Intelligent systems for functional improvement of buildings

Abstract

The design and development of sustainable environments can be considered as a shared duty, especially in the current state of climate change and ecological awareness. The role of a few major stakeholders, such as architects, in ensuring a reliable and suitable environment design is even more critical, as the construction industry currently consumes half the energy sources globally. Therefore, improving the way in which our environment is designed challenges certain cultural systems, such as education for future architects and engineers, which currently demonstrates evident limitations. The digital transformation is increasingly affecting all aspects of life. This research focuses on new development strategies for improving functionality in existing buildings through enhancing students' ability to think critically in the face of environmental challenges, using digital processing tools to achieve a sustainable building. The research approaches are both quantitative and qualitative, with an emphasis on problem-solving (ARCH463: Intelligent Buildings). Four steps have been followed: literature review; assessment and analysis; guidelines creation; and tests and simulations. One of the results of this research is to create development strategies for the functional improvement of an existing building through promoting course and interest in the students of an elective course (ARCH463: Intelligent Buildings) in the second level of architecture in the Faculty of Architecture, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon. Another outcome will be the practical effectiveness of new technology devices in sustainable intelligent building in the Arab countries.