ESUM, Analysing trade-offs between Energy & Social performance of Urban Morphologies, is an SNF project where we investigate the impacts of urban morphology on building energy consumption and also on citizen perception for case studies in Switzerland and Germany. We simulate energy demand for over 4,000 buildings in the case study areas and link this to perception via descriptors of urban morphology (building geometry, isovists and street network configuration). Perception is measured through surveys and biofeedback data from participants who walk along select street networks. As a final outcome, we develop a predictive model to estimate the effects of pure urban form on perception and energy consumption of neighbourhoods.
Primary tasks of this position are to develop a database management system in postgreSQL to manage the high volume of input/output data for the above mentioned urban energy models which are created in the software CitySim. The candidate is expected to design a schema from the user specifications and program a relational DBMS that will be bi-directionally accessed and used by multiple applications such as CitySim, python and QGIS.
We are looking for an enthusiastic student with prior experience and appropriate skill sets in database management programming and design. This will require intermediate to advanced level of knowledge. Interest and experience in building energy systems, building level or city level energy modelling is an advantage, but not required for the position. The duration of employment is for 5 weeks full time and may be distributed over 3 Months.