A framework outlining a daylight responsive model for smart buildings

Abstract

The intensity of daylight varies due to periodical changes in the sun’s position, changing cloud-cover over the region, and other weather-related phenomena. Thus, artificial lighting remains a major component of the overall energy consumed in smart buildings. This necessitates corrections for maintaining optimum lighting levels in these buildings, by enhancing the positioning of artificial lighting sources with respect to outdoor lighting conditions. In this paper, a methodological framework is proposed for developing a daylight responsive model to minimize energy consumption for artificial lighting. This could be achieved by optimizing the usage of natural lighting in the built-environment, with the aid of Geo-location and sun-path tracking in a simulated model using Unity software. This smart daylight responsive model integrated with Virtual Reality (VR) would aid in designing an efficient lighting system utilizing Building Information Modelling (BIM). Further, this framework would help architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to collaborate, and virtually visualize the lighting conditions in smart buildings. In conclusion, an energy-efficient model for lighting can optimize the energy usage pattern in smart buildings, effectively increasing the usage of natural lighting.