Multi-domain comfort models – development of a systematic approach to theory, experimental design and modelling

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Marcel Schweiker; Professor Andreas Wagner
• Subject Area: Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 498385769

Although environmental stimuli on humans are occurring simultaneously, the majority of scientific literature and also building codes and guidelines are treating them separately in terms of perception and boundary conditions for the different comfort domains. Only very few instances of design and engineering guidelines address the complex multi-domain indoor environmental conditions in a holistic and integrated way. The main reason for this is the lack of fundamental knowledge about interdependencies between environmental stressors and resulting reactions of humans to preserve or improve individual indoor environmental comfort levels. The primary target of this project therefore is to significantly advance the understanding of crossed main effects and interactions in multi-domain perception and the state of the art of multi-domain comfort modelling through laboratory experiments and by testing promising model approaches in a virtual testbed. Specific objectives are to 1) create a consistent and updated knowledge base about the impact of multi-domain – and often interdependent – indoor environmental stressors on human perception; 2) develop a systematic approach and theoretical framework for future experimental multi-domain studies; 3) develop a structure for a general multi-domain comfort model; 4) apply and evaluate different modelling approaches by exploiting objective (physical environmental data, status) and subjective (perception) data collected in various experimental settings; and 5) evaluate thoroughly the strengths and weaknesses of these modelling approaches. Based on the previous research and expertise of each of the three partners from Austria and Germany, a sound foundation for a theoretical framework, a systematic experimental design, and a modelling approach can be laid with this approach within this weave Lead Agency procedure.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Ardeshir Mahdavi