INTEGRATION OF EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AND SIMULATION TOOLS FOR THE THERMAL DESIGN OF BUILDINGS AND ENERGY-SYSTEMS

SETIS is a computer support for thermal design of buildings. Starting at the initial stage of the design process, it deals with the envelope of the building and its HVAC system. This project is managed by OCGR, a French civil engineering firm, and the Laboratoire Equipement de l' Kabitat de l'INSA. This collaboration is very important. SETIS is defi ned as a tool integrating both algorithmic programs and knowledge-base d parts onto the same database, where a thermal description of the bui lding to be designed is stored. The second aspect of SETIS is its deci sion-making ability: a supervisor can suggest modifications or actions to the designer in order to keep the description of his project consi stent, or to achieve a specific design goal previously fixed by the us er himself.