Active Projects

Improving the Therapeutic Design of Healthcare Environments through Modelling, Simulation, and Visualisation (MSV)

The physical characteristics of healthcare facilities can have positive impacts on the occupants.They can reduce the level of anxiety and stress, and aid patient recovery. The concept of designing therapeutic environments is not new; however, the relationships between environmental stimulus and response are complex and not fully understood. Healthcare facilities that have been appropriately designed with specific reference to the needs of patients, staff and visitors are delivering positive outcomes; nevertheless, there is a high degree of complexity involved with many often conflicting environmental parameters that need to be considered and reconciled.

Project Facts

Start date: September 2007
End date: September 2010
Investigators Professor Andrew Price; Dr. Malcolm Cook
Staff Employed Emeka Efe Osaji; PhD Zulfikur Aduma
Status  

Project Partners

  • Journal of Building Performance Simulation (JBPS)
  • Centre of Excellence in Customised Assembly (CECA)
  • Advanced VR Research Centre (AVRRC)
  • Martin James (MJ) Medical
  • Regenstrief Centre for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University, U.S.
  • Envision Centre for Data Perceptualization
  • Purdue University, U.S
  • Division of Construction Engineering and Management, Purdue University, U.S.

Project Partners

 
This project aims to develop and demonstrate how innovative design solutions relating to aesthetics and lighting (e.g. the availability of natural light/ day light and use of the arts) of healthcare spaces impact on the clinical outcomes of patients, staff productivity and facility performance. This particular piece of work aims to improve the therapeutic design of new and existing healthcare environments by developing a parametric environmental design framework that supports assessments and improvements within multiple variable parameters.