Integration of Daylighting Simulation Software in Architectural Education Tarek Rakha The American...

Integration of Daylighting Simulation Software in Architectural Education

Tarek RakhaThe American University in Cairo Paper id: 272

Authors:Hanan Sabry, Ahmed Sherif, Ahmed Fekry, Tarek Rakha.

Paper Contents

• Introduction– Objectives– Literature Review

• Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation– Teaching of Daylighting– Simulation Project

• Assessment Method of Software Integration• Research Findings

– Simulation Software Usefulness in Education– Understanding / Application of Daylighting in Design– Attitude towards daylighting

• Discussion & Conclusion

Introduction

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

The education of future architects should equip them with the necessary tools for utilizing available natural energy resources. This would reduce energy consumption.

• The training of undergraduate architects on the utilization of daylighting in Egypt is dependent on abstract lectures that are difficult for students to perceive.

Introduction

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

• Objective– Evaluating the impact of integrating

professional simulation software tools in the teaching of a daylighting course to undergraduate architecture students at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

• Literature Review– Methodologies of Teaching Daylighting– Integration of Simulation Software– Building Performance Simulation & Education

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Teaching of DaylightingLighting

B. Artificial Lighting

A. Daylighting

WHY Daylighting?

Definitions – Sources and Components of Daylighting

Quantity of Light

Quality of Light

Factors affecting illuminance due to daylighting apertures

Methods of analyzing daylighting

Manual Calculations Simulation Software

Methods of Controlling Daylighting / Daylighting Systems

Insu

ffic

ient

Day

light

ing

Integration of Artificial Lighting Systems in a

Daylight Building

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Teaching of Daylighting– Learning Outcomes

• Understand the role of daylighting in designing environmentally sustainable buildings.

• Explore the benefits and challenges of utilizing daylighting in designs.

• Acquired the ability to understand the methods of analyzing daylighting.

• Engage in effective communication strategies, while working in teamwork, to solve interesting problems by enhancing daylighting performance.

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Teaching of Daylighting– Learning Methods

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Simulation Project

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Simulation Project– Evaluation

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Simulation Project - Evaluation

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Simulation Project - Enhancement

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Academic Approach to Daylighting Simulation

• Simulation Project - Enhancement

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Assessment Method of Software Integration

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Before Integration with Software

After Integration with Software

Software Integration Assessment Method

Questionnaire - Pre

Understanding / Application of Daylighting in

Design

Attitude Towards

Daylighting

Perception of Simulation Software in Education

Findings and Discussion

Questionnaire - PostInterview

Understanding / Application of Daylighting in

Design

Attitude Towards

Daylighting

Perception of Simulation Software in Education

Student perception of simulation software usefulness in education

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Research Findings

“I don’t think it is very user friendly. It’s easy to use but when you get into too much detail it’s not user friendly”.

“User-friendly when tutorials were available”.

Student perception of simulation software usefulness in education

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Research Findings

Visual rendering in simulation software

Numerical analysis in simulation

software

Theoretical explanation other

than software

Manual numerical analysis other than

software

1. Very helpful 31% 38% 15% 8%

2. Somewhat helpful 46% 54% 38% 54%

3. Neutral 23% 8% 31% 23%

4. Not very helpful 0% 0% 15% 15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Per

cent

age

of s

tude

nts

In learning about LIGHTING, how helpful is each of these approaches to you

Student understanding / application of daylighting in design

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Research Findings

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

To get an accurate understanding of

daylighting analysis

If you need a fast way of analyzing daylighting

When enhancing the daylighting performance

of a space

When showing a client daylighting performance

in your design

Perc

enta

ge o

f st

uden

ts

Manual calculation method Software numerical analysis Software visual rendering

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Manual calculation method Software numerical analysis (illuminance/lux)

Software visual rendering

If you want to design a new daylit space that requires daylighting analysis

1st 2nd

Student attitude towards daylighting

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Research Findings

“It doesn’t make you feel that lighting is more or less important, it makes you realise the actual lighting that is going to be there and when you realise you can act upon it”.

Student attitude towards daylighting

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Research Findings

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

PRE POST

How important do you find the practice of daylighting design?

1. Necessary

2. Important, but not necessary

3. Importance depends on judgment or context

4. Not very important, but can be useful

• Use of the software allowed students to quickly experiment with design alternatives

• Students had a positive perception of the impact of the simulation software on their learning

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Discussion & Conclusion

• Identifying the consequences of design decisions on daylighting performance.

• Students demonstrated they understood when/how to use it at various phases of their design.

• Some concepts seemingly remain unclear to students. Interviews showed that they were not aware of how to use the software for more complex designs unless assisted.

• Output of this experiment showed that teaching daylighting science was significantly improved by the visual engagement that was offered by the computer software.

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Discussion & Conclusion

ConclusionFindingsApproach / MethodIntroduction

Discussion & Conclusion

FurtherResearch

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Center for Learning and Teaching (CLT) at the American University in Cairo. The authors would also like to thank Maha Bali, senior instructional technologist at the CLT, for her contribution to this research.

Acknowledgements

Students:Andrew WilliamAmin BadraAya AttabyMaryam ZaitounRana SadekSalsabil FahmySoha Youssef

Mohamed El KharbotlyRania BusadaSarah RizkSalma HossamSarah Mohsen

Dalia KamalAlhassan AboulrousJayda HanyMostafa KholeifNadine Aboul FadlOmar Abo Gabal

Malak MaherMariam A.AzimNada NafehRamy GarasSalma Aboul Ela