Dr. Benny Chow

Dr. Benny Chow is an award winning sustainable design expert with worldwide project experience and a LEED AP BD+C (USGBC), BEAM Professional (HKGBC), GBL Manager (China Green Building Council), and a qualified ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Standard) Lead Auditor.

As the Director of Sustainability at Aedas Hong Kong, Dr. Chow brings with him 16 years of experience in Sustainable Design specializing in computer modeling and analysis, urban wind environment, solar heat gain calculations, global daylight illumination simulation, building energy modeling, and air ventilation assessment using Computational Fluid Dynamics, which invaluably strengthened the architectural concept and designs of more than 138 projects that he has worked on.

Dr. Chow is concurrently appointed as an Adjunct Associate Professor for the Center for Housing Innovation, a part-time lecturer for the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at the CUHK, and an Postdoctoral Fellow of the Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID), Faculty of Medicine at CUHK. Dr. Chow was also a part-time lecturer for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HKU as well as a part-time Course Instructor for the School of Architecture, and the Department of Geography and Resources Management at the CUHK previously.

1. Project Managment
2. Building Performance Simulations (BPS)
3. Airflow Simulation / Air Ventilation Assessment
4. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling
5. Global Illumination Model / Daylighting Simulations
6. Stratasys uPrint Plus Operating Training
7. Sustainability
8. Environmental Design
9. Solar
10. LEED AP
11. USGBC
12. Building Science

• GBL Manager

  • 城科會綠色建築與節能專業委員會（中國綠建委）
  • License 2010GBT100214
  • September 2010

• BEAM Professional

  • Hong Kong Green Building Council
  • License BP2010-0338
  • October 2010

• ISO 14001:2004 Lead Auditor Training Course

  • British Standards Institution (BSi)
  • License EL01/HK/09-01545
  • February 2009

• LEED AP (BD+C)

  • Green Building Certification Institute
  • September 2008

• CFD Simulation for Air Ventilation Assessment

  • PERA CHINA
  • License No.240568
  • August 2009

• Airpak CFD Course

  • CFD Research Pty Ltd Australia
  • March 2002

• Associate Member of Hong Kong Green Building Council

  • Hong Kong Green Building Council
  • License GBC/M00050.A
  • September 2010 to August 2011

• Adult CPR Certificate Course

  • Hong Kong St. John Ambulance
  • License IFAP039/09/10
  • March 2010 to February 2011

• Founding Member of China Green Building (Hong Kong) Council

  • China Green Building (Hong Kong) Council
  • License F004
  • May 2010

• LEED AP BUILDING DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION

  • GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE
  • License IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 10267925
  • June 2011 to June 2013

• Indigo Bio-Purification Tower with Titanium Dioxide Facade

  • eVolo #02 - Skyscrapers of the Future
  • March 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Benny Chow, Ted Givens, Mohamad Ghamloush]

  This tower takes an active stance and attacks the problem of dirty air by aiming to help purify the air of our cities. The tower pulls dirt, grease, and bacteria out of the air, producing only oxidation and water as a result. The reaction is triggered by the use of a nano-coating of titanium dioxide on the outer skin of the project. The reaction is naturally powered by sunlight acting on the titanium dioxide during the day and supplemented by ultra violet light at night. These UV lights are powered by energy collected through PV panels during the day. The tower will be a glowing indigo object at night varying in intensity according to the amount of solar energy collected during the day. The indigo glow will become symbolic of the cleansing, counteracting the yellow haze that dominates the daytime hours.

