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Output data format

The goal of the FinnishBuildingStockData.jl module is to combine data about building structures, fenestration, and ventilation with building stock statistics, resulting in building stock statistics containing aggregate structural properties. The previous Data processing overview explains the steps done to the input data described in the Required input data format in order to arrive at the desired output.

This module uses a Spine Datastore for recording the output. See the Spine Toolbox repository for more information on the subject. In a Spine Datastore, the data is organized into object classes storing data for individual objects, and relationship classes storing data for relationships between multiple objects. Below, you'll find lists of all the Output object classes and Output relationship classes produced by the FinnishBuildingStockData.jl module, as well as brief explanations of their purpose, use, and contained parameters.

Output object classes

Note that there is a lot of overlap between these and the Input object classes.

building_period: Represents a period in time, during which a building was built.

  • period_start: The year when the building_period starts.
  • period_end: The year when the building_period ends.

building_stock: Represents a snapshot of a building stock, e.g. Finnish building stock in the year 2030. Used to separate e.g. different countries and years of building stock data.

  • building_stock_year: Indicates the year this building_stock represents, e.g. 2020, 2030, etc.
  • raster_weight_path: An optional filepath to a geographical raster data file containing weighting information for the weather data, e.g. population density or the like.
  • shapefile_path: A Filepath to a shapefile containing the geographical information about the building stock.

building_type: Represents a certain category of buildings, e.g. detached house, apartment block, office building, etc. Used to distinguish between different buildings found in the building stock statistics.

heat_source: Represents a source of heat energy for a building, e.g. coal or electricity. Used to distinguish between different heating solutions in the building stock statistics.

location_id: A unique identifier for a geographical location, e.g. a national municipality code.

  • location_name: The name of the location in question, e.g. the name of the municipality.

structure_type: Represents a category of building structures, e.g. exterior walls, base floors, roofs, etc. Used for storing common properties, like surface resistances and thermal bridges.

  • exterior_resistance_m2K_W: Exterior surface resistance for this structure_type in [m2K/W].
  • interior_resistance_m2K_W: Interior surface resistance for this structure_type in [m2K/W].
  • is_internal: A boolean flag for whether a structure is an internal structure, meaning not part of the building envelope. Set to true for partition walls and separating floors.
  • linear_thermal_bridge_W_mK: Assumed linear thermal bridge properties for this structure_type.
  • structure_type_notes: Freeform notes about the structure type, or its assumed parameters.

Output relationship classes

building_stock_statistics: The final building stock statistics containing the number of buildings and average gross-floor area per building for each (building_stock, building_type, building_period, location_id, heat_source), created using the create_building_stock_statistics! function.

  • average_gross_floor_area_m2_per_building: The average gross-floor area in [m2] of buildings of building_type, built during building_period in location_id, heated using heat_source of the building_stock dataset.
  • number_of_buildings: The number of buildings of building_type, built during building_period in location_id, heated using heat_source of the building_stock dataset.

structure_statistics: The processed average structural properties for each (building_type, building_period, location_id, structure_type), created using the create_structure_statistics! function.

  • design_U_W_m2K: The average design U-value of the aggregated structures in [W/m2K].
  • effective_thermal_mass_J_m2K: Mean calculated effective thermal mass [J/m2K] of the structures corresponding to the statistics, per area of the structure.
  • external_U_value_to_ambient_air_W_m2K: Mean calculated U-value [W/m2K] from the structure into the ambient air. Note that for internal structures, this represents heat transfer through one surface.
  • external_U_value_to_ground_W_m2K: Mean calculated effective U-value [W/m2K] from the structure into the ground, according to Kissock, Kelly, Abinesh Selvacanabady, and Narendran Raghavan. "Simplified Model for Ground Heat Transfer from Slab-on-Grade Buildings." ASHRAE Transactions 119.2 (2013).
  • internal_U_value_to_structure_W_m2K: Mean calculated U-value [W/m2K] from the structure into the interior air. Note that for internal structures, this only represents heat transfer through the other surface.
  • linear_thermal_bridges_W_mK: Mean linear thermal bridges [W/mK] of the seams between structures.
  • total_U_value_W_m2K: Mean total effective U-value [W/m2K] of the structure, from the interior air into the ambient air/ground.

ventilation_and_fenestration_statistics: The processed average ventilation and fenestration properties for each (building_type, building_period, location_id).

  • HRU_efficiency: Mean heat-recovery efficiency of ventilation heat-recovery units.
  • infiltration_rate_1_h: Mean infiltration air change rate [1/h].
  • total_normal_solar_energy_transmittance: Mean total normal solar energy transmittance of windows accounting for the effect of the frame-area fraction.
  • ventilation_rate_1_h: Mean ventilation air change rate [1/h].
  • window_U_value_W_m2K: Mean window U-value [W/m2K].