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In the present paper, a possible application of information theory for urban system analysis is shown. The ESM method proposed, based on Shannon's entropy analysis, is useful to evaluate different alternative measures of new energy saving technology transfer at different programming stages for consumption reduction and environmental impact control. A case study has been conducted in an urban area of Florence (Italy): the action/factor interaction entropy values can provide a scale of intervention priority and by comparing results obtained evaluating conditional entropy, ambiguity and redundancy, it is possible to identify the highest energy sustainable intervention in terms of higher or lower critical and risky action/factor combinations for the project being carried out. The ESM method proposed, if applied to different urban areas, can provide a rational criterion to compare complex innovative and sustainable technologies for irreversibility reduction and energy efficiency increase.

Non-dimensional analysis is proposed as a method to analyse mechanically ventilated double glazed facade energy performance. The 12 non-dimensional numbers defined, can be used to describe thermal and energy performance of interactive facade designs. A comparison between Nusselt number solved by experimental data and Nusselt calculated by the validated multivariable correlation function is reported in the present paper. Due to its wide validity field the proposed method can be used to analyze thermodynamic performances of glass double-skin facades with mechanical ventilation. Applying it, useful design indications can be derived also by varying some parameters using thermo-physical and climatic data easy to get.

The extended exergy analysis method, taking into account the mean life time cycle of building, has been applied to evaluate the sustainability of an urban area. The impact of the emissions due to the life cycle of the buildings has been evaluated. Two thermodynamic indexes, ηI and ηII showing, respectively, the first and second law efficiency of buildings, have been proposed as thermodynamic indexes. The applied methodology provides a single thermodynamics environmental criterion for the selection of technological alternatives, strategies and designs that produce lower environmental impacts connected to higher exergy indexes ηII.

The aim of this paper is to describe a multidisciplinary approach including biological and particle monitoring, and microclimate analysis associated with the application of the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). This approach was applied at the Palatina historical library in Parma. Monitoring was performed both in July and in December, in the absence of visitors and operators. Air microbial monitoring was performed with active and passive methods. Airborne particles with a diameter of ≥0.3, ≥0.5, ≥1 and ≥5 μm/m3, were counted by a laser particle counter. The surface contamination of shelves and manuscripts was assessed with nitrocellulose membranes. A spore trap sampler was used to identify both viable and non-viable fungal spores by optical microscope. Microbiological contaminants were analyzed through cultural and molecular biology techniques. Microclimatic parameters were also recorded. An infrared thermal camera provided information on the surface temperature of the different building materials, objects and components. Transient simulation models, for coupled heat and mass-moisture transfer, taking into account archivist and general public movements, combined with the related sensible and latent heat released into the environment, were carried out applying the CFD-FE (Finite Elements) method. Simulations of particle tracing were carried out. A wide variability in environmental microbial contamination, both for air and surfaces, was observed. Cladosporium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp. were the most frequently found microfungi. Bacteria such as Streptomyces spp., Bacillus spp., Sphingomonas spp., and Pseudoclavibacter as well as unculturable colonies were characterized by molecular investigation. CFD simulation results obtained were consistent with the experimental data on microclimatic conditions. The tracing and distribution of particles showed the different slice planes of diffusion mostly influenced by the convective airflow. This interdisciplinary research represents a contribution towards the definition of standardized methods for assessing the biological and microclimatic quality of indoor cultural heritage environments.

The aim of this work is to provide a simple and useful tool to study energy performance of different ventilated facades typology. To simulate the studied sample, a steady state energy balance has been applied to a control volume which basic equations have been solved by a finite element code with an iterative procedure. For each step Δx of the channel height, the different surface and air mass temperatures are calculated. The mass flow rate is evaluated as overall natural draught. Effects due to different cavity widths of the ventilation channel are investigated for winter and summer season with opened and closed ends. Comparisons show that it is possible to obtain a sensible solar cooling effect during summer, when the air cavity width of the chimney is wider than 7 cm. For wider cavities the cooling effect becomes stable. In winter, thermal insulation, provided by the closed ventilated facade is very important.

