From eSociety, May 2018
The fifth issue of Science and Technology for the Built Environment in 2018 is a special edition on building simulation. The issue has eight papers that address topics related to building simulation such as the improvement of variable refrigerant flow system performance using energy saving control strategy and chilled water storage and a case study that explores challenges in the application of a WRF/Urban-TRNSYS model chain for estimating the cooling demand of buildings.
The issue’s guest editors, Andrea Gasparella, Ph.D., of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy, and Vincenzo Corrado, of the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Torino, discuss what to expect in the special issue and their editorial duties.
1. The special issue is on building simulation. Why highlight this topic?
Building simulation is extending its application possibilities, thanks to the increased computational power available nowadays. Integrated simulation lets practitioners contrast design alternatives and investigate multi-domain performances through multi-objective optimization. Multi-scale simulation allows the enhancement of the modelling details while contextualizing the modelled system. Real-time modelling effectively supports control strategies based on predictive optimization.
2. Please describe what duties you have as a guest editor.
As guest editors, we had to invite recognized authors and select suitable papers to highlight the main trends in building simulation through clarifying application examples. Our work included supporting the editor-in-chief in the review process from the manuscript submission to the final acceptance.
3. What can readers expect from this special issue?
Readers can have a quick overview on very different building simulation applicative domains from the characterization of innovative materials to the investigation of the performance of renewable energy systems to some examples of multi-objective optimization and multi-domain analysis. Detailed energy analysis, extensive comfort evaluation and cost optimization are more and more integrated in both research and practice.
4. Why is it important to focus on building simulation?
Building simulation has been considered a research-oriented tool for too long now. Practical applications for design, commissioning, management, renovation and optimization of new and existing buildings show a new opportunity of getting more from this technique. Research has to support the process and find new ways to make building simulation more and more effective in practical applications.
5. What research did you find most interesting in this issue?
We are particularly happy with this topical issue because it has been possible to collect very different works; each interesting for some specific reasons and all together showing the variety of applications open for building simulation. We would recommend reading the entire issue to get a taste of all the available flavors.