Chen Chiu

Last Name

Chiu

Chen

Publications 1 - 1 of 1

Thermal VR: Assessment of complex fenestration’s effects on visual and thermal comfort
Grobe, Lars Oliver; Chiu, Chen; Schlueter, Arno; et al. (2025)
Journal of Physics: Conference Series
This paper investigates the integration of thermal feedback into virtual reality (VR) environments to enhance architectural design processes. While traditional VR simulations focus primarily on visual experiences, this work expands the scope to incorporate thermal sensations, offering a more immersive and holistic design tool. The development of a “Thermal VR” system, combining heat emitters with VR goggles, allows architects to assess both the thermal and visual qualities of their designs more intuitively. The system was tested using various facade designs in a virtual office setting, specifically simulating solar radiation and its impact on indoor conditions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating thermal feedback in VR and highlight its potential to enhance spatial perception and decision-making. However, challenges remain in the flexibility of generalizing the approach to different designs. This research contributes to the emerging field of climate-aware architectural design, offering valuable insights into the potential of VR as a tool for simulating combined visual and thermal experiences.

Publications 1 - 1 of 1