User-Centered, Collaborative, Web and Radiance-Based Lighting Simulation, Visualization, and Analysis

The Radiance lighting simulation system, primarily developed by the Department of Energy, is capable of helping teams solve a variety of problems related to daylight and energy efficiency. Nevertheless, for non-experts this platform is notoriously difficult to install and use, hence limiting its impact to industry. The technical objective is to harden Radiance for profitable commercial use. Light Foundry is taking a multifaceted approach to harden Radiance which includes a web-based architecture; commercial features, advanced simulation, visualization, and analysis; collaboration; and user-research.Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This proposed research effort will create innovative, collaborative lighting analysis and visualization tools based on the Radiance lighting simulation software, which will help a variety of people formulate, manage, understand, and solve complex parametric environmental problems. There will be several potential environmental benefits as the result of this project. It will aid design teams reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings, which electric lighting accounts for 35-50% of its usage. It also will have a range of physiological and psychological benefits to occupants encouraging a healthy circadian rhythm, reducing stress, providing distant focal points for relaxation and connection with the outdoors, and correlates with increased performance in schools and commerce in brick and mortar stores.