Bioclimatic analysis – using an understanding of climate and environment to inform building design strategy….
Posted : June 18, 2010 by Richard Quincey, Category: Sustainability, software
In Architecture there is a persistent organic theme of using the environment to inform both urban and built form; obviously vernacular architecture is a demonstration of this, but in the latter half of the 20th century people have explored this theme in more detail, such that cause and effect is well explained.
In the past, greatest interest in this theme has occurred at times of energy crisis and now with climate change high on the global political and social agenda, there is a real demand for solutions that are climate responsive and adaptive to climate change. Some of this is taught in Universities and so has a familiarity especially to Architects.
The main reason why Bio-Climatic analysis has not been applied extensively in the past is due to the breadth and depth of the subject and the fact that the logic is somewhat fuzzy. Manually doing it properly is complex, difficult and very time consuming. Thus few have been able to master it and turn it to everyday use. However, the desire to utilise Bio-Climatic analysis is still alive and kicking.
Over the past few years, IES have researched this subject globally and developed the logic to a level where we can automate it, and have consequentially developed a Bio-Climatic tool, which we recently launched.
As part of the evolving VE Gaia product, Bio-Climatic analysis is used in conjunction with other Gaia tools to provide a rich source of knowledge about weather / climate data and the built environment. It delivers complex knowledge and analysis about what may be appropriate design strategies by providing a detailed list of suggestions appropriate to the specific climate data chosen.
It carries out a number of analyses that are very time consuming and difficult to do manually:
• Ashrae climate classification analysis live on the dataset
• Koppen Geiger climate classification analysis live on the dataset
• Mahoney comfort stress analysis (users in hotter countries will be more familiar with this)
• Annual hourly weather stat analysis; which month(s) hottest, wettest, coldest, peaks, percentiles, diurnal range, degree data analysis etc.
• It includes an extensive rainfall database of over 2000 global locations
• It uses approx 220 separate multi-variable logic tests using these direct and derived metrics to produce design suggestions
The suggestions are provided in a hierarchy and include sections on climate, headline design priorities, urban design, external built form, internal built form and so on right down to the level of insulation, thermal mass and window arrangements.
How can it be used?
You can use the product to rapidly understand the impact of climate on built form at very early stages in design – you just need a weather file! It is simply a matter of a mouse click! It has been tested on many locations in Australia, India, USA, and Europe against independent and vernacular advice. Here’s how we’ve been using it:
• To get to grips with new global locations / very different climates e.g. London and Bombay;
• To understand the differences between different locations in a similar climate e.g. London and Manchester;
• To understand the differences between urbanity and heat island effect e.g. city, suburbs, country, coast etc;
• To explore how climate change causes change in built form response. This is important as sustainable designs really must last 100 years plus and the basic building form must be appropriate and adaptable. This is increasingly going to become an issue as sustainable design matures – we expect to see this appearing in some sustainability rating schemes;
• To explore and understand vernacular clues;
• As a teaching tool.
Obviously the tool does not know your site or building, but its purpose is to provide a lexicon of ideas and responses. It is up to the user to explore these and apply them further – to this end references are also given where possible to further detailed knowledge sources.
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