© 2009Autodesk Autodesk Sustainable Design Curriculum Lesson Three: Modeling Building Placement, Massing, and Layout for Sustainability Sustainable Microcosm:

© 2009Autodesk

Autodesk Sustainable Design Curriculum

Lesson Three: Modeling Building Placement, Massing, and Layout for Sustainability

Sustainable Microcosm: Modeling the Ecology of the Building Site Core Principles for Modeling Effective Sustainable Design Placement Optimizing Building Form The Role of the Engineer at the Conceptual Phase of Sustainable Design Generative Sustainable Design Sustainable Design and 3D/4D Metrics

© 2009Autodesk

Sustainable Microcosm:Modeling the Ecology of the Building Site

After modeling the regional context for the building site, you now can turn inward, within the boundaries of the site, and model the inner workings of the site as a microcosm of a larger regional system.

The objective is to take advantage of the features of the site that will:

• Minimize the building’s heating, ventilation, cooling, and illumination energy loads.

• Optimize the quantity of material resources needed to build and maintain the building.

• Optimize the building’s ability to collect and use fresh water.

• Optimize the building’s ability to contribute to the health and vitality of the surrounding ecological, social, and economic communities.

After modeling the regional context for the building site, you now can turn inward, within the boundaries of the site, and model the inner workings of the site as a microcosm of a larger regional system.

The objective is to take advantage of the features of the site that will:

• Minimize the building’s heating, ventilation, cooling, and illumination energy loads.

• Optimize the quantity of material resources needed to build and maintain the building.

• Optimize the building’s ability to collect and use fresh water.

• Optimize the building’s ability to contribute to the health and vitality of the surrounding ecological, social, and economic communities.

© 2009Autodesk


Images courtesy US Department of Agriculture,

When environmental scientists are tasked with assessing a building site, their first action is usually to take an inventory of the natural elements present or moving through the site.

They measure features of the microclimate of the site by reviewing the available historical regional data and then supplement that information with what they can gather directly by using a weather station: local changes in

• Solar radiation• Temperature• Humidity • Wind speed and direction • Precipitation• Barometric pressure

When environmental scientists are tasked with assessing a building site, their first action is usually to take an inventory of the natural elements present or moving through the site.

They measure features of the microclimate of the site by reviewing the available historical regional data and then supplement that information with what they can gather directly by using a weather station: local changes in

• Solar radiation• Temperature• Humidity • Wind speed and direction • Precipitation• Barometric pressure

© 2009Autodesk


Images courtesy US Department of Agriculture,

They dig a soil profile pit down to the bedrock, if they are not stopped by groundwater, to better understand the soil’s structure, its chemical properties, and the process of soil formation or pedogenesis.

They dig a soil profile pit down to the bedrock, if they are not stopped by groundwater, to better understand the soil’s structure, its chemical properties, and the process of soil formation or pedogenesis.

© 2009Autodesk


Left Image: Site planning for urban stream protection. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Schueler, T. 1995, US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. Washington, DC.

An assessment of the local surface water hydrology generally follows, to assess the amount and the rate of the flow of water:

• moving across the site’s surface; • draining into lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and wetlands; • or draining away from the site through storm sewer infrastructure.

An assessment of the local surface water hydrology generally follows, to assess the amount and the rate of the flow of water:

• moving across the site’s surface; • draining into lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and wetlands; • or draining away from the site through storm sewer infrastructure.

Right Image: “Restoration, Creation, and Recovery of Wetlands” Wetland Restoration and Creation” Mary E. Kentula, National Water Summary on Wetland Resources United States Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2425 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

© 2009Autodesk


Top Image: Stand dynamics stages during succession

The hydrological inventory creates meaningful context for an inventory of the major plant and animal communities living on the site, which all depend on water.

The trees, shrubs, grasses, perennial and annual plants, as well as the microorganisms, invertebrates, insects, and the range of animals present on the site, can all be identified, and the stage of development of the community can be characterized (old growth, second growth, and so on).

The hydrological inventory creates meaningful context for an inventory of the major plant and animal communities living on the site, which all depend on water.

The trees, shrubs, grasses, perennial and annual plants, as well as the microorganisms, invertebrates, insects, and the range of animals present on the site, can all be identified, and the stage of development of the community can be characterized (old growth, second growth, and so on).

