Teaching and researching the indoor environment: From traditional experimental techniques towards web-enabled practices

Abstract

In this paper some of the recent developments and ongoing work at the Energy, Environment and Comfort research group of ADAI (Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics), in the areas of Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Efficiency in Buildings are presented. Summarily, it is showcased a state of the art of the Indoor Live Lab, developed at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Coimbra.

The Indoor Live Lab (I2L) is a new platform for research and technology demonstration in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). The main motivation for initiating this effort arose from the increasing necessity that researchers, educators and decision makers have for continuously available monitored data on all aspects of building functioning. This paper aims at presenting early developments at the I2L, as well as associated research projects which were at the centre of its creation. Firstly, the objectives of the I2L are presented. Secondly, ongoing research on both residential buildings and services buildings is exposed. After, the several IEQ parameters studies are discussed in particular. This is followed by the I2L description, location and specific features. Finally, a conclusion and future work section are presented.