Introduction

This document is intended to provide an introduction to TC 1.5 for new and prospective members of the committee.  It provides an overview of the committee, its history, purpose, organization, and some hints on how to get involved.  If after reading this document you have further questions about the committee, please feel free to contact the officers or any member of the committee for additional information.

How Do You Get Involved?

The subcommittees are the place to start.  Attend a subcommittee meeting and the full committee meeting to become familiar with their work.  Participate in the discussion of issues and volunteer to participate in developing recommendations.  This might involve proposing and organizing a program session or proposing and championing a research topic.  You might want to team up with someone already involved in the subcommittee to benefit from their experience.  Also, let the chair know about your interest in becoming more involved.  Becoming involved depends largely on your willingness to volunteer your efforts.   The reward to you will be an opportunity to influence the direction of the computer-related activities of your society, become familiar with work underway by your peers at other organizations, and establish new professional relationships.

Another great way to get insights into TC 1.5 is to come along to dinner with us after our meetings on Sunday and Monday nights. About 9 pm each night 15-20 people usually head to a local restaurant for dinner, libations and lively conversation. We generally pick a reasonably priced restaurant, where we don’t have to be too quiet, that serves “beverages of choice.”

A Historical Perspective

What are computer applications for ASHRAE?  The answer changes continuously with time so our charge as a technical committee keeps evolving.  The Computer Applications committee was "founded" by a group of people who saw computer technology as increasingly important to the future of our industry.  The committee has been very active in organizing parts of the ASHRAE program and championing research projects.  Our success as a committee is evidenced by ASHRAE staff and other committees asking how computer applications can aid them.  The committee focuses on the needs of ASHRAE members while still promoting a visionary view of the future of computing in the HVAC&R professions, a viewpoint that can only help our industry.

Committee Structure

The committee is led by the Chair, assisted by the Vice-Chair/Secretary.  Together they organize the committee's activities and take action on behalf of the committee.  The Chair leads the committee meetings, represents the committee to other parts of ASHRAE, and takes action in accordance with motions passed by the committee.  The Secretary/Vice-Chair records the actions of the committee, produces meeting minutes for the committee, and keeps the committee records.

TC 1.5 has implemented a schedule for succession of the officers.  The Chair, Vice-Chair/Secretary serve for terms of two years, beginning in July (after the annual meeting).  After the term, the Secretary/Vice-Chair moves to Chair, and a new vice chair/secretary is appointed.  The Chair makes these appointments.

All ASHRAE members are welcome to attend and participate in TC and subcommittee meetings.  Participants in TC meetings fall into 3 categories:

·         voting members

·         corresponding members

·         other attendees.

Voting members are appointed to 4-year terms by ASHRAE based on the TC Chair's recommendations.  There are 12-15 voting members of the committee.  They are the only meeting participants permitted to officially vote at TC meetings.  Corresponding members are those who generally are active in the committee but are not voting members.  Corresponding members may be

·         former voting members of the committee

·         active participants from a company or organization from which there is already a voting member

·         active but an opportunity has not arisen for the Chair to appoint them yet

·         not be able to regularly attend all ASHRAE meetings and, therefore, unable to participate as required of voting members.

The third category (other attendees) includes people who attend on an occasional basis or new participants.  All meeting attendees are welcome to participate in the discussion of issues before TC 1.5.  Everyone is encouraged to become involved and share opinions and expertise.

The committee is composed of six subcommittees.  Most ideas and actions of the full committee originate and are developed in the subcommittees.  They are then brought to the full committee for formal approval and action.  The charge of each of these subcommittees is described below.

Subcommittees

Each subcommittee is led by a chair.  The TC Chair appoints these subcommittee chairs.  Ordinarily, the TC Chair appoints someone who has been actively involved in the subcommittee work. 

Most of TC 1.5's work is done by the subcommittees, who examine issues, develop recommendations, draft documents (such as statements of work for research), and develop program ideas.  The subcommittees generally vote on these recommendations and, when approved by the subcommittee, bring them to the full committee for consideration.  All meeting participants are welcome to vote in the subcommittees.  Often a subcommittee will appoint an individual or a small group of volunteers to develop a document or examine an issue between ASHRAE meetings.  Anyone who can productively contribute is welcome to volunteer to participate in these groups.

A list of subcommittees and a summary of their responsibilities follows.

q        Internet – This subcommittee, formed in February 1996, focuses on the use of the internet by the professions represented in ASHRAE.  The scope of the subcommittee includes educating the membership on use of the Internet, and developing and bringing research and program topics to the Research and Program subcommittees.

q        Emerging Applications – This, the newest of the TC 1.5 subcommittees, was formed at the Philadelphia meeting in January 1997.  This subcommittee was intended to replace and expand the combined scopes of the Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) and Computer-Aided Design subcommittees, which were disbanded at the Philadelphia meeting.  The subcommittee focuses on new and emerging computer technologies and their application to the HVAC&R industry.  Example technologies include (but are not limited to) case-based reasoning, fuzzy logic, multimedia, neural networks, genetic algorithms, virtual reality, and data exchange for interoperability.  Applications to the industry may include advanced design tools, business applications, education and training, productivity enhancement, and equipment operation and diagnostics.  The subcommittee is responsible for developing and bringing program and research topics to the Program and Research subcommittees.

