscaping; Commercial Gentrification; Heritage; Displacement; TDR; Urbanization; Conservation; Neighborhood; Culture; State
New Tool Created by CBE Researchers in partnership with Charles Pankow Foundation
CBE researchers worked with the Charles Pankow Foundation to develop a new Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT). Team members included CBE Dean Renée Cheng, FAIA; Associate Dean for Research Carrie Sturts Dossick, Ph.D, P.E.; and Laura Osburn, Ph.D. Other team members included Lingzi Wu, Ph.D. Daniel Dimitrov, and Xianxiang Sean Zhao. The tool was developed in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance. The Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT): Helping You Understand Your Culture and Its…
February 2022 Inspire Fund Awardees: Progress and Products
Five projects were awarded Inspire Fund awards in February 2022. They have completed various stages of work and have provided a report on their progress and products. Below, excerpts from these reports are highlighted to showcase the work that has been “Inspired” in 2022-23. Rick Mohler: “One Seattle: Leveraging Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update to advance housing diversity, affordability, livability and racial equity” This funding supported products from the Architecture 594 research seminar and Architecture 508 design studio, which tasked students…