Step-by -step complete analysis workflows
A revolution in building performance analysis, VE-Gaia’s complete workflow environment is driven by “step-by-step” smart navigation that opens wide the power of IES analysis. A series of Navigators guide users through a range of tasks; from advanced modelling, to energy/carbon analysis, to LEED credit interrogation.
Analysis to understanding
Weaving a clear route through the analysis process, from modelling to reportage, users can easily undertake complex advanced simulations. Designers can track progress, control quality, iterate workflows, trigger simulations, filter results and produce automated visual and rich-text reports.
Increased productivity
Within a project users can easily mould and define the workflow within the framework provided by the Navigators. Any common component is always up to date and users can move between Navigators at any time, setting up rapid cycles of development by jumping back and forth.
Quality checks
VE-Gaia includes ‘notes’ and ‘date/user stamp’ functions that facilitate a direct quality assurance process which can be exported for documentation purposes.
Easy model import
Direct connectivity to SketchUp™, Revit® and ArchiCAD® allows quick, effective feedback direct from early and detailed architectural models. gbXML and DXF import functions are also offered, alongside the ability to input and manipulate exact building data within an integrated central data model.
Model Building
Interoperability and ease of connectivity between CAD/BIM modelling tools and analysis software breaks down many of the barriers to effective utilisation of analysis for green design, especially at the early design stages. If professionals can quickly and easily undertake analysis directly from design models then feedback fits with iterations, is more effective and can facilitate the multi-disciplinary decision making of an integrated design process.
Analysis models can be developed directly within IES’ software or can be bought in using a variety of tight connectivity and import capabilities.
ModelIT – VE-Pro module for 3D geometry creation, data assignment and import functions
gbXML/DXF import – 3D/2D BIM/CAD import functionality within ModelIT
SketchUp plug-in – direct connectivity from SketchUp ‘free’ and Pro
Revit plug-in – direct connectivity from Revit Architecture and MEP
ArchiCAD connectivity – incredibly tight, tried and tested, gbMXL link
VE-Gaia Features
The baseline VE-Gaia includes the following Navigators, with the addition of more planned in future versions. Additional ‘add-on’ Navigator packages are also available to further enhance the functionality of VE-Gaia.
Model Geometry
Model import, setup, and creation workflow; including grouping rooms and assigning weather data.
Model Data
Detailed data assignment and manipulation workflow; including the consideration of building metrics, natural resources and material use. Understand the available potential for solar/wind energy and rainwater resources, the dominant heat exchange characteristics and other metrics of the building and a headline summary of materials used.
Climate
Climate exploration, analysis and review; including consideration of future climate predictions. Draw the relevant characteristics related to impact of climate on potential efficiency measures to the surface for evaluation, and understand with the IES Climate Index the potential the climate has to affect the amount of energy a building needs to achieve occupant comfort.
General output on ASHRAE/Koeppen-Geiger climate classification, temperature, moisture/humidity, wind, precipitation, solar energy, diurnal swing and Mahoney comfort stress analysis. IES Climate Energy Index output includes global comparison and breakdown of potential energy types.
Water
Workflow reviewing water availability, appliance water use and reduction potential. Understanding water availability, allows suitable reduction targets to be set, while consumption predictions and assessment of potential for efficiencies, and rainwater/greywater/blackwater use gives rapid insight into the impact of potential strategies. Occupancy and fixture type selections can be set to establish a baseline, and a proposed design; reduction measures can be defined and reviewed for potential impact of water use reduction. LEED, BREEAM and Green Star calculation approaches are offered.
Navigator for Sustainability
A collection of sustainability analysis workflows; covering energy/carbon, simulation, heating/cooling loads, daylighting, solar shading, renewable/low carbon technologies, occupant comfort and material usage.
Energy/Carbon Simulation
Interrogate a range of energy and carbon metrics without shading, with simple external shading, or with advanced solar penetration – using a dynamic thermal simulation at sub-hourly time-steps. Including whole-building annual energy/carbon results, energy breakdown by end use, monthly carbon emissions, benchmark against Architecture 2030 Challenge, max/min results for temperature, humidity and comfort at a room level, and a per room peak loads breakdown based on dynamic simulation.
Heating & Cooling Loads
Production of building, system and room heating/cooling loads figures, including peak loads, loads breakdown and cooling air flow rates. Choice of ASHRAE and CIBSE calculation methods.
