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

到2050年，加拿大预计将有85%的人口居住在城市。这种城市增长将影响可再生自然资源的使用，使其超出再生能力。这种负面生态影响的挑战可以通过在建筑中采用净零环境模型来缓解。目前这种模式的策略正在扩大，除能源外，还包括废物、水、碳和空气。在寒冷的气候条件下，建筑上的双层幕墙（DSF）可以为幕墙一体化能源生产提供低环境温度和积雪的解决方案。然而，DSF的优化由于两个问题而变得复杂。首先，目前还不知道优化建筑立面的几何形状和效率对环境有什么好处。其次，考虑到实现净零目标所需的精度，现有的farade优化算法在处理数字数据以检测噪声和识别对比度方面受到限制。这种限制可以通过基于实时图像的数据分析来克服。

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.