Search Constraints
Number of results to display per page
Results for:
Energy Efficiency in Building Design
Remove constraint Energy Efficiency in Building Design
1 - 6 of 6
Search Results
-
Video
The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today hosted its inaugural Public Forum for Research and Innovation. Titled “DeepSeek and Beyond”, the keynote speech was delivered by Prof. YANG Hongxia, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the PolyU Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Professor of the Department of Computing, who highlighted the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI). The event attracted over a thousand participants, including faculty members, students, alumni, and leaders from the innovation and technology sector, as well as academics and the public. Additionally, over 390,000 viewers tuned in through the live streaming platforms.
The Forum began with a welcoming speech delivered by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of the PolyU Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering. This was followed by Prof. ZHANG Chenqi, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence of the PolyU Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Director of the PolyU Shenzhen Research Institute introducing the speaker.
Prof. Zhang said, “The development of large models is at the core of competition in the AI wave. DeepSeek has demonstrated that high-performance AI models can be achieved using fewer and less advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), demonstrating that cutting-edge AI technology can be realised through the optimisation of algorithms.”
The large AI model developed by the mainland Chinese startup DeepSeek has garnered wide acclaim around the world for its low-cost, high-performance, and open-source framework, disrupting the traditional “computing power-first” logic of AI model training. At the Forum, Prof. Yang highlighted the potential of generative AI (GenAI), adding that it presents abundant opportunities for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, media and fashion, and for applications in medical imaging analysis, fraud detection, predictive maintenance, retail inventory management, content creation, and design and marketing.
Prof. Yang also recounted the evolution of AI and shared her professional milestones with the audience, notably the development of the M6 large model, which trained a 10-trillion-parameters model using just 512 GPUs. Prof. Yang further elaborated on how her GenAI project, Co-GenAI, improves the accessibility of AI technology while minimising dependence on large-scale centralised computing resources, thereby transforming the trajectory of AI progress. This ground-breaking effort has positioned Hong Kong and the Mainland at the forefront of global advancement in GenAI.
Moderated by Prof. Zhang Chenqi, a panel discussion was also held, featuring esteemed panellists Prof. Yang Hongxia and Prof. LI Qing, Head and Chair Professor of Data Science of the PolyU Department of Computing, and Co-Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism. The scholars discussed the opportunities and challenges that advancements in AI present for higher education and research. They also engaged in fruitful discussion with participants during the question-and-answer session. The topics included the application of AI in industry, the regulation of information, its impact on the employment environment and economic development, and the integration of AI technologies.
PolyU is committed to advancing AI education and research. In January 2025, the University established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences with a vision to lead global advancements in digital transformation and AI through distinguished education, research, and knowledge transfer.
Event date: 11/03/2025
Speaker: Prof. YANG Hongxia
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
-
MOOC
In this engineering course you will learn how to analyze vaults (long-span roofs) from three perspectives: 1. Efficiency = calculations of forces/stresses 2. Economy = evaluation of societal context and cost 3. Elegance = form/appearance based on engineering principles, not decoration We explore iconic vaults like the Pantheon, but our main focus is on contemporary vaults built after the industrial revolution. The vaults we examine are made of different materials, such as tile, reinforced concrete, steel and glass, and were created by masterful engineers/builders like Rafael Guastavino, Anton Tedesko, Pier Luigi Nervi, Eduardo Torroja, Félix Candela, and Heinz Isler. This course illustrates: - how engineering is a creative discipline and can become art - the influence of the economic and social context in vault design - the interplay between forces and form The course has been created for a general audience—no advanced math or engineering prerequisites are needed. This is the second of three courses on the Art of Structural Engineering, each of which are independent of each other. The course on bridges was launched in 2016, and another course will be developed on buildings/towers.
