"Virtual Design Studio" For Hot Summer And Cold Winter With Humid Climate In China

With the increasingly grave issues like global warming, energy crisis and air pollution, the architecture industry has realized the importance of green building design. With the advance of computer simulation technology, individual performance simulation software for acoustic, light and thermal environment, has now developed to multi-performance simulation. These software just evaluate different building performance on one platform, not to mention the coupling among them. Therefore, the current simulation software could not cover the function for performance-based whole building design process. The "Virtual Design Studio for Green Building System (VDS)"is a software platform currently under development by Syracuse University together with key partners including Nanjing University in China.It contains powerful simulation engine for hydrothermal performance, energy consumption, lighting and IAQ performance of building. VDS archives multi-disciplinary for different dimensions which includes a performance-based evaluation system. While VDS now is based on the American climate environment and green building design standards, the database and evaluation system are not fit in the conditions in China.The hot and humid climate region is the most developed area in China and has a very humid climate throughout the year (the monthly average outdoor relative humidity is higher than 75%). Moisture transfer in buildings has a significant effect on building energy efficiency and indoor comfort, and consequently affects the architectural design. With the powerful simulation engine for hygrothermal performance of buildings, the VDS can provide specific solutions, guidance and support for architects in this region.Taking Jiangsu Province, China as an example this paper aims at the localization of VDS. The major issues in this paper include construction of VDS, combination of the system, applicability, collating of the local standard and data processing. First based on the current VDS, this paper has established a frame for the localization. Secondly this paper purpose three modules for the localization. With comparison of different material and construction library, this paper has optimized the library and processed the local database. By comparison of different green building evaluation system in China, this paper has purposed an evaluation system for local simulation. This paper has taken an office building renovation design in Nanjing, as an example to show the operational processes of VDS, explaining how to use the local library and evaluation system. In summary, the localization of VDS has introduced the whole building design process into China which purposes a brand new way for green building design in hot and humid regions and provides more comprehensive software assisted support.The whole thesis contains about 44 000 words,69 pictures and charts.