ESP-r: Generic Databases

Capabilities envisioned for the next generation of databases

Currently ESP-r is based on diverse database structure with a number of internal formats and data support regimes. A parallel coding effort is underway to support a more generic database structure:

Where the relationships between databases are made explicit. All databases are variations on the same structure and use standard I/O calls. Decoding is done by bespoke functions (which can be adapted as required).
All databases support classifications of entities as well as the documentation and uncertainty associated with entities
All databases have binary (for run-time random access) and ASCII (for model transport) versions with automated conversion as well as automated conversion of legacy data
New databases include - colour (RGB and surface textures), Accoustics (for materials and constructions), Environmental impacts (for materials and constructions).
Materials properties will include attributes of colour, accoustic, and environmental impacts

Primary routines

A database manager module dbm is introduced to maintain sets of databases.

esrudbm/bcffile.F - gathers information from databases and writes out a single building composition file for use by the life cycle and accoustic modules.
esrudbm/dbmedit.F - general menu display and editing facilities
esrudbm/edprof.F - editing and display of event profiles
esrudbm/enved.F - editing and display of environmental impacts
esrudbm/gendbb.F - common routines for reading, writing and manipulating databases
esrudbm/hyged.F - editing and display of hygrothermal properties
esrudbm/implegadb.F - import legacy databases
esrudbm/jdbm.F - MAIN program file
esrudbm/mlced.F - editing and display of constructions
esrudbm/prsitem.F - custom code to parse each of the database entity types

The databases

acoustic.gdb - acoustics (materials and constructions)
colour.gdb - colour (RGB, greyscale, surface patterns)
envimpact.gdb - environmental impacts (categories for factory and site assembly impacts, transport to factory, transport to site, maintenance, recycling and/or disposal)
transport.gdb - environmental impacts associated with the movement of building materials and components.
construction.gdb - list of materials and thickness as well as acoustic and environmental effects attributes
material.gdb - name of material with named attributes for colour, acoustic, environmental effects as well as conductivity, specific heat, IR, solar, specularity, roughness, refractive index
pressc_db.gdb - wind pressure profiles
optics.gdb - optical properties (not yet finalised)
profiles.gdb - profiles for mutiple day types for patterns of casual gains, temperature setpoints (not yet finalised)

Issues arising

The database structure currently parallels the existing data structure. The next step is to migrate the new data structure into the simulator and to link the database manager with the project manager.
Although the conversion of legacy databases is automatic, legacy files are sparsly documented and do not include uncertainty attributes. Much work is required to instanciate a full set of databases.
Current exemplars need to be updated.
The optical database format remains to be finalised (so that all of the WIS data fields can be held).
A roughly parallel development stream is underway with graphic components for flow and plant components and these may need to be reconciled at some point in the future.
Regional variants of the generic databases need to be developed and the existing user base trained to make use of the new facilities.