Jianglan Tian’s research while affiliated with Suzhou University of Science and Technology and other places

Extended reality (XR), including augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR), can make complex information more intuitively understandable. However, it still needs to be determined which XR technology is the most suitable for reviewing performance‐based building design, during which architects check whether design strategies increase energy efficiency, indoor environment quality and so forth. It requires comprehensive design and simulation information to be vividly represented. The authors develop three XR apps (AR, MR, and VR) to interactively visualize façade fenestration geometries and indoor illuminance simulations. Then XR technologies are assessed by 120 students and young architects, from task performance and engagement level two aspects. The task performance is measured by correct rate and time consumption two indicators, while the engagement level is measured by usability and interest two indicators. Evaluation results show that compared to AR and VR, MR is the best XR technology for this aim. VR outperforms AR on three indicators except for usability. By exposing three different XR technologies' performances in aiding fenestration design, this study increases the practical value of applying XR to the building design field. Comparing three XR technologies for reviewing performance‐based building design.

Existing building carbon emissions contribute to global climate change significantly. Various Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) have considered low-carbon requirements to regulate the emissions. Low-carbon retrofitting is an important way to reduce existing building CO2 emissions. However, low-carbon retrofitting of existing public buildings is not sufficient and systematic, and there is a lack of research on low-carbon retrofitting from the perspective of GBRS. The purpose of this study is to propose a carbon emission control framework for existing public buildings based on GBRS analysis and guide the low-carbon retrofitting. This study makes comparisons among the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Green Mark (GM), and Assessment Standard for Green Retrofitting of Existing Buildings (ASGREB). A low-carbon retrofit pathway for existing public buildings is proposed from the GBRS research for the first time, encompassing six aspects: materials, energy, management, innovation, site, and water, involving 15 measures. Among them, measures on energy and materials are the main considerations, with weights of 18.3% and 17.7%, respectively. Six recommendations for implementation pathways are also given. Furthermore, the necessary measures, the importance of local context and quantification, priorities of materials, and energy scopes are defined.