LEARN + KNOPPIX = LEARNIX

3rd International RADIANCE workshop
October 11 & 12 2004 at Ecole d'ingénieurs et d'architectes de Fribourg, Switzerland

LEARNIX bootable live CD-ROM

Axel Jacobs^*, Luisa Brotas^*,**
* Low Energy Architecture Research Unit (LEARN) [1],
London Metropolitan University,
UK;
^** Department of Renewable Energies,
National Institute of Engineering, Technology and Inovation (INETI),
Portugal

LEARNIX [2] is a LINUX distribution based on KNOPPIX [3]. It runs off the CD-ROM and can use existing partitions (including Windows partitions formatted as FAT or FAT32, but not NTFS), as well as USB storage devices to save user data. With LEARNIX, students are able to use top-of-the-range simulation software on their private computers without the need to install a UNIX operating system.

LEARNIX is compiled by the Low Energy Architecture Research Unit (LEARN) [1] of the London Metropolitan University. It is modified to include software for building simultations, namely RADIANCE for lighting simulations and ESP-r for thermal building simulations. Both software packages are taught on LEARN's MSc courses: Masters in Architecture, Energy and Sustainability and the European Masters in the Integration of Renewables Energies into Buildings. The CD also comes with the full set of course notes, example files, a getting started guide [4], and a HOWTO describing how a KNOPPIX CD can be customised. All those documents are also available from the LEARNIX web site [2].

Starting from the 2004/2005 academic year, students will not only receive a copy of LEARNIX to be able to do their home work on their personal computers, but it will also be used for the actual teaching at the University. The Building Simulations module runs over 6 full days which are split up evenly between thermal and lighting simulations.

This presentation will consist of a brief introduction of the system and a live presentation. For further information, please read the LEARNIX Getting Started Guide [4] and follow the links in the reference list below.

References

1. Low Energy Architecture Research Unit (LEARN): http://www.learn.londonmet.ac.uk
2. LEARNIX: http://luminance.londonmet.ac.uk/learnix
3. KNOPPIX: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
4. LEARNIX Getting Started Guide (local copy): getting_started.pdf