Divination

So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field.

-Sybill Trelawney-

Divination is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This subject teaches methods of 'divining' the future - or gathering insights into future events through various rituals and tools. The magic taught in this class, as well as the ability to say prophetic things is a branch of magic referred to as "divination."

We here at the office somewhat practice this art of 'divination' (yes, you heard it right, we are somewhat magical) - except we substitute that term with alternative and more-professionally-sound terminology - computational modelling.

Modelling in this context is a simulation approach to building design. In other words, we predict the performance of the building before it is built - this includes energy consumption, occupants thermal comfort, building thermal transfer value, electric and daylighting, indoor temperature and some other stuffs too.

For example, daylighting modelling means we predict how indoor daylighting will look like, in terms of graphics and amount of lighting available, inside the building. This building modelling is carried out using computer software, i.e. Ecotect, 3DS Max, Light Studio, Radiance - which I currently use as one of the modules in Virtual Environment.

It's no rocket science but I still think it's pretty cool.

So, give us a building design, preferably in proper architectural drawings. We'll run it down in our simulation program for whichever subject you wish to know. Should daylighting, for example, is your curiosity, we'll be able to tell you that how much area inside your building will receive good daylighting and also identify which part of that space criticially requires assistance from electric lighting. The objective of this exercise is to explore and maximize natural daylighting potential and optimize electric lighting design.

See basic sample below.

I choose Daylighting as the sample above because if I picked Energy Modeling instead, you'd just be seeing a table with a lot of numbers in it - which is fairly less attractive than the above shown image.

That's a bit of preview about what we do daily - well among other many things.  Perhaps, we're not that exactly different than a group of bomohs. Added with high-technology gadgets, with a magic bowl filled with clear flower-scented water, a bomoh will be able to tell you that, "Bangunan enchek nanti akan jadi sangat bagus, tapi mungkin sedikit panas. Kami cadangkan ambil tangkal ini, tanam kat belakang rumah enchek selama 2 bulan lengkap. Kemudian order la gelas dua lapis untuk ganti selapis gelas yang enchek guna untuk bangunan enchek tu. Pastu gali balik tangkal tu dan letak kat celah2 gelas tu nanti ye. Kompem sejuk elok seronok pengunjung datang,"

Yes, this is such a long entry just to say that - we do magic here.


--
NJB

Sustainable Energy Forum 2011: Harnessing the Fifth Fuel for Sustainable Energy Growth

SDMalaysia wishes a Happy Ramadhan to all Malaysian Muslims out there. 


In this beautiful month, we would also like to bring to our readers; attention on ASLI's effort to promote Sustainable Development in Malaysia. Please read the announcement below and hope  you will get the opportunity to attend the event on 25 August 201 taking place at THE ROYALE CHULAN KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia’s growing economy and population have brought about an increasing energy demand, along with sustainability and environmental concerns. Faced with finite energy resources and a simultaneous challenge to reduce CO2 emission up to 40% by 2020, the country also needs to critically think about how it will manage the many aspects of energy of as it strives towards a high-income economy. For instance, we need to consider how we are to ensure energy security in times of price volatility. Also, how do we shape future energy demands and how should we lead green energy down a steady and sustainable development path.

For more info click here

Time might not be on our side.......

We can learn a lot from studying past trends because facts & figures don't lie. Malaysia oil production has peaked in 2004. Our oil consumption is continuously on the upward trend due to increase number of human population and the need for aggressive development to become a high income nation.



Based on oil data from EIA let's do a simple and conservative extrapolation to forecast on where Malaysia supply demand of oil would look like in the near future.

The outlook is HARDLY SURPRISING...TIME MIGHT NOT BE ON OUR SIDE AFTER ALL ! 


The year 2012 might be the turning point for the country to start paying expansive oil to sustain the country's development. That is the time when we have to rely on foreign oil more than our domestic reserve. Sadly, some countries go to WAR when the domestic oil production reached the peak level.


If you care about the future of our country, you can seriously take action by reducing your own oil consumption from NOW. A more proactive role is to switch to alternative energy: gas, solar, biofuel.  Share this with your loved ones.....SDMALAYSIA thinks we are never too late to take serious action for the sake of our future generations.......