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Applying computing technology during problem solving and the reflection of the appropriateness of this application are crucial skills for modern life. This is especially true while working on interdisciplinary STEM problems. However, up to now, few ready-to-use materials are available to foster such competencies. This paper starts bridging this gap by presenting a workbook for students in higher secondary education (around age 15). The workbook focuses on a complex STEM problem, primarily rooted in mathematics, computing, and technology education: Estimating the time it takes to evacuate a building. In the workbook, students work through five exercises focused on the problem of trying to make a sports hall safer. For three potential changes to the building, they should evaluate whether it increases the safety of the sports hall and whether the measure can reasonably be evaluated with a given simulation. During their work, students become aware of arguments useful for such an critical evaluation. For example, a change can only be evaluated if its magnitude is greater than variation in the (randomized) fleeing algorithm of the software. After development of the workbook, we used a design-based research approach to improve its quality. To do so, we asked eight educators for feedback and piloted it with 20 students from two mathematics classes of different capabilities. The results show that students had fun while working on the exercises and both the students and their tutors evaluated the workbook to be educationally relevant. Several issues, most importantly regarding the wording of several exercises, were identified and improved. Multiple exercises were further sub-divided to better suit learners of the age targeted. [For the full proceedings, see ED636095.]

Lightning is essentially an electromagnetic field phenomenon that can fundamentally be characterized using scientific methods. It would interest property designers and managers to have a facility of protection against lightning for property and life and one stage to effect the protection is an ability to predict the occurrence of lightning. In one type of approach, lightning alert regions can be configured around important assets such as buildings in different locations. Notifications about alerts in an area of interest can be sent via emails, SMS texts to phones and user interface (UI) platforms on personal computers. The meteorology industry can leverage real-time lightning information to improve forecasting, monitoring and safety of communities. This paper uses big data from 2016 to 2022 to show how much lightning Zambia experienced in the seven-year span. Big data was used to detect patterns and trends around the country. Big data is one common and contemporary factor that informs policy and decision in business sectors. The paper also shows how an alert region, Lusaka city, can be configured in order to send alerts and warnings to the users within the city about lightning threat developments. By employing AI-based analytics the results show that Zambia experienced a total of 89,826,330 lightning events from 2016 to 2022. By centering Lusaka city at coordinates 15.3875 oS and 28.3228 oE, 168 alerts were monitored using Thunderstorm Manager between 25 January 2023 and 24 February 2023. The longest lightning threat duration observed was 11 hours 20 minutes within Lusaka city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, the construction sector currently generates more than a third of CO2 emissions. Moreover, residential buildings consume about 40% of the energy that we are able to produce. Construction product manufacturers implement innovative solutions that give us a chance to achieve more widespread construction of zero-emission and zero-energy buildings. However, they face legal barriers related to the lack of standardization procedures enabling the rapid placing of innovative construction products on the market to be achieved. The MEZeroE project ("Measuring Envelope products and systems contributing to next generation of healthy nearly Zero Energy Buildings"), funded by European Union Horizon 2020, aims to create a platform combining science and business to facilitate the development of nearly zero-energy buildings. The aim of this paper is to present the European procedure for placing innovative construction products on the market under the MEZeroE project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A drive for low to net zero carbon structures has required a change of direction for Modern Construction Methods to lighter weight buildings, which need to be suitable for many uses over its lifecycle. Gyms present one of the more challenging uses within a building, especially when in close proximity to residents, which is a desirable aim for sustainable living close to facilities that are positive for health and wellbeing. A standardised approach has therefore been developed for assessing the suitability of buildings for Gym uses, bringing together the experience of those acoustic professionals working in this area in the UK. The results of this collaboration by a Working Group of the Association of Noise Consultants, with other professional bodies are discussed, with a working draft document now available ahead of its publication. A look at the approaches it contains include a standardised measurement approaches for heavy drops, a practical prediction method, advice for developers and Local Authorities, with insights of the thinking behind it. This paper shares the UK's approach to this challenge, which is an important future noise control solution for the sustainable future of multi-use buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria has encountered numerous power issues in recent years, including limited and irregular power supply, high power costs, and underdeveloped power facilities, all of which have had major negative consequences on the country's socio-economic development. To improve power availability in buildings and ensure adequate usage efficiency, this paper presents the development of a smart electric power distribution algorithm for multi-source and segmented loads, for implementation on distribution boards. This research aims to develop an algorithm that may be used to support the current building wire infrastructure in Nigeria, allowing for 24/7 reliable power supply and effective management of limited power supply in buildings. It employs a multi-source and segmented load system to provide reliability and energy efficiency measures to balance power supply and demand in buildings. Actual data from offices in the engineering complex of Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru, Nigeria, was used to simulate the developed system in MATLAB Simulink. Results showed that the developed algorithm conserved power by 33.71% compared to the conventional distribution board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of interventions for the restoration and reuse of old buildings with special values depends on creative vision, architectural solutions, the interaction of the functional side with the aesthetic dimension, and the new proposal that is presented. This process is of a certain degree of difficulty and requires the strict observance of several principles, norms, and laws so that the proposed design does not affect the loss of the building's identity. Today, reuse is accepted as an important approach in sustainable urban development architecture or smart architecture. The paper aims to implement professional interventions with a focus on smart techniques and ecological materials, as sustainable architecture development models. Data were collected through purposive sampling: non-probability sampling approach. Data analysis and findings show that there are efficient methods that preserve the space, core, and identity of the building. They improve the functionality, of the aesthetic dimension and conform to the new architectural development trends. Practically, they bring the revival of the interior environment; enrichment with new systems, digitalize and adapt it for new functions: in coherence with the latest developments, and new trends, but without losing its original identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siebein (2010 and 2013) identified five levels of architectural soundscapes: inspiration; planning; conceptual structure; tectonics; and detail. Diagrammatic explanations of the levels are presented to illustrate how architects often use inspiration and planning metaphors to begin the design of a building. A conceptual structure is the underlying set of principles and ultimately geometries that form the basis for the intellectual and formal aspects of the project. Tectonics are the elements that form the architectural system that the soundscape occurs within. Details are the connections among the tectonic elements that support and express the inspiration and the conceptual structure of the project. The diagrams illustrate how these levels define places in the design process where soundscape theory can be effectively implemented. This is an effort to place soundscape theory as an integral part of the creation of architectural space. The diagrams provide a working model for the creation of architectural spaces with designed soundscapes. They also pint the way towards an integrated, participatory design process for buildings. These are parts of the process that are philosophical and abstract in nature where one seeks the poetic expression of the essence of the project prior to the beginning of traditional design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, data from ten (10) meteorological stations in various areas of Thessaloniki, Greece were used in order the cooling and heating degree days for each station to be calculated. The specific data were applied to a detached house for each of the ten areas considered. Furthermore, an analysis of the thermal insulation adequacy of the single family house that has been selected with the necessary methodology and the necessary sketches was conducted in order to have the illustration of the building. The study was divided into two cases, where the first refers to a typical thermal insulation that characterizes a building of the territory of Greece, and the second case where the residence has undergone a radical renovation of its thermal insulation. Results show that three different climatic zones appear in the same region instead of one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]