Solar Radiation Analysis for an Architectural Research Paper

In this case study, my job was to run radiation analysis on different scenarios, to corroborate real-world data from temperature probes.

How does the amount of solar radiation on a building impact its internal temperatures?

Here I am running lighting simulations with varying levels of environmental context that effects the level of solar radiation. Cool tones, like blue, associate with lower levels of sunlight, while warmer colors represent higher levels of solar radiation.

Only Building

Building with shade provided by neighboring house and roof overhang

Building with shade provided by neighboring house and large tree

Nat’s House

TrailerWrap

Process

Utilizing Rhino 3D with the Grasshopper plug-in, Ladybug, I ran radiation analysis using a local .ewp file for Boulder, CO. We ran the simulation with the average sun and weather data for the same calendar date that the field recordings were taken. I ran the simulation for the above scenarios, using the varying levels of sunlight influencing context.