Dynamic shading systems: A review of design parameters, platforms and evaluation strategies

The advancements in software and hardware technologies provide opportunities for solar shading systems to function dynamically within their context. This development has helped dynamic shading systems respond to variable environmental parameters such as sun angles and solar insolation. However, the technical understanding of system design, mechanism and controlling methods presents a challenge for architects and designers. Therefore, this study aims to review the current applications and trends of dynamic shading systems to clarify the potentials and limitations in enhancing system performance based on integrated design objectives. This study assessed several systems on the basis of a critical review to identify different models, applications and methodologies. This study is divided into two main sections: (i) design elements and platforms that engage with specific methods in creating a dynamic shading system and (ii) evaluation strategies to examine system performance. The systems were investigated based on the multiplicity and integration of the parameters involved through various components, such as architectural, mechanical, operational and automation components. The review analysed various studies on the following two bases: (1) geometric-based analysis, which distinguishes between simple and complex shading models, and (2) performance-based analysis, which assesses the shading systems based on two groups of methodologies, namely, theoretical and experimental. The outcome of the review reflects a clear classification of shading models and a comprehensive analysis of their performance. This study generally provides a systematic framework for architects based on thorough research and investigation. Finally, the study introduced several findings and recommendations to improve the performance of dynamic shading systems

Simulating Complex Window Systems using BSDF Data

Nowadays, virtual models are commonly used to evaluate the performance of conventional window systems. Complex fenestration systems can be difficult to simulate accurately not only because of their geometry but also because of their optical properties that scatter light in an unpredictable manner. Bi-directional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDF) have recently been developed based on a mixture of measurements and modelling to characterize the optics of such systems. This paper describes the workflow needed to create then use these BSDF datasets in the Radiance lighting simulation software. Limited comparisons are made between visualizations produced using the standard ray-tracing method, the BSDF method, and that taken in a full-scale outdoor mockup

The role of dynamic lighting and shading systems in design: their impact in energy consumption and occupants thermal and visual comfort

Building shell is the means of interaction between the interior and exterior space and therefore affects buildings' environmental behavior. This phd study aims to initially integrate a variety of functions and performance criteria in the building morphology and afterwards studies their performance. By using facade systems and dividing them into zones the study examines a variety of modular facade systems. More specifically, the performance of dynamic lighting and shading systems is examined in order to improve its' impact on buildings' energy consumption and occupants comfort.Το κέλυφος λόγω του πολυδιάστατου χαρακτήρα του αποτελεί μέσο διαμεσολάβησης μεταξύ εσωτερικού και εξωτερικού περιβάλλοντος και επηρεάζει την περιβαλλοντική ενεργειακή συμπεριφορά των κτιρίων. Στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η ενσωμάτωση των λειτουργιών και των κριτηρίων απόδοσης στη μορφολογία του κελύφους καθώς και η μελέτης της απόδοσης τους. Η συστηματοποίηση και ο καταμερισμός του σε επιμέρους ζώνες ανάλογα με τις λειτουργίες που αυτές αντιπροσωπεύουν οδηγεί στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας διατριβής στις αρθρωτές προσόψεις και στα συστήματα προσόψεων. Ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα δίνεται στα συστήματα φωτισμού και σκίασης με δυναμικό χαρακτήρα που αξιολογούνται προκειμένου να διεξαχθούν συμπεράσματα για τη βελτιστοποίηση τους αλλά και το βαθμό που επηρεάζουν την συνολική ενεργειακή κατανάλωση του κτιρίου και την άνεση των χρηστών

A holistic appraisal of consumer, operational, environmental and nutritional elements of packaging in the food industry

