EdTech2004: The Fifth Annual Irish Educational Technology User's Conference
Dr. Ken Beattie
Faculty of Engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Bolton Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01-402-3822
Mobile: 086-8240539
Email:
Abstract
Thispresentation will show how the use of e-learning technologies has enhanced the teaching of building design to degree level students. Formerly the lecture material was based on 2-D material. With the assistance ofWebCT e-learning material has been produced which is based on 3-D computer models of buildings. The course uses a series of animated Flash tutorials, whichare integrated withotherWebCTtools, including assessments, image databases, student presentation areasetc.
This approach allows computer simulation studies of buildings to be carried out to ensure that sustainable building design has been achieved. The simulation results are presented in visual format, which makes the teaching environment more stimulating.
The use of e-learning facilitates much more flexible learning and also allows the students to progress at their own speed.
Paper Title: Sustainable Building Design Using e-learning Technology
Dr. Ken Beattie Faculty of Engineering Dublin Institute of Technology
Pauline Rooney Learning technology Team Dublin Institute of Technology
Introduction
Sustainable building design has become a very important issue so that architects and engineers canreduce the impact buildings have on the environment. One of the major impacts that buildings have on the important is due to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from the fossil fuels used to heat, light and cool buildings. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas that is causing global warming and climate change. The traditional building design approach is based on 2-D drawings and steady state calculations. However to achieve sustainable building design a new approach is required. This approach requires holistic innovative building design and is based on a 3-D computer model of the building and dynamic simulation methods. The simulation results are presented in visual format and this allows easier communications within the design team and also makes the teaching environment more stimulating.
Global Warming and Climate Change
Global warmingand climate change due to the Greenhouse Effect has become a very important issue for a range of disciplines, including architects and engineers.
The main cause of global warming is the exponential increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
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Buildings contribute 46% of the CO2 emissions to the atmosphere due to the fossil fuels used to heat, light and cool buildings. The IPCC Panel on Climate Change has reported that to stablise the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere a reduction of 60% is required. This is a significant reduction and new design methods are required to meet this target
Traditional Design Approach
The traditional design approach has been for the engineers to accept 2-D AutoCAD drawings from the architect for the building and design air-conditioning and artificial lighting systems that require a substantial amount of fossil energy in their operation.
Sustainable Building Design
To achieve sustainable building design a new innovative building design is needed. This method is based on a 3-D computer model of the building and dynamic simulation methods. The integrated data model (IDM) for the computer includes the building geometry, building constructions, occupancy profiles etc. which describe fully the use and construction of the proposed building design.
This IDM is used with the dynamic simulation methods to predict the energy, comfort and visualise aspects of the building. The environmental impact of the building in terms of CO2 emissions is also predicted. The design process continues until the environmental impact of the building is reduced as much as possible. Many innovative techniques such as daylight design, passive solar design, , thermal mass, night cooling, brise soleil, natural ventilation etc. can be evaluated.
Simulation Results
Daylight Analysis
Passive Solar Design
Comfort Analysis
E-Learning Material
With the assistance ofWebCT e-learning material has been produced which is assists students to build the 3-D computer model of the building. The material includes a series of animated Flash tutorials, whichare integrated withotherWebCTtools, including assessments, image databases, student presentation areasetc.
Some examples of the material are shown below:
Conclusions
The existing teaching material has been readily adapted for Powerpoint, AVI movies etc.
WebCT is DIT’s chosen Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and the material is password protected and also student tracking abilities are provided.
With the new teaching method students need to think and visualise buildings in 3D and also compare performance of their building design against other sustainable buildings. The new e-learning material allows the students to do this.
Previously, a lot of time has been taken to teach students on the Virtual Environment software. However the e-learning material developed allows more self-directed learning for students.