- Subjects:
- Structural Engineering
- Keywords:
- Roofs Suspension -- Design construction Structural analysis (Engineering)
- Resource Type:
- MOOC
-
MOOC
Meeting growing global energy demand, while mitigating climate change and environmental impacts, requires a large-scale transition to clean, sustainable energy systems. Students and professionals around the world must prepare for careers in this future energy landscape, gaining relevant skills and knowledge to expedite the transformation in industry, government and nongovernmental organizations, academia, and nonprofits. The building sector represents a large percentage of overall energy consumption, and contributes 40% of the carbon emissions driving climate change. Yet buildings also offer opportunities for substantial, economical energy efficiency gains. From retrofit projects to new construction, buildings require a context-specific design process that integrates efficiency strategies and technologies. In this course, you'll be introduced to a range of technologies and analysis techniques for designing comfortable, resource-efficient buildings. The primary focus of this course is the study of the thermal and luminous behavior of buildings. You'll examine the basic scientific principles underlying these phenomena, and use computer-aided design software and climate data to explore the role light and energy can play in shaping architecture. These efficiency design elements are critical to the larger challenge of producing energy for a growing population while reducing carbon emissions.
- Subjects:
- Environmental Engineering, Building Services Engineering, and Building and Real Estate
- Keywords:
- Buildings -- Energy conservation Sustainable architecture Sustainable buildings -- Design construction
- Resource Type:
- MOOC
-
MOOC
The building industry is exploding with data sources that impact the energy performance of the built environment and health and well-being of occupants. Spreadsheets just don’t cut it anymore as the sole analytics tool for professionals in this field. Participating in mainstream data science courses might provide skills such as programming and statistics, however the applied context to buildings is missing, which is the most important part for beginners. This course focuses on the development of data science skills for professionals specifically in the built environment sector. It targets architects, engineers, construction and facilities managers with little or no previous programming experience. An introduction to data science skills is given in the context of the building life cycle phases. Participants will use large, open data sets from the design, construction, and operations of buildings to learn and practice data science techniques. Essentially this course is designed to add new tools and skills to supplement spreadsheets. Major technical topics include data loading, processing, visualization, and basic machine learning using the Python programming language, the Pandas data analytics and sci-kit learn machine learning libraries, and the web-based Colaboratory environment. In addition, the course will provide numerous learning paths for various built environment-related tasks to facilitate further growth.
- Subjects:
- Computing, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Keywords:
- Python (Computer program language) City planning -- Statistical methods Information visualization
- Resource Type:
- MOOC
-
Courseware
Reduction of energy consumption of buildings is an important step in the move towards a sustainable economy. How can buildings be made net zero energy, in different climates? This course introduces you to zero energy design. It will teach you a stepped approach to design a zero energy climate concept for existing buildings: homes, schools, offices, shops etc. It will demonstrate how an integrated approach, which takes into account both passive measures (such as thermal insulation and sun shading) and active measures (such as heat pumps and photovoltaic panels), can deliver the best results. It will do so by providing you with an overview of possible measures, and through reviewing several case studies of zero energy buildings in the Netherlands, with lessons for other climates as well. Thus, you will learn which measures are most suitable for individual buildings under local climate conditions. This course is for anyone interested in making buildings more energy efficient, who already possess asic technical knowledge.
-
MOOC
Building construction is one of the most waste producing sectors. In the European Union, construction alone accounts for approximately 30% of the raw material input. In addition, the different life-cycle stages of buildings, from construction to end-of-life, cause a significant environmental impact related to energy consumption, waste generation and direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The Circular Economy model offers guidelines and principles for promoting more sustainable building construction and reducing the impact on our environment. If you are interested in taking your first steps in transitioning to a more sustainable manner of construction, then this course is for you! In this course you will become familiar with circularity as a systemic, multi-disciplinary approach, concerned with the different scale, from material to product, building, city, and region. Some aspects of circularity that will be included in this course are maximizing reuse and recycle levels by closing the material loops. You will also learn how the Circular Economy can help to realign business incentives in supply chains, and how consumers can be engaged and contribute to the transition through new business models enabling circular design, reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling of building components. In addition, you will learn how architecture and urban design can be adapted according to the principles of the Circular Economy and ensure that construction is more sustainable. You will also learn from case studies how companies already profitably incorporate this new theory into the design, construction and operation of the built environment.
- Subjects:
- Building and Real Estate
- Keywords:
- Construction industry -- Environmental aspects Building materials -- Recycling Sustainable construction
- Resource Type:
- MOOC