GeneralThis study aims to identify and evaluate packaging elements in the food industry from a holistic point of view. Findings of the study justify the results of many research initiatives that the importance of packaging in the food industry lies in its multifunctional nature. Packaging elements of food products can come from studying the contribution of different research disciplines and functional areas: marketing, logistics/supply chain management, food technologies and the environment.PurposeThe importance of packaging in the food industry lies in its multifunctional nature. Packaging elements can come from studying the contribution of different research disciplines and functional areas: marketing, logistics, food technologies, and the environment. This study aims to identify and evaluate packaging elements in the food industry from a holistic point of view.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data are collected through two research initiatives via questionnaires, which were filled by 1,219 consumers of food products and 390 managers (executives) working in the packaged food products market, which is a very important and competitive sector in Greece.FindingsIn general, the findings reveal that all the key players in the food supply chain understand and appreciate the multifunctional and multidisciplinary nature of packaging. Moreover, informational, operational, physical and visual elements are all of high importance. These findings lead to the conclusion that all executives from different operational areas of a business should be involved in packaging design, despite the fact that they may have different perspectives concerning the different elements involved in the packaging in the food supply chain. OriginalityAlthough the multidisciplinary nature of the package is very clear, most studies in the literature focus on either its impact on consumer behavior and its use as a communication/differentiation tool or as a tool that has significant implications for the efficiency of the logistics systems throughout the supply chain, as well as for the particular features/properties and the environmental awareness. This study sought to fill the above-mentioned gap, by recognizing its importance among marketing, logistics, food technology and corporate social responsibility managers, including issues concerning environmental awareness, and how consumers perceive the data on the packaging.ΓενικάΗ παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή, στοχεύει στον προσδιορισμό και την αξιολόγηση των στοιχείων συσκευασίας στη βιομηχανία τροφίμων από ένα ολιστικό πρίσμα. Τα ευρήματα της μελέτης δικαιολογούν τα αποτελέσματα πολλών ερευνητικών πρωτοβουλιών ότι η σημασία της συσκευασίας στη βιομηχανία τροφίμων έγκειται στον πολυλειτουργικό και πολύ-επιστημονικό της χαρακτήρα. Τα στοιχεία συσκευασίας των τροφίμων μπο-ρούν να προέλθουν από τη μελέτη της συμβολής των διαφόρων επιστημονικών κλάδων και λειτουργικών τομέων: μάρκετινγκ, logistics/εφοδιαστικής αλυσίδας, τεχνολογίες τροφίμων και το περιβάλλον.ΣκοπόςΗ σημασία της συσκευασίας στη βιομηχανία τροφίμων έγκειται στον πολυλειτουργικό της χαρακτήρα. Τα στοιχεία συσκευασίας μπορούν να προέλθουν από τη μελέτη της συμβολής διαφορετικών επιστημονικών τομέων και λειτουργικών τομέων: μάρκετινγκ, logistics, τεχνολογίες τροφίμων και το περιβάλλον. Αυτή η μελέτη στοχεύει στον εντοπισμό και την αξιολόγηση στοιχείων συσκευασίας στη βιομηχανία τροφίμων από μία ο-λιστική άποψη.Μεθοδολογική προσέγγισηΤα πρωτογενή δεδομένα συλλέχθηκαν μέσω ερωτηματολογίων, τα οποία συμπληρώθηκαν από 1.219 καταναλωτές τροφίμων και 390 διευθυντές (στελέχη) που εργάζονται στην αγορά συσκευασμένων προϊόντων διατροφής, ο οποίος είναι ένας πολύ σημαντικός και ανταγωνιστικός τομέας στην Ελλάδα.ΕυρήματαΣε γενικές γραμμές, τα ευρήματα αποκαλύπτουν ότι όλοι οι βασικοί παράγοντες της α-λυσίδας εφοδιασμού τροφίμων αντιλαμβάνονται και εκτιμούν τον πολυλειτουργικό και διεπιστημονικό χαρακτήρα της συσκευασίας. Επιπλέον, τα πληροφοριακά, λειτουργικά, φυσικά και οπτικά στοιχεία έχουν μεγάλη σημασία. Αυτά τα ευρήματα οδηγούν στο συμπέρασμα ότι όλα τα στελέχη από διαφορετικούς επιχειρησιακούς τομείς μιας επιχείρησης θα πρέπει να συμμετέχουν στο σχεδιασμό συσκευασιών, παρά το γεγονός ότι μπορεί να έχουν διαφορετικές προοπτικές σχετικά με τα διαφορετικά στοιχεία που εμπλέκο-νται στη συσκευασία στην εφοδιαστική αλυσίδα τροφίμων.ΠρωτοτυπίαΠαρόλο που ο πολυεπιστημονικός χαρακτήρας της συσκευασίας είναι ένα αναμφισβήτητο γεγονός, οι περισσότερες μελέτες στη βιβλιογραφία επικεντρώνονται είτε στον αντίκτυπό του στη συμπεριφορά των καταναλωτών και στη χρήση του ως εργαλείου επικοινωνίας / διαφοροποίησης είτε ως εργαλείο που έχει σημαντικές επιπτώσεις στην αποτελεσματικότητα των συστημάτων logistics σε όλη την αλυσίδα εφοδιασμού, καθώς και για τα συγκεκριμένα χαρακτηριστικά / ιδιότητες και την περιβαλλοντική ευαισθητοποίη-ση. Αυτή η μελέτη προσπάθησε να καλύψει αυτό το κενό, αναγνωρίζοντας τη σημασία του μεταξύ των διαχειριστών μάρκετινγκ, εφοδιαστικής, τεχνολογίας τροφίμων και εταιρικής κοινωνικής ευθύνης, συμπεριλαμβανομένων ζητημάτων που αφορούν την περι-βαλλοντική ευαισθητοποίηση και τον τρόπο με τον οποίο οι καταναλωτές αντιλαμβάνο-νται τα δεδομένα στη συσκευασία

