Author: Volkov A.A. Dr.Sc., Professor, Dean of the Faculty of ISTAS MGSU
This article continues a series of publications presenting the foundations of the promising science of designing “intelligent” buildings, directly focused on eliminating the existing methodological gap between practice and the theory of creation automation systems for buildings and structures at all levels (see Bulletin “AZ”, No. 5/2006; No. 6/2007).
The original paradigm of the homeostat of buildings and structures is considered
In general, the methodology of functional management of buildings and structures assumes analysis of the theory and practice of constructing ultra- and multi-sustainable control systems for a construction project, based on assumptions (the essence is scientific and technical hypotheses) of the existence of an objectively real possibility:
1) managing the processes of changing the actual functional and/or technical characteristics of a building (structure) and/or its elements (in this case, managing the building (structure) itself is interpreted as managing the processes of changing such characteristics);
2) constructing a strategy and scenarios for such control for an object with a known set of functional and technical characteristics in terms of existing or original formal languages (in this case, the target control function is compensation and/or suppression of the influence of disturbances of any nature and intensity on the stable state of the control object);
3) creation of engineering and technical systems that practically implement the process of managing a building (structure) in the described sense, taking into account the established restrictions and assumptions.
Let us dwell on the essence of the concept of functional control systems for buildings and structures, as the basis of the homeostatic methodology of construction projects, the analysis of the theoretical foundations for the design of functional systems for homeostatic control of buildings and structures.
Analysis of the prospects for using the principles of the theory of functional systems (P.K. Anokhin) and construction systems engineering (A.A. Gusakov) for solving problems of managing buildings and structures in the sense described above allows us to talk about the possibility of creating a homeostatic methodology for construction objects precisely as a functional system.
Homeostat (from the Greek homoios — similar, identical and statos — standing, motionless) is a self-organizing system that models the ability of living organisms to maintain certain values within physiologically acceptable limits. English scientist W.R. Ashby, the inventor of the homeostat, designed its simplest form in 1948 as a device consisting of four magnetic systems with cross-feedback connections.
The concept of “homeostat” is a systemic embodiment of the phenomenon of homeostasis or homeostasis (from the Greek homoios — similar, identical and stasis — state, immobility), in physiology — the relative dynamic constancy of the composition and properties of the internal environment and the stability of the basic physiological functions of living organisms. The term “homeostasis” was proposed by the American physiologist W. Cannon in 1929.
However, the idea of the constancy of the internal environment was formulated back in 1878 by the French scientist C. Bernard as the result of complex coordination and regulatory relationships carried out both in the whole organism and at the organ, cellular and molecular level.
It is necessary to note the fact of the existence of a number of works by domestic and foreign authors, created at different times, in which the concept of “homeostat” is one way or another used to solve theoretical and, to a much lesser extent, practical problems in various fields of science and technology. Some studies, which do not, however, contain similar statements of management problems and features of an integrated methodology, address the issues of using homeostatic principles in construction.
The nature of the target function for managing buildings and structures in the context of the study involves defining the homeostat of construction projects as a functional system aimed at limiting and suppressing the influence of disturbances of any nature and intensity on the steady state of a construction site. The obvious goal of this approach to constructing a methodology is the objective need to “teach” buildings and structures to adequately respond to negative environmental influences and internal disturbances using original information technology systems — functional systems for homeostatic control of a construction site.
Homeostatic control is complex, including operational, adaptive control of objects, processes, systems and their elements, functionally oriented to limiting and suppressing the influence of disturbances of any nature and intensity on the stable state of the control object in order to preserve it.
The effectiveness of real functional systems for homeostatic control of a construction site depends, first of all, on how much the building or structure is “controllable” in principle, how original technical, technological and other design solutions meet the principles of homeostatic control, i.e. a comprehensive solution to the problems of homeostatic control implies the mandatory design of a construction project at the homeostatic level.
Homeostatic design is the system-technical design of objects, processes, systems and their elements, conceptually focused on adapting original technical, technological and other solutions to the functions of homeostatic control. It is important to note that the formation of the structure and composition of homeostatic control systems and scenarios should occur at the stage of homeostatic design of a construction site.
The use of homeostatic methodology in the design, construction and operation of buildings and structures is a complex system-technical problem, the solution of which opens up promising directions for the development of systems within the framework of the proposed concept, the main of which are a qualitatively new level of intelligent automation and active safety of construction sites (Fig. 1).
System engineering analysis of the theory and practice of solving such problems allows us to formulate principles for designing functional systems for homeostatic control of buildings and structures, the main ones of which are the following:
1. The principle of homeostatic design (homeostatic design of a construction project).
2. The principle of modeling (formation and analysis of control strategies and scenarios, structure and composition of functional systems of homeostatic control at the stage of homeostatic design of buildings and structures).
3. The principle of optimization of design solutions (optimization of original technical, technological and other design solutions according to the criterion of minimizing the number of possible control scenarios for a construction project with a known set of functional and technical characteristics).
4. The principle of system design (analysis and design of functional systems of homeostatic control within the framework of a concept that systematically unites all areas of intelligent automation and active safety of buildings and structures).
5. The principle of open information systems (design of information components of functional systems for homeostatic control of buildings and structures within the framework of the concept of open (including distributed) systems).
Guided by the proposed methodological concept, the main tasks of its practical implementation are projected onto the plane of creating a complex of analytical and information environment for the processes of homeostatic design and management.
Analytical support for functional systems of homeostatic control is a complex of system-integrated methodological, methodological, mathematical and other solutions and tools that allow optimally and fully implementing the functions of homeostatic design and control based on the representation of buildings and structures as objects of target control. The above assumes both the widespread use of existing calculation methods and computational algorithms, and the development and implementation of fundamentally new approaches to solving problems of process control within the life cycle of buildings and structures, the sufficient diversity and progress in the creation of which are currently objective evidence of the possibility of analysis and modeling and effective solution of problems of homeostatic design and management for construction projects, systematically combining modern and promising areas of theoretical and practical research in the designated area. Thus, the modern development of construction systems engineering (A.A. Gusakov) allows us to talk about the prospects of the declared principles with the scientific achievements of organizational and anthropotechnical reliability (V.O. Chulkov) at the level of infographic modeling of “man — technology — environment” systems.
The information environment of functional systems of homeostatic control is a complex of information technologies and software of all levels, focused on supporting the processes of homeostatic design and control based on the use of open information systems technologies. The basis for designing information components of functional homeostatic control systems is the adaptation and use of standard solutions in the field of information support for the processes of construction design, production and management. The class of original ones consists of problems that do not require standard formulation and solutions.
The analysis carried out allows us to talk about the possibility and prospects of developing a complex information environment for functional homeostatic control systems based on modern information technologies and system design methods, united by the proposed methodological concept.
Read the continuation in the next issue.
AZ Bulletin No. 9 2007