To extract buildings from Digital Elevation Models, we define a point process whose points represent buildings. We then define a density for this point process which is split into two parts, consisting in an ”internal field” that allows us to model the prior knowledge we have on patterns of buildings in urban areas and an ”external field” that makes the point process fit the data. We then use a...

This paper presents results of over 34,000 survey responses to air quality and thermal comfort questions in 215 buildings in US, Canada, and Finland. Results show that 80% or more of the occupants expressed satisfaction with their thermal comfort in only 11% of the buildings surveyed. Air quality scores were somewhat higher, with 26% of buildings having 80% or occupant satisfaction. With respec...

Energy consumption in buildings represents approximately one-third of total energy produced globally. Towards efforts to reduce energy consumption of buildings while also improving its operational efficiency, building controls based on the Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) paradigm have been proposed and developed for use in building operations due to its key features such as learning and adaptation. T...

A multiplex PCR was developed for detection of hemolysin-producing Vibrio anguillarum using primers targeting five hemolysin genes (vah1, vah2, vah3, vah4 and vah5). This method was successful in amplifying reactions containing as little as 100 fg of genomic template DNA. The direct detection of V. anguillarum in clinical specimens by this multiplex PCR was also successful in reactions containi...

Avian influenza virus (AIV) infection is a major cause of bird or human mortality and morbidity, therefore the rapid identification of the virus is of important clinical and epidemiological implication. Methods: A multiplex Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was optimized for the detection of influenza A virus and the H5 and H9 subtypes. The influenza type A specific primers were directed to t...

The operational rating system in building energy performance certificates (EPCs) has been used for systematically monitoring and diagnosing the energy performance in the operation and maintenance phases of existing buildings. However, there are several limitations of the conventional operational rating system, which can be subdivided into three aspects: (i) building category; (ii) region catego...

Cultural heritages and historical buildings are vulnerable against severe threats from fire. Since the 1970s, ten fire-spread events involving historic buildings have occurred in Taiwan, affecting a total of 132 nearby buildings. Developed under the influence of traditional Taiwanese culture, historic buildings in Taiwan are often built using non-fire resistant brick-wood structure and located ...

BACKGROUND The increase in obesity is due in part to changes in the environment that affect behaviours such as physical activity. Stairwells in buildings present an opportunity to increase physical activity in the workplace. We characterized the stairwell accessibility in business buildings in the downtown core of Vancouver. METHODS Characteristics of the stairwells in business buildings with...

Abstract—Buildings with floating column are highly undesirable built in seismically active areas. Many urban multi-storey buildings today have floating column buildings which are adopted to accommodate parking at ground floor or reception lobbies in the first storey. The earthquake forces developed at different floor levels in a building need to be brought down along the height to the ground by...