A heuristic approach for the positioning of elevator hoistways based on the utilization intensity index

In modern buildings, the position(s) of elevator system(s) tends to be a crucial factor for the unimpeded vertical and on-floor circulation of their residents. The present paper introduces a method that correlates circulation data for the population of a typical office building (size, density and possibility for elevator use) with structural and architectural data of each one of its floors (net usable space, circulation space, structural intrusions, etc.). The method provides an optimum position for the elevator system hoistway(s) so that all walking distances on all floors between the elevator system and usable spaces are as small as possible. Every single floor of the building is partitioned into cells that form a grid covering its surface. An index of the intensity of elevator utilization (EUII) is introduced, defined as a function of the data mentioned above. Then, Euclidean norms, based on (EUII) values, provide weighted mean distances for locating the point on the vertical projection of the building that corresponds to the minimal mean distance from every cell of its usable spaces. A case study of a typical office building served by a single elevator system exemplifies the proposed approach, initially for a single floor and then for all the floors of the building.