Advances in building simulation and computational techniques: A review between 1987 and 2014

Computer simulation for buildings has become affordable and possible in both research and industry during the last decades with rapid progress of computer industry as well as fundamental advancement of computational techniques. This paper provides an overview of such advancements achieved between 1987 and 2014, during which Professor Branko Todorovich served as Editor in Chief of Energy and Buildings Journal. The review, however, was not restricted to this journal only, in order to provide a fair snapshot on overall technique advances. Simulation and computational techniques cover a variety of aspects of building. This paper focuses specifically on six different topics including ventilation performance prediction, whole building energy and thermal load simulation, lighting and daylighting modeling, building information modeling, indoor acoustic simulation, and life cycle analysis of buildings. Major advances in each area are highlighted, as well as the trends for development and application.