Cornell University Ergonomics Web

DESIGN & ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

DEA 6520: HUMAN FACTORS - Ambient Environment
Spring 2011

Instructor: Alan Hedge, 2415 MVR
Phone: 255-1957
Email: ah29@cornell.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-2:00 pm or by appointment

T.A.  Masumi Izawa, Ziqi Wu, 4110 MVR,
Phone: 255-9501
e-mail: mri5@cornell.edu, zw74@cornell.edu
Office Hours: By appointment.

Credit: 4 units
 
Time + Room:  DEA 3500 syllabus and course notes  - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:40am - 9:55am MVR 280 + 1 hr. TBA

Required Texts:

Course readings packets for DEA 6520  - available from campus store

Any additional material to be provided in class

Course Description:

Students take the DEA 3500 lectures, and the DEA3500 Homeworks and exams plus an additional graduate hour. This course extends the breadth and depth of coverage of DEA 3500. Coverage includes review and discussion of published journal articles on human factors aspects of thermal conditions, ventilation and air quality issues, lighting, and acoustics.

Course Objectives:

This course aims to develop the student's ability to critically appraise knowledge of human factors aspects of indoor ambient environmental conditions. Upon completion of this course the student should:

  1. Understand key concepts and be familiar with key papers in each of the major topic areas covered i.e. indoor climate (thermal conditions, ventilation and air quality), indoor lighting, and indoor acoustics.
  2. Understand the benefits and limitations of  environmental measurement techniques and research methods.
  3. Understand the conceptual rationale for undertaking a human factors/ergonomics analysis of indoor ambient conditions.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course:

  1. Students will be able to critically analyze research papers on the effects of ambient conditions on human comfort, health and performance and critically appraise environmental measurement techniques and research methodology.
  2. Students will be able to define key concepts in each of the major topic areas covered i.e. indoor climate (thermal conditions, ventilation and air quality), indoor lighting, and indoor acoustics.
  3. Students will be familiar with measuring indoor environmental conditions and with some relevant software and be able to conduct a human factors analysis of an indoor environment.

Course Format:

The course meets for DEA 3500 classes and once each week for an additional hour. This time will be used for a combination of seminar presentations by students, discussions, and review work. Readings will be assigned prior to each class and a schedule of presentations will be slated. Assessment of course performance will be based on homework (written critiques of material, exercises), and a semester project.

Semester Project:

Unless otherwise instructed, for this project students will prepare a literature review (max. 5000 words) on the human factors and ergonomics research pertaining to an indoor environment issue.  Further guidance and a submission date will be provided during the semester.

Grading Scheme:

The following grading scheme will be used. Your performance will be assessed relative to the course objectives and to your peers.

Academic Integrity
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