Expert system for environmental quality evaluation

This paper presents the development of an expert system to evaluate the effects on environmental quality of proposed modifications to an office building following a postoccupancy evaluation. The model presented in this paper has been designated Expert System for Environmental Quality Evaluation (ESEQE). The ESEQE model consists of 200 rules covering 65 performance criteria of environmental quality. These performance criteria cover lighting comfort, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality. The performance criteria and the method of evaluation were extracted from a series of interviews with experts in the field of environmental quality in the built environment. The structure and development cycles of the ESEQE model are described. A demonstration of using ESEQE to evaluate the environmental quality in office buildings is presented. The potential benefits of using ESEQE during the design stages are also discussed.