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.
