Objectives:
The expected outcomes of this project aim to address both technological advancements and practical applications:
– (1) Increased Energy Efficiency: Significantly reduce energy consumption by optimizing HVAC system operations, targeting an improvement of at least 30-50% compared to current standards, aligning with Vietnam’s goals for enhancing energy efficiency in the building sector.
– (2) Improved Indoor Air Quality: Maintain or enhance indoor air quality through intelligent HVAC system management, thereby reducing the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases associated with poor air quality.
– (3) Sustainable Building Practices: Establish a model for sustainable practices in shared facilities that can be scaled across Vietnam, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of integrating advanced HVAC systems with smart technologies.
– (4) Economic and Health Benefits: Lower energy costs and healthcare expenses by improving indoor environments, contributing to economic savings and better public health outcomes.
– (5) Scalable and Adaptable Solutions: Develop scalable and adaptable HVAC management solutions applicable to various building types and sizes, promoting widespread adoption of smart building technologies.
– (6) Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building: Enhance local expertise and capacity in implementing and managing advanced HVAC systems, supporting the development of Vietnam’s technical workforce and expertise in environmental and energy sectors.
Activities:
The main activities of the project can be summarized as follows:
(1) Implementation of a Sensing and Scanning System:
– Installation of sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, air velocity, and pollutants (CO2, PM2.5, PM10).
– Deployment of LiDAR scanners for generating detailed 3D models of indoor spaces.
– Testing and optimizing the system to ensure accuracy and sustainability.
– Development of Questionnaires:
(2) Designing and validating questionnaires to assess thermal comfort and energy management.
– Establishment of Software and Data Infrastructure:
(3) Building a scalable, cloud-based platform for real-time data integration, storage, and management.
– Developing APIs and interfaces for efficient data processing and visualization.
(4) Development of Predictive Tools:
– Creating full-scale computational models to analyze airflow, temperature, humidity distribution, and aerosol transport.
(5) AI-Based Management System Development:
– Designing an AI-driven system to visualize indoor environmental conditions and recommend energy-efficient interventions.
– Utilizing reinforcement learning techniques for HVAC optimization.
(6) System Validation:
– Conducting laboratory tests at the HVAC Training and Practice Center, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE).
– Real-world evaluations at locations like VinUniversity, Vinmec International Hospital.
(7) Release of an Indoor Air Quality Database:
– Publishing a high-quality, open-access dataset for research on indoor air quality.
Impact:
Better management of indoor environmental quality and energy consumption in buildings is not only a national goal for Vietnam but also a target for all countries worldwide. Indeed, poor indoor environmental quality in multi-user spaces and inadequate thermal comfort are two factors that contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates. These negative impacts will become even more severe in the future due to climate change and an aging population.
Therefore, the goal of the V-IndoorCARE project is to create positive impacts on human health and energy consumption in multi-user indoor spaces. Specifically, V-IndoorCARE will provide the necessary tools to develop greener and healthier buildings in Vietnam, enhancing human well-being while minimizing energy consumption. This will contribute to shaping a more sustainable future.
Moreover, optimizing energy usage will indirectly reduce the demand for fossil fuels, thereby supporting the Vietnamese government in achieving its goal of net-zero emissions before 2050.
