Dave's Top Tip: Favourite RadianceIES features

Dave's "top tip" 6 

Have you been keeping an eye on the changes integrated into RadianceIES? My favourite updates are:

• Dynamic analysis
• Increase in lighting control accuracy for Apache 
• Batch calculations using Parallel Simulations
• Integration of the construction database 
• Visualisation of results within your geometry

There has been a number of updates to the RadianceIES application in recent IESVE updates, but have you been making use of these functions? This isn’t really a top tip, but rather a reminder (or maybe introduction) to use all the functions made available to you.

The RadianceIES application includes a number of calculations types, which include:

• External and Internal 2D and 3D rendered luminance images (including consideration of glare) 
• External and Internal 2D and 3D rendered Illuminance results (lux levels and daylight factors)
• Consideration of your luminaire design
• Annual daylight calculations, such as climate based daylighting metrics (UDI, sDA, ASE)
• Simulation of your internal daylight lighting control strategy
• Analysis of Vertical Sky Components (VSC)

In recent years, I’ve seen a big increase in the need to carry out daylighting studies, with the likes of BRE daylighting, BREEAM and LEED design guidance, local and regional planning requirements, and the EFA design guide, we have a far greater array of project related analyses compared to the days of just considering your average daylight factor. That being said, whilst I enjoy working on daylight projects, personally I think the reason I have used RadianceIES the most is actually Energy and Carbon analysis, when coupled with Part L2 building regulations.

Using the NCM method of daylight lighting control you can take advantage of a reduction factor due to the inclusion of this technology. However, this is nothing when compared to the ability to accurately predict the lux level within each space and control your artificial lighting based on a realistic lighting control strategy. Easily setup within the IESVE compliance suite and linked to RadianceIES, you can achieve greater accuracy and sometimes further reduction over the standardised SBEM method. This can mean much better building regulations compliance results! 

RadianceIES has far greater flexibility than other tools, including:

• Consideration of complex geometry, inclusion of material types, the ability to use your own images and surface data
• Inclusion of Radiance properties within the construction manager means you have one place for all construction setup
• Inclusion of internal and external objects such as people, desks, chairs, trees, topographical shades
• Options to modify the calculation type and complexity of your calculations
• All geometry and construction setup can be used from your existing IESVE project work 
• The use of dynamic results now means you can run multiple rooms at the same time
• You can visualise your dynamic results within the context of your building geometry

​I have included below a couple of links to videos which show RadianceIES within use.

Daylight Simulation and Lighting Design     Daylighting Visualisation

If you want to find out further information on how RadianceIES can help you provide any of these services contact sales@iesve.com for more details.

If you have any ideas or requests for Top Tips to help engineers get the most of VE please let Dave know: david.pierce@iesve.com.