Expanding Horizons: Ktirio and the Urban Building Vision in Hidalgo2

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Expanding Horizons: Ktirio and the Urban Building Vision in Hidalgo2

Introduction

Dynamic Energy Simulation (DES) isn't solely about isolated buildings—it’s the confluence of urban interaction, design, and renovation. Through our collaboration with the European CoE Hidalgo2 project, Ktirio aims to elevate this understanding, targeting city-scale simulations and beyond thanks to European pre-exascale to future exascale super-computers.

Understanding the Scope of Hidalgo2

Hidalgo2 isn't just another project—it’s a holistic vision. By marrying modeling, simulation, data analytics, and high-performance computing, it addresses the pressing environmental issues of our era.

The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Urban Air Pollution

While we at Cemosis focus on building heat transfer models, our Hidalgo2 partner SZE is channeling the capabilities of CFD to simulate urban air pollution. The true magic happens when we couple our models with their intricate air CFD and heat transfer simulations.

Cemosis and the Urban Buildings Pilot

At the heart of Hidalgo2's ambition, Cemosis's Urban Buildings pilot application aims to seamlessly integrate DES and indoor air quality models. This ensures a nuanced understanding of the symbiotic relationship between buildings and their urban environments.

Mesh and Simulation Generation

To effectively model building energy and facilitate the coupling with UAP, we require a discrete geometric representation. This representation can vary in terms of fidelity, and it's essential in preparing for the simulation.

1. Select a Region: Choose Strasbourg and define a 2km radius.

2. Top View: Visualize the overarching mesh and environment of Strasbourg.

3. Detailed Perspective: Zoom in to observe Strasbourg's mesh and environment up close.

4. Highlight Specific Structures: Pinpoint and display the Cemosis building on the map.

Within a few minutes, we can generate small to large scale representation of cities.

1. Quick Reconstruction: Generate a detailed model of Paris within a 2km radius from the center—all in just seconds.

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Significance in a Global Context

The building sector is a major energy consumer in the EU. Our endeavors resonate with global initiatives like the European Green Deal and programs like Destination Earth. Beyond energy, we delve into essentials like comfort, air quality, and overall human well-being.

A Two-Scale Approach of Urban Buildings Application

Our approach is bifocal: city-scale offers a panoramic view, and building-scale provides a detailed analysis. This ensures comprehensive optimization at every level.

Technological Backbone

Our application is powered by a myriad of advanced algorithms and tools, including model order reduction techniques, data assimilation methods, and high-performance computing.

Results & Implications

Mapping heat flows, temperatures, and emissions paves the way for sustainable urban planning. Our aim is not just to quantify but to inspire change.

The Hidalgo2 Online Platform

An accessible online platform ensures that simulations can be configured, computations launched, and results visualized, all within the confines of a browser thanks to our platform Ktirio and our collaborative work with Hidalgo2 project partners.

Acknowledgments

A nod to the European Commission, CNRS, Synapse Concept Cisco Meraki and AMIES. Their support and trust are pillars upon which this project stands.

Funded by the European Union. This work has received funding from the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (JU) and Poland, Germany, Spain, Hungary, France, Greece under grant agreement number: 101093457.

This publication expresses the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the EuroHPC JU and Associated Countries which are not responsible for any use of the information contained in this publication.

Conclusion

With the Hidalgo2 project, a promising blueprint for urban environments unfolds. To stakeholders and city planners, the future beckons.