CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to perform an environmental analysis of shipping containers within the site of New Orleans, LA. The purpose of this analysis is to demonstrate how shipping containers are impacted by extreme weather conditions through simulations within Ecotect. Elements of this study include solar exposure, daylighting and shading, thermal analyses, and prevailing winds. Assessment of these results will aid in the design of an alternative to disaster housing using shipping containers as a source for permanent housing.

CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW

This investigation will help to inform me of an appropriate response to the need for improved disaster housing. The current applications of disaster housing vary due to the nature of the disaster. Disaster housing can range from short-term shelters to permanent housing. Generally, establishing these shelters are well choreographed on the local level as organizations execute their emergency plans. The challenge presents itself when individuals are displaced for longer periods of time. Through this project, I plan to illustrate how simulation can provide a tool to examine elements of the design that would otherwise require full scale prototypes and an extended period of time. The use of ComputerAided Design (CAD) in this study will allow for a comprehensive study of shipping containers within a specific environment and how they can be altered to respond in an appropriate manner to the environment which will aid in the development of a structure that can begin to function as more than a temporary fix to a larger problem. Understanding the environmental elements of a specific site can allow designers to better design a structure that has the ability to take advantage and use the environment to provide ideal habitats. For example, identifying the amount of rainfall and prevailing winds can help a designer provide a structure that can protect its inhabitants and prevent the loss of a home.

Innovations in the world of simulation and visualization are allowing designers to provide structures that are able to adapt to the environment and while operating as a system to take advantage of the surrounding elements. With programs such as Ecotect and FloVENT, designers are able to design buildings and study the air flow and ventilation without having a physical model present (see Figure 1.). Not only that, but designers are also able to design for environments with extreme climates and take advantage of the natural surroundings to create a building that "works" to provide a comfortable and healthy space for its inhabitants. Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) and Environmental Systems Design (ESD), based in Chicago, used Ecotect and other simulation programs to augment their design for Masdar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City, United Arab Emirates (Minutillo, 2008 p.1). The goal was for this city to be the first zero-carbon and zero-waste city that was fully powered by renewable energy and AS+GG Architects were to provide a design that contributed to this goal because of building simulation tools.

Figure 1. Structure designed by AS+GG Architects for Masdar City with the aid of ESD and building simulation tools. Copyright Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture 2008.

AS+GG Architects created staggered cones within the building that provided structural support as well as allowing daylight to seep deep inside the complex. These cones also cooled the interiors by forcing the heat out of the building through the tips (see Figure 2.) (Minutillo, 2008 p.2). Inspiration for these cones were found locally in the Middle Eastern wind towers. This was developed through the simulation of airflow, heat transfer, and contamination distribution in and around buildings. ESD created a simple model of the cones which included the courtyards at their base. This enabled them to better understand the conditions. “By doing such a model, we were able to pinpoint areas of air intake and airflow into the base of the cone,” explains ESD’s Mehdi Jalayerian. Perkins and Will Architects used Ecotect to analyze their design of a perorated enclosure made of a lightweight, precast concrete created to provide shade (see Figure 3). Ecotect can measure the solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time, and with this tool the architects were able to precisely calibrate elevations in response to the changing sun angles(Minutillo, 2008, p. 3).

Figure 2. Illustration of the passive system within AS+GG's design. Copyright Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture 2008.

Figure 3. Section of structure designed by Perkins and Will Architects to control daylighting.

In Los Angeles, building simulation was used to develop an exhibition space within the BCAM building at a recently finished entrance of the LACMA campus (Gonchar, 2008 p.2). This building consists of three stories, and is made up of two volumes that are clad in travertine and are identical to each other. The top floor galleries are lit by a skylight system facing North, but direct light is prevented by aluminum sunshades sloped at 45 degrees. The entire ceiling is designed to “work hard” when considering thermal and daylighting aspects. This light system can create diffused light conditions that lack uniformity(Gonchar, 2008 p.3). To identify the predominant direction of illumination within the gallery space, Arup's lighting design team conducted an analysis of the light passing through the skylight and light reflected between inclined sunshades (see Figure 4.). This analysis allowed them to reassess their design and provide a solution by adding a “kicker” to the bottom edge which bounced light back to the south-facing wall. This allowed for more uniform daylighting conditions.

