Ling Tim Wong

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), including indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, visual quality, and acoustic quality, is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of human physiological and psychological health and well-being. The expanding body of research in this field now enables mapping of the relationship between IEQ parameters and objective human health responses. Nevertheless, progress was impeded by the absence of standardized frameworks. Inconsistent selection of environmental parameters, divergent methods for assessing objective outcomes, and fragmented approaches to analyzing interactions and combined effects have significantly limited cross-study comparability and the application of research findings to evidence-based environmental design. To address these limitations, this study systematically reviewed 229 peer-reviewed studies that jointly measured IEQ parameters and assessed occupants’ physiological and psychological responses using objective indices, and identified distinct domain-specific research patterns. Thermal studies primarily investigated temperature, thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses, while IAQ studies concentrated on particulate matter, respiratory outcomes, and associated physiological indicators. Visual and acoustic studies remained comparatively less represented. In addition, only 35 studies investigated combined or interactive effects across IEQ domains, with most focusing on pairwise exposures. Based on these findings, a research framework was proposed to support more consistent objective assessment and future investigation of multi-domain IEQ interactions.

This study investigated the individual and interactive effects of thermal and acoustic parameters on university students’ concentration and satisfaction in a library environment. Measurements of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and sound pressure level (SPL), alongside questionnaire surveys assessing students’ concentration, environmental perceptions, and satisfaction, were conducted over ten continuous working days in four library rooms. The results revealed significant interactive effects between operative temperature (To), RH, and background noise level (LA90) on students’ concentration and overall satisfaction, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to managing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Furthermore, multi-objective optimization using the NSGA-II algorithm suggested optimal ranges for To (22.6–24.8 °C), RH (41.0–48.4%), and LA90 (45.0–48.5 dB(A)). Existing library conditions surpassed these optimal levels, particularly on the first floor, indicating a pressing need for interventions to enhance student well-being and academic performance. Overall, this study provides insights into the interactions between thermal comfort and acoustic quality, offering recommendations for creating more conducive learning environments that boost student satisfaction and performance.

Recent hospital ward designs focus on fewer beds, more spacing, and the use of curtains or partitions for better privacy and improved infection control. Traditional infection risk models assume well‐mixed air and consider only total exposure time. Such models may not be suitable for these new layouts. This study presents a targeted framework for assessing airborne pathogen exposure. It uses spatial and temporal pathogen concentration data to offer precise exposure risk estimates. The approach integrates literature‐based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) datasets for different ward layouts and ventilation scenarios. It also uses a distance‐based probabilistic model of nurse presence to quantify the limitations of previous assumptions. The framework identifies mismatches between exposure concentrations and actual risk based on likely nurse locations in a ward. It shows that spaces with high pathogen concentrations may have a low risk if nurse presence is unlikely. In contrast, low‐concentration corridors may still pose a risk due to frequent occupancy. Compared with traditional models, the proposed framework provides risk estimates that are up to 11.2% lower or 6.1% higher. On average, estimations are 3.1% lower, leading to clearer and more actionable infection control strategies and management practices.

This study conducted a within-subject study to assess sleeping environmental comfort, acceptance, and self-reported sleep quality in air-conditioned and mixed-mode ventilated bedrooms in a subtropical region during the summer. A wide thermal comfort temperature range of 22.2 °C to 28.2 °C was observed, with slightly warmer thermal sensation at higher temperatures but no significant differences in sleep quality or environmental comfort acceptance within this range. Subjects adapted to warmer sleeping conditions by choosing lighter clothing and bedding insulation. Energy simulations indicated a reduction in the percentage of nights requiring cooling from 65% to 23% by increasing the set-point temperature from 22 °C to 28 °C, resulting in a potential 95% savings in cooling energy. This study advocates for an economical and energy-efficient approach to enhance sleeping thermal comfort while reducing cooling energy usage. These findings offer valuable insights for improved residential building design and optimized cooling energy management practices, especially in light of intensified climate change and the imperative for behavioral changes to promote building sustainability.

In recent years, our time spent indoors has risen to around 90% and to maintain an occupant’s comfort and well-being, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is monitored. Concerned with inhabitant’s satisfaction and health, the adoption of smart solutions for IEQ monitoring and improvement has expanded. The solution this study explores is an occupant-centric approach involving the implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT) IEQ sensing network in a prominent office skyscraper in Hong Kong. Over the course of 15 months, real-time IEQ data were collected from 12 locations within the building. The data were collected at 1-min time intervals and consisted of readings of indoor air temperature, radiant temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, carbon dioxide (CO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), horizontal illuminance levels, and sound pressure levels, which served as the basis of the assessment made about the qualities of thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), aural comfort, and visual comfort. Compared to traditional periodic surveys, this IoT-based sensing network captured instantaneous environmental variations, providing valuable insights into the indoor environment’s spatial characterization and temporal dynamics. This smart solution also assisted facility management in terms of identifying sources of discomfort and developing effective mitigation strategies accordingly. This study presents an occupant-centric approach to improve occupant comfort and energy efficiency within office buildings. By customizing the built environment to enhance occupants’ well-being, comfort, and productivity, an emphasis is placed on a more personalized and occupant-focused design strategy. This approach integrates technical design with human experience, highlighting the importance of real-time physical and subjective surveys for achieving optimal results.