You are cordially invited to the talk organized by Bilkent University Department of Architecture (BUDA).
Title: Bridging the Gap: How Occupancy Data Improves Urban Energy Modeling
Speaker: Orçun Koral İşeri
Date: 13.06.2025
Time: 13:30-14:30
Place: FFB-05
Abstract:
Climate change necessitates reduced energy demand in buildings. Energy modeling serves as a tool for assessing climate adaptation strategies, yet its accuracy is limited by the “performance gap”—the discrepancy between predicted and actual energy. This gap arises from inadequate representation of occupancy—how occupants behave within residentials and consequently influence energy, such as heating and appliances. This research presents a data-driven methodology that integrates national time-use statistics with deep learning networks to generate highly refined residential occupancy models. Realistic occupancy data can improve energy model accuracy and support human-centered climate action strategies. The proposed methodology,
• protects privacy by using publicly available data • fits any country that uses standardized national surveys • connects household demographics with hourly activity patterns • allows seamless scaling from residential to entire neighborhoods
Biography:
Orçun Koral İşeri is a researcher specializing in building physics and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in sustainable urban environments. Holding a Ph.D. from Middle East Technical University (METU), his expertise lies at the intersection of architecture, computer science, and environmental sustainability.
İşeri has led several research projects focused on climate change adaptation, developing innovative energy modeling and simulation approaches for the built environment. With a strong background in programming and machine learning frameworks, he has advanced computational methods in sustainable building design, earning multiple awards and recognitions in the field. His work has been widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences. In addition to research, he teaches courses in environmental technologies and digital design, mentoring the next generation of scholars and practitioners.