Left Image: Biologists use a backpack electrofishing unit to sample fish and amphibians in a headwater stream of the South Fork Trinity River, Northern California, Western Fisheries Research Center, USGS.

Right Image: Non-indigenous Species Impacts on Listed Salmonids, Beth Sanderson, Kate Macneale, and Katie Barnas, Northwest Fisheries Sceince Center, NOAA Fisheries.

© 2009Autodesk


Top Image: H.T. Odum's System of Generic Symbols, by Sholto Maud, from Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This analysis is usually followed by an attempt to understand how these plant and animal communities participate in the biogeochemical cycling of energy and matter on the site.

A variety of chemical and thermodynamic processes occur on and off the site, and these processes can be measured in terms of the total biomass, concentrations of chemical elements and compounds, the metabolic activity of producers and consumers, and the sources, sinks, flow, and interaction of matter and energy.

This analysis is usually followed by an attempt to understand how these plant and animal communities participate in the biogeochemical cycling of energy and matter on the site.

A variety of chemical and thermodynamic processes occur on and off the site, and these processes can be measured in terms of the total biomass, concentrations of chemical elements and compounds, the metabolic activity of producers and consumers, and the sources, sinks, flow, and interaction of matter and energy.

Bottom Image: From “eMergy Evaluation,” by Howard T. Odum, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, International Workshop on Advances in Energy Studies: Energy Flows in Ecology and Economy, Porto Venere, Italy, May 27, 1998. (http://dieoff.org/page170.htm).

© 2009Autodesk


Left Image: Ecological Benefits from Restoration: Emergy-Based Valuation, Tingting Cai, Thomas Olsen, and Dan Campbell, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effect Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI; Kingston, RI.

The graphical ecological modeling system developed by T. Howard Odum can be used to produce powerfully descriptive models of the ecological structure and function of a site.The graphical ecological modeling system developed by T. Howard Odum can be used to produce powerfully descriptive models of the ecological structure and function of a site.

Right Image: “Sulphur Cycling in Marine and Freshwater Wetlands,” Anne E. Giblin, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, and R. Kelman Wieder, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment.

© 2009Autodesk

Core Principles for Modeling Effective Sustainable Design The principles of the Natural Step and Cradle to Cradle have emerged as the “best in class” for sustainable design. While they have the appearance of philosophical creeds, they actually represent a long process of scientific consensus building, based on decades of research. They are simple, succinct, actionable, and powerfully transformative.

The principles of the Natural Step and Cradle to Cradle have emerged as the “best in class” for sustainable design. While they have the appearance of philosophical creeds, they actually represent a long process of scientific consensus building, based on decades of research. They are simple, succinct, actionable, and powerfully transformative.

The Natural Step philosophy states that:

1. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust (fossil fuels, minerals, ores, other pure elements)

2. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances produced by society (synthetic materials, discarded manufactured/constructed objects, waste byproducts of chemical reactions, and manufacturing processes, and so on).

3. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing degradation by physical means; for example, humans should refrain from destroying ecosystems and natural communities of plants and animals.

4. People should not be subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs. Along the lines of the physician’s Hippocratic oath, people should strive to “do no harm” to other people.

The Natural Step philosophy states that:

1. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust (fossil fuels, minerals, ores, other pure elements)

2. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing concentrations of substances produced by society (synthetic materials, discarded manufactured/constructed objects, waste byproducts of chemical reactions, and manufacturing processes, and so on).

3. Nature should not be subject to systematically increasing degradation by physical means; for example, humans should refrain from destroying ecosystems and natural communities of plants and animals.

4. People should not be subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs. Along the lines of the physician’s Hippocratic oath, people should strive to “do no harm” to other people.

© 2009Autodesk

Core Principles for Modeling Effective Sustainable Design The "Cradle to Cradle" model is based on a system of "life-cycle development" initiated by Michael Braungart and colleagues at the German Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) in the 1990s .

It was developed in more detail and then widely popularized when Braungart joined forces with architect and educator William McDonough, who is one of the leading proponents of sustainable design, to write the 2002 book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

The "Cradle to Cradle" model is based on a system of "life-cycle development" initiated by Michael Braungart and colleagues at the German Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) in the 1990s .