• Note: The Internet and Emerging Applications meetings usually take place back-to-back, since the interests of both subcommittee’s members are similar.

q        Handbook -- A chapter in the ASHRAE Applications Handbook titled, "Computer Applications." is updated periodically. Due in part to prodding from TC 1.5 electronic updates may be done on a yearly basis.  This subcommittee is responsible for writing and updating this chapter and having it approved by the full committee.

q        Program -- The Program Subcommittee is responsible for developing ASHRAE programs (symposia, seminars, and forums) sponsored by TC 1.5.  Program sessions are generally proposed by the other subcommittees and brought to the Program Subcommittee meeting for formulation into a program plan for TC 1.5.  The program plan is then voted on by the full committee.  Programs are discussed more fully in a separate section below.

q        Research -- The Research Subcommittee is responsible for developing the research plan for TC 1.5.  Topics for research and statements of work generally originate in and are developed by the other subcommittees.  These are brought to the Research Subcommittee where they are formulated into the TC's plan and nurtured through the ASHRAE approval process.  Research is discussed more fully in a section below.

 A set of guidelines for subcommittee chairs is attached at the end of this document.

Programs

The TC can sponsor technical sessions, symposia, seminars, and forums at ASHRAE meetings (generally held in January and June).  Technical sessions and symposia consist of delivered papers that have been formally reviewed in advance by ASHRAE members.  The presentations are technical and may include papers written as a result of ASHRAE-funded research.  Seminars generally are presentations of less technical topics, which are not technically reviewed in advance.  Since seminar presentations are not reviewed, papers are not published. However, unreviewed materials are frequently made available for purchase at the ASHRAE bookstore, if submitted by the seminar speaker in advance of the meeting.  Further information about a seminar topic may be procured by speaking directly with the presenter.  Seminars often deal with topics of current interest (e.g., HVAC control applications of fuzzy logic, computer use in consulting engineers' offices, etc.).  Forums are structured to be discussions of current "hot" topics such as software needs for standards compliance and knowledge-based systems for IAQ, or issues on which the TC would like broader membership input.  Forums are led by a moderator whose job is to ensure that all present may participate.  To learn more about organizing a program session, contact the TC 1.5 Program Subcommittee chair.

The following are examples of program sessions either already sponsored by or planned by TC 1.5.

http://tc15.ashraetcs.org/programs.html

Research

Each year, ASHRAE sponsors research that will help its members in their work.  A strategic plan is developed by a Presidential ad hoc committee and approved by the Board of Directors.  The Planning and Utilization Subcommittee of the Research and Technical (R&T) Committee develops a priority list of general research subjects (such as indoor air quality, CFCs, and design tools) for the society.  These priorities are ordinarily expressed in percentages of total ASHRAE research funding (e.g., 25% for IAQ research) and are used to  guide the allocation of research funds.  The priorities are communicated to the TCs to guide them in their planning and development of research proposals.  TCs develop research proposals by writing work statements and getting them approved by R&T.   After approval, a project monitoring subcommittee is formed to monitor and guide the research.  This subcommittee reviews proposals, recommends award of the bid to the TC and, once awarded, monitors the progress of the research.  It should be noted that without a champion, a research proposal rarely makes it through this process successfully.  While the task is not hard, it does take time, effort, and tenacity to succeed.  The reward is an opportunity to influence the direction and quality of ASHRAE-funded research and to ensure it addresses issues that you feel are important to our profession.  To learn more about how to champion a TC 1.5 research proposal, contact the Research Subcommittee chair.

The following Research Projects (RPs) have been or currently are sponsored by TC 1.5. Also shown are the present research priorities for the TC:

http://tc15.ashraetcs.org/research.html

Guidelines for TC 1.5 Subcommittee Chairs

Subcommittee chairs make the committees work and have wide latitude regarding how to fulfill their responsibilities.  The following guidelines for new subcommittee chairs should help the subcommittee to operate more effectively.

·         Involve as many people as you can.  When a new person comes to a meeting, introduce yourself, invite them to participate, and encourage their participation.  Encourage all attendees to become involved in discussions; let no one dominate the meeting.  Do not allow commercialization of your subcommittee.

·         Have an agenda and follow it!  It is your responsibility to ensure that the subcommittee adequately covers all topics.

·         Ask someone to take minutes during the meeting (or take notes yourself from which you can prepare minutes).

·         Provide minutes and an attendance list to the Committee Secretary by the end of the full committee meeting -- preferably in electronic form.  Include "action items" with assignments of responsibilities and the results of any votes that were taken.

·         Approximately one month before the next meeting, contact those people who have action items to perform.  This acts as a gentle reminder of their responsibilities, yet gives time for the work to be performed.

·         Identify people who will be able to replace you as subcommittee chair.

·         Do as much work as possible in your subcommittee.  Allow adequate (not necessarily exhaustive) discussion of topics.  Then make decisions.  Decisions may be made in any manner you wish, e.g., by consensus, by your dictate, etc.  Most of TC 1.5's subcommittees make key decisions by a vote of the meeting's attendees.

·         Identify individual volunteers or groups to conduct work (e.g., develop drafts of documents, examine issues, or to take other actions) between ASHRAE meetings.

·         Understand that your subcommittee's primary duties are to:  1)  develop and funnel research and program ideas to the Research and Program subcommittees, and 2) identify future successes for TC 1.5.

·         Traditionally, anyone attending a subcommittee meeting can vote on decisions within that subcommittee. This encourages participation and discourages domination by a small group.