Gebreslassie, Berhane (2026) Simulation and Analysis of Smart Commercial Building to Evaluate the Effect of Excessive Wireless Control on the Occupant’s Health. PhD thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

Smart buildings—or sustainable, energy-efficient, intelligent structures—have garnered considerable global interest in recent decades. This focus arises from their potential to address the energy crisis associated with non-renewable energy use, particularly from conventional buildings, which account for approximately 30–40% of worldwide annual energy consumption and significant CO2 emissions. The high energy demand not only leads to increased fossil fuel costs but also reduces occupant comfort. However, despite their potential to respond to contemporary problems, smart buildings also face challenges, including diverse sensor networks and inconsistent levels of intelligence. To address some of these issues, this thesis presents a conceptual model for a sustainable smart building utilising software simulations. The proposed design aims to harness the advantages of modern architecture while minimising CO2 emissions through reduced reliance on fossil fuels, ensuring optimal comfort for occupants and maintaining material sustainability under natural conditions. The results of the simulation indicate an estimated annual energy reduction of 69.78%, and contribute to the development of methods to mitigate certain identified drawbacks of smart buildings. The design emphasises maximising the efficiency of renewable energy by integrating photovoltaic (PV) cells and wind turbines. A mathematical model is introduced to facilitate the incorporation of estimated renewable energy figures necessary for specific building requirements. In this framework, PV cell arrays were designed and modelled in conjunction with natural ventilation systems to optimise their generation capabilities. Consequently, significant energy reductions of 85% for newly constructed buildings and 39.84% sun-solar irradiation energy absorption for buildings in the built-in environment are achieved. In the model, these optimally designed energy solutions are incorporated into indoor loads and into smart grids through wireless transmitting devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling intelligent control applications and efficient operational strategies. The radiating kinetic energy produced from the wireless transmitters is converted into DC power to power low-powered IoT devices. Furthermore, an air quality improvement strategy has also been developed to foster a healthier indoor environment. Finally, an indoor experimental room representing a smart building was developed and equipped with multiple dense wireless transverse radiating devices; their multipath propagating waves’ power density effects were assessed using both sequential and simultaneous simulations to evaluate potential health concerns among occupants. The findings were compared against international non-ionising power density standard guideline limits. From these outcomes, a power density monitoring circuit was developed to provide early warning in cases of high indoor power density levels.

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