• Exhaled Air Dispersion Distances During Noninvasive Ventilation via Different Respironics Face Masks

  • CHEST Medical Journal 2009;136;998-1005
  • May 2009
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [David Hui, Benny Chow, Susanna Ng, Leo Chu, Stephen Hall, Tony Gin, Joseph J.Y. Sung, Matthew Chan]

  Background: As part of our influenza pandemic preparedness, we studied the exhaled air dispersion distances and directions through two different face masks (Respironics; Murrysville, PA) attached to a human-patient simulator (HPS) during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) in an isolation room with pressure of -5 Pa.
  Methods: The HPS was positioned at 45° on the bed and programmed to mimic mild lung injury (oxygen consumption, 300 mL/min; lung compliance, 35 mL/cm H2O). Airflow was marked with intrapulmonary smoke for visualization. Inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) started at 10 cm H2O and gradually increased to 18 cm H2O, whereas expiratory pressure was maintained at 4 cmH2O. A leakage jet plume was revealed by a laser light sheet, and images were captured by high definition video. Normalized exhaled air concentration in the plume was estimated from the light scattered by the smoke particles.
  Findings: As IPAP increased from 10 to 18 cm H2O, the exhaled air of a low normalized concentration through the ComfortFull 2 mask (Respironics) increased from 0.65 to 0.85 m at a direction perpendicular to the head of the HPS along the median sagittal plane. When the IPAP of 10 cm H2O was applied via the Image 3 mask (Respironics) connected to the whisper swivel, the exhaled air dispersed to 0.95 m toward the end of the bed along the median sagittal plane, whereas higher IPAP resulted in wider spread of a higher concentration of smoke.
  Conclusions: Substantial exposure to exhaled air occurs within a 1-m region, from patients receiving NPPV via the ComfortFull 2 mask and the Image 3 mask, with more diffuse leakage from the latter, especially at higher IPAP. (CHEST 2009; 136:998–1005)

• Combating Infectious Disease Through Design

  • Architects’ Journal (AJ) Specification 2009 (UK)
  • July 2009
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Steve Gifford, Mitch Green, Benny Chow and Noah Burwell]

  The resurgence of rapidly-spreading infectious disease presents new challenges worldwide. Physicians, policy makers, public health officials and even airport operators are searching for effective responses to problems whose true dimensions are not yet clear. RMJM’s Global Health & Science Studio has established an Asian Division in Hong Kong to bring its experience and resources to the front lines of combating these new pandemics. Through evidence-based design, our architects are showing how hospital design can protect healthcare workers, patients and families from the risks associated with airborne infections.

• Exhaled Air and Aerosolized Droplet Dispersion During Application of a Jet Nebulizer

  • CHEST Medical Journal 2009;135;648-654
  • April 2009
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [David Hui, Benny Chow, Leo Chu, Susanna Ng, Stephen Hall, Tony Gin and Matthew Chan]

  Background: As part of our influenza pandemic preparedness, we studied the dispersion distances of exhaled air and aerosolized droplets during application of a jet nebulizer to a human patient simulator (HPS) programmed at normal lung condition and different severities of lung injury.
  Methods: The experiments were conducted in a hospital isolation room with a pressure of -5 Pa. Airflow was marked with intrapulmonary smoke. The jet nebulizer was driven by air at a constant flow rate of 6 L/min, with the mask reservoir filled with sterile water and attached to the HPS via a nebulizer mask. The exhaled leakage jet plume was revealed by a laser light sheet and images captured by high-definition video. Smoke concentration in the plume was estimated from the light scattered by smoke and droplet particles.
  Findings: The maximum dispersion distance of smoke particles through the nebulizer side vent was 0.45 m lateral to the HPS at normal lung condition (oxygen consumption, 200 mL/min; lung compliance, 70 mL/cm H2O), but it increased to 0.54 m in mild lung injury (oxygen consumption, 300 mL/min; lung compliance, 35 mL/cm H2O), and beyond 0.8 m in severe lung injury (oxygen consumption, 500 mL/min; lung compliance, 10 mL/cm H2O). More extensive leakage through the side vents of the nebulizer mask was noted with more severe lung injury.
  Interpretation: Health-care workers should take extra protective precaution within at least 0.8 m from patients with febrile respiratory illness of unknown etiology receiving treatment via a jet nebulizer even in an isolation room with negative pressure. (CHEST 2009; 135:648–654)

• Exhaled Air Dispersion during Oxygen Delivery via a Simple Oxygen Mask

  • CHEST Medical Journal 2007;132;540-546
  • August 2007
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [David Hui, Stephen Hall, Matthew Chan, Benny Chow, Susanna Ng, Tony Gin and Joseph Sung]

