Characterization of occupant behaviour models for simulation engineers and architects

Abstract

The characteristics of occupant behaviour models presented in scientific literature do not necessarily convey the properties of a model related to its outcome on - e.g. the mean behavioural state, the variance in behavioural actions, or the resulting energy use for a given building. Given the huge variety of modelling approaches and observed behavioural patterns, the question arises, whether the existing characteristics are meaningful for those who should apply these models in daily praxis, i.e. building simulation engineers or architects, less trained in statistical measures. Therefore, this paper presents a method to create characteristics for occupant behaviour models, so that the model's behaviour is more tangible for those who should apply occupant behaviour models. Through standardized simulations including occupant behaviour models, the average length of usage, the number of interactions, and typical schedules for summer and winter are extracted, which allow a straightforward comparison of a model's behaviour.