Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings

Abstract submission deadline

28 December 2024

Manuscript submission deadline

28 February 2025

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in smart technologies have led to their numerous applications in the building sector. Smart technologies incorporate various processes, software, and hardware that can be used to improve quality and efficiency in different phases of a building’s life cycle, including its design, construction, operation, maintenance, and deconstruction. There is a need to identify the optimal uses of smart technologies in different building project processes and phases, determine the benefits of these applications to building projects as well as to the various stakeholders involved, and provide solutions that address challenges in their application.

We invite high-quality cutting-edge articles for the topic on “Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings”. The scope of this topic is broad; the topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Application of smart technologies in different building life cycle phases such as planning, design, construction, operation/maintenance, and deconstruction.
• Application of smart technologies in existing buildings and new constructions.
• Application of smart technologies in the following:
  • Design process;
  • Planning and monitoring the progress of construction;
  • Prefabrication of building systems;
  • Managing the safety of construction workers;
  • Building commissioning;
  • Smart control of buildings in the operation and maintenance phase;
  • Energy monitoring of buildings;
  • Automated control of building systems;
  • Managing building emergency situations and evacuation planning.
• Application of advanced technologies and processes such as laser scanning and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of buildings.
• Addressing challenges of computer technology applications in buildings.

Prof. Dr. Yin Zhang
Prof. Dr. Limei Peng
Prof. Dr. Ming Tao
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
AI ai	3.1	7.2	2020	17.6 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.1	3.4	2011	17.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Computers computers	2.6	5.4	2012	17.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Electronics electronics	2.6	5.3	2012	16.8 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Mathematics mathematics	2.3	4.0	2013	17.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Symmetry symmetry	2.2	5.4	2009	16.8 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Smart Cities smartcities	7.0	11.2	2018	25.8 Days	CHF 2000	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All AI Buildings Computers Electronics Mathematics Symmetry Smart Cities

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29 pages, 1532 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Design of Human-in-the-Loop Cyber-Physical Systems for Monitoring the Ecosystem of Historic Villages

by Giancarlo Nota and Gennaro Petraglia

Smart Cities 2024, 7(5), 2966-2994; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7050116 - 14 Oct 2024

Viewed by 631

Abstract

Today, historic villages represent a widespread and relevant reality of the Italian administrative structure. To preserve their value for future generations, smart city applications can contribute to implement effective monitoring and decision-making processes devoted to safeguarding their fragile ecosystem. Starting from a situational [...] Read more.

Today, historic villages represent a widespread and relevant reality of the Italian administrative structure. To preserve their value for future generations, smart city applications can contribute to implement effective monitoring and decision-making processes devoted to safeguarding their fragile ecosystem. Starting from a situational awareness model, this study proposes a method for designing human-in-the-loop cyber-physical systems that allow the design of monitoring and decision-making applications for historic villages. Both the model and the design method can be used as a reference for the realization of human-in-the-loop cyber-physical systems that consist of human beings, smart objects, edge devices, and cloud components in edge-cloud architectures. The output of the research, consisting of the graphical models for the definition of monitoring architectures and the method for the design of human-in-the-loop cyber-physical systems, was validated in the context of the village of Sant’Agata dei Goti through the implementation of a human-in-the-loop cyber-physical system for monitoring sites aiming at their management, conservation, protection, and fruition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings)

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25 pages, 6230 KiB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Review of Comprehensive Post-Occupancy Evaluation Feedback on Occupant-Centric Thermal Comfort and Building Energy Efficiency

by Jing Zhao, Faziawati Abdul Aziz, Yiyu Deng, Norsidah Ujang and Yi Xiao

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092892 - 13 Sep 2024

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Abstract

The post-occupancy evaluation process is pivotal for assessing the performance of indoor and outdoor living environments after occupation. This evaluation involves a multifaceted analysis, encompassing energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, outdoor spaces, and occupant satisfaction. Despite the inherent advantages and potential applicability of [...] Read more.

