There is always room at Valstar Simonis for motivated, passionate and enthusiastic students who, just like us, feel the need to leave our world in a better place for future generations.
Every day we work on approximately 175 different impressive projects, such as the renovation of De Nederlandsche Bank, Paleis 't Loo and Wageningen University & Research. We do this with approximately 70 employees, from our offices in The Hague, Apeldoorn, Eindhoven and Groningen.
Valstar Simonis offers guidance to students who want to gain experience in their field and at the same time want to get acquainted with our beautiful and vibrant organization, which is brimming with technical expertise.
Do you want to conduct research into a technical issue? For example, with a high-tech specialist subject or something that plays on the interface of technology and organization? Then take a look at our overview of internship assignments.
OVERVIEW OF ASSIGNMENTS PER THEME
THEME: BIM AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
From clashes to digital twins, and from energy calculations to the visualization of Smart building
FACILITIES: the 3D model (BIM) of a construction project offers enormous possibilities for research assignments. Examples of this are as follows:
Assignment: link BIM to applications
By linking the 3D models to other software packages such as Vabi, Design Builder and Honeybee, we can assess the different designs faster and more efficiently. Perhaps you know how to make a link between Revit and an energy model to work more efficiently in this way?
Assignment: Analyze design errors and optimize designs
Can designs be optimized by researching the number and type of clashes that occur during the design phases of already completed projects?
Assignment: Digital twins
There are few examples of working digital twins applications, and they require a huge investment. Is it possible to map out the effect and return on investment of digital twins technology?
THEME: BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Both the capacity and the utilization of installations are an important part of the design of a construction project. Ultimately, you will only know to what extent the design meets the requirements after commissioning. To make the design process itself circular, we would like to know how our designs are performing and what we can learn from them.
Assignment: design performance – capacity
Checking the actual electricity consumption/capacity of a building's connection after commissioning versus our design principles in the VO/DO stage.
Assignment: design performance – consumption
How does the actual energy consumption compare to the predicted (calculated) energy consumption? Which factors play a role in this? This can be a case study or a broad, database-oriented study. This research can link up with earlier research into energy calculations that was carried out within Valstar Simonis.
Assignment: energy consumption per EED
European Energy Directive (technical/commercial/marketing): In 2012, the European EED directive was drawn up to encourage building owners to make their buildings more sustainable (read: lower energy consumption). What exactly does the legislation look like? What impact will this have on the building installations? How can Valstar Simonis help building owners to comply with this legislation.
Assignment: NTA 8800
Energy (consumption) model: Adjusting/renewing the existing Energy Model to the new standard NTA 8800 (but with a more accurate value per hour). This is because this standard is also suitable for existing buildings. Optionally, this data can also be used for input into the ANSI/ASHRAE 105-2014 (US/international standard), allowing buildings to be compared worldwide.
THEME: ENERGY AND INNOVATION
Current developments in the supply of sustainable energy are often of great importance in the design process itself.
Assignment: energy storage: electrical
What are the developments in relatively large-scale storage of electrical energy, for example to replace emergency power generators? Advantages, disadvantages, costs and fire safety. Or to accommodate peak demand.
Assignment: energy switch
Valstar is working on a scale-up project related to a new technology for accelerating the energy transition. This technology forms a link between green energy storage, batteries and hydrogen production. Will you help our team to better understand this technology through research into the technology itself, up-scaling (including manufacturing) of the technology, and its applications?
Assignment: gasless design
Gasless installation concepts (technical): With which installation / building concepts can we achieve comfort in the buildings, without the need for fossil fuels? Clearly map out the advantages and disadvantages, including the subsidy options. This study should help our consultants to apply these concepts more often and to bring them to the attention of our clients.
Assignment: hydrogen
Hydrogen is seen as “the energy carrier of the future”. What are the options for using hydrogen in building installations? This assignment may be in line with earlier research within Valstar Simonis.
THEME: SMART BUILDINGS
The popularity of smart solutions requires a critical approach to the many aspects involved.
Assignment: smart building applications
What are the developments of smart building applications in climate installations?
Assignment: communication
The foundation of a data-driven world is communication. Communication within installations, between installations themselves, and to the users. Just think of recent developments in data buses and protocols, such as PoE, mesh, WiFi, Bacnet/IP, Bluetooth, REST(ful) API, MQTT, Modbus/IP, KNX/IP, Webhooks, SQL databases via JDBC. This should also include qualitative aspects of the information such as protocols for setting up a data lake, such as project haystack and brick schemes. Our organization is looking for a broader insight into the variety of communication, possible applications and future-proofing.
Assignment: visualization design process
Which design principles apply in the visualization of smart building information?
Assignment: smart building efficiency
What is the efficiency of smart building installations?
Assignment: smart building design process
What is the step-by-step plan to arrive at a smartbuilding-ready design?
THEME: CIRCULARITY
Circularity accelerates the sustainable use of materials in construction projects.
Assignment: circularity
How can we best realize detachability for installations, which flexible and adaptive installation concepts can be distinguished and which installation concepts score well in the MPG?
Do you have another interesting research direction and would you like to exchange ideas about it?
Please contact our HR Officer Jennifer Pronk at . She ensures that you are introduced to the right colleague at Valstar Simonis.
