Integrating daylight simulation in the design process: comparative analysis between two computational platforms

Abstract

Daylighting presents an important role for high performance buildings. Currently, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has excelled in the Architecture and Engineering (A&E) industry as a collaboration and information exchange methodology that generates integrated computational models. Simulation plug-ins for BIM tools capable of performing daylighting simulations in a semi-automated way have been developed, thus presenting a more simplified simulation process and favoring the adoption of performance analysis since initial design stages; being a little explored subject. This article aims to investigate the Insight plug-in for Revit, focusing on its daylighting features. The workflow, input-output structure and results of Insight dynamic (sDA) and static (illuminance levels) daylighting metrics were analyzed, comparatively to the plug-in DIVA-for-Rhino, which simulation engines were considered validated by literature. Simulations on both software used the same model of a reference office space for the city of Belo Horizonte. Results indicate that Insight’s favors the daylighting analysis in the initial phases of the design process and allows the verification of code compliances, however determining materials optical properties presents some degree of complexity. Low sensitivity to glasses with low and medium values of light transmittance was noticed in the case study. Evidence of consideration of internal reflections of light rays (ambient bounces) close to 7 may leed to overestimated results in the case of low complexity models. This study intends to contribute to the understanding of the potentials and limitations of both analyzed tools, especially in regard to the specificities of BIM daylight simulation with Insight.