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Ecotect is a (3D) building analysis program that integrates lighting, energy, acoustics and environmental analyses. The software allows the same model to be used for the different analyses, within the same GUI. This saves time and effort by avoiding having to learn and use multiple software. Ecotect is designed for architects; the graphical presentation of quantitative data is very effective at facilitating investigations and project presentations.
However, Ecotect is not a CAD/drafting/rendering tool. It is meant for:
1. early conceptual design
2. building analysis
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This should be kept in mind when using Ecotect, specifically when determining what to model, and how to model. Most of the built-in analysis features utilize simplified methods; they are not suitable for various detailed analyses. However, Ecotect now exports input files to external, detailed, simulation tools (such as EnergyPlus and Radiance). In such cases, Ecotect serves as a "front-end" to conveniently generate input files; much expert knowledge of the external tools themselves is still required to ensure the correctness of the input files. Simulation work is very prone to GIGO, Garbage-In-Garbage-Out.
Unfortunately, there is no good way to import other CAD formats into Ecotect. The building geometry, lights, material properties, etc., all have to be modeled from scratch. The next 3 pages will culmulatively cover how to achieve the results necessary for the course project: lighting anaylsis of a space. A summary of the tasks (and covered in the subsequent webpages) are:
• Setting up model -> zones, planes and pitch roofs, child objects.
• Completing the model -> partitions, lamps, materials.
• Lighting Analysis -> analysis grid, comfort condition, analysis dialog
• Radiance -> camera, export dialog, import radiance results |