Solar Shading
Solar shading animation capability across a choice of date ranges. Set your Azimuth and Altitude.
Daylight Assessment
Provides an indication of daylight performance against a fixed threshold. Define the spaces used in the analysis and evaluate amount, size and shape of glazing with visual and tabular results.
Low/Zero-Carbon Technologies
Feasibility assessment of user selected renewables and low carbon technologies in relation to delivered energy and carbon emission mitigation.
Navigator for LEED-USA
Automated LEED rating system credit assessment that covers daylighting, comfort, water and renewables across LEED NC V2.2/V3, LEED SchoolsV1/V3 and LEED Core and Shell V2/V3. It offers the ability to input and manipulate exact building data and produce reports suitable for use with LEED letter templates.
Daylighting
Covers LEED Credit EQ8.1. Simple 25fc (300 lux) threshold (75%spaces) or Advanced 25fc inc. light penetration (75% spaces) options available. Ability to define what spaces are included in the analysis. Output includes pass/fail result, previous run comparison, visual floor-by-floor movie and tabular results to enable easy identification of marginal fail rooms.
Comfort
Covers LEED Credit EQ7.1. ASHRAE 55 – 2004 compliant assessment method – occupied area must meet predicted mean vote (PMV) +0.5 to -0.5. Output includes pass/fail result, previous run comparison, fly round movie and room by room table to enable easy identification of rooms that fail.
Water
Covers LEED Credits WE2, 3.1, 3.2 (V2.2) and WE Pre 1, 2, 3 (2009). EPA – 1992 data; water use reduction calculation and innovative waste water technology (option 1). Editable appliance data. Output includes pass/fail result, water stress significance, and reduction achieved with breakdown.
Renewables
Covers LEED Credits EA2 & 6. Carbon reduction based on simulation data and user selected low/zero-carbon technology. Output includes indicative pass/fail results, CO2 breakdown by end-use and proposed contribution of technology to emissions reduction. Although not part of EA2 credit, low carbon technologies are included, as in some scenarios they may be more effective at reducing CO2 emissions.
Navigator for LEED-INDIA
Automated LEED-INDIA rating system credit assessment that covers daylighting, comfort, water and renewables across LEED India New Construction v1.0, and Core and Shell v1.0. It offers the ability to input and manipulate exact building data and produce reports suitable for LEED India submission.
Daylighting
Covers LEED India Credit EQ8.1. 2% daylight factor threshold analysis using Simple or Advanced methods (inc. light penetration). Ability to define what spaces are included in the analysis. Output includes pass/fail result, previous run comparison, visual floor-by-floor movie, tabular results to enable easy identification of marginal fail rooms and tables suitable for LEED India submission.
Comfort
Covers LEED India Credit EQ7.1. ASHRAE 55 – 2004 compliant assessment method – occupied area must meet predicted mean vote (PMV) +0.5 to -0.5. Output includes pass/fail result, previous run comparison, fly round movie, room by room table to enable easy identification of rooms that fail and tables suitable for LEED India submission.
Water
Covers LEED India Credits WE C3.1, C4.1, C4.2. IGBC fixture performance data; water use reduction calculation including innovative waste water technologies (rain, grey and black water). Editable appliance data. Output includes pass/fail result, reduction achieved with breakdown and tables suitable for LEED India submission.
Renewables
Covers LEED India Credits EA C2.1, C2.2, C2.3. Potential building carbon and energy cost reduction based on simulation data and user selected low/zero-carbon technologies. Output includes indicative pass/fail results, CO2 breakdown by end-use, proposed contribution of technology to emissions reduction, and tables suitable for LEED India submission.
Pricing
The following price options are for Annual Stand Alone licences. Rolling and Site Licence options are also available, please speak to our sales team for details.
| GB Pound | AUS Dollar | Euro | US Dollar | |
| VE-Gaia | £600 | AUS$1450 | €850 | $1000 |
| Navigator for Sustainability | £900 | AUS $2150 | €1250 | $1500 |
| Navigator for LEED® (additional VE-Pro modules required) |
£500 | AUS $1200 | €700 | $800 |
VE-Gaia Special Offer
A special buy one, get one free offer is running on the core VE-Gaia product until the release of V6.1 of the <Virtual Environment>. Contact sales@iesve.com for further details.
