Evaluating Daylighting Analysis of Complex Parametric Facades

Abstract

Lighting analysis tools have proven their ability in helping designers provide functional lighting, increase comfort levels and reduce energy consumption in buildings. Consequently, the number of lighting analysis software is increasing and all are competing to provide credible and rigorous analysis. The rapid adoption of parametric design in architecture, however, has resulted in complex forms that make the evaluation of the accuracy of digital analysis more challenging. This study aims to evaluate and compare the performance of daylighting analysis in two industry standard software (Autodesk Revit and 3ds Max) when analysing the daylighting of complex parametric faade patterns. The study has shown that, generally, both Revit and 3ds Max underestimate illuminance values when compared to physical scaled models. 3ds Max was found to outperform Revit when simulating complex parametric patterns, while Revit was found to outperform 3ds Max when simulating simple fenestration geometries. As a general conclusion, the rapid progress of parametric modelling, integrated with fabrication technologies, has made daylighting analysis of complex geometries more challenging. There is a need for more sophisticated algorithms that can handle the increased level of complexity as well as further verification studies to evaluate the accuracy claims made by software vendors.