Dynamic operation of daylighting and shading systems: A literature review

The primary goal of dynamic building envelopes is to meet and balance antagonistic performance criteria utilizing automatic operation. As opposed to static systems, automated shading and daylighting systems are increasingly being used in façade design with the intent to improve building performance. Taking this into consideration, the question that arises is whether such systems can significantly improve buildings energy performance and occupants' visual and thermal comfort. The present paper is a review of dynamic operation methods of shading/daylighting systems and their associated implications in building energy balance. Based on the subject distribution of the reviewed studies, the majority of the systems examined are versions of motorized blinds while the analysis of new emerging ideas on deployable and foldable façade systems is limited. User acceptance is quite crucial and is strongly dependent on the system's intuitive operation. According to the paper findings, energy savings with automatically controlled blinds depend on the type of control strategy and their connection to dimmable electric lighting systems. Even though control strategies enhance energy performance and occupants' comfort, their level of complexity highly affects their efficiency and therefore influences their performance. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Investigating Food Packaging Elements from a Consumer’s Perspective

This study aims to identify and evaluate packaging elements in the food industry, taking into account various business areas/disciplines. The research was conducted with a sample of 1219 customers. An initial pool of 43 packaging items was developed, aiming to examine the elements that have a relationship with consumer behavior in buying food products. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on a random split-half sample of the data to examine the factor structure of these elements in the general population. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in the holdout sample. The EFA of the packaging items resulted in seven factors: (1) Informational content, (2) Content protection and recognition, (3) Smart functioning, (4) Geometry, (5) Environmental friendliness (6) Endurance, and (7) Coloration. The CFA in the holdout sample supported this factor structure. The findings are informed by the consumer attitudes and predispositions towards packaging, thus having useful managerial applications

Exploring the Multi-Function Nature of Packaging in the Food Industry

The main objective of this paper is the identification and evaluation of packaging elements by the involved managers in the food industry. Primary research data was collected using a questionnaire that was completed by marketing and logistics managers, as well as food technologists and executives assigned to environmental initiatives/practices, in the Greek food industry. The findings reveal that different managers have different perceptions regarding packaging shapes, colors, identification coding schemes and the provision of consumption ways. There are some common packaging elements that most managers agree on, which are: providing nutritional information, including marks that show compliance to environmental practices, being easy to transport and handle, and withstanding corrosion and wear. Moreover, the research confirms that: (a) Health and nutrition are two interrelated concepts that receive constant attention from the food industry, as well as from governments and consumers, and (b) The quality of a food product is inextricably linked to the quality of its packaging.</jats:p

Exploring the Multi-Function Nature of Packaging in the Food Industry

The main objective of this paper is the identification and evaluation of packaging elements by the involved managers in the food industry. Primary research data was collected using a questionnaire that was completed by marketing and logistics managers, as well as food technologists and executives assigned to environmental initiatives/practices, in the Greek food industry. The findings reveal that different managers have different perceptions regarding packaging shapes, colors, identification coding schemes and the provision of consumption ways. There are some common packaging elements that most managers agree on, which are: providing nutritional information, including marks that show compliance to environmental practices, being easy to transport and handle, and withstanding corrosion and wear. Moreover, the research confirms that: (a) Health and nutrition are two interrelated concepts that receive constant attention from the food industry, as well as from governments and consumers, and (b) The quality of a food product is inextricably linked to the quality of its packaging