TY - GEN
T1 - Extending the use of parametric simulation in practice through a cloud based online service
AU - Naboni, Emanuele
AU - Zhang, Yi
AU - Maccarini, Alessandro
AU - Hirsch, Elian
AU - Lezzi, Daniele
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - The aim of the present research is to facilitate the implementation of parametric energy studies among the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry by creating an online service to execute parametric energy simulations using cloud computing. A web-based service was developed to submit parametric simulations based on the open-source energy simulation program EnergyPlus. An adapted version of jEPlus (parametric shell for EnergyPlus) was created to handle the jobs execution on the VENUS-C [1] cloud infrastructure. In addition, a web client called HUB-Engineering (HUB-E) was developed. The latter allows submissions of parametric simulations and results retrieval from any device connected to the internet. The results can be visualized and explored with a freeware interactive Parallel Coordinates Plot (PCP). Finally, a workflow is proposed to integrate the online cloud-based service within design processes of architectural and engineering practices. The workflow is tested with the parametric simulation of the energy performance of a building simulating 221,184 design options. By developing the first version of the service, which will be accessible to the AEC community, and by testing it successfully, the research shows the potential impact of cloud computing when coupled with parametric energy simulation.
AB - The aim of the present research is to facilitate the implementation of parametric energy studies among the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry by creating an online service to execute parametric energy simulations using cloud computing. A web-based service was developed to submit parametric simulations based on the open-source energy simulation program EnergyPlus. An adapted version of jEPlus (parametric shell for EnergyPlus) was created to handle the jobs execution on the VENUS-C [1] cloud infrastructure. In addition, a web client called HUB-Engineering (HUB-E) was developed. The latter allows submissions of parametric simulations and results retrieval from any device connected to the internet. The results can be visualized and explored with a freeware interactive Parallel Coordinates Plot (PCP). Finally, a workflow is proposed to integrate the online cloud-based service within design processes of architectural and engineering practices. The workflow is tested with the parametric simulation of the energy performance of a building simulating 221,184 design options. By developing the first version of the service, which will be accessible to the AEC community, and by testing it successfully, the research shows the potential impact of cloud computing when coupled with parametric energy simulation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85035066450&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article in proceeding
AN - SCOPUS:85035066450
T3 - Building Simulation Applications
SP - 105
EP - 112
BT - Building Simulation Applications, BSA 2013 - 1st IBPSA Italy Conference
A2 - Gasparella, Andrea
A2 - Baratieri, Marco
A2 - Corrado, Vincenzo
A2 - Patuzzi, Francesco
PB - Free University of Bozen Bolzano
T2 - Building Simulation Applications, BSA 2013 - 1st IBPSA Italy Conference
Y2 - 30 January 2013 through 1 February 2013
ER -