Daylight study?

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  • Hi


    We see an upcoming demand for daylight analysis, and I would like to hear is any users in here, that has experience regarding this topic?

    We need to prove that a least half the floor area in a room, has more than 300 lux, in at least half the day. For this I thought that Enscapes light view mode could be used.


    I have done a light study in using Enscape and Sketchup, but I find it difficult to know if the analyse that is shown is reliable, and I'm not sure if I should use the automatic scale or manual set the scale?

    When I export the image / movie the light scale is not included noir is the time of day - so its not that usefull. Is where a supposed way to use the light study / does anyone use it?


    ps. I can't upload the clip I created, I get an "the file extension is invalid", so I need to use dropbox.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/wvkz…e0/20210218%2001.mp4?dl=0


    Thanks

    Jorgensen

  • For the moment the feature isn't much more than a cute accessory - that pretty much confirms what you already know from a regular shadow study, and certainly not one we'd ever offer up as accurate - but then that's what specialist consultants (or additional fees) are for.


    Personally, I'd be looking at something at Ladybug (or similar, dependant on your primary platform) to do such an exercise - at least for the time-being / especially since Enscape is NOT a physical renderer.


    But yes, corner-date/time (and lux) stamps, or (better still) exif-pushed meta remains a wishlist item for me also.

  • Again, it's not something we "do" (read: deliver) but I have played with a lot of them in various ways.


    We're Rhino (rather than sKetchup) in early days, so that's where'd we'd focus energies (w/ Ladybug) if there was a real demand - since we'd not bring 3dm into rvt for such study (might as well mass in Revit from the get-go) - though we have used Microstation to do just that (because it handles 3dm better and has fairly decent daylight analysis tool ootb)


    Since you're Revit, I imagine you're on a suite or collection of some kind? In which case, there's 3DS; I've seen convincing studies for daylight analysis being done in that - but as our Max peeps are viz. artists, the skill-blend-mix to use that resource for such (again, without obligation or incoming fee) is a tough sell.


    I'm not saying designers shouldn't actively pursue this enquiry for their own purposes of validation, but margins are tight and if there are pros onboard who are only going to do it anyway, we find more value in focusing how to streamline data exchange with them over imitating their work.



    PS: I can say with some certainty that Adesk's Insight isn't even worth shortlisting if your projects are any more complex than a cuboid.

  • The light view is a great way to visualise light, but it's perhaps not providing enough information for seasonal analysis.


    Have you looked at Trimble's Sefeira for Sketchup? This is one of the things it is designed to do. It's included with a SketchUp Studio subscription -if you don't have that version, there is also a 30 day trial.


    Sefaira Incorporates Customizable Graphics Into Daylight Visualization Software | ArchDaily

  • Thanks to your both.


    We do have a Revit suit, and 3ds max is included, but we have no one that uses it, but I we might need to look into that.

    Do you have a specific reason to turn down Autodesk Insight? (not that I'm impressed but it)


    And yes - some services are hard to get paid for, but it seems that daylight might become a demand here in Denmark, so that's why we are starting to look into that, and if we can do while we design, it could be a plus for us.


    We have Sketchup Pro licenses, but no Studio versions - I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to try a trail version.


    Jorgensen

  • I'm sure there is, I had one a few months ago, it was tricky to find


    I *think* I had to download the plugin

    Section 2A: Accessing Sefaira with the SketchUp Plugin – Sefaira Support


    and install that, then there are some instructions to start a trial


    OR


    Start a SketchUp Studio trial (if you've never had one before)

    3D Modeling Suite | 3D Visualizations | SketchUp Studio Subscription

  • Thanks Adam


    I just downloaded the plugin via your link - got it installed, but was told that I "Sefaira invalid license, You do not have access to Sefaira at this time".


    I first searched via the plugin browser in Sketchup - I could not find it there... then I tried to download the Studio Trial, but it seems that I have already tried the 2021 trail :-/


    I have asked Trimble how I can test Sefaira.


    Are you using Sefaira?


    Jorgensen

  • I’m not using it at the moment , but I will have to soon as I have to do some training on it - I work for the distributor of SketchUp in the UK.

    If you are struggling to get a trial I can reach out to one of my colleagues and see if they can help.


    Sefaira is really nice though, the information Is presented in a very friendly way, so it can be easily used .

    As somewhat of a pairing the new predesign service that is included with SketchUp Pro is also very nifty for climate analysis - check that out also if you haven’t already.

  • hi Adam


    Thanks for getting back - I have an account locked to my private email, and via that I'm able to test Sefaira.

    What I find out for now - is that we actually need to have two models, one "real" model, and a very simple model for lightning analysis.


    I think I need to spend some time looking into this. I don't know of predesign service included with pro?

  • Predesign is included with the 2021 Subscriptions, alongside unlimited cloud storage with Trimble connect.

  • What I find out for now - is that we actually need to have two models, one "real" model, and a very simple model for lightning analysis

    Sadly the "rules of thumb" for analysis still rule - and despite huge leaps in computational power, most software in this space (at least certainly for AECO) is still firmly rooted in "it'll prove enough" thinking - with huge tolerances allowed for calcs.


    This is why/where qualitative appraisal of light/shade with (more generally detailed) design models is arguably better (for Architects & their clients)

    than quantitative measures taken from rudimentary solid forms in an analysis workflow (for compliance auditors and box tickers).


    The problem with the former is that it's fairly easy to cook the books; upping saturation, using area lights, moving the sun, relocating projects to the equator... but of course, if you start doing (some or all of) that you're misrepresenting the (possible) truth - which is a commercial/proffesional risk only you can weigh. Whereas the problem with the latter is that it offers no "feels" and distorts reality by working with simplified geometry and talks only to metrics.


    In the end both need heavy caveats and disclaimers.