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Sun Study - Neighbours Elevation

Anonymous
Not applicable
Hello,

we are wanting to cast shadows on the neighbors elevation, and to save this view without seeing our building.

This needs to be in an elevational view, not in a perspective view.

Has anyone done this and can you please share.

Thank you.
30 REPLIES 30
Anonymous
Not applicable
If it's a matter of being able to quantify the shadow cast, then I can understand why the council don't like it because this is difficult to measure in 3D perspective.

However...

Maybe you could add a visible measured grid (e.g. 300 x 300mm), created as a bitmap, as the surface texture on the building, and use 3D perspective to view the shadow cast on the building that has the grid as the texture. Count the number of squares covered by shadow, and multiply by 0.09 (in the case of a 300x300mm grid) and you'll have the total square metres of shadow cast.

You can define what size area that the bitmap grid will represent in the Surface Settings dialog.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Peter I like you idea.

In this case tho there are 3D images showing the extent of shadows from an existing approved Development Application, these clearly show the neighbour's elevation almost entirely covered by shadows, with only a small part of the roof not in shadow.

The proposed amendment to the approved Development Application couldnt make matters worse as the entire elevation was already in shadow.

The council could have used these to settle the matter.
Wokka
Contributor
Long been a complaint of mine that Archicad doesn't do this out of the box.
I found a plugin, but only in Japanese and they aren't going to release an english version. Most would happily pay for this feature.
I use a different technique that I learnt a long time ago.
This guy did a youtube version:

https://youtu.be/2GAuRX4cEHQ


Good luck!
Warwick Lloyd-Martin
3 D E N V I R O N M E N T
http://www.3de.com.au
Windows 11 Pro 64bit
ArchiCad 4.55>27 AUS
Lumion 12.5/2023
D5 Render
Laszlo Nagy
Community Admin
Community Admin
Wokka,

That is actually an easier way of doing it. And it also gives another scenario where this method can be used.

I was not aware that all those shadow polygons can be obtained even if they are covered by other elements. I learned something new today.
Loving Archicad since 1995 - Find Archicad Tips at x.com/laszlonagy
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), Windows 10 PRO ENG, Ac20-Ac27
Barry Kelly
Moderator
laszlonagy wrote:
I was not aware that all those shadow polygons can be obtained even if they are covered by other elements. I learned something new today.
Me too.
I always assumed it would only copy the shadows you could see.

Barry.
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
i7-10700 @ 2.9Ghz, 32GB ram, GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
Wokka
Contributor
I can't take any credit. From what I remember, the original idea came the late great David Blackwell about 10 years ago at a user group in Sydney.

This is one area ArchiCad is seriously lacking. It can tell me my energy consumption, but can't cast shadows properly...
The section tool really should have an option for including shadows from objects behind....
Warwick Lloyd-Martin
3 D E N V I R O N M E N T
http://www.3de.com.au
Windows 11 Pro 64bit
ArchiCad 4.55>27 AUS
Lumion 12.5/2023
D5 Render
Aaron Bourgoin
Virtuoso
I love how the Japanese plug-in surfaces every couple of years or so. I first hear of it almost twenty years ago. Someone had seen it and spoke of it in hushed tones of awe. a bit like those people who talk about having seen the "other" Zapruder film.

The Japanese shadow add-on would truly be a brilliant addition to the AC stable.

what would it take to get this into our hands? Seriously!
Think Like a Spec Writer
AC4.55 through 27 / USA AC27-6000 USA
Rhino 8 Mac
MacOS 14.6.1
Laszlo Nagy
Community Admin
Community Admin
Hey guys, make a wish for the Japanese lighting add-on to be incorporated into ArchiCAD.
That is something I can forward to GS for their consideration.
If you do, please post its link in this thread.
Loving Archicad since 1995 - Find Archicad Tips at x.com/laszlonagy
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), Windows 10 PRO ENG, Ac20-Ac27
Aaron Bourgoin
Virtuoso
see here: http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=241412&highlight=japan+shadow#241412

and vote!
Think Like a Spec Writer
AC4.55 through 27 / USA AC27-6000 USA
Rhino 8 Mac
MacOS 14.6.1
Anonymous
Not applicable
Thanks Wokka, worked great.

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