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.
The present paper investigated the application of the daylighting analysis features of the Insight BIM plugin, comparatively to DIVA, a plugin for a 3D Nurbs modeling software. Considering the early phases of the design process, workflows, simulation results and processing times were analyzed, focusing on the prediction of static (illuminance level) and dynamic (sDA300,50%) metrics. Simulations on both tools were performed in the context of analyzing the daylight behavior in a deep office room model, with and without light shelves. Results indicate that Insight has limitations compared to DIVA, especially concerning input data configuration flexibility. Simulation results presented significant similarity between Insight and DIVA in most cases, being the direct sun case the one in which illuminance levels differed the most. Insight presented longer processing time for the static metric and similar average time for the dynamic metric. Work findings indicate that Insight has important potential to contribute to daylighting analysis on early phases of design process, and points out to barriers to its adoption and correct use. Authors expect this paper to benefit architects, engineers and students on the comprehension of both tools.
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