The post-occupancy evaluation process is pivotal for assessing the performance of indoor and outdoor living environments after occupation. This evaluation involves a multifaceted analysis, encompassing energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, outdoor spaces, and occupant satisfaction. Despite the inherent advantages and potential applicability of post-occupancy evaluation in residential buildings, the lack of uniformity in research methodologies, data collection techniques, investigative approaches, and result interpretation has impeded cross-comparisons and method replication. In a concerted effort to enhance the understanding of prevailing post-occupancy evaluation methodologies, this study undertook a comprehensive systematic literature review of post-occupancy evaluation practices within the residential domain from 2000 to 2023. The results unequivocally underscored the pervasive lack of consistency in methodological applications, tool deployment, and data reporting across diverse post-occupancy evaluation investigations. The objectives of this review aimed to examine the existing post-occupancy evaluation (POE) methods, assess occupant-centric thermal comfort, evaluate the impact of POE feedback on building design, and develop recommendations for architects, engineers, facility managers, and policymakers on leveraging POE feedback to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings. This study offers critical insights into advocating for a more standardized and cohesive post-occupancy evaluation approach. The findings of this review can direct the establishment of a coherent and consistently implemented post-occupancy evaluation framework within the realm of residential architecture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings)

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29 pages, 8332 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Energy Management in Residential Microgrid Based on Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring and Internet of Things

by Rawda Ramadan, Qi Huang, Amr S. Zalhaf, Olusola Bamisile, Jian Li, Diaa-Eldin A. Mansour, Xiangning Lin and Doaa M. Yehia

Smart Cities 2024, 7(4), 1907-1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7040075 - 23 Jul 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1320

Abstract

Recently, various strategies for energy management have been proposed to improve energy efficiency in smart grids. One key aspect of this is the use of microgrids. To effectively manage energy in a residential microgrid, advanced computational tools are required to maintain the balance [...] Read more.

Recently, various strategies for energy management have been proposed to improve energy efficiency in smart grids. One key aspect of this is the use of microgrids. To effectively manage energy in a residential microgrid, advanced computational tools are required to maintain the balance between supply and demand. The concept of load disaggregation through non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is emerging as a cost-effective solution to optimize energy utilization in these systems without the need for extensive sensor infrastructure. This paper presents an energy management system based on NILM and the Internet of Things (IoT) for a residential microgrid, including a photovoltaic (PV) plant and battery storage device. The goal is to develop an efficient load management system to increase the microgrid’s independence from the traditional electrical grid. The microgrid model is developed in the electromagnetic transient program PSCAD/EMTDC to analyze and optimize energy performance. Load disaggregation is obtained by combining artificial neural networks (ANNs) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to identify appliances for demand-side management. An ANN is applied in NILM as a load identification task, and PSO is used to optimize the ANN algorithm. This combination enhances the NILM technique’s accuracy, which is verified using the mean absolute error method to assess the difference between the predicted and measured power consumption of appliances. The NILM output is then transferred to consumers through the ThingSpeak IoT platform, enabling them to monitor and control their appliances to save energy and costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings)

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26 pages, 10488 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Development of an AI Model Utilizing Buildings’ Thermal Mass to Optimize Heating Energy and Indoor Temperature in a Historical Building Located in a Cold Climate

by Jan Akander, Hossein Bakhtiari, Ali Ghadirzadeh, Magnus Mattsson and Abolfazl Hayati

Buildings 2024, 14(7), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14071985 - 1 Jul 2024

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Abstract

Historical buildings account for a significant portion of the energy use of today’s building stock, and there are usually limited energy saving measures that can be applied due to antiquarian and esthetic restrictions. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the [...] Read more.

Historical buildings account for a significant portion of the energy use of today’s building stock, and there are usually limited energy saving measures that can be applied due to antiquarian and esthetic restrictions. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the use of the building structure of a historical stone building as a heating battery, i.e., to periodically store thermal energy in the building’s structures without physically changing them. The stored heat is later utilized at times of, e.g., high heat demand, to reduce peaking as well as overall heat supply. With the help of Artificial Intelligence and Convolutional Neural Network Deep Learning Modelling, heat supply to the building is controlled by weather forecasting and a binary calendarization of occupancy for the optimization of energy use and power demand under sustained comfortable indoor temperatures. The study performed indicates substantial savings in total (by approximately 30%) and in peaking energy (by approximately 20% based on daily peak powers) in the studied building and suggests that the method can be applied to other, similar cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Smart Technologies in Buildings)

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