Session: 03-12-01: Digital Manufacturing Process Simulation and Validation

Paper Number: 113117

113117 - Intelligent Facade Innovation (IFI): Using IIoT, Digital Twin, and Next-Gen Architecture Designs 

The urgent need for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions in architecture has never been more pressing as the world grapples with the escalating threats of climate change and the global energy crisis. As buildings are responsible for significant global energy consumption and carbon emissions, sustainable design efforts must focus on optimizing building performance and reducing energy consumption. Smart buildings have emerged as a pivotal solution to address these challenges, utilizing advanced technologies to create a more sustainable and efficient built environment. Intelligent building systems integrate various technologically advanced subsystems, such as HVAC, lighting, security, and building management systems.

Lean building design is an essential concept in sustainable architecture that focuses on minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency throughout the design, construction, and operation. By optimizing the use of materials, energy, and resources, lean building design can reduce a building's environmental impact and lower operating costs. Facades play a critical role in lean building design, as they are the primary interface between the interior and exterior environments, aiding in regulating the indoor environment, reducing energy consumption, and optimizing building performance.

Facades can incorporate various technologies, such as solar panels, shading devices, and energy-efficient glazing, to improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Moreover, with the integration of Building Internet of Things (BIoT) and Facade Internet of Things (FIoT) technology, facades can be optimized for real-time data analysis, enabling dynamic control and monitoring of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and occupancy.

While several papers have explored the implementation of Industry 4.0 trends on intelligent buildings, only a few have researched the integration of IoT on smart facades and the implementation of a digital twin concept. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical building or subsystem, allowing for real-time performance monitoring, analysis, and optimization. This research project aims to fill this gap by investigating the value of integrating IoT on smart facades and implementing the digital twin concept on kinetic facades.

The article presents advancements in climate-responsive building skins and analyzes the automatically adjustable kinetic facade with real-time solar tracking devices, temperature, humidity, occupancy, and air quality sensors. The proposed digital twin of the kinetic facade is analyzed using the Siemens PLM Tecnomatix tool. Additionally, the article provides several simulations on building facade systems using Siemens' Process Simulate Tecnomatix module to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating IoT technology on kinetic facades.

Integrating BIoT and FIoT technology on a kinetic facade can optimize building performance, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, building systems can adjust to reduce energy consumption and maximize indoor comfort. Furthermore, incorporating intelligent building systems in lean building design promotes collaboration and continuous improvement across the design and construction process. With the help of continuous feedback loops, building intelligence can be advanced, enabling ongoing improvements and optimization.

This paper aims to present a new methodology for integrating IoT on smart facades and implementing the digital twin concept in kinetic facades to advance the field of intelligent buildings and sustainable lean architecture. By exploring the potential of smart facades and digital twins, this research project contributes to the ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable and efficient built environment. This research will be valuable to researchers, architects, and engineers interested in advancing the field of next-generation architecture designs and principles.

Presenting Author: Diana Salamaga Kennesaw State University

Presenting Author Biography: Student of Architecture at Kennesaw State University;
Student of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at Kennesaw State University

Authors:

Diana Salamaga Kennesaw State University
David Guerra-Zubiaga Kennesaw State University
Razvan Voicu Kennesaw State University