Collaborative Research: Optimization of Urban Designs for Air Quality and Energy Efficiency

本提案的目的是增加对环境和城市形态如何相互作用的认识。它的假设是，存在最优的城市结构和布局，可以最大限度地减少能源使用，同时最大限度地减少空气污染。在pi的基础上，将为城市地区开发一种极其快速和廉价的能源使用和分散建模工具。以前的工作。建模系统将利用图形处理单元（gpu，通常用于视频游戏行业）提供的独特计算并行性来运行许多模拟，以努力训练优化算法，以确定城市结构及其布局的最佳设计。本研究还将利用交互式沉浸式虚拟环境，更好地理解和细化城市环境中与能量平衡和污染物扩散相关的复杂物理过程。通过这项工作将发展的建模能力将有助于城市规划者制定有用和新颖的规划战略，以提高现代城市的可持续性。项目负责人将在整个模型开发过程中与城市规划者合作。这些建模功能还将帮助建筑师，为他们提供一种工具，不仅可以分析孤立的建筑物，还可以在设计过程中了解多个建筑物的相互作用。此外，该提案还包含大量的外联内容，旨在为美国印第安人、阿拉斯加原住民和其他少数民族提供独特的教育机会，以学习环境工程建模的各个方面。通过我们的项目，来自明尼苏达州北部的美国印第安学生将被邀请参加为期一周的互动式学习研讨会，为期三年。

CBET- 0828214Pardyjak, Eric - U. UtahCBET-0828206Willemsen, Peter - U. MinnesotaThe objective of this proposal is to increase knowledge for how environment and urban form interact. Its hypothesis is that optimal urban structures and layouts exist which can minimize energy use while also minimizing air pollution exposure.An extremely fast and inexpensive energy use and dispersion modeling tool for urban areas will be developed by building on PIs? previous work. The modeling system will utilize the unique computational parallelism afforded by graphics processing units (GPUs, that are regularly utilized in the video game industry), to run many simulations in an effort to train an optimization algorithm for determining optimal designs for urban structures and their layout. This proposed research will also utilize an interactive and immersive virtual environment to provide better understanding and refinement of the complex physical processes associated with the energy balance and pollutant dispersion in an urban setting. Modeling capabilities that will be developed through this work will aid urban planners in developing useful and novel planning strategies to improve the sustainability of modern cities. The PIs will work with urban planners throughout the model development process. These modeling capabilities will also aid architects by providing them with a tool that not only analyzes isolated buildings, but also provides understanding regarding the interaction of multiple buildings during the design process. In addition, this proposal has a substantial outreach component designed to provide a unique educational opportunity for American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and other minorities to learn about various aspects of modeling in environmental engineering. Through our program, American Indian students from Northern Minnesota will be invited to a weeklong interactive learning symposium during each of the three years of the grant.