Figure 4. Light analysis performed by Arup's lighting design team to identify direction of daylighting. Copyright Arup 2008

Simulation is also being used to prevent disasters such as building fires. The ability to transfer CAD files into fire simulation programs enables designers to better assess how a devastating fire can be averted (Spearpoint, 2007 p.271). The purpose of this technology is not to eliminate the engineering process, but rather to allow the engineer to focus on the design issues instead of establishing simulation tools. Simulation tools are not limited to new construction. Existing buildings can benefit from CAD programs as well. The Darwin D. Martin house by Frank Lloyd Wright has been constantly analyzed by critics, but with simulation tools, designers were able to visually breakdown the forms and discover a unique relationship between the fireplace and the rest of the house (see Figure 5.) (Maddalina, 2000 p.2).

Figure 5. Analysis of simple forms with the Darwin D. Martin house by Frank Lloyd Wright to explore spacial relationships. Copyright Mark Maddalina 2000

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY

The application of this study will consist of modeling a standard shipping container in Revit and using this model to then import into Ecotect and analyze a variety of elements within the structure and site. These analyses include thermal, solar exposure, prevailing winds, and daylighting. The results of these analyses will be used to further assess how the container can be altered to take full advantage of the surrounding elements and how to protect its inhabitants from the elements. This will result in a compilation of knowledge about how shipping containers can be used for residential design. For presentation purposes, a possible design will be rendered in Revit and all information found will be displayed through an online site with an interactive format. This will be accomplished through the use of Flash and Illustrator. This project will be limited by time constraints and technology available.

The first step of this process will be to create 3 models of a 8' x 8' x 40' shipping container in Revit. Applying a potential design to these models will allow me to explore how the environment may impact an altered shipping container and how different alterations can affect how the structure interacts with the environment which will better inform me of how to proceed in the design process. The parameters for these alterations include curtain walls, clerestory windows, and full length windows; the arrangement varying within the individual designs. The site for this investigation will be New Orleans, LA and through these CAD programs, I will be able to identify site specific effects of the environment.

The second step will be to import this model into Ecotect to perform analyses of environmental factors. These analyses will include thermal, solar exposure, and predominant wind factors, solar exposure, etc. Once the analyses have been performed the data will be gathered to create a comprehensive study of environmental impacts. This will be presented in an interactive format online to contribute to the general body of knowledge.

CHAPTER IV. RESULTS

Results of this study will consist of an interactive website that will inform viewers how shipping containers may be used and manipulated to provide housing for others. This will help to inform me in my thesis as well, by illustrating how shipping containers can withstand extreme weather conditions and how they will function within a residential setting. This will then help to dictate how shipping containers could be used to provide an alternative to traditional disaster housing. Ideally a more generalized goal for this study will be to provide a contribution to the body of knowledge. The format of this website will be a simple organization of the different environmental impacts grouped in relation to each other. Viewers will be able to view each individually or they may view a overall analysis of how each combines. Viewers will also have the ability to browse the site at their convenience due to a simple navigation system. This section of the study will be further defined in a future document which will address issues of how to present data in a way that can be understood by a wide audience and how to allow for the interaction of viewers.

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION

By performing these analyses it has been determined that the three design options were not able to address all the environmental issues alone. By combining them, considering their strengths and the results of the analyses, a final design can be developed which will be further analyzed. Ecotect is a powerful tool in combination with Revit and by continuing my education in both I will be able to delve deeper into their abilities and further develop this design. Through the illustration of this process and translating the results in a more universal language through an interactive tool I will work to contribute to the body of knowledge and provide a platform for others to contribute to as well.

References

Minutillo, J. (2008). Model Behavior: Anticipating Great Design. Architectural Record, (2008), 4.

Gonchar, J. (2008). Let the (Indirect) Sun Shine In. From Architectural Record. Originally published in the May 2008 issue of Architectural Record McGraw-Hill Construction - Continuing Education Center. Architectural Record, (2008), 5.

Spearpoint, M. (Nov 2007). Transfer of architectural data from the IFC building product model to a fire simulation software tool. Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, 17, 4. p.271(22). Retrieved April 21, 2010, from Academic OneFile via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/start.doprodId=AONE&userGroupName=gree35277

Maddalina, M. (2000). ArchitectureWeek - Tools - Computer Visualization as a Tool for Critical Analysis - 2000.0705. Architecture Week, 2.