  Background: Pneumonia viruses such as influenza may potentially spread by airborne transmission. We studied the dispersion of exhaled air through a simple oxygen mask applied to a human patient simulator (HPS) during the delivery of different oxygen flow in a room free of air currents.
  Methods: The HPS represented a 70-kg adult male individual in a semi-sitting position on a hospital bed inclined at 45o. A simple oxygen mask was fitted to the HPS in the normal fashion. The head, neck, and internal airways of the HPS were configured to allow realistic airflow modeling in the airways and around the face. The HPS was programmed to breathe at a respiratory rate of 14 breaths/min with a tidal volume of 0.5 L. Airflow was marked with intrapulmonary smoke for visualization. A leakage jet plume was revealed by a laser light-sheet, and images were captured by high-resolution video. Smoke concentration in the exhaled plume was estimated from the total light intensity scattered by smoke particles.
  Findings: A jet plume of air leaked through the side vents of the simple oxygen mask to lateral distances of 0.2, 0.22, 0.3, and 0.4 m from the sagittal plane during the delivery of oxygen at 4, 6, 8, and 10 L/min, respectively. Coughing could extend the dispersion distance beyond 0.4 m.
  Conclusion: Substantial exposure to exhaled air occurs generally within 0.4 m from patients receiving supplemental oxygen via a simple mask. Health-care workers should take precautions when managing patients with community-acquired pneumonia of unknown etiology that is complicated by respiratory failure. (CHEST 2007; 132:540–546)

• Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation: An Experimental Model to Assess Air and Particle Dispersion

  • CHEST Medical Journal 2006;130;730-740.
  • September 2006
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [David Hui, Stephen Hall, Matthew Chan, Benny Chow, Jin Y. Tsou, Gavin Joynt, Colin Sullivan and Joseph J.Y. S

  Background: Health-care workers are concerned about the risk of acquiring contagious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza after recent outbreaks. We studied exhaled air and particle dispersion through an oronasal mask attached to a human-patient simulator (HPS) during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV). Methods: Airflow was marked with intrapulmonary smoke for visualization. Therapy with inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) was started at 10 cm H2O and gradually increased to 18 cm H2O, whereas expiratory positive airway pressure was maintained at 4 cm H2O. A leakage jet plume was revealed by a laser light sheet and images captured by video. Smoke concentration in the plume was estimated from the light scattered by smoke particles.
  Findings: A jet plume of air leaked through the mask exhaust holes to a radial distance of 0.25 m from the mask during the application of IPAP at 10 cm H2O with some leakage from the nasal bridge. The leakage plume exposure probability was highest about 60 to 80 mm lateral to the median sagittal plane of the HPS. Without nasal bridge leakage, the jet plume from the exhaust holes increased to a 0.40-m radius from the mask, whereas exposure probability was highest about 0.28 m above the patient. When IPAP was increased to 18 cm H2O, the vertical plume extended to 0.45 m above the patient with some horizontal spreading along the ward ceiling.
  Conclusion: Substantial exposure to exhaled air occurs within a 0.5-m radius of patients receiving NPPV. Medical wards should be designed with an architectural aerodynamics approach and knowledge of air/particle dispersion from common mechanical ventilatory techniques. (CHEST 2006; 130:730–740)

• A Visual Landscape Assessment Approach for High-density Urban Development

  • Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures 2005 [Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures / ISBN 1-4020-3460-1] Vienna (Austria) 20–22 June 2005, pp. 125-134
  • June 2005
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [HE Jie, TSOU Jin Yeu, XUE Yucai and CHOW Benny]

  The rapid developments of economy and urbanization bring great pressure to natural environment and resources, which contribute big challenge to sustainable urban development in high-density urban areas like Hong Kong, China and many other Eastern Asia cities. In these areas, protecting natural landscape resources and enhancing visibility to urban spaces and residential zones has become significant in improving the livability of human settlement. This paper presents a new approach in assessing the visual quality in high-density urban environment. The principal methodology is to quantitatively integrate human visual perception parameters with the visible landscape resources' characteristics. GIS is employed as the database and technical platform. A residential development in Hong Kong was used as a case study. The approach provides decision making support to urban planning, site layout design, and estate management during the early stage of the schematic design/planning process.

