BOSS

Building Occupants Signal Synthesis

Synergize and Innovate: Connecting Disciplines for Boundless Discovery and Inventions

 

What is Our Mission?

Our mission is to promote the wellbeing of both buildings and their occupants through a multidisciplinary approach. Our definition for wellbeing is Sustainability, Resilience, and Circularity for buildings, and Comfort, Health, and Happiness for occupants.

Why Building Occupants Signal Synthesis?

We strongly believe that the advancement of sensing and artificial intelligence dramatically promotes our understanding of how buildings perform in this changing climate, from various perspectives of the wellbeing of buildings. All the data obtained from buildings, no matter of energy flow or environmental quality, are sort of signals in the generic context. Apparently, occupants’ demands for wellbeing are requested through their signals such as behaviors like actions or speech, bio-signals like heartbeats, and even body odors. When the signals from both buildings and occupants are synthesized, we can ultimately obtain a clearer picture of the network of these two complex systems and their interaction to enhance the wellbeing of both.  

Why WPI?  

We believe that a multidisciplinary approach is the only way to fulfill our mission. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has developed several cross-cutting research areas including, Robotics, Internet of Things, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, and Health. All of these areas can be strong pillars to support us to succeed.  

News & Activities

January 5, 2023 / Publication

Paper: Promoting collaborative learning in architectural engineering design through multi-user augmented reality

In the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) world, good teamwork is key to finishing projects on time and with high…
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November 24, 2022 / Outreach

Dr. Shichao Liu Talked to Washington Post on the Myth of Thermostats

Dr. Liu contributed to a recent story on Washington Post titled “Think your thermostat is lying? Science explains why.” See…
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March 22, 2022

Conference presentation: How indoor environment quality affected college students’ mental health and learning performance during COVID-19: a long-term study

In January 2022, Xingtong Guo presented her recent research in the conference Health Buildings 2021—America.  During COVID-19 pandemic, people’s lifestyles…
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March 22, 2022

Conference Presentation: Effects of CO2 and bio-effluents on driving performance

In January 2022, Chao Wang presented her recent research on the effect of indoor environment on driving performance in the…
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November 8, 2021

Xingtong Received Carl Koontz Awards From WPI

Xingtong has been awarded $600 through the Carl Koontz Awards for her incoming presentation at the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. The Carl Koontz…
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September 28, 2021

LEED apartments are only slightly more satisfying than non-LEED ones

Buildings play an important role in human life. Because of COVID-19, working from home has been becoming a popular alternative,…
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September 7, 2021 / Publication

Indoor Environmental Quality Affects Occupants’ Cognitive Functions

Paper published in Building and Environment The Coronavirus pandemic reshapes occupants’ life since the lockdown of the city for decreasing the…
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February 12, 2021 / People

Shichao Named to Receive Nevins Award from ASHRAE

Shichao Liu, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been awarded the Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award by…
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