Function-Space Assignment and Movement Simulation Model for Building Renovation

Abstract

Building renovation is an effective way to revive the use of a building, the use efficiency of which is primarily determined by its layout. However, in architectural practice, architects and building owners renovate buildings based on their personal subjective perceptions of how occupants use the building instead of systematically analyzing their use behaviors. This study proposes a model, called the Function-space Assignment and MOvement Simulation (FAMOS) model, which integrates radio frequency identification (RFID), fast messy genetic algorithms (fmGA), and movement simulation techniques to solve the function-space assignment problem. The RFID equipment is specifically used to track the occupants' movement data in a building, the fmGA is employed to identify the optimal result of function assignment, and the movement simulation technique is adopted to verify the result and support the decision-making of function-space assignment. This study presents a real case study to demonstrate the use of FAMOS and compare its assignments with those generated by a renovation architect. The objective function showed that FAMOS's version had a 14.80% higher objective value than the architect's version. The experiment also showed that FAMOS helped the architect find the best assignment or improve their assignment based on desired objectives such as preferred space size, minimized movement distance, or removal of corridor congestion.

An Integrated Model for Simulating Activities and Optimizing Space Function in Educational Facility

“…It is possible to use RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology to track the movement of users [12] and use those tracking data as the data required in this step.…”

“…Readers who are interested in the detail of this phase may refer to [12]. The output of this phase is the values of movement relation between various functions (R fifj ).…”

“…Lee et al [11] considered both function assignment and movement simulation by integrating ant colony optimization and continuous movement simulation to improve corridor layouts for a hospital building. Similarly, Dzeng et al [12] integrated fast messy genetic algorithm (fmGA) optimization and discrete movement simulation to develop a FAMOS model (Function-space Assignment and Movement Simulation) for an educational building. However, none of researchers have integrated all three variables.…”

An Activity‐Based Simulation Model for Assessing Function Space Assignment for Buildings: A Service Performance Perspective

“…Similarly, Dzeng et al. () integrated fast messy GA (fmGA) (Knjazew and Goldberg, ) optimization and discrete movement simulation to develop a FAMOS model (Function‐space Assignment and MOvement Simulation) for an educational building. However, no researchers have integrated all three variables.…”

“…The original contribution of the study is to propose an activity‐based simulation process model for assessing a building's service performance that extends the FAMOS model (Dzeng et al., ) by integrating the activity simulation. FAMOS takes RFID‐tracking data about the occupants' movement, mines the movement data by constructing patterns and calculating the relation values between functions, and then optimizes the function space assignment based on the fmGA.…”