About Salford University

University of Salford’s School of Built Environment (SoBE) is the UK’s premier research centre and is internationally recognised for its research in built environment. It has been top rated by the UK government since 1992 and is currently number one for research power (source: Research Fortnightly Magazine 2008).

Today we have 70 active research staff, 25 of whom are leaders in their field. We collaborate with many companies and clients around the world and make very significant contributions to innovation and improvement in industry and the environment.

Expertise includes ICT research, development and application to virtual reality to enhance public participation in urban development. Research is conducted under three major themes:

• The ICT theme focuses on improving capability through technological innovation;

• The Management theme focuses on optimising organisational performance;

• The Environment theme focuses on enhancing quality of life and governance.

Our vision is to play a leading role in setting the Built Environment research agenda, nationally and internationally, through real-world focused research in order to create a sustainable, high quality, industry and society which adds value.

About Virtual Planning

Founded in 2004, as part of the SoBE and BuHu, Virtual Planning is working to produce a better urban environment by the deployment of technologies we are developing in the field of urban data modelling and visualisation. The group is directed by Andy Hamilton and he is supported in this aim by 4 researchers; Yonghui Song, Hongxia Wang, Yun Chen and Samantha Bowker.

Virtual Planning’s contribution to SAVE ENERGY

Salford University is helping to model the energy efficiency requirements for the serious game and efficiency energy management systems. Salford also supporting the implementation and testing of the Manchester pilot, which is based at Manchester’s historic Town Hall (Grade I listed).

Working out how to SAVE ENERGY in an historic building like Manchester Town Hall is a challenge. How energy is lost from the building needs to be analysed. It is possible to use a thermal camera, but this only gives 2D photos of a complex 3D shape. 3D models of buildings can be made using 3D Laser scanners, but until now these models have lacked thermal information.

The Virtual Planning Group is also working to integrate a thermal camera with a 3D laser to produce 3D thermal models which will show precisely where the heat is being lost from a building. Working in conjunction with Manchester City Council and within the SAVE ENERGY project, they will be testing this new technology on the town hall. It is expected this new technology will be able to demonstrate the value of a 3D thermal model for heat loss analysis and subsequently designing ways to prevent heat loss.