This paper presents the study of the behaviour of some transparent materials, glass and plastic sheets and films, due to incidence light radiation. Transmission, reflection and absorbing coefficient variations are evaluated by experimental measurements for different incidence angles of light. To this aim two laser radiation sources have been used (a He–Ne 107S and a diode) characterised by a wavelength emission near the maximum intensity of the natural solar radiation spectrum. The comparison analysis of the experimental data acquired by linear and elliptic polarised light shows that there is no polarising effect on lighting due to the studied materials. The lines trend obtained by the experimental data has a good agreement with the analytical lines trend, obtained by a simple theoretical model.

This paper presents some thermodynamic indicators useful for energy planning of urban areas, and for defining the scenarios of integrated low environmental impact energy strategies and actions in an urban area. It is based on the results of the energy balance of a reference volume obtained by the Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques applied to the built-up area studied. The defined parameters allow evaluation of the sustainability of energy use in an urban area and its areal distribution in different building meshes superimposed on the area considered, using entropy.

Urban form matters in assessing the energy consumption of buildings. This chapter introduces three useful tools to assess the environmental impact of the urban form and to define possible energy scenarios. These outcomes can be used to inform the redevelopment or the new design of urban districts, or simply to evaluate the overall energy performance of different urban fabrics. The tools presented comprise: (a) simplified indicators of energy-dependent variables based on morphological information of the urban form; (b) algorithms for the estimation of the heating energy needs of the urban fabric, based on the implementation of European Standards; (c) algorithms for the assessment of the solar potential of the urban form, computing the solar irradiance impacting on different sloped urban surfaces. The techniques introduced are based on an innovative approach that makes use of Digital Urban Surface Models (DUSMs) and Digital Image Processing (DIP) techniques.

The authors compare the transient hot wire method and the parallel wire method of determining thermal conductivity, using the second to find the thermal diffusivity of two materials. The wires are sandwiched between two samples of the material to be investigated. The influence of pressure is also studied in order to identify the measurement conditions that can be easily achieved. A method is chosen to evaluate thermal parameters and to determine the field of data to be used in relation to sample dimensions.

In October 2005, a survey to several potential end-users (surveyors, architects, urban planners, environmental and energy specialists, among others) of the City of Geneva (Switzerland) howed a strong interest for the integration of the third dimension in the available GIS data of the City of Geneva, mainly by the integration of new layers of information, here referred to as 3-D urban indicators [1]. In order to extract this type of indicators, different geo-referenced data of excellent quality, such as 2-D cadastral data, aerial images, LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data and a 3-D vector model were used. A main focus was given to the construction of innovative 3-D Urban Environmental Quality (UEQ) indicators, which are highlighted through the 3-D visualization displays proposed here. A simple example is the exploration of the solar potential of building facades and roofs. In this case, the purpose is to evaluate the potential of buildings for the installation of solar panels (photovoltaic and thermal).

The accuracy of thermal conductivity and diffusivity measurements using the parallel wire method depends on the mathematical model used. This work presents an analytical solution of a model that takes into account the probe radius and the thermal contact resistance between the material and the probe. The model is compared to the classical hot wire model on the basis of the acquired experimental data.

Most of the international literature has used Shannon entropy to measure the information gap. In this paper we propose a method that uses Shannon entropy to evaluate ex-ante energy technologies in a decision making process. It was called ITEM, i.e., Information Theory Energy technology ex-ante evaluation Method. The aim was to have a suitable tool for characterising the most critical project during energy planning. The ITEM method was used to evaluate ex-ante two renewable energy scenarios: biomass energy production vs. bio fuel gasoline production. Analysis results highlight bio fuel low entropy, promoting this technology scenario from every point of view.