• 居住区环境规划的科学评估 – 通风及视觉篇

  • 《居住区及其环境的规划设计研究》国家十五科技攻关计划
  • April 2004
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [邹经宇、 张晖 及 Benny Chow]

  以計算流體動力學評估行人道風環境
  樓宇周圍的風流動可應用計算機風流動模擬技術──“計算流體動力學”（CFD）加以模擬，繼而行人道的相對風速亦可被計算出來。須作評估地方的盛行風向及平均風速均爲計算的必須資料。

• Passive Environmental Strategy Guidelines and Design Parameters for Energy Efficient Architecture: Application to Urban Church Complex - A Special Prototype in Hong Kong SAR

  • PLEA 2000 - University of Cambridge, UK
  • July 2000
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Bernard Lim, Jinyeu Tsou, Jeff Kan, M.K. Leung & Benny Chow]

  Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA 2000). University of Cambridge, UK, July, 2000.

• Passive Environmental Strategy Guidelines and Design Parameters for Energy Efficient Architecture: Application to Public Housing for Single Senior Citizens - a New Prototype in Hong Kong SAR

  • "Solar 99 Opportunities in a Competitive Marketplace", Deakin University, Australia
  • December 1999
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Bernard Lim, M.K. Leung & Benny Chow]

  The 37th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society - Solar99 Opportunities in a Competitive Marketplace". Deakin University, Australia, December 1999.

• Computation in Daylight Architecture

  • CAADRIA 1997 [Proceedings of the Second Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia]. ISBN 957-575-057-8, p.93-105.
  • May 1997
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow

  Daylight phenomena are dynamic, complex and difficult to capture. Students find that they are hard to study and master. Basically, there are three approaches to the problem: physical modeling, graphic techniques and computation. Most of the students make use of all three channels to solve their design problem, but some of them don’t pay enough attention to the third approach – computation.

• The Environmental Challenge on Evaluating the External Daylight Provision of High-rise Residential Development in the High-density

  • The 13th Inter-University Seminar on Asian Megacities 2008
  • March 2008
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Benny CHOW & TSOU Jin-yeu]

  As the Strategic Partner and the Term Consultant of the Environmental Design Studies for the Hong Kong Housing Department, Center for Housing Innovations had carried out intensive environmental research studies on the micro-climate for urban planning and design. More than 20 residential developments were either completed or currently in project pipeline. The Center applied the technologies of building performance simulation and closely interacting with the architectural design team for identifying the areas of deficiency as well as recommending the mitigation measurement for design improvement during the early design stage. Evaluating the external daylight provision of the high-rise residential buildings in the high-density urban living environment of Hong Kong is one of the major concerns.

• The Environmental Challenge on Estimating the Pedestrian Wind Environment and Pollutant Dispersion of Refuse Collection Point in High-density Urban Development of Hong Kong

  • The 13th Inter-University Seminar on Asian Megacities 2008
  • March 2008
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Tsou Jin- yeu & Benny CHOW]

  The technologies of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been applied to study the atmospheric boundary conditions in the vicinity of the site area as well as the external wind environment of the proposed development. More than 20 residential developments are either completed or currently in project pipeline. For the study of the pedestrian wind environment, the Project Team aims to identify the extreme wind pattern at the pedestrian level as well as the pollutant dispersion study of refuse collection point during the early design stage. A case study, Lower Ngau Tau Kok Phases 1A, 1B & 2 Development by Hong Kong Housing Department, is selected to illustrate the approach of the micro-climate study and demonstrate a typical wind amplification factor and pollutant dispersion pattern in the high-density urban context.

• Applying Environmental Assessment with Scientific Visualization for Sustainable Housing Design <科学可视化环境评估于可持续住宅设计之应用>.