It was developed in more detail and then widely popularized when Braungart joined forces with architect and educator William McDonough, who is one of the leading proponents of sustainable design, to write the 2002 book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

Restore - give preference to:

Ecological intelligence Respect Abundance, delight, celebration, and FUN

Exert Intergenerational Responsibility

Get Free of Known “Culprits” (toxics)

Create and Activate a “passive positives” list

Innovate - recast the design assignment:

Don’t just reinvent the recipe, rethink the menu

In the Cradle to Cradle model, all materials used in industrial or commercial processes such as metals, fibers, and dyes, are placed in one of two categories: "technical" or "biological" nutrients.

Technical nutrients are strictly limited to nontoxic, nonharmful synthetic materials that research has proven have no negative effects on the natural environment. These materials can be recycled as the same products without losing their integrity or quality. This approach enables these materials to be used over and over again instead of being "downcycled" into less refined and less useful products that ultimately become waste.

Biological nutrients are materials that, once they are used, can be disposed of in any natural environment, and they will safely decompose into the soil.

In the Cradle to Cradle model, all materials used in industrial or commercial processes such as metals, fibers, and dyes, are placed in one of two categories: "technical" or "biological" nutrients.

Technical nutrients are strictly limited to nontoxic, nonharmful synthetic materials that research has proven have no negative effects on the natural environment. These materials can be recycled as the same products without losing their integrity or quality. This approach enables these materials to be used over and over again instead of being "downcycled" into less refined and less useful products that ultimately become waste.

Biological nutrients are materials that, once they are used, can be disposed of in any natural environment, and they will safely decompose into the soil.

“Cradle to Cradle” Principles“Cradle to Cradle” Principles

© 2009Autodesk

Placement The pursuit of knowledge about the influence of the environment on the siting, placement, and orientation of cities, roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures is an ancient discipline.

Planners, architects, engineers, and builders have long understood that different building locations and orientations combine with different environmental conditions to produce vastly different results.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the environmental awareness of ancient civilizations slowly evolved into formal proto-scientific practices of building placement, known variously as Geomancy in Europe and the Middle East, Feng Shui in China, and Vastu in India.

The pursuit of knowledge about the influence of the environment on the siting, placement, and orientation of cities, roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures is an ancient discipline.

Planners, architects, engineers, and builders have long understood that different building locations and orientations combine with different environmental conditions to produce vastly different results.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the environmental awareness of ancient civilizations slowly evolved into formal proto-scientific practices of building placement, known variously as Geomancy in Europe and the Middle East, Feng Shui in China, and Vastu in India.

Left Image: An illustration of a medieval geomantic house chart.

Center Image: Feng shui Luopan compass, photo by borghal from the Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Right Image: Hindu Vastu Mahapitha Mandala

© 2009Autodesk

Placement Today, advances in science, in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, and in techniques of information modeling are being successfully applied to the analysis of site-specific sustainable design criteria. Today, advances in science, in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, and in techniques of information modeling are being successfully applied to the analysis of site-specific sustainable design criteria.

Image: DA-SM2-U version of the Penn State/NCAR Mesoscale Air Quality Model (MM5), by S. Dupont et. al., 2003, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory/NERL, U.S. EPA.

© 2009Autodesk

Placement Today, advances in science, in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, and in techniques of information modeling are being successfully applied to the analysis of site-specific sustainable design criteria. Today, advances in science, in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, and in techniques of information modeling are being successfully applied to the analysis of site-specific sustainable design criteria.

Left: Image: Wind rose plot, New York City, NY, Autodesk’s Ecotect Weather tool software.

Right Image: Lower Manhattan Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of predicted wind speed (m/sec), 2004 NOAA Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division/EPA Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division.

© 2009Autodesk

Weather Data Is Critical— Know the MicroClimate

© 2009Autodesk

Optimizing Building Form The biggest opportunity for achieving the goals of sustainable design is during the conceptual design phase.

If you have done a complete job of modeling the site within a regional context, the site will “speak” to you as a unique place.

It will tell you what its “highest and best use” is, not just from an economic perspective, but also from the social and ecological perspectives.

The biggest opportunity for achieving the goals of sustainable design is during the conceptual design phase.

If you have done a complete job of modeling the site within a regional context, the site will “speak” to you as a unique place.

It will tell you what its “highest and best use” is, not just from an economic perspective, but also from the social and ecological perspectives.

Your task as sustainable designers is to listen carefully for solutions that do not compromise either domain, but that lead instead to a mutually reinforcing synergy.

