Kian Wee Chen

Kian Wee Chen

My research focuses on the development and use of open source digitals tools to enable timely access to data and models for supporting an integrative design process for the built environment.

Work Experience

  • Global Environmental Technologies Inc. (Sanken Setsubi Kogyo Co., LTD. U.S. Subsidiary) (2023 – Current)
    • Environmental Technology Senior Researcher
    • Research on Radiant Heating and Cooling Panel Technology
    • Involve in Building Construction Authority of Singapore Radiant Panel Demonstration Space Project
  • Princeton University, Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment (2018 – Current)
    • Visiting Research Scholar (2023-Current)
    • Associate Research Scholar (2020-2023)
    • Distinguish Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr Forrest Meggers (2018-2020)
    • Research on Design Prototyping with Advanced Digital Technologies for the Built Environment
  • University of Pennsylvania, Weitzman School of Design (2020)
    • Visiting Scholar
    • Research on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the design process
    • Involve in design studio, ‘Bioclimatic Studio 2020: Climate-Adaptive Design for the Data Center of the Future’
  • National University of Singapore, Department of Architecture (2018)
    • Research Fellow with Dr Patrick Janssen
    • Involve in “Parametric Urban Modeling Research Phase 2” and “Computational Thinking: Automated Formative Assessment of Parametric Modeling Assignments” projects
  • Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) – Center for Modeling and Environmental Sensing (CENSAM) (2015 – 2018)
    • Postdoctoral associate with Dr Leslie Norford
    • Developed a design workflow with accompanying tools for the optimization of urban design in the early design stages
  • National University of Singapore, Department of Architecture (2017)
    • Adjunct Lecturer
    • Developed “spatial computational thinking” course with Dr Patrick Janssen
  • Singapore Polytechnic, Department of Architecture (2017)
    • Adjunct Lecturer
    • Developed a prototype tool for teaching design optimization in a studio environment

Education

  • Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich (2011 – 2015)
    • PhD research with Dr. Arno Schlueter and Dr. Patrick Janssen
    • Dissertation: “Architectural Design Exploration of Low-Exergy (LowEx) Buildings in the Tropics” supervised by Dr. Arno Schlueter and Dr. Patrick Janssen
    • Project 1: BubbleZERO Laboratory of the Low Exergy Module to experiment with novel systems for cooling, dehumidification and ventilation for the tropical climate
    • Project 2: 3for2-Beyond Efficiency: propose to build 3 floors within the space of 2 through systems integration, hence 3for2, by eliminating the excesses, while achieving 2x performance.
  • National University of Singapore, Department of Architecture (2009 – 2010)
    • M (Arch) – Specialization in Design Technology and Sustainability
    • Dissertation: “The Design of Naturally Ventilated Atrium Space using Multi-Zone Airflow Simulation: The Architectural Implication on the Schematic Stage of the Design Process” supervised by Dr. Patrick Janssen
  • National University of Singapore, Department of Architecture (2005-2009)
    • BA (Arch) (Hons)
    • Areas of concentration: sustainable design, computational design tools

Grants

  • Princeton University Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment Fund for Energy Reserach with Corporate Partners (2023-2026) – Re2Rad: Research of Renewables-powered Radiant Systems demonstrating next generation control of comfort, air-quality and emissions – from lab to testbed to industry to campus, Industry Collaborator, USD 600, 000
  • Research Project with Housing Development Board of Singapore (2021-2023) – Optimization Algorithm for Rapid Sustainable Planning and Design, Collaborator, USD 250, 000 (SGD 349,200)
  • Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment (2018-2020), USD 130, 000
  • SMART-CENSAM Research Initiative (2017-2018) – Processing Terrestrial LiDAR Scanned Trees for Multi-Disciplinary Analysis, Principal Investigator, USD 5000 (SGD 7000)

Awards

  • CAADRIA Conference 2023, Best Paper Award – Runner Up, “Comparing Design Strategies: A System for Optimization-based Design Exploration” (2023)
  • The Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture award 2020 on Scientific Merit, “Modelling the Built Environment in 3D to Visualize Data from Different Disciplines: The Princeton University Campus” (2020)
  • CAADRIA Conference 2020, Best Paper Award – Runner Up, “Enabling Optimisation-Based Exploration for Building Massing Design - A Coding-free Evolutionary Building Massing Design Toolkit in Rhino-Grasshopper” (2020)
  • Student Poster Competition – 4th Holcim Forum 3rd Prize “Beyond Efficiency” (2013)
  • Young CAARDRIA Award 2013 “A Design Method for Multi-Criteria Optimisation of Low Exergy Architecture” (2013)

Skills

City & Building Information Modeling

  • Data Schema
    • Industry Foundation Class (IFC) – Open data standard for Building Information Modeling.
    • CityGML/ CityJSON – Open data standard for City Information Modeling.
    • Shapefiles – Geospatial vector data format for GIS.
    • Geojson – JSON geospatial vector data format.
    • GIS Raster format (e.g. geotiff) – Geospatial raster data format.
    • 3Dtiles – Open data standard for visualizing 3D city model on the web.
  • Software
    • QGIS – Open source GIS software.
    • FreeCAD – Open source 3D parametric modeling tool.
    • Blender3D – Open source 3D modeling tool.
    • Sketchup – 3D modeling tool.
    • Rhinoceros3D & Grasshopper – 3D NURBS modeling tool.
  • Databases
    • FROST-Server – A server implementation of the OGC SensorThings API.
    • 3DCityDB – 3D city database to store 3D city models.
      • BIMServer – Building Information Modeling Database
  • IoT Hardware
    • Particle.io – Internet of Things (IoT) devices for distributed environmental sensing.
    • HUZZAH32 – Espressif32 microprocessor for setting up IoT development.
    • SHT31 – Temperature and humidity sensor for IoT development.
    • Telaire T6713 – CO2 sensor for IoT development.
    • Sensirion SCD30 – CO2, temperature and humidity sensor for IoT development.
    • Ultrasonice Distance Sensor RCWL-1601 – Distance sensor for IoT development.
    • Amphenol GE2102 Thermistor – Sensor for air and surface temperatures for IoT development.
    • Digiten Flow Sensor FL408 – Flow sensor for IoT development.
    • MLX90614 – Infrared surface temperature sensor for IoT development.
    • TS2591 – Lighting (lux) sensor for IoT development.
    • Modern Device Wind Sensor Rev P – Air velocity sensor for IoT development.
    • Fluxteq Heatflux Sensor – Heatflux sensor for IoT development.

Building Performance Simulations

  • OpenStudio – whole building energy modeling using EnergyPlus and Radiance for daylight analysis.
  • Radiance/DAYSIM – Solar simulation for predicting solar irradiation measurements.
  • EnergyPlus – Building energy modeling software for predicting energy consumption.

Programming languages

  • Python
    • Numpy – Numerical computing library.
    • Matplotlib – Graphing library.
    • Pyqtgraph – GUI library for rapid prototyping of scientific apps.
    • Django – Python framework for web development.
  • Javascript
    • CesiumJS
  • Docker Container