Abstract
With rapid advance of technologies including information and communication technologies, jobs are evolving faster than ever. Architectural engineering is no exception in this regard, and the green architectural engineering is emerging fast as a promising new field. In this study, a Delphi study of expert architectural engineers are conducted to find out (1) near future prospects of the field, (2) near future emerging jobs, (3) competencies needed for these jobs, and (4) educational content necessary to build these competencies with regards to the green architectural engineering. Initial Delphi survey consisting of open-ended questions in the above four areas were conducted and came out with 65 items after duplicate removal and semantic refinements. Further refinements via second and third wave of Delphi results into 40 items that the 13 architectural engineering experts may largely agree upon as future prospects with regards to the green architectural engineering. Findings indicate that it is expected that the demand for green architectural engineering and needs for automatic energy control system increase. Also, collaborations with other fields is becoming more and more important in green architectural engineering. The professional work management skills such as knowledge convergence, problem solving, collaboration skills, and creativity linking components from various related areas seem to also be on the increasing need. Near future ready critical skills are found to be the building environment control techniques (thermal, light, sound, and air), the data processing techniques like data mining, energy monitoring, and the control and utilization of environmental analysis software. Experts also agree on new curriculum for green building architecture to be developed with more of converging subjects across disciplines for future ready professional skills and experiences. Major topics to be covered in the near future includes building environment studies, building energy management, energy reduction systems, indoor air quality, global environment and natural phenomena, and machinery and electrical facility. Architectural engineering community should be concerned with building up the competencies identified in this Delphi preparing for fast advancing future.