  • 《Sustainable Development for China Urban Housing [Proceeding of the Forth China Urban Housing Conference / ISBN: 962-8272-86-1]》
  • September 2004
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Jinyeu Tsou and Benny Chow]

  在我國卓越的經濟發展基礎支援下，近年中國城市住宅快速建設，同時城市人口比率不斷增加，按照世界銀行的調查，中國城市人口以1%的速度逐年增加，諸多專家都認同二十一世紀將是“城市化的世紀”。有鑒於國內中高密度城市住宅規劃設計的複雜性、可持續發展中各要求的精細度、及各項建築次系統的相連影響性，由於缺乏一科學評估平台的支撐，往往造成規劃設計專業人員及相關政府單位工作人員在報審上的困難度。香港中文大學建築學系的研究小組進行了不少城市住宅項目的開發，並成功發展了地理訊息系統支持視覺資源管理輔助城市視覺景觀可持續發展；日光的模擬評估日照時間、輻射熱、陰影及眩光狀況；計算流體動力學模擬評估自然通風及空氣污染狀況；環境噪聲模擬計算城市噪聲與室內噪聲、評估噪聲干擾與規劃設計。綜合經驗，研究小組發展ERAU (Environmentally Responsible Architecture and Urban Design“與環境協調發展的建築與城市設計”)的概念，建立一以先進計算機資訊及模擬科技支持下面向可持續發展建築與城市規劃設計的思考框架，並取得成功經驗。

• Integrating Scientific Visualization into the Architectural Curriculum for Teaching Environmental Technology and Building Performance

  • CAADRIA 2003 [Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia / ISBN 974-9584-13-9] Bangkok Thailand 18-20 October 2003, pp. 133-144
  • October 2003
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Jin-Yeu Tsou, Benny Chow & Selina Lam]

  The research team completed a three-year project funded by the Teaching Development Grant (TDG), which aims to explore, develop, and support a long-term strategy to apply scientific visualization to teach the core architectural curriculum in environmental technology and building performance design. An interinstitutional collaboration was formed to draw on the knowledge and experience of colleagues in related disciplines to develop innovative teaching pedagogy and resources. The project has made a great impact in improving the teaching and learning environment in our department. In the concerned area, and in this paper, we would like to discuss the methodology and computational environment developed and highlight the findings in the following areas: Contribute to the development of curriculum of Technics studio, New curriculum on performance-based design and planning, Collaboration with other design schools and professional institutions, and Evaluation method for the project development.

• Integrating Scientific Simulation with Rapid-Prototyping Modeling for Design Curriculum Development

  • Connecting the Real and the Virtual - design e-ducation [20th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9541183-0-8] Warsaw (Poland) 18-20 September 2002, pp. 548-551
  • September 2002
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Tsou, Jin-Yeu and Chow, Benny]

  Although Computer-Aided Architectural Design tools have been introduced to studios for design visualization and communication, tangible models constructed by cardboard or other modeling materials still play an important role in assisting students on developing their conceptual framework related to spatial organization. A Rapid Prototyping (RP) system could provide a paradigm shift from the existing workflow of hand-made architectural model into an automated computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) environment. The introduction of computer controlled manufacturing technology will not limit the use of current conventional model making, and it will provide new capabilities for precise scaled model making and the possibility to generate free-form surface models for design representation. Because the technical capabilities of RP system could dramatically change the design workflow, the computer-aided manufacturing approach for architectural design has been adopted by overseas and local academic institutions. In this paper, we report the findings of a pilot study that applied rapid prototyping technology in architectural design education for helping students exploring an automated computer-aided manufacturing environment during early stage of design development.

