Imagine a software that could automatically understand where your building is, where the glass is, how sun falls on it, and helped you make data driven decisions. cove.tool's façade optimization feature does exactly that. Users can test with real time daylight rendering the impact of various different façade strategies.
3D Visualization
The updated façade feature has an interactive 3D Viewer where users can explore WWR (Window to Wall Ratio), shading, and context options on a standard room model. The room model on view is a recreation of the ASHRAE Standard 140 – Base Case 600 Model using the 5.1.2 Geometry Convention of 6 × 8 × 2.7 m = 129.6 m3. For those who need a refresher, this standard is the technical manuscript used to validate and compare energy modelling software’s input conventions and simulation results. The 3D Viewer also always users to move around the model, zoom in to see overhang and fin strategy, and zoom out to see the resulting daylight map.
Daylight Map and Spatial Daylight Autonomy
Cove.tool calculates sDA (Spatial Daylight Autonomy) of each of the different orientations that your building which has fenestration. As users manipulate their façade situation for each façade orientation, cove.tool automatically runs an annual daylight simulation to indicate the percent of floor area that has a daylight illuminance over 300 Lux from the analysis period of 6am-8pm (sDA calculation method). The room area meeting/surpassing the sDA minimum is mapped in the warmer gradient, and the area of little to no daylight penetration is mapped with the cooler gradient. Also the sDA is tested on the Base Case 600 Model with a grid size of 0.25meters.
Test Overhangs, Fins, and Obstructions
The tool allows users to model fins and overhangs directly on a 3D Model. For fixed shading, the elements will be limited to 8 each, and a depth limit of 6ft (IP), 2m (SI). Obstructions which are used to replicate context geometry have unlimited distance and height parameters, so users can accurately recreate neighboring buildings and other planar obstructions.
Modify Glazing Visual Transmittance
The amount of daylight penetrating inside your building through your façade depends on many factors like size of opening, interior surface reflectance and more. One of the things that has a pretty immense impact on the daylight penetration is the visual transmittance of the glass. If you are browsing glazing products online, it would typically be referred to as "VT". Within cove.tool a user can test multiple different VT's to determine the balance between glazing percentage and the glass product.