This project is trialling the use of existing calibration test cases for lighting computer programs as a consumer guide. The goal is to gather as much information as possible from users world wide on how well computer simulation programs work by using the CIE (Commission Internationale De L’Éclairage) Technical Committee (TC 3.33) report on the accuracy of computer programs used in the estimation of lighting levels for the interior spaces of buildings..
The accurate estimation of lighting levels is a key element in the design of new and refurbished commercial buildings for energy and cost savings and for enhancing the architectural expression of spaces. Building owners and operators have a direct interest in minimizing energy consumption by the control of artificial lighting through the use of daylight. At the same time more and more lighting programs claim to render accurately the physical properties of light.
However there is little currently published or accessible information on how well existing computer packages function. This lack of information can lead to potential users not having information to choose a proper tool for their needs.
While the CIE project is specifically focussed on the “accuracy” of the software packages, this project is a little broader. It aims to gather information on a wider range of perspectives. There are four major areas of interest: more qualitative - being concerned with a realistic visualization of the interior spaces; more quantitative - being concerned with computing the illumination levels across the various work planes in the buildings; more efficient – being concerned with less time consumption on renderings; easier – being concerned with program easy to use with and easy to cooperate with modelling programs. This information may be of interest to the community of package users, as well as to those contemplating their use.
This research is intended for people who have some experience with the use of one or more simulation packages that simulate the lighting conditions in buildings from both visualization and quantitative lighting level estimation purposes. The lighting sources can include both natural (skylight) and artificial (luminaire) sources.