• Design Strategy of Urban and Spatial Comfort for Sub-Tropical Hyper-Dense Environment

  • The Proceeding of the 9th International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (ICCCBE IX). National Taiwan University, April 2002.
  • April 2002
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Selina Lam, Benny Chow & Jinyeu Tsou]

  Considering the context of Hong Kong with a hot-humid sub-tropical climate and hyper-dense urban environment, it is always beyond the capacity of an architect to predict the combined effects caused by the interdependencies of major building systems or features. For example, it is always desirable to optimize the building opening to facilitate the natural ventilation in a subtropical climate, but the approach also invites the low-frequency noise to get into the living areas. The current approach in the design studio education has been mainly intuitive with very limited scientific supports. Many students of architecture tend to follow established paradigms that have evolved through experience with similar projects. Supporting a designer to explore the interdependencies of systems and to predict the consequences of redesign is another critical factor for considering when we adopt advanced simulation techniques into the design process. In this paper, we report the research findings of a pilot study that applied advanced scientific simulation skills in studio education designed to help students explore the interdependency of environmental design strategies during the project design development.

• Indigo Tower: Bio Purification Tower

  • The Urban Vision: Expert Diary
  • August 22, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  The Indigo Tower is a explorative exercise aimed at taking full advantage of passive solar technique carefully married with the benefits of a titanium dioxide skin. The location of the project is set in Qingdao, China where we have some developers interested in furthering the research. Profitability will play a key role amongst investors in the shift towards our sustainable solution. We believe that coming out of a global recession, the consumer will be looking for a stable investment. The choice between purchasing a residential unit with a positive environmental attitude and not, will hopefully become a simple one. To get the product to market, significant tax breaks will be needed to help secure the positive direction the developers and consumers are looking for. Such architecture should be backed by progressive policy.

• Can Skyscrapers Fight Pollution?

  • The New York Times | The Opinion Pages
  • August 19, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [FREAKONOMICS - Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  Two Hong Kong architects believe that as we pollute the air, our skyscrapers can help clean up the mess. Frederick Givens and Benny Chow’s “Indigo Tower” features a “nano-coating of titanium dioxide,” designed to neutralize pollution when it hits the building. The tower would even work at night: “Photovoltaic panels would capture enough energy from the sun to allow the production of indigo light (near the UV portion of the spectrum) during evening hours.” The purple glow would be visible for miles.

• A purple, smog-eating skycraper

  • The Boston Globe
  • August 11, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Christopher Shea: Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  Frederick Givens, an architect, and Benny Chow, a specialist in sustainable building design, presented their version of this concept in Issue 2 of the journal Evolo. They call their brainchild the "Indigo Tower." Envisioned for Qingdao, China, a city with particularly bad air quality, the tower would have a skin featuring a nano-coating of titanium dioxide. When smog hits the skin, sunlight would trigger a chemical reaction that would neutralize grease and toxins, with oxygen and water as byproducts.

• Going Green: Indigo Tower

  • QINGDAO(nese)
  • August 16, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Clay in Qingdao Life: Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  Designers in Hong Kong have planned a skyscraper for Qingdao that could clean the air through its very existence. Coated with titanium dioxide, the proposed building’s skin would supposedly chemically react with the air to destabilize toxins and change them to oxygen and water. The tower would even glow indigo at night, powered by solar energy taken in during the day. Rooftop gardens and built in wind turbines to capture energy add to the total green effect of the structure. Still in planning stages, with more research to be done, the project is still a welcome mention of things to come in a Qingdao going green.

• Indigo Tower: A Pollution-Fighting Skyscraper

  • FUTURE CHANGES
  • August 21, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  Hong Kong-based Frederick Givens, an architect, and Benny Chow, a sustainable building specialist, have developed a skyscraper design that would chemically clean polluted air. The tower would work both day and night, by simultaneously collecting solar energy and chemically cleaning the air during the daytime.

• Risks Posed by the Use Of Oxygen Therapy and Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: A Pilot Study

  • Hong Kong Med J
  • December 2009
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [DSC David, S Hall, MTV Chan, GM Joynt, B Chow, JJY Sung]

  Substantial exposure to exhaled air occurs within a 0.5m radius of patients receiving Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV) and a 0.4m radius of those receiving oxygen therapy.
  Higher ventilator pressures result in a wider distribution of exhaled air. Coughing can extend the dispersion distance further.

