Research Article Open Access

Empirical Validation of Daylight Simulation Tool with Physical Model Measurement

Yaik-Wah Lim1, Mohd. Hamdan Ahmad2 and Dilshan Remaz Ossen1
  • 1 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia
  • 2 Faculty of Built Environment, Institute Sultan Iskandar of Urban Habitat and Highrise, University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Problem statement: In recent years, daylighting simulation tools have been increasingly used by many architects, engineers and researchers to evaluate the day lighting performances of building design. Most of these tools employ CIE sky models for simulation. However, the accuracy and applicability of these tools for tropical sky are doubtable. The aim of this study was to validate the computer simulated result with scaled physical model results measured under real tropical sky. Approach: Daylighting model was constructed using scaled physical model to be tested under real sky measurement. The same model was configured in Desktop Radiance 2.0 to perform day lighting simulation experiments. All the measurements were carried out under intermediate and overcast tropical sky conditions in Malaysia; while related CIE sky conditions were used for simulations. Results: Due to the CIE sky conditions are very dissimilar from the actual tropical sky; simulated absolute value results such as external illuminance, absolute work plane illuminance and surface luminance recorded high mean differences from the measured results, with 81.63; 71.06 and 49.71%, respectively. However, relative ratios such as Daylight Factor (DF) yielded mean difference of 26.06% and luminance ratio was 29.75% only. The average mean difference was 44.37%. Conclusion/Recommendations: To compare the performances, relative ratios such as DF and luminance ratio showed better accuracies. For future research, validation on other parameters can be performed such as orientations, angle of the overhang, glazing, window sizes, colors, environment settings and electric lighting.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 7 No. 10, 2010, 1426-1431

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2010.1426.1431

Submitted On: 5 August 2010 Published On: 31 October 2010

How to Cite: Lim, Y., Ahmad, M. H. & Ossen, D. R. (2010). Empirical Validation of Daylight Simulation Tool with Physical Model Measurement. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(10), 1426-1431. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2010.1426.1431

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Keywords

  • Daylight
  • simulation
  • desktop radiance
  • physical model