Classifications For Planimetric Efficiency Of Nursing Unit Floors

This trial study was conducted to determine classifications for planimetric design efficiency of sample public hospitals in Turkey by developing a fuzzy logic algorithm. Utilizing primary areas and circulation areas from nursing unit floor plans, the study employed triangular membership functions for the fuzzy subsets; Mamdani rule system; min operation for finding rule firing strength; max composition; and 'centroid' method for defuzzification. The input variables -primary areas per bed and circulation areas per bed- were fuzzified in this model. The relations between input variables and output variable of design efficiency were displayed as a result of fuzzy rules. To test existing nursing unit floors, efficiency output values were obtained and efficiency classes were constructed by this model in accordance with general norms, guidelines and previous studies. The classification of efficiency was resulted satisfactorily in terms of comparing hospitals. Of the fifteen hospital floor plans tested in the model, six were in a class of low efficiency, other nine were in a class of medium one. None of them were in overall agreement with the spatial requirements in regard to standards and current recommendations. The utility of this model is in the capability to indicate boundaries of efficiency classes. Hospital designers and managers may obtain feedback information from evaluations and comparisons of existing buildings. Consequently, they may benefit from this model in decision making processes.Publisher's Versio