Symbiosis Optimization of Double- Skin Façades and Interactive Image-based Networking in Cold Climates

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By 2050, Canada is expected to have 85% of its population living in cities. Such urban growth would affect renewable natural resources being used in excess of their regeneration capacity. This challenge of a negative ecological impact can be mitigated by adapting a net-zero environmental model in buildings. Current strategies in this model are expanding to include waste, water, carbon, and air in addition to energy. In cold climates, double skin façades (DSF) on buildings can provide a solution to low ambient temperatures and snow deposition for façade-integrated energy production. However, the optimization of DSF is complicated by two problems. First, it is currently not known what are the environmental benefits in optimizing geometric form and efficiency in building façades. Secondly, with the precision needed to achieve net-zero targets, existing façade optimization algorithms are limited in processing numerical data for detecting noises and recognizing contrast. This limitation can be overcome by real time image-based data analysis.***Aside from energy, micro-algae photobioreactors are emerging as a valuable new system that cultures organic feedstock in a nutrient-rich water for biological growth. A DSF system, composed of a pair of glass layers separated by an air space corridor, can house these photobioreactors to extend the environmental performance of a building by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, providing adaptive shading, utilizing a building's wastewater and preserving land resources for alternative harvesting. Using algorithms that operate on image-based data, various inroads can be made in façade optimization of typological, thermal and visual irregularities. These irregularities would involve factors such as DSF glazing properties, thermal behavior, density imbalances in algae, and photobioreactor degradation. ***This research will study new forms of DSF that integrate photobioreactors and monitoring with image-processing functionality in cold climates. The potential value is in solving complex façade design challenges, maximizing energy efficiency, improving parametric building information, and leveraging climate variability. The biggest game-changing impact is in achieving zero environmental footprint in the core of a city. Highly qualified personnel will be trained to gain significant experience and expertise in optimization theory, image-processing, systems implementation, and assessment procedures in façade and photobioreactor technologies.***The research is expected to impact public and private sectors of the energy and building industries; government agencies such as the National Research Council and Natural Resources Canada; policy makers; and the general public. The contributions are expected to further impact the development of standards and codes of environmental design practices relevant to commercial building systems.