urbanLab Magazin 2021 - Transformation

'protection mechanisms with regards
to the specific sound perception of individuals.
UPDATE / UPGRADE / MAINTENANCE
Fig. 4: The development of well-defined intersections is essential for
fast and easy replacement of components
Window with Active Noise Controlling”.
The aim of the research (Suh, 2017),
was to developed a window with very
good sound reduction properties in
an open position. To meet this goal several
components are combined and
inter-connected: A sensor is installed
to control the noise level outside the
building. When the noise level reaches
a defined level, an active noise control
(ANC) mechanism installed in the vent
frame, produces a frequency dependent
counter sound that balances the
noise transferred to the interior. If the
outside noise level is too high to get
balanced by ANC, the sensor gives an
impulse to the motor interface of the
window and the vent frame gets automatically
closed. If the outer noise level
decreases again, the window opens automatically
with the help of the motor
interface. The sensor used for the above
mentioned ANC-window measures
the general interior noise level. Some
research institutes are already investigating
the potential of so called “wearable”
or “embedables” that for example
can be installed in the ear or embedded
under the skin. These new kind of
sensors can be used to measure the
stress level of individuals and can recognize
why the stress occurs. It can be
imagined as a futuristic sensor in the
ANC-window that controls the noise
W. Heusler
As explained above, modern adaptive
façade products become more complex
with a wide variety of components.
The mentioned ANC-window installed
in an aluminum façade is an example
construction with various components
that differ in their life expectations and
innovation cycles. The aluminum facade
has a predicted life expectancy of
approximately 30 years, appropriate
maintenance presumed. The sensor
interface of the ANC-window might be
a first edition of a high-tech product
with an innovation cycle of 10 years or
less. Furthermore, the sensor interface
is susceptible to interferences, due
to missing long-term experience. Without
a well-defined intersection between
the façade and the ANC-window
an individual exchange of the single
components and with this an update
or upgrade of the entire facade is
hardly possible. With regards to sustainability
aspects, the just explained
well-defined intersection between the
different components of a façade that
enables a fast and easy replacement is
vital (Figure 4). Furthermore, a specific
maintenance and upgrading plan for
the façade with all its components has
to be created that must be easily accessible
throughout the complete product
life span. Technologies like radio
frequency identification (RFID) or near-field
communication (NFC) can assist
here with data management already
visible in the global facade business
(Lothar, 2019). Another digital technology
that takes part in the maintenance
of facades is the use of robots for façade
cleaning purposes. Although the
cleaning of highrise-building facades
in the past and even today was mostly
done by humans, modern companies
already offer solutions with robots that
provide a very effective cleaning method
with the possibility for individual
cleaning intervals.
118 DATA DRIVEN DESIGN