[ECOTECT IS AN AUTODESK DESIGN ANALYSIS

SOFTWARE]

CONS:

- Exports directly to .rad

format or you can run

daylight simulations using

ecotect as a front-end to

Radiance

- Analysis grid imports

neatly back into Ecotect

- Imports/exports many

different formats

- It is more difficult to edit

geometry within Ecotect

- It isn’t updated and

maintained as regularly as

other software

- It isn’t free

PROS:

STEP 1:- Open in 3D view, and

check to make sure that

all rooms are fully closed

STEP 2:- Check that all Thermal

Properties of the materials

are defined and change

Analytical Surface

resolution to 3”

STEP 3:- Change Export

Complexity to at least

Complex with Shading

Surfaces and check that

Include Thermal

Properties is checked

- Export gbXML as

Analytical Surface

[FBX IS AN AUTODESK FORMAT THAT STORES ELEMENTS OF

A 3D SCENE]

CONS:

- It is a good option for

complete geometry

- Imports planes listed by

material, which are easy to

organize and apply

materials to.

- Geometry isn’t simplified; it

includes thicknesses and

detail that isn’t necessary

- Importing and back-end

calculations take more

processing power and time

- Window panes are

imported as two separate

planes and must be manually

edited

- Takes an extra step through

3ds Max

PROS:

EXPORT AS

FBX[DRAWING EXCHANGE FORMAT IS A CAD-BASED

GRAPHIC IMAGE FORMAT]

CONS:

- Can be imported within

ecotect or Sketchup Pro

(if exported as a 2010 or

earlier)

- Geometry is generally

complete

- Imports layers, which are

easy to organize and apply

materials to

- Geometry isn’t simplified; it

includes thicknesses and

detail that isn’t necessary.

- Importing and back-end

calculations take more

processing power and time.

- Window panes are

imported as two separate

planes and must be manually

edited.

PROS:

EXPORT AS

DXF[AN EXPORT FORMAT USED FOR ENERGY MODELING IN

GREEN BUILDING STUDIO. IT SIMPLIFIES GEOMETRY

INTO ROOMS OR SPACES FOR THERMAL MODELING.

CONSTRUCTIONS AND BASIC GEOMETRY ARE ALL

THAT IS INCLUDED]

CONS:

- Flattens wall thicknesses

and provides a clean,

simple model.

- Material properties are

also exported/imported

with geometry (with

Ecotect).

- If you’re able to use this

method, the back-end

clean up and calculations

are quick due to simplicity

of the model and the

inclusion of the materials.

- Sets model up for both

energy and daylight

analysis

- Requires changing coding in

Notepad ++.

- Misses random areas of

geometry in complex models

and models without fully

enclosed spaces.

- Results in gaps between

walls & floors/ceilings in large

models because maximum

resolution is 3”, which is a

sizable leak in a daylight

model.

- Takes more effort to

organize by component type

(wall, floor, ceiling, etc.)

because default is to organize

by room/space.

PROS:

EXPORT AS

GBXML

REVIT

ADD-IN’S

STEP 1:

EXPORT FROM

REVIT

STEP 4:

ANALYSIS

PREP

[CLOUD-BASED DAYLIGHT

SIMULATION TOOL WITHIN REVIT]

PROS: CONS:

- Analysis done within

Revit (no need to

export/import).

- Fast & easy.

- Caters toward

compliance with LEED

IEQc8.1.

- Costs money.

- Less accurate than

Radiance.

- Limited inputs: doesn’t

allow for complex inputs

such as complex material

& sky definitions.

- Limited outputs: doesn’t

have the capability to

simulate annual metrics.

REVIT

DAYLIGHT

ADD-IN’S

[AN AUTODESK CONCEPTUAL

MODELING & ANALYSIS TOOL]

PROS: CONS:

- Fast & easy.

- Free beta version.

- Designed to be used in

larger-scaled building

mass and site-level,

typically during the

conceptual/schematic

design.

- Generated toward solar

radiation falling upon

building facades, not

necessarily on work planes

within the building

VASARI

[CLOUD-BASED AUTODESK

SOFTWARE THAT SIMULATES

WHOLE-BUILDING ENERGY

CONSUMPTION]

PROS: CONS:

- Works with Revit.

