So, no replies so far? 
Yet, I know that people ARE using ArchiCAD for a design of sustainable buildings where Building Performance Simulation is happening, in one way or the other, and how does it happen?
Does it happen in the traditional manner, that architects, when they draw building diagram, just have in their mind a couple of strategies for optimal building performance, and in this process these ideas already become so integrated and tied with the rest of building, that actually it is only the work of consultants, who can make work these strategies better, but not much in architecture can be done afterwards, when the first diagram is drawn?
If that is the case do you use ArchiCAD sheets just to draw diagrams that explain these strategies to the others, e.g. you use ArchiCAD just for communication?
Or are you giving you ArchiCAD model to the consultants (or course, one needs a lot of knowledge and experience for credible simulations), and are they performing the calculations on that? Or do they make their own, simplified model? And when does these calculations happen - at early stages, or at final? And what impact these calculations make on the design?
How do you set up criteria? I know that f.e. LEED is multifaceted, thus pure Building Performance Simulation covers only smaller part of all issues where LEED credit can be acquired? Does other internal criteria is used? I think that can be the area for software to be used - helping setting up criteria and checking wheteher they are achieved.
And what about future? Should Building Performance Simulation be more integral part for example for Architect's BIM application, or just in opposite - that's the other area, where other specialists are working, and what only matters is the communication between them - model i/o, allowance to i/o results and ability to display them in a clear and understandable manner?
---
I think these issues can be interesting for everyone.
Cheers,
Zigurds.
Yet, I know that people ARE using ArchiCAD for a design of sustainable buildings where Building Performance Simulation is happening, in one way or the other, and how does it happen?
Does it happen in the traditional manner, that architects, when they draw building diagram, just have in their mind a couple of strategies for optimal building performance, and in this process these ideas already become so integrated and tied with the rest of building, that actually it is only the work of consultants, who can make work these strategies better, but not much in architecture can be done afterwards, when the first diagram is drawn?
If that is the case do you use ArchiCAD sheets just to draw diagrams that explain these strategies to the others, e.g. you use ArchiCAD just for communication?
Or are you giving you ArchiCAD model to the consultants (or course, one needs a lot of knowledge and experience for credible simulations), and are they performing the calculations on that? Or do they make their own, simplified model? And when does these calculations happen - at early stages, or at final? And what impact these calculations make on the design?
How do you set up criteria? I know that f.e. LEED is multifaceted, thus pure Building Performance Simulation covers only smaller part of all issues where LEED credit can be acquired? Does other internal criteria is used? I think that can be the area for software to be used - helping setting up criteria and checking wheteher they are achieved.
And what about future? Should Building Performance Simulation be more integral part for example for Architect's BIM application, or just in opposite - that's the other area, where other specialists are working, and what only matters is the communication between them - model i/o, allowance to i/o results and ability to display them in a clear and understandable manner?
---
I think these issues can be interesting for everyone.
Cheers,
Zigurds.
Bier, thanks for your thoughts. I know it is very wide topic, but actually, I wanted rather to hear more general views than specific nuances. What I understand from your response (and from the latest ones in "Autodesk acquires Ecotect") is that one can pay more attention to performence simulation, but "at what cost?", e.g. anyway there is a need for consultant, who will use his/her own software package, and there is not a huge need for direct integration of simulation within architectural package.
In my personal experience, designing of daylit building using Ecotect/Radiance, is a pretty wild "free-style" process. That means, of course, there is a needed for exact studies of daylighting itself to build up my competence, and of Ecotect as well, to ensure certain degree of credibility. But once specific design was going on, the only thing Ecotect helped, was to get results faster and make more design iterations. When simulations were done, it was completely up to me how to interpret them, how to do it in the context of other design decisions, and how creatively shape process further. So, the human role in all this was very huge.
Yet, even in architect-consultant (and consultant uses different software, not AC) model there are at least two important issues now:
1. Import/Export of models. What software is used and how can ArchiCAD models be imported into these software easily? My experience with Ecotect is that in the beginning I was thinking to model in SketchUp and import in Ecotect via 3DS, but that was very bad idea, as all material assigments, etc got lost. As a consequence I modelled everything within Ecotect (~20000 objects at the end😉 ) instantly setting up material properties - as thus acquired speed, as could make simulations at any time without delay required for i/o.
2. Visualisation/Communication of results. Ok, consultants make credible simulations, and gives some suggestions, but it is very important for architect to visualise it within his/her spatial diagram of building (for example airflow image at - http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/content/view/40/61/). Ecotect has great "Analysis Grid" that allows to import back for example Radiance results, and I wish something similiar would be in ArchiCAD too - import of simulation results to make cool pictures. And there is already great OpenGL graphics with 3D cuts within ArchiCAD
Greets!
Zigurds.
In my personal experience, designing of daylit building using Ecotect/Radiance, is a pretty wild "free-style" process. That means, of course, there is a needed for exact studies of daylighting itself to build up my competence, and of Ecotect as well, to ensure certain degree of credibility. But once specific design was going on, the only thing Ecotect helped, was to get results faster and make more design iterations. When simulations were done, it was completely up to me how to interpret them, how to do it in the context of other design decisions, and how creatively shape process further. So, the human role in all this was very huge.
Yet, even in architect-consultant (and consultant uses different software, not AC) model there are at least two important issues now:
1. Import/Export of models. What software is used and how can ArchiCAD models be imported into these software easily? My experience with Ecotect is that in the beginning I was thinking to model in SketchUp and import in Ecotect via 3DS, but that was very bad idea, as all material assigments, etc got lost. As a consequence I modelled everything within Ecotect (~20000 objects at the end
2. Visualisation/Communication of results. Ok, consultants make credible simulations, and gives some suggestions, but it is very important for architect to visualise it within his/her spatial diagram of building (for example airflow image at - http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/content/view/40/61/). Ecotect has great "Analysis Grid" that allows to import back for example Radiance results, and I wish something similiar would be in ArchiCAD too - import of simulation results to make cool pictures. And there is already great OpenGL graphics with 3D cuts within ArchiCAD
Greets!
Zigurds.
Still looking?