The additional challenge that sustainable design presents at the stage of layout and circulation is the objective of using the unique characteristics of the site to reduce the energy use and natural resource use loads for lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, plumbing, and other mechanical needs.

Buildings with no potential to become carbon neutral ultimately become a liability to owners. In fact they may have to be torn down because they will not meet future sustainability targets and will be too expensive to operate.

Your task as sustainable designers is to listen carefully for solutions that do not compromise either domain, but that lead instead to a mutually reinforcing synergy.

The additional challenge that sustainable design presents at the stage of layout and circulation is the objective of using the unique characteristics of the site to reduce the energy use and natural resource use loads for lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, plumbing, and other mechanical needs.

Buildings with no potential to become carbon neutral ultimately become a liability to owners. In fact they may have to be torn down because they will not meet future sustainability targets and will be too expensive to operate.

© 2009Autodesk

Optimizing Building Form Check all possible orientations.

Use windows and skylights to maximize daylighting.It is always cheaper to use skylights to light a space than to use photovoltaic panels.

Check all possible orientations.

Use windows and skylights to maximize daylighting.It is always cheaper to use skylights to light a space than to use photovoltaic panels.

Minimize nonbeneficial envelope loads with appropriate technologies Incorporate appropriate shading.

Select a thermal mass envelope if the weather appropriate.

Design openings for cross and stack ventilation.

Minimize nonbeneficial envelope loads with appropriate technologies Incorporate appropriate shading.

Select a thermal mass envelope if the weather appropriate.

Design openings for cross and stack ventilation.

© 2009Autodesk

Floor Plate Decision

Source: Google Earth Pro

© 2009Autodesk

Austin, TXBudapest

ChicagoBerlinCupertino, CAFlorence

Miami

Paris

San Antonio

Sarasota, FLTokyo

LondonLas VegasRome

Floor Plates of the World

© 2009Autodesk

Massing Studies“Architectural massing is the act of composing and manipulating three-dimensional forms into a unified, coherent architectural configuration. During this process, the relations among massing elements are studied; this includes the relations of the building with its surrounding context and of the building with its subparts. Massing comprises all decisions affecting external architectural form.”

(“Strategic use of Representation in Architectural Massing,” by Omer Akin and Hoda Moustapha, Department of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University, 2003 Elsevier Ltd.)

“Architectural massing is the act of composing and manipulating three-dimensional forms into a unified, coherent architectural configuration. During this process, the relations among massing elements are studied; this includes the relations of the building with its surrounding context and of the building with its subparts. Massing comprises all decisions affecting external architectural form.”

(“Strategic use of Representation in Architectural Massing,” by Omer Akin and Hoda Moustapha, Department of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University, 2003 Elsevier Ltd.)

Today, BIM technology makes it computationally feasible to introduce the criteria of sustainable design into the conceptual design strategy in a way that can generate ecologically, socially, and economically meaningful regulating elements for 3D massing.

BIM analysis tools can provide designers with precise simulations of how topographic features, such as existing grade, natural earth berms, rock outcroppings, and surrounding vegetation and man-made structures, can:

• provide shelter from wind, rain, and snow; • absorb or deflect noise; and • provide summer shade while allowing for solar gain in the winter.

Today, BIM technology makes it computationally feasible to introduce the criteria of sustainable design into the conceptual design strategy in a way that can generate ecologically, socially, and economically meaningful regulating elements for 3D massing.

BIM analysis tools can provide designers with precise simulations of how topographic features, such as existing grade, natural earth berms, rock outcroppings, and surrounding vegetation and man-made structures, can:

• provide shelter from wind, rain, and snow; • absorb or deflect noise; and • provide summer shade while allowing for solar gain in the winter.

Image: Omer Akin and Hoda Moustapha, 2003, Ibid.

© 2009Autodesk

Massing StudiesMassing also has a figurative sculptural aspect.

From a formal architectural perspective, conceptual massing studies seek to discover how a variety of sculptural volumes set within a context of complex cultural, social, political, and economic messaging can elicit aesthetic and psychological responses.

The skillful execution of this form of communication is one of the most important services provided by architects.

Massing also has a figurative sculptural aspect.

From a formal architectural perspective, conceptual massing studies seek to discover how a variety of sculptural volumes set within a context of complex cultural, social, political, and economic messaging can elicit aesthetic and psychological responses.

The skillful execution of this form of communication is one of the most important services provided by architects.