• Erupting Stability - A Suburban Land Reclamation Project

  • eVolo #03 - Cities of Tomorrow
  • September 1, 2010
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Ted Givens & Benny Chow]

  Our project focused in on the suburban fringe, ever leaking into the natural world- the blur line of civilization. The proposed site is on the outskirts of Kansas City Missouri, under the most violent of atmospheres in the northern hemisphere.
  Kinetic architecture is the innovation which we believe will form the foundation for habitation in the future. A series of simple hydraulic levers are used to push and pull the housing units in and out of the ground and deflect and warp the outer skin in response to external stimulation. The key activators of this active motion being the high velocity winds associated with thunderstorms and tornadoes. The mobility also offers the home a chance to aim itself into the prevailing wing to capture maximum breezes or avoid them. A series of solar cells on the outer skin also rotate and flex to attain maximum solar intensity.
  Sensors are the basic but fundamental elements in the systems. The climatic condition of Kansas is extreme and harsh. The neural network provides a strong integrated response to the rapidly changing local climate. Not only individual buildings, but entire suburbs and towns will transform themselves to the changes. The whole neighborhood will behave as an organism fit for a collective response to challenges brought by the natural environment.

• Visual Impact Evaluation of Electricity Substation Architecture

  • CAADRIA 1999 [Proceedings of The Fourth Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] ISBN 7-5439-1233-3, p.81-87
  • May 1999
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Kan, J.W.T., Chow, Benny and Tsou, J.-Y.]

  This paper presents a case study of the application of computer techniques for design communication and visual impact analysis. We were sponsored by China Light & Power Company Ltd. To simulate the design of a proposed electricity substation and its it is setting in a residential neighborhood. During a five-week intensive study, we took nearly one thousand photographs of the existing site. We also created a three-dimensional CAD model of the proposed substation, and produced perspectives from points of view analogous to the photographs. We applied Apple Quicktime VR technology to document the site environment with 360-degree panoramas. We then montaged the computer-generated panoramas with those taken from the real environment. A navigable virtual environment, architectural animation and set of still images were presented to the public in September 1998. The reactions from the regional council members and local residents nearby were recorded to provide evidence to measure the effectiveness of digital architectural design communication.

• The impact of computer-based design tools for daylighting simulation and prediction for a built environment

  • CAADRIA 2001 [Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia / ISBN 1-86487-096-6] Sydney 19-21 April 2001, pp. 169-179
  • April 2001
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Chow, Benny., Lam, S. and Tsou, J.]

  This paper investigates the application of computer daylighting simulation to provide qualitative assessment and comparison for designers to improve the built environment especially for non-technical architecture students. A comprehensive study was carried out to evaluate different daylighting design tools and to identify the limitation of current systems in the academic field. The paper will focus mainly on the dynamic information exchange between scientific visualization and the design decision-making process. Both architectural design studio environment and practical design problems in the real world setting were experimented and evaluated. Two case studies are presented: a proposed gallery space for a museum, and a detail architectural design of a community church. Architectural design alterations are proposed, simulated and discussed. The recursive feedback of the designers are studied and documented. Through a combination of qualitative assessment and comparison, designers can evaluate and compare different design options in the computing environment before implementing in the real world situation.

• Team Orientated Knowledge Construction for Architectural Education

  • Architectural Computing from Turing to 2000 [eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-5-7] Liverpool (UK) 15-17 September 1999, pp. 292-300
  • September 1999
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [Tsou, Jin-Yeu and Chow, Benny]

  Information Technology is always more accessible when we trying to imagine what the IT could be actually used. This situation is even more noticeable in the architecture field, and there are various technologies that have failed on delivering urgent needed education quality. Meanwhile, the tradition architecture education is evolving rapidly under the concepts of problem-based approach, knowledge reconstruction, and self-guided learning. "Education without institutional boundary" happens everyday in the classroom, and multi-direction learning modes have replaced the traditional single-direction teaching approach. The role of IT in the curriculum of architectural design education has become a subject of debate, scrutiny and experimentation in architectural schools. This paper will first outline the theory of applying team-oriented knowledge construction approach into studio teaching, the setup of our integrated digital design media environment is introduced; organization issue regarding the team formation and studio coordination is discussed; case studies are illustrated for demonstrating the methodology applied; and the student feedback is summarized to analysis the effectiveness of the approach.

