Applicability of daylighting computer modeling in real case studies: comparison between measured and simulated daylight availability and lighting consumption

Abstract

The objective of this work is to investigate the accuracy of the Adeline lighting software in simulating the illuminance distribution from daylighting and the electrical lighting consumption of an existing atrium building. The case study is an enclosed atrium space equipped with an automatic on/off lighting control system and roofed by a skylight made of several glazing systems. Field monitoring of the atrium space was conducted during summer and winter and included measurements of horizontal indoor and outdoor illuminance, solar radiation and electrical lighting system time-of-use. The computer simulation included the creation of one simple and one complex computer model used to simulate the daylighting performance of the atrium space. The software accuracy was evaluated based on comparisons between the predicted and the on-site measured illuminance distribution and lighting energy consumption.