Left Image: Santiago Caltrava’s HSB Turning Torso, Malmo, Sweden, photo by Vask, from Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Right Image: The Clock Tower (a.k.a. “Big Ben”), 2004, seen from Westminster Bridge, London, England

© 2009Autodesk

Massing StudiesFrom a sustainable design perspective, it is critical that the earliest building massing process includes an examination of climate, prevailing winds, availability of natural light by season, and the potential for seasonal harvesting of rainwater.

There are many examples of buildings that use massing to address the symbolic, psychological aspect of design and the climate and function of the building, and do so while using materials available directly from the building site.

From a sustainable design perspective, it is critical that the earliest building massing process includes an examination of climate, prevailing winds, availability of natural light by season, and the potential for seasonal harvesting of rainwater.

There are many examples of buildings that use massing to address the symbolic, psychological aspect of design and the climate and function of the building, and do so while using materials available directly from the building site.

Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, Photo by Oder Zeichner: US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Branch of Still and Motion Pictures

© 2009Autodesk

The Role of the Engineer at the Conceptual Phase of Sustainable Design

From a formal perspective, engineers would appear to have the primary responsibility for enabling society to achieve the goals of sustainable design.

Engineering is the academic and professional AEC discipline that is most closely aligned with the sciences, and science appears to be the most important driver of the sustainable design challenge.

The sciences most visibly engaged in driving sustainability are climatology, ecology, and so-called “green” chemistry, but they are relatively new disciplines that have not been traditionally aligned with engineering.

Aligning the day-to-day practice of engineering with these new sciences presents a serious challenge.

At the conceptual phase, engineers need to be willing and able to participate more as co-learners, advisors, educators, and collaborators, and less like forensic authorities or members of an assembly line hired to sequentially fulfill discreet tasks.

If this can be done, important design innovations and breakthroughs will almost certainly emerge.

From a formal perspective, engineers would appear to have the primary responsibility for enabling society to achieve the goals of sustainable design.

Engineering is the academic and professional AEC discipline that is most closely aligned with the sciences, and science appears to be the most important driver of the sustainable design challenge.

The sciences most visibly engaged in driving sustainability are climatology, ecology, and so-called “green” chemistry, but they are relatively new disciplines that have not been traditionally aligned with engineering.

Aligning the day-to-day practice of engineering with these new sciences presents a serious challenge.

At the conceptual phase, engineers need to be willing and able to participate more as co-learners, advisors, educators, and collaborators, and less like forensic authorities or members of an assembly line hired to sequentially fulfill discreet tasks.

If this can be done, important design innovations and breakthroughs will almost certainly emerge.

© 2009Autodesk


The goal at this stage is to determine how local climate and weather, subsurface materials, topographic features, bodies of waters, surrounding vegetation and wildlife, and man-made structures can contribute the sustainability of the built environment by:

• Preventing or sequestering emissions of greenhouse gases.• Functioning as sources and sinks of useful energy.• Capturing and improving the quality of water. • Preventing soil erosion and improving the health of the soil to enable improved

agricultural output.• Providing human shelter from extreme weather conditions such as solar radiation, heat,

cold, wind, and precipitation.• Mitigating potential health hazards such as air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution,

hindrances to access to natural daylight, and so on.• Improving the quality of life for human society by promoting social justice, economic

prosperity, and the cultural/aesthetic life of communities.

The goal at this stage is to determine how local climate and weather, subsurface materials, topographic features, bodies of waters, surrounding vegetation and wildlife, and man-made structures can contribute the sustainability of the built environment by:

• Preventing or sequestering emissions of greenhouse gases.• Functioning as sources and sinks of useful energy.• Capturing and improving the quality of water. • Preventing soil erosion and improving the health of the soil to enable improved

agricultural output.• Providing human shelter from extreme weather conditions such as solar radiation, heat,

cold, wind, and precipitation.• Mitigating potential health hazards such as air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution,

hindrances to access to natural daylight, and so on.• Improving the quality of life for human society by promoting social justice, economic

prosperity, and the cultural/aesthetic life of communities.

The most successful engineers who are practicing sustainable design are those who can visually model complex phenomena and processes and effectively communicate those models to their clients, to the other members of their design team, and to the public.

The most successful engineers who are practicing sustainable design are those who can visually model complex phenomena and processes and effectively communicate those models to their clients, to the other members of their design team, and to the public.

