In this article, the authors propose ways to evaluate the criteria for the considered variants of utility functions in the adaptation of historic regional architecture. The proposed set of assessment criteria (thermo-modernisation criteria, comfort of use, financial considerations, criteria of social benefits, and protection of cultural heritage) emphasises the multidimensional character of the problem of choosing a new function for a historic building. Some of the criteria are measurable while others are difficult to measure, which requires an expert approach to their assessment. The evaluation of the criteria was performed on the example of the historic building ‘Stara Polana’ located in Zakopane. The benchmark for the analysis was the existing condition of the ‘Stara Polana’ building, which is used as a hostel. The authors conducted a series of interdisciplinary studies specifying the potential of the new utility functions considered for the object in the context of the proposed criteria. The evaluation of individual criteria developed in this article is based on the multi-criteria analysis to be performed in the future and support the selection of a new function for the building in question.

Adapting historic buildings to new, modern forms generates not only financial benefits for developers but can also allow them to survive for future generations through proper remodelling. The variety of decision criteria related to the selection of a new function of a historic building makes this problem multidimensional. Many of these criteria are interrelated and have a non-linear nature which requires a comprehensive network-based rather than a classic hierarchical approach to conducting multi-criteria analysis. A comprehensive approach taking into account the specificity of the analysed problem was proposed. The study was supported by an example of the choice of building function as part of the adaptive reuse of a historic building located in Zakopane. The following variants have been analysed: a hostel (existing state), a five-star hotel, a folk art gallery and a conference and training centre. The final rating of alternatives indicates that the hotel best meets the adopted decision criteria.

Placing emphasis exclusively on minimizing energy consumption in low-energy buildings can adversely impact thermal comfort and vibrational comfort. Vibrational comfort is extremely important in building design, especially within mining or seismically active territories, and due to car transportation in city centers. In this article, a new approach to designing passive buildings and nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) in Poland is proposed, which has a strong emphasis on the necessity of providing comfort of use in passive houses and NZEBs. Additionally, vibration comfort provisions in the design process are examined. The research gap that will be addressed by the research presented in this article is to extend the comfort conditions of passive buildings and NZEBs into the area of vibratory comfort. The second goal of the project is to determine the impact of solar control systems on the conditions of thermal comfort. The conclusions from the research will allow for the optimization of design assumptions for passive houses and NZEBs. The conclusions from the tests can serve as the basis for introducing appropriate construction law requirements in Poland. The results of the research, which are presented in the article, indicate that the technical requirements that are applicable in Poland ought to include requirements regarding the use of sun blinds in NZEBs and passive buildings (not only as recommendations). In particular, the use of apertures on the south side ought to be mandated. The article can also be the basis for introducing the requirements of vibration comfort to the PN–EN 15251:2012 “Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics” standard, which is the basis for designing the parameters of the internal environment for buildings.

In the twenty-first century, the seismic design of buildings seems to have become a fully recognised topic. There are guidelines and standards which should be taken into account by designers in seismic areas. Designers using modern international guidelines have ascertained that the behaviour of structures is not as expected. This may be the result of not taking into account the duration of the shock. The duration of surface vibrations could be one of the basic reasons why some buildings collapse or suffer severe damage to bearing systems as a result of long-duration earthquakes despite being properly designed in accordance with current understanding. Another primary reason for such collapse or damage is that some buildings in seismic areas have irregular structural systems that are sensitive to torsional vibrations. In this paper, a five-storey, irregular-shaped RC building model was subjected to different types of excitations: mining tremors, short-duration earthquakes, long-duration earthquakes. The first stage was a modal analysis based on in situ measurement. After model verification using in situ measurements, the building was then subjected to the three forms of excitation. Numerical studies were performed using a verified FEA model of the building in the time domain. The results of the calculations prove that the duration of the intensive phase of extortion is one of the reasons for the lack of building collapse in mining areas. In cases of mining shocks with a short duration of surface vibration, damage to buildings may occur which does not threaten the safety of their construction. Building collapses occur with earthquakes which are characterised by a much longer duration of the intensive phase of excitation compared to mining shocks. The results of in situ observations of RC structures that have survived a history of mining shocks of varied intensities confirm the results of numerical analyses.

The work concerns the monitoring of the technical condition of metro trains. For this purpose, a vibration monitoring system installed in buildings in the vicinity of the underground is used. Based on measured vibrations buildings, the identification of technical condition in metro trains is conducted. The results of measurements from the system are also used to assess the impact of vibrations on people staying in buildings through the WODL ratio. Exceeding the assumed levels of the WODL ratio is the basis for repairing trains by turning wheels. Statistical analysis of the data was implemented and trends for particular time periods of measurements were shown. With the entered monitoring system and the introduced WODL index thresholds, it is possible to better plan the costs associated with the repair and replacement of wheels of rolling stock, where there are large values of radial runout. According to the introduced monitoring procedure, the number of complaints from residents decreased and the comfort of their lives improved.

The analysis of human perception of vibrations in buildings is a critical aspect of structural engineering, particularly as urbanization intensifies and the proximity of vibration sources to buildings increases. This paper addresses the frequent errors in the assessment and diagnosis of the impact of vibrations on building occupants. Despite stringent standards and detailed methodologies, misinterpretations and incorrect implementations of these guidelines are common, leading to flawed diagnostic studies. These errors often stem from the misuse of measurement equipment, inappropriate selection of measurement points, and a general lack of comprehensive education on vibration analysis. National guidelines, although largely based on ISO standards, vary significantly, contributing to inconsistent practices across Europe. The dominant sources of urban vibrations include vehicle traffic, particularly heavy trucks and rail vehicles, which significantly impact both building structures and human comfort. This paper reviews the methodologies for measuring and interpreting vibrations, emphasizing the importance of correct sensor placement and data analysis. It highlights the necessity of integrating vibrational comfort into building design, considering both external and internal vibration sources. The study also explores the effectiveness of different evaluation methods, such as the RMS and VDV methods, and the impact of various weighting functions on the analysis results. The findings underscore the need for improved education and standardization in the field to ensure accurate assessments and enhance the vibrational comfort of building occupants.