Historical Buildings

Article pulished in Energies Journal (2020)

Title: An Integrated HBIM Simulation Approach for Energy Retrofit of Historical Buildings Implemented in a Case Study of a Medieval Fortress in Italy

Dataset: “Building energy simulation data results” – Raw data is available upon request. Follow the link and fill the request form.

Language: German

Authors: Cristina Piselli (*1,2) , Jessica Romanelli (*2), Matteo Di Grazia (*2), Augusto Gavagni (*2), Elisa Moretti (*1,2), Andrea Nicolini (*1,2), Franco Cotana (*1,2), Francesco Strangis (*2), Henk J. L. Witte (*3) and Anna Laura Pisello (*1,2).

*1: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy.
*2: CIRIAF – Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sull’Inquinamento da Agenti Fisici, Interuniversity Research
Centre, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy.
*3: Groenholland Geo-Energysystems, Valschermkade 26, 1059CD Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: The Italian building stock consists of buildings mainly constructed until the mid-20^th century using pre-industrial construction techniques. These buildings require energy refurbishment that takes into account the preservation of their architectural heritage. In this view, this work studies an innovative integrated modelling and simulation framework consisting of the implementation of Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) for the energy retrofit of historical buildings with renewable geothermal HVAC system. To this aim, the field case study is part of a medieval complex in Central Italy (Perugia), as representative ancient rural offshore architecture in the European countryside. The system involves of a ground source heat pump, a water tank for thermal-energy storage connected to a low-temperature radiant system, and an air-handling unit. The building heating energy performance, typically influenced by thermal inertia in historical buildings, when coupled to the novel HVAC system, is comparatively assessed against a traditional scenario implementing a natural-gas boiler, and made inter-operative within the HBIM ad hoc platform. Results show that the innovative renewable energy system provides relevant benefits while preserving minor visual and architectural impact within the historical complex, and also in terms of both energy saving, CO₂ emissions offset, and operation costs compared to the traditional existing system. The integrated HBIM approach may effectively drive the path toward regeneration and re-functioning of heritage in Europe.

Paper published in Data in Brief Journal (2020)

Title: Data collected by coupling fix and wearable sensors for addressing urban microclimate variability in an historical Italian city

Language: English

Authors: Benedetta Pioppi (*a), Ilaria Pigliautile (*a), Anna Laura Pisello (*a,b)

*a: CIRIAF – Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment Mauro Felli, Perugia, Italy
*b: Department of Engineering, Perugia, Italy

Abstract: This article presents the data collected through an extensive research work conducted in a historic hilly town in central Italy during the period 2016-2017. Data concern two different datasets: long-term hygrothermal histories collected in two specific positions of the town object of the research, and three environmental transects collected following on foot the same designed path at three different time of the same day, i.e. during a heat wave event in summer. The short-term monitoring campaign is carried out by means of an innovative wearable weather station specifically developed by the authors and settled upon a bike helmet. Data provided within the short-term monitoring campaign are analysed by computing the apparent temperature, a direct indicator of human thermal comfort in the outdoors. All provided environmental data are geo-referenced. These data are used in order to examine the intra-urban microclimate variability. Outcomes from both long- and short-term monitoring campaigns allow to confirm the existing correlation between the urban forms and functionalities and the corresponding local microclimate conditions, also generated by anthropogenic actions. In detail, higher fractions of built surfaces are associated to generally higher temperatures as emerges by comparing the two long-term air temperature data series, i.e. temperature collected at point 1 is higher than temperature collated at point 2 for the 75% of the monitored period with an average of þ2.8 [1]C. Furthermore, gathered environmental transects demonstrate the high variability of the main environmental parameters below the Urban Canopy. Diversification of the urban thermal behaviour leads to a computed apparent temperature range in between 33.2 [1]C and 46.7 [1]C at 2 p.m. along the monitoring path. Reuse of these data may be helpful for further investigating interesting correlations among urban configuration, anthropogenic actions and microclimate variables affecting outdoor comfort. Additionally, the proposed dataset may be compared to other similar datasets collected in other urban contexts around the world. Finally, it can be compared to other monitoring methodologies such as weather stations and satellite measurements available in the location at the same time.

Raw data is available for download here.

Conference paper presented in The 12th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring held September 10-12 in Standford, California, USA

Also available for download in Zenodo.

Title: Geothermal Power: Monitoring the Building Response During Installation

Language: English

Authors: Fabio Casciati (*1), Sara Casciati (*2), Alessandro Colnaghi (*2), Lucia Favarelli (*1)

*1: University of Pavia
*2: SIART, SRL

Abstract:  The European project G E O F I T (Deployment of novel GEOthermal systems, technologies and tools for energy efficient building retrofitting) is gathering more than 20 partners from all around Europe. Its main objective is to deploy and to integrate advanced methods of worksite inspection, ground research, and building structural monitoring, drilling and worksite characterization into advanced geothermal based retrofitting methods. This contribution reports the experimental results to be achieved within GEOFIT at the location of specific case studies. In particular standard accelerometric measurements will be collected and compared with the information collected by the geo-radar system made available by one of the partners. This paper focuses on the structural monitoring of a two-story masonry building. The results of a preliminary data collection in the absence of drilling are also reported.

Raw data is available for download here.