© 2009Autodesk


Thermal Mass and the Heat Capacity of Building Materials Thermal Mass and the Heat Capacity of Building Materials

Focus briefly on the one aspect of sustainable design that tends to get a lot of attention: the thermal mass effect.

This is an aspect of the siting, layout, and massing of a building that requires some technical expertise to model accurately

It presents a prime opportunity for architects and engineers to collaborate during the conceptual design phase.

The thermal mass effect is a phenomenon related to a building material’s density, as measured in terms of heat capacity and heat conductivity.

Focus briefly on the one aspect of sustainable design that tends to get a lot of attention: the thermal mass effect.

This is an aspect of the siting, layout, and massing of a building that requires some technical expertise to model accurately

It presents a prime opportunity for architects and engineers to collaborate during the conceptual design phase.

The thermal mass effect is a phenomenon related to a building material’s density, as measured in terms of heat capacity and heat conductivity.

Achieving the goal of creating net-zero energy buildings requires understanding the need for solar thermal energy on the site and optimizing its capture and use. This requires knowing where and when and how solar radiation, wind, and precipitation impact a building, and the thermal behavior of a variety of building materials.

Achieving the goal of creating net-zero energy buildings requires understanding the need for solar thermal energy on the site and optimizing its capture and use. This requires knowing where and when and how solar radiation, wind, and precipitation impact a building, and the thermal behavior of a variety of building materials.

© 2009Autodesk

Energy Use

Whole Building Energy Analysis Solar Analysis Daylight Analysis Thermal Analysis

Opt 1 Opt 2

Baseline

50% Reduction

Schematic Energy:

© 2009Autodesk

Generative Sustainable Design and 3D/4D Metrics In order to determine what would make a place suitable as a building site with respect to sustainable development goals, designers must translate their sustainable design criteria into metrics: ratios of various aspects of building performance.

When this has been achieved, it opens the door for a generative approach to sustainable design.

Generative design is possible through algorithms, and rules, acting upon the morphology of primitive shapes organized in a hierarchy of complexity, topology, and so on.

Generative design can be modeled so that higher order goals of energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, embodied energy, cost, LEED rating, and so on, can alter the morphology of the building and its fenestration.

One of the most important features of BIM tools is that they automatically calculate and represent accurate three-dimensional design information. This means that designers can accurately predict surface areas and volumes during the massing phase, and they can visualize a proposed design from a virtually infinite number of perspectives.

This ability to visualize in 3D with respect to time (4D) enables the designer to observe instances where proposed building features (walls, ceilings, floors, enclosed spaces, entrances, exits, windows, and doors) and design functions support or interfere with each other during construction and operations.

In order to determine what would make a place suitable as a building site with respect to sustainable development goals, designers must translate their sustainable design criteria into metrics: ratios of various aspects of building performance.

When this has been achieved, it opens the door for a generative approach to sustainable design.

Generative design is possible through algorithms, and rules, acting upon the morphology of primitive shapes organized in a hierarchy of complexity, topology, and so on.

Generative design can be modeled so that higher order goals of energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, embodied energy, cost, LEED rating, and so on, can alter the morphology of the building and its fenestration.

One of the most important features of BIM tools is that they automatically calculate and represent accurate three-dimensional design information. This means that designers can accurately predict surface areas and volumes during the massing phase, and they can visualize a proposed design from a virtually infinite number of perspectives.

This ability to visualize in 3D with respect to time (4D) enables the designer to observe instances where proposed building features (walls, ceilings, floors, enclosed spaces, entrances, exits, windows, and doors) and design functions support or interfere with each other during construction and operations.

© 2009Autodesk

Summary

Once designers have considered the ecological, social, and economic criteria that characterize the region in which they will be building, they can use BIM tools and information modeling techniques to explore and apply the criteria of sustainability and sustainable design to siting, massing, and laying out the building on a specific building site.

Once designers have considered the ecological, social, and economic criteria that characterize the region in which they will be building, they can use BIM tools and information modeling techniques to explore and apply the criteria of sustainability and sustainable design to siting, massing, and laying out the building on a specific building site.

© 2009Autodesk

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Ecotect, Green Building Studio and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Documents

© 2009Autodesk Autodesk Sustainable Design Curriculum Lesson Three: Modeling Building Placement, Massing, and Layout for Sustainability Sustainable Microcosm: