Nusrat Jung

Description: EPICS Global Air Quality Trekkers (GAQT), led by Dr. Nusrat Jung, is a pioneering initiative dedicated to addressing global air quality challenges by transforming how we monitor and mitigate indoor air pollution. Our mission is to create healthier environments in homes, schools, and workplaces by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.

Indoor air pollution - caused by toxic chemicals in building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, and outdoor contaminants - poses severe health risks. It is a silent but significant threat linked to respiratory illnesses, asthma, reduced lung function, and chronic pulmonary diseases. Children are especially vulnerable, facing heightened risks that lead to increased absenteeism, reduced academic performance, and long-term health consequences. GAQT is committed to creating transformative change by implementing state-of-the-art air quality sensing networks and next-generation filtration systems, paving the way for cleaner, healthier communities worldwide.

Course Objectives
This course’s objective is to introduce the engineering fundamentals required for the design and analysis of building environmental systems, such as thermodynamics and psychrometrics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer. It also presents engineering principles and selected applications related to hygrothermal analysis of building enclosures, air conditioning processes, ventilation, and indoor air quality.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of thermodynamics and psychrometrics; fluid mechanics; heat transfer via conduction, convection, and radiation; and mass/moisture transfer for use in building design.
2. Identify and analyze the characteristics of building environmental loads, building construction, and building operations as they define the requirements for a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
3. Identify, formulate, and solve realistic Architectural Engineering problems related to hygrothermal analysis of building enclosures, air conditioning processes, and ventilation.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of building systems integration to achieve efficient operation.

The learning process includes:

1. Reading: The textbook is a comprehensive source of information on fundamental thermal science topics. Readings on green building technologies will engage you with industry applications.
2. Lectures: supplement fundamental concepts from the readings. In-classroom example problems will emphasize applying these concepts to the analysis of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and building enclosures.
3. Homework Assignments: designed to reinforce the concepts presented during lectures. Students shall become familiar with analytical and computational methods for quantifying building performance.
4. ArchE Lab Modules: Students will work as teams to evaluate various features of the new Purdue zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE) Tiny House, evaluate the thermal conductivity of materials using new equipment, conduct experiments to understand the psychrometric process using the HVAC system in the HAMP G159 laboratory, etc.

Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are: (1.) to introduce fundamental concepts of architectural engineering design to develop a deeper understanding of what constitutes our built environment; (2.) future of designing buildings: introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM), BIM as a process, benefits and problems with a focus on interoperability and building performance-based simulations; (3.) to learn how to apply architectural engineering design and BIM principles towards obtaining high-performance buildings.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand architectural engineering design principles and their impact on the choice of building systems, such as form, space, organization, circulation, proportion, and scale.
2. Apply knowledge of BIM concepts and applications, BIM software (REVIT), and usage of BIM tools in architectural engineering.
3. Identify how BIM can support and improve multi-criteria assessment of high-performance buildings.
4. Evaluate the interoperability between the BIM-based model and Building Performance Simulations (BPS).
5. Become conversant with the language used by architects and BIM modelers to enhance collaboration and improve technical communication within large project teams in industry.

The learning process includes:

1. Readings: The textbook is a comprehensive source of information on fundamental BIM topics and applications. Selected readings from the peer-reviewed literature on architectural engineering design, BIM, and building performance simulations (energy and environmental issues) will engage you with leading academic research and industry applications.
2. Lectures and Computer lab sessions: supplement fundamental concepts from the readings. In-classroom examples will emphasize applications of architectural design, BIM, and high-performance building concepts in architectural engineering.
3. Homework Assignments: designed to reinforce the concepts presented during lectures. Students shall become familiar with parametric design methods (utilizing REVIT) and technical writing.
4. Course Project: Students can connect course concepts with a building-related topic of their interest (e.g., tied to their M.S. or Ph.D. research).