Downloaded on 2017-08-01T18:14:31Z

290 Pages·2017·3.02 MB·English

UCC Library and UCC researchers have made this item openly available.
Please let us know how this has helped you. Thanks!
Title A knowledge management system to optimise comfort throughout the
building life-cycle
Author(s) O'Grady, Walter
Publication date 2013
Original citation O'Grady, W. 2013. A knowledge management system to optimise
comfort throughout the building life-cycle. PhD Thesis, University
College Cork.
Type of publication Doctoral thesis
Rights © 2013. Walter O'Grady.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Embargo information No embargo required
Item downloaded http://hdl.handle.net/10468/1140
from
Downloaded on 2023-01-14T01:08:12Z
A Knowledge Management
System to Optimise Comfort
throughout the Building Life-
Cycle

Walter O’Grady

Supervisors: Dr. Marcus Keane and Dr Dominic O’Sullivan
Head of Department: Prof. Alistair Borthwick
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Institution: National University of Ireland, Cork
Submitted for: The degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Date: April 2013
II
Talk to Strangers
III
IV
Abstract
Comfort is, in essence, satisfaction with the environment, and with respect to
the indoor environment it is primarily satisfaction with the thermal conditions
and air quality. Improving comfort has social, health and economic benefits,
and is more financially significant than any other building cost. Despite this,
comfort is not strictly managed throughout the building lifecycle. This is
mainly due to the lack of an appropriate system to adequately manage
comfort knowledge through the construction process into operation. Previous
proposals to improve knowledge management have not been successfully
adopted by the construction industry. To address this, the BabySteps
approach was devised. BabySteps is an approach, proposed by this
research, which states that for an innovation to be adopted into the industry it
must be implementable through a number of small changes.
This research proposes that improving the management of comfort
knowledge will improve comfort. ComMet is a new methodology proposed by
this research that manages comfort knowledge. It enables comfort
knowledge to be captured, stored and accessed throughout the building life-
cycle and so allowing it to be re-used in future stages of the building project
and in future projects. It does this using the following:
 Comfort Performances – These are simplified numerical
representations of the comfort of the indoor environment. Comfort
Performances quantify the comfort at each stage of the building life-
cycle using standard comfort metrics;
 Comfort Ratings - These are a means of classifying the comfort
conditions of the indoor environment according to an appropriate
standard. Comfort Ratings are generated by comparing different
Comfort Performances. Comfort Ratings provide additional
information relating to the comfort conditions of the indoor
environment, which is not readily determined from the individual
Comfort Performances.
V
 Comfort History – This is a continuous descriptive record of the
comfort throughout the project, with a focus on documenting the items
and activities, proposed and implemented, which could potentially
affect comfort. Each aspect of the Comfort History is linked to the
relevant comfort entity it references.
These three components create a comprehensive record of the comfort
throughout the building lifecycle. They are then stored and made available in
a common format in a central location which allows them to be re-used ad
infinitum.
The LCMS System was developed to implement the ComMet methodology.
It uses current and emerging technologies to capture, store and allow easy
access to comfort knowledge as specified by ComMet. LCMS is an IT
system that is a combination of the following six components:
 Building Standards;
 Modelling & Simulation;
 Physical Measurement through the specially developed Egg-Whisk
(Wireless Sensor) Network;
 Data Manipulation;
 Information Recording;
 Knowledge Storage and Access.
Results from a test case application of the LCMS system - an existing office
room at a research facility - highlighted that while some aspects of comfort
were being maintained, the building’s environment was not in compliance
with the acceptable levels as stipulated by the relevant building standards.
The implementation of ComMet, through LCMS, demonstrates how comfort,
typically only considered during early design, can be measured and
managed appropriately through systematic application of the methodology as
means of ensuring a healthy internal environment in the building.
VI
VII
VIII
Dedication
To Elmer,

Since you were the better story teller in our duo, I’ll let you do your
dedication. Why break a successful tradition :-).

Advice
By Elmer Morrissey

“Prioritise a path that ensures you have enough Walter time in an
environment that will support growth (spiritual/mental/whatever). Ultimately,
what I'm advising is don't take an easy option that your gut rebels against.
Back yourself and take charge. That may involve risks, or it may be an open
door right where you are. But…, be careful how far you take rational thought,
go with feeling without limits. Make whatever you want happen, don't force it
or anything, just seek it. You'll know when you find it.”

I miss you.
IX