- Fast & easy.

- Only estimates potential

LEED Daylight credits

based on glazing factor

requirements

- Doesn’t actually run

daylight simulation

- Meant to be used as a

deciding factor on whether

or not to pursue LEED

IEQc8.1

GREEN

BUILDING

STUDIO[RADIANCE IS A SIMULATION ENGINE

THAT USES RAY-TRACING TO

PERFORM LIGHTING CALCULATIONS

WITHIN 3D GEOMETRY]

PROS: CONS:

-Numerous input (materials

definitions, sky definitions)

and output options

(point-in-time, annual

simulations, luminance

images), allowing for

advanced daylight analysis

- Capabilities allow for

greater accuracy

- May be used as a

back-end simulation

engine for other 3D

modeling software

- Requires additional time

and a greater knowledge

of text editing and

capabilities

REVIT

TORADIANCE

REVITEXPORTING

OPTIONS:

STEP 2:

IMPORT INTO A

TRANSFER

PROGRAM(SKETCHUP/ECOTECT)

STEP 3:

MODEL

PREPARATION &

CLEANUP

ELUMTOOLS

IMPORT INTO

SKETCHUP PRO/

OPENSTUDIO

IMPORT FROM

GBXML

STEP 1:

- The Open Studio plugin for

SketchUp must be installed

prior to import

- Import gbXMLSTEP 1:

- Only available in Pro or Pro

trial version of SketchUp

- Import DXF or DWG

IMPORT FROM

DXF DWGOR

IMPORT INTO

ECOTECT

IMPORT FROM

DXF

STEP 1:

- Change Encoding to

UTF-8 within Notepad ++

STEP 2:

- Open gbXML format within

Ecotect and move imported

items onto correct zones

within import window

STEP 1:

- Check the “Remove

Duplicate Faces” and “Auto

Merge Triangles” options,

everything else leave

unchecked

STEP 2:

- Change the units to “Meter

-> Millimeter” and select the

“Zone” button at the bottom

and choose “Zone by Item

Name”

IMPORT FROM

3DS MAX

STEP 2:

- Import the .3ds file into

Ecotect and move imported

items into correct zones

STEP 3:

- Check the “Remove

Duplicate Faces” and “Auto

Merge Triangles” options,

everything else leave

unchecked

- Change units to “Meter ->

Millimeter”

IMPORT FROM

GBXML

- Import FBX into 3ds Max

and export file as a .3dsSTEP 1:

STEP 1:

- Group by layer

geometry by material

properties (interior wall

IRC 70% or glass VLT is

65%)

STEP 2:

- Delete extra pane of

window if imported in as

a DXF or FBX (check that

glass is on separate layer

from frame)

STEP 3:

- Create new materials

and give unique names

STEP 4:

- Select all geometry on a

layer and apply materials

to the geometry using the

paint bucket tool; make

sure both sides of the

planes have same

material applied. Repeat

for each layer.

MODEL PREP/

CLEANUP IN

SKETCHUP

STEP 1:

- Check that components

are zoned by material

properties (interior wall

IRC 70% or glass VLT

65%)

STEP 2:

- Delete extra pane of

window if imported in as

a DXF or FBX (check that

glass is on separate layer

from frame)

STEP 3:

- Create new materials

and give unique names

STEP 4:

- Select objects on a

zone and apply desired

material to that zone;

repeat with each zone

MODEL PREP/

CLEANUP

IN ECOTECT

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

STEP 1:

- Set up analysis grid in

SketchUp and save as an

OSM

STEP 2:

- Run the ModelToRad.rb

conversion application to

convert the OSM to RAD

STEP 1:

- Export with unique

name as RAD

STEP 2:

- Skip the Wizard

- Select Final Render

under Output Options

and check “Save

separate zone files”

STEP 3:

- Check “Include Material

Definitions” and turn lights

off

STEP 4:

- Set Sky definition to “No

Sky” and uncheck RIF

File

ECOTECT

TO

RADIANCE

RDA

REVIT

REVIT

HOW GET FROM

DAYLIGHTING

TO

TO

CONVERSION:

PRESENTED BY: LAUREN HEMLEY

PROJECT SUPPORT: JACOB DUNN

RESEARCHED BY: LAUREN HEMLEY

GRAPHICS BY: CIERA SHAVER

ANALYSIS

REVIT

EXPORT

PROCESS

REVIT

TOOLS

[DraWinG IS A CAD-BASED 2-AND 3D STORING

BINARY FORMAT]

CONS:

- Can be imported within

Sketchup Pro.

