Evaluation of four artificial lighting simulation tools with virtual building reference

There are number of software environments available to conduct lighting simulation to support researchers and designers. This paper compares and analyses performance of four lighting simulation programs, they are, AGI32, DIALux, RADIANCE and RELux. Along with the evaluation of modelling ability and output features, two significant aspects of lighting calculation focussed in this study are accuracy in calculating illumination level and luminaire number for interior spaces. Illumination level calculation is validated by Commission International de Eclairage (CIE) recommended methodology known as CIE test cases. Another virtual space is used to evaluate luminaire number calculation capability. Modelling and simulation were conducted by all four packages. Validation was done by comparing simulation results with analytical and manual method calculation

Experiments in Artificial Lightins: Comparative Analysis of Luminative Typologies

“Light is not so much something that reveals, as it is itself the revelation.” This statement once made by artist James Turrell articulates the primal idea that light is essential for humans to receive visual information about their surroundings. The amount of light available correlates to the amount of understanding we have of a space. As architects, we are able to alter the built environment not only through the use of form, but also through the manipulation of light. This project aims to explore how changes to architectural lighting can create visual nuances in contrast ratios, uniformity, and illuminance levels, thereby affecting the overall visual experience of a particular space. This will be achieved through the cross-referencing of both qualitative and quantitative data, in the form of an analysis chart, using the same space to act as constant variable. This allows for visual comparison of different lighting solution impacts, as well as provides an understanding of quantitative data in a visual manner. In order to compare the different lamps, a baseline will be set using the IESNA horizontal illuminance targets. This information is then utilized to reference and compare criteria-based light evaluation systems from LEED, BREEAM and HI-CHPS. In particular, comparing and understanding how these systems excel and where they can be improved. The study proposes several guideline alterations that can be made LEED, BREEAM and HI-CHPS to further improve lighting quality in the classroom with respect to illuminance levels, illuminance uniformity, luminance, and visual contrast

Dynamic analysis of office lighting smart controls management based on user requirements

Daylight dynamic metrics provide an alternative approach for the assessment of the energy savings promoted by lighting control systems. This research aims to quantify the energy savings allowed by lighting smart controls using continuous and overcast daylight autonomy, novel metrics tested monitoring a mesh of illuminance-meters in test cells over a one-year period. Three types of smart controls are proposed, based on switches and dimmers, some of which were managed by illuminance-meters and irradiance detectors. Energy savings are assessed according to weather data, room dimensions, inner reflectances, window size and user requirements—illuminance needs and working hours. The results show a reduction in the average energy consumption of electric lighting of up to 23%, suggesting the suitability of the smart controls proposed. Smart controls without illuminance-meter feedback are only recommended for shallow rooms with low requirements, while dark deep rooms demand a complex dimming system managed by external illuminance-meters

Dynamic Daylight Metrics for Electricity Savings in Offices: Window Size and Climate Smart Lighting Management

Daylight performance metrics provide a promising approach for the design and optimization of lighting strategies in buildings and their management. Smart controls for electric lighting can reduce power consumption and promote visual comfort using different control strategies, based on affordable technologies and low building impact. The aim of this research is to assess the energy efficiency of these smart controls by means of dynamic daylight performance metrics, to determine suitable solutions based on the geometry of the architecture and the weather conditions. The analysis considers different room dimensions, with variable window size and two mean surface reflectance values. DaySim 3.1 lighting software provides the simulations for the study, determining the necessary quantification of dynamic metrics to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed smart controls and their impact on energy efficiency. The validation of dynamic metrics is carried out by monitoring a mesh of illuminance-meters in test cells throughout one year. The results showed that, for most rooms more than 3.00 m deep, smart controls achieve worthwhile energy savings and a low payback period, regardless of weather conditions and for worst-case situations. It is also concluded that dimming systems provide a higher net present value and allow the use of smaller window size than other control solutions

Lighting of University lecture halls:a Design Proposal for Palazzo Malvezzi - Campeggi

Many university lecture halls in Bologna are based inside historic buildings and noble palaces, not designed for students as they are built for a different purpose. The daylight contribution in the rooms is usually not sufficient to satisfy the requirements for school premises; moreover, artificial lighting mainly consists in lamps with high consumption and low performances. Under these conditions the student's visual comfort is not optimal. The following work is based on the open site analysis about the state of art of some university classrooms and their led re-design. The case studies are the lecture halls of Palazzo Malvezzi-Campeggi in Bologna, including the two noble halls on the main floor and the Aula Magna. It has been possible to interact with the acoustic component, not treated here, developing an integrated project able to meet the needs of both parties. The classrooms were qualified through simulations with lighting design software, in accordance with EN 12464, analyzing the daylight factor and the visual comfort parameters

Analysis of Photopic and Melanopic Lighting in Teaching Environments

Daylight and lighting seem to be a key tool for people\u2019s well-being, however, there are no specific and agreed recommendations that address both photopic and melanopic aspects in educational environments. The present work analyzed melanopic light in four teaching environments considering photopic indoor lighting, daylight depending on the window orientation, location of the observer in the room, and their line of view. The façade direction, daylight at 11.00 a.m. for six months from October to March, and the characteristics of each classroom, such as reflectance of the surfaces, location of the luminaires and their spectral and spatial power distributions, or calculation points affecting the melanopic light reaching the corneal vertical plane of a hypothetical control observer were studied. For this evaluation, classrooms were experimentally treated and simulated using DialuxEvo software, and the computer-generated values resembled the experimental values. Once the study was performed, an improvement proposal, based on LED lighting, was made to optimize the classroom lighting considering the melanopic requirements, which we ensured that users who passed through these classrooms had an adequate amount light at any time of the day. Our results simplify to the greatest lighting projects and enable designers to carry out optimized evaluations of specific environments from both the photometric and circadian perspectives

The Lighting of St Mel’s Cathedral

The destruction of St Mel’s Cathedral by fire brought the local community together to fund its restoration. Part of this initiative was the development of a lighting scheme using modern LEDs and intelligent lighting controls to recreate the atmosphere and reverence deserving of this historic house of worship. Problems encountered associated with the age and style of the building to be illuminated are discussed in the paper. A description of the design process and methodology is also included, along with the appropriate lighting conditions necessary to emphasize certain architectural points. The paper covers the illumination of the cathedral for the 21st century by discussion of the methods used and the development of the design

An Automated Verification Workflow for Planned Lighting Setups using BIM

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methods is becoming more and more established in the planning stage, during the construction, and for the management of buildings. Tailored BIM software packages allow to handle a vast amount of relevant aspects, but have so far not been covering specialized tasks like the evaluation of light distributions in and around a 3D model of a building. To overcome this limitation, we demonstrate the use of the open-source IFC format for preparing and exchanging BIM data to be used in our interactive light simulation system. By exploiting the availability of 3D data and semantic descriptions, it is possible to automatically place measurement surfaces in the 3D scene, and evaluate the suitability and sustainability of a planned lighting design according to given constraints and industry norms. Interactive visualizations for fast analysis of the simulation results, created using state-of-the-art web technologies, are seamlessly integrated in the 3D work environment, helping the lighting designer to quickly improve the initial lighting solution with a few clicks

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Lighting

The lighting of both exteriors and interiors is a field within electrical and lighting engineering, where important technological changes have been taking place oriented towards environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. LED technology has been gradually gaining ground in the world of lighting over other technologies due to its high lighting and energy efficiency and savings. However, some problems related to overheating or associated regulation are emerging. This has prompted the search for new, more efficient, and sustainable forms of lighting. This book presents successful cases related to energy efficiency and lighting that may be of great interest to those trying to enter the world of scientific research