• Exhaled Air Dispersion and Removal is influenced by Isolation Room Size and Ventilation Settings during Oxygen Delivery via Nasal Cannula

  • John Wiley & Sons: Respirology - An Official Journal of the Asia Pacific Society of Respirology
  • May 1, 2011
  Authors: Dr. Benny Chow, [David Hui, Benny Chow, Leo Chu, Susanna Ng, Sik-To Lai, Tony Gin, Matthew Chan]

  Background: We compared the exhaled air dispersion distances during oxygen delivery via nasal cannula to a human-patient simulator (HPS) in two different isolation rooms.
  Methods: Airflow was marked with intrapulmonary smoke for visualization. Oxygen flow was gradually increased from 1 to 5L/min, with the HPS sitting at 45o. The leakage jet plume was revealed by laser light-sheet and images captured by high-definition video. Smoke concentration in the plume was estimated from the light scattered by smoke particles. The experiments were conducted at a double-door, negative pressure isolation room with a dimension of 4.1 × 5.1 × 2.6m, pressure of -7.4 Pa and 16 air exchanges/hour(ACH)[room A]. Results were compared with experiments repeated in a smaller isolation room with a dimension of 2.7 × 4.2 × 2.4m, pressure of -5Pa and 12ACH [room B].
  Findings: Room A: An exhalation jet spread almost horizontally outward from the nostrils of the HPS to 0.66m and 1m towards the end of bed when oxygen flow was increased from 1 to 5 L/min respectively.
  Room B: There was interaction between the downward ceiling ventilation current and the exhaled air from the HPS, leading to deflection of exhaled smoke towards the head of the HPS at an oxygen flow rate of 1L/min. As oxygen flow was increased gradually to 5L/min, more room contamination with smoke was noted.
  Conclusion: Substantial exposure to exhaled air occurs within 1m towards the end of the bed from patients receiving oxygen via nasal cannula. Room dimension and air exchange rate are important factors in preventing contamination in isolation rooms.

Websites:

• Aedas Ltd

Groups and Associations:

• 
  3D Architectural Visualisation
• 
  3D Printing for Architects
• 
  ATKINS
• 
  Aedas
• 
  Architect Design China
• 
  Association for Computer-Aided Design In Architecture
• 
  BIM Experts
• 
  Building Science Community
• 
  Building Services (M&E) and Environmental Engineering
• 
  Building envelope designers
• 
  CAADRIA
• 
  CIWEM - Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management
• 
  CleanTech
• 
  Corporate Real Estate
• 
  Design meets Business (China)
• 
  Digital Fabrication & Design
• 
  Disney Imagineering
• 
  Eco Building
• 
  Eco-Product & Sustainability
• 
  EcoHome Magazine
• 
  Facade (curtain wall) engineering group
• 
  Generative Design
• 
  Glass technology
• 
  Green Building Connect
• 
  Green Design
• 
  Greenroofs.com Network
• 
  IBPSA - EnergyPlus
• 
  IBPSA - International Building Performance Simulation Association
• 
  IES <VE> Users
• 
  Innovations in Light
• 
  International Facility Management Association
• 
  LEED AP BD+C
• 
  LEED AP China
• 
  LEED Accredited Professional
• 
  Nanotechnology Zone
• 
  Net Zero Energy Buildings
• 
  ParaClouding
• 
  RFP Magazine
• 
  Shanghai Architect
• 
  Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• 
  Smartgeometry
• 
  Sustainability UBM
• 
  Sustainability in Architecture and Design
• 
  Sustainable Business Practices
• 
  Sustainable Healthcare
• 
  Sustainable by Design
• 
  Sustainable construction and planning
• 
  TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
• 
  The Association for Project Management (Official group)
• 
  The Lighthouse Club Linkin Group
• 
  TiO2 - Titanium Dioxide
• 
  U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• 
  Urban Design Network
• 
  World Architecture Community
• 
  eCAADe