- The best option for

complete geometry.

- Imports layers, which are

easy to organize and apply

materials to.

- Geometry isn’t simplified; it

includes thicknesses and

detail that isn’t necessary.

- Importing and back-end

calculations take more

processing power and time.

- Window panes are

imported as two separate

planes and must be manually

edited.

- Takes an extra step through

Sketchup and .obj format,

instead of going straight to

.rad from Ecotect.

PROS:EXPORT AS

DWG

SKETCH UP

TO OBJ

TO .RAD

SKETCHUP

TO

RADIANCE

STEP 2:- Check that the units are

set correctly for where

you intend to import

STEP 3:- Give glazing planes a

unique layer name and

export file

- Open in 3D view, and

export as a DWG

- Turn off or delete all

unnecessary elements

STEP 1:

STEP 2:- Export the file

- Turn off or delete all

unnecessary elements

and give glazing planes a

unique layer name

STEP 1:

[SKETCHUP IS A 3D MODELING PROGRAM AVAILABLE

AS A FREE BASIC DOWNLOAD OR A PRICED “PRO”

DOWNLOAD]

CONS:

- Easy to use, therefore

easy to make post-export

edits

- SketchUp is free,

although some imports

may require the Pro

version

- Exports as .obj, which

can be converted to .rad in

text mode

- Can import .gbXML into

OpenStudio

- Only the Pro version or Pro

trial allows for necessary

import/export capabilities.

- Cannot export .rad files

directly so you must convert

.obj to .rad later.

PROS:

STEP 1:- Open in 3D view, and

export as a DXF, turning

off or deleting all

unnecessary elements

- Check that the units are

set correctly for where

you intend do import

STEP 2:- Give glazing planes a

unique layer name

- Choose 2010 DXF file

type before exporting

WORKFLOW LEGEND:

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Revit .DWG `SketchUp .OBJ .RAD

Revit .gbXML O.S. Plugin .OBJ .RAD

Revit .gbXML O.S. Plugin

Revit .gbXML Ecotect .RAD

Revit .gbXML Ecotect

Revit .DXF SketchUp .OBJ .RAD

Revit .DXF Ecotect .RAD

Revit .FBX .3ds Max .Ecotect .RAD

Revit SketchUp Ecotect

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

ECOTECT

INTERNAL

ANALYSIS

MODEL PREP/

CLEANUP IN

OPENSTUDIO

STEP 1:

- Troubleshoot geometry

issues

STEP 2:

- Apply construction set,

with adjusted material

“visible absorptance”

calues (1/va=reflectance)

STEP 3:

- Hardcode individual

surfaces

STEP 4:

- Add illuminance sensors

and maps

OPENSTUDIO

INTERNAL

RADIANCE

ANALYSIS

OPENSTUDIO

TO .RAD - Repeat for each layer or

set of layers

- Within the console,

convert the .obj files into

.rad files

- Export layers one at a

time (or few at a time,

depending on the

complexity) by turning off

all layers except one

(roof, walls, ceiling, etc.)

- Export with a unique

name

IMPORT AS

AGI32

DWG

DXF

gbXML

DXF

IMPORT AS

IESVE

RADIANCE

Capabilities:

- Illuminance/luminance

analysis

- Perspective rendering

- Raytracing engine

- 3rd party visualization

- Extremely flexible

Capabilities:- Illuminance analysis

- Engine not accurate beyond

conceptual design

- Shading and window design

- Good visualization options

Capabilities:- Run annual simulation

- Visualization options in OpenStudio

- Annual metrics enabled

- Modifies electric lighting schedule

STEP 5:

RADIANCE

ANALYSIS

3RD PARTY

VISUALIZATION

SOFTWARE