ณัชวิชญ์ ติกุล. Development of an Architectural Ecodesign Software. Doctoral Degree(Materials Technology). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library.. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2010.
Development of an Architectural Ecodesign Software
Abstract:
Environmentally-friendly architectural design tools are important to architects. The
tools can assist them in making decisions and presenting scientific analysis
results. However, existing tools are difficult to use and are not suitable to architectural
design in Thailand. Therefore, this research was aimed at developing SArch as a tool for
evaluating environmental impacts of the use of water, energy, and construction
materials as well as estimating costs throughout the life cycle of the building using the
database that corresponds to building construction in Thailand. This research involved
software development based on users' needs and behaviors, and database development
based on the principles of product life cycle assessment.
The development makes SArch easy to use in accordance with users' behaviors and
work. SArch can provide assessment of six environmental problems, namely global
warming, acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, smog, and ecological toxicity
of the use of water, energy, and construction materials. The environmental impact
values can be in the single score and equivalence (-eq) units according to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The cost estimation throughout the
building life cycle (50 years) can be done according to the construction material cost,
installation cost, operating cost, and demolition cost.
Development of the SArch database, by adjusting the existing data and assessing the
environmental impacts of construction materials in Thailand, covered the environmental
impact values of nine groups of construction materials used in Thailand, i.e. partition,
ceiling, floor finishing, paint, walJ finishing, insulation, roofing, framing, and structural
materials (54 types). The data in the SArch database can be used for calculating
environmental impact values.
SArch is different from other tools of this group for five reasons 1) It provides
environmental impact assessment according to seven life cycle periods. 2) It provides
analysis of the environmental impacts for the whole building and parts of the building.
3) It can show.the environmental impact values in eq. units and single scores. 4) It can
provide environmental impact analysis along with cost analysis. 5) Its database
corresponds to situations in Thailand.