University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2014 Illawarra flame retrofit ua gmented reality 3D building information display Michael Whitehouse University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Whitehouse, Michael, Illawarra flame retrofit ua gmented reality 3D building information display, Master of Engineering - Research thesis, School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong, 2014. http://ro.uow.edu.au/ theses/4411 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] ILLAWARRA FLAME RETROFIT AUGMENTED REALITY 3D BUILDING INFORMATION DISPLAY A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree Master of Engineering - Research From UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by Michael Whitehouse, B.E. (Mechatronics) (Hons) School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering 2014 Declaration I certify, as the author of this Master of Engineering - Research thesis, that I was the person primarily involved as services manager for the Illawarra Flame Solar Decathlon project as well as being responsible for the research, implementation, analysis and thesis preparation here within. I declare that the work presented in this thesis is original to the best of my knowledge and belief, except as acknowledged otherwise in the text and references. I also declare that this thesis has not been previously submitted at any other educational institution. Michael Whitehouse Page ii Abstract The importance of building information and energy displays is increasing as a result of more advanced building technologies, products, metering and control becoming widespread in homes. However, there is currently no advanced visualisation platform to display information and real time sensor data within the 3D environment being monitored available for retrofit. This leads to a shortfall in understanding of how to effectively implement advanced building technologies for occupants and a need for a simplified and intuitive 3D building information display method exists. The retrofit augmented 3D building information display of key building information, developed as part of this thesis, allows better understanding of how retrofit systems, technologies and building occupants interact with their environment, empowering the occupants of residential buildings with the information required to effectively manage and control energy use towards energy efficient solutions. The research clarified whether augmented 3D building information displays can be effectively applied to residential buildings and assessed the reaction of visitors to these displays for the communication of building information in order to minimise energy use. The research used the design, construction and operation of the Illawarra Flame Solar Decathlon home as a case study for the purposes of implementing the augmented display and gaining feedback. Surveyed participants were toured through the case study home and augmented display method, before being asked a series of open ended questions to evaluate how a retrofit augmented 3D building information display can assist in maximising the sustainability outcomes of residential buildings. The results highlighted a number of benefits of using augmented display methods for enhancing the human/display interaction along with current limitations in technology and implementation. Page iii Table of Contents Declaration .................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ........................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .............................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Illawarra Flame Retrofit Augmented Reality 3D Building Information Display ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Aims ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Scope and Methodology ..................................................................................... 3 1.4 Original Contributions of this Thesis ................................................................. 6 1.5 Publications Related to this Thesis ..................................................................... 6 1.6 Structure of the Thesis ........................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2 Literature Review: History and Current Limits of Knowledge for Building Information Displays .......................................................................................... 9 2.1 Building Display History.................................................................................... 9 2.2 Current Challenges and Opportunities for Building Displays.......................... 11 2.3 Benefits of a Building Display ......................................................................... 13 2.4 Types of Building Displays .............................................................................. 16 2.4.1 Building Display Sensors and Information ............................................... 16 2.4.2 Methods of Display ................................................................................... 19 2.4.3 Ways to Represent Data ............................................................................ 23 2.5 Smart Grids....................................................................................................... 25 2.6 Smart Appliances ............................................................................................. 28 2.7 Building Display and Human Interaction ......................................................... 30 2.8 Knowledge Gaps .............................................................................................. 32 2.9 Summary .......................................................................................................... 33 Page iv Chapter 3 The Impact of Building Display Methods on the Design, Construction and Operation of the Illawarra Flame Home .................................. 36 3.1 Sustainability in Design ................................................................................... 36 3.2 Illawarra Flame Home Design ......................................................................... 38 3.3 Illawarra Flame Home Construction ................................................................ 44 3.4 Illawarra Flame Home Operation ..................................................................... 45 Chapter 4 Development of a Retrofit Augmented Reality Building Information Display ............................................................................................................................ 49 4.1 Illawarra Flame Home Available Sensor Information and Interface ............... 49 4.2 Augmented Reality System Requirements ....................................................... 51 4.3 Human-Display Interaction .............................................................................. 53 4.4 Technological Options ..................................................................................... 57 4.5 Technical Challenges and Solutions ................................................................ 62 4.5.1 View of an Augmented Display ................................................................ 63 4.5.2 Production of an Augmented 3D Object ................................................... 64 4.5.3 Occlusion Cut-Away of a Physical Object ............................................... 65 4.5.4 Timed and Animated Object ..................................................................... 66 4.5.5 Augmented Audio Feed ............................................................................ 68 4.5.6 Augmented Video Feed ............................................................................ 68 4.5.7 Live Numerical Display of Data ............................................................... 69 4.5.8 Changing the Colour of a 3D Object Based on a Numerical Data Feed .. 76 4.6 Functional Implementation .............................................................................. 77 4.7 Augmented Display Development Summary ................................................... 79 Chapter 5 Augmented Display Implementation ................................................... 80 5.1 Implementation Storyboard .............................................................................. 80 5.2 Survey Questionnaire ....................................................................................... 82 5.3 Survey Process ................................................................................................. 84 5.4 Survey Responses and Analysis ....................................................................... 85 Page