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SunCast User Guide
<Virtual Environment> 6.0
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Contents
1. Introduction to SunCast ............................................................................................ 41.1. SunCast Features .........................................................................................41.2. Getting Help ..................................................................................................4
2. Starting SunCast ........................................................................................................ 52.1. Application Bar..............................................................................................52.2. Mode.............................................................................................................5
3. The Model View .......................................................................................................... 73.1. Model Browser ..............................................................................................73.2. Room Obstruction Status ..............................................................................93.3. Surface Obstruction Status ...........................................................................9
4. The Image View ........................................................................................................ 104.1. Copy an Image............................................................................................124.2. Save Image(s).............................................................................................134.3. Zoom All Images .........................................................................................144.4. Create AVI Movie ........................................................................................14
5. The SunCast Toolbar ............................................................................................... 155.1. Load Settings ..............................................................................................155.2. Save Settings..............................................................................................155.3. Select Zone(s).............................................................................................155.4. Image Script................................................................................................165.5. SunPath ......................................................................................................175.6. Sun Up/Down Times ...................................................................................175.7. Sun Rise/Set Graph ....................................................................................175.8. Solar Shading Analysis ...............................................................................17
6. File Menu................................................................................................................... 186.1. Load Settings ..............................................................................................186.2. Save Settings..............................................................................................186.3. Load Shading Results .................................................................................186.4. Load Images ...............................................................................................186.5. Save Images ...............................................................................................186.6. Load AVI Movie...........................................................................................18
7. Site Menu .................................................................................................................. 197.1. Location ......................................................................................................197.2. Plan.............................................................................................................20
8. Image Menu .............................................................................................................. 218.1. Single Image ...............................................................................................218.2. Timed Images .............................................................................................228.3. Fly-Round ...................................................................................................228.4. Sun-view Images.........................................................................................22
9. Calculation Menu ..................................................................................................... 239.1. Solar Shading for Apache ...........................................................................239.2. Sun Up/Down Data .....................................................................................279.3. Sun Up/Down Graph...................................................................................289.4. SunPath ......................................................................................................28
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10. Options Menu ........................................................................................................... 3010.1. Ground Plane Settings ............................................................................3010.2. Surface/Shading Colours.........................................................................3110.3. Clock Position in Images .........................................................................3310.4. Model Obstructions..................................................................................33
11. View Menu................................................................................................................. 3412. Help Menu................................................................................................................. 3613. Miscellaneous........................................................................................................... 37
13.1. Zoom to an Area of an Image..................................................................3713.2. Definition of Azimuth and Altitude............................................................39
13.2.1. Azimuth .................................................................................................... 3913.2.2. Altitude ..................................................................................................... 40
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1. Introduction to SunCast
1.1. SunCast Features
SunCast can be used at any stage of the design process to perform shadingand solar insolation studies and can generate images and animations quicklyand easily from a model created by the IES ModelBuilder.
SunCast can be used to investigate:
External obstruction and self-shading of a building.Solar mapping through windows and openings.The effects of changing orientation of building.
SunCast generates shadows and internal solar insolation from any sunposition defined by date, time, orientation, site latitude and longitude. Thisshadow information can be stored for subsequent analysis by:
Viewing shadows from any eye position.Animating the solar analyses by generating a sequence of images andcreating an *.avi movie to send to your client.Making opaque surfaces "transparent" to permit the user to better view thesolar insolation on internal surfaces e.g. “removing” roofs or surfaces toidentify internal solar insolation paths.Displaying solar surface shading/insolation statistics.Output data for thermal simulation (see documentation on Apache).
SunCast can be used in a variety of studies including passive solar design andis essential at the planning stage to visualize the effect of the building onsurrounding buildings. SunCast has also been used to study problems such asgrass growth in sports stadia and ‘right of light’ issues. In addition, because itis possible to remove surfaces to investigate solar penetration, SunCast canbe used to investigate internal design issues from office layouts to positioningof art in museums.
1.2. Getting Help
In SunCast the user can get help at any time on the current section.
To do this press the F1 function key .
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2. Starting SunCast
2.1. Application Bar
SunCast is activated from the “Solar” group in the Application bar (it is currentlythe only application in this group).
2.2. Mode
SunCast operates in two modes:
the traditional “Model” view showing the Model Browser and Viewport of themodel, with all the standard features of this view (see ModelIT documentationfor more information) -
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an alternative “Images” tab showing image generation options and storedimages, this is unique to SunCast and is explained in more detail below.
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3. The Model View
3.1. Model Browser
This has the standard “Model Browser” window which can be used to navigatethrough the model in the traditional way by selecting rooms or surfaces usingthe “Up” and “Down” to change the “level of decomposition”.
The two reasons to do this are to change the “Status” of the selected objectand to browse through the Solar Shading data (see Section 9.1).
First selecting the room either from the browser or graphically from theViewport.
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Right-click on room to bring up the pop-up menu:
Drag the cursor over the menu to highlight the option required.
The “Set Surfaces ►” option can be used to set the status of all “Floors”, “Walls” and“Ceilings” in the selected zone –
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3.2. Room Obstruction Status
Each room/zone in the model can be set to one of the following obstructionstates:
Opaque - this is the “normal” obstruction state of a room.
Invisible - this obstruction state hides the room from view but still allows it tocast shadows on other objects in the model
Ground Obstruction - a separate obstruction state used to represent terrain.
3.3. Surface Obstruction Status
Every surface in the model can be set to one of the following obstruction states:
Opaque - this is the “normal” obstruction state of a surface.
Invisible - as with rooms when a surface is set to hidden it cannot be seen inany generated images but still casts shadows.
Transparent - the surface when flagged as transparent acts in the samemanner as an opening and allows all light to pass through it.
Null - when the obstruction state is set to superficies (“hole”) the surface isleft out of the calculations.
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4. The Image ViewClicking on the “Images” tab will bring up the images window enabling thecreation and selection of the images.
At the top of this tab is a toolbar (the Image toolbar) –
add images to the list.
delete the selected images from the list.
delete all the images.
copy the current image to the clipboard.
save the images.
print the image.
zoom all the images to the current setting.
create a movie (AVI) of the images
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We then have the image generation tabs, followed by the “Progress Bar” which isactive when a series of images is being generated, followed by the list of images.The slider to the left of the list can be used to scroll through the images.
The “Cancel” button can be used to interrupt the generation of images.
The four image tabs are described in the following sections and can also beactivated from the “Image” menu.
The “Create New Image(s)”, “Delete Image(s)” and “Delete All Images” canalso be activated from the “Image” menu rather than the toolbar.
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4.1. Copy an Image
Select the image required from the image list.
Click on the “Copy” button on the “Image List” toolbar.
The image is now in the system clipboard and can be pasted into mostapplications.
When pasted, details of the image taken are included, giving: view time,latitude, longitude, model bearing, and sun and eye azimuths and altitudes, asshown below –
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4.2. Save Image(s)
Select the image(s) required from the image list.
Click the “Save” icon on the image list toolbar .
The following dialogue window will appear:
Here you can choose to save the images that have been selected in the imagelist. The images can have header information (as seen on printed output) bychecking the box at the bottom of the window.
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4.3. Zoom All Images
If you have zoomed in (or out) on a particular image and want all the otherimages in the sequence you have created to have the same zoom settings, then
click on the “Apply zoom to all other images” button.
4.4. Create AVI Movie
Clicking on the “Create video” button pops-up the following window -
Make the required adjustments to the parameters and click the “Make thevideo” button, this pops-up the following window -
Once again make the required adjustments to the parameters and click the“OK” button to create the AVI.
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5. The SunCast ToolbarThe main toolbar for SunCast is as follows:
load settings
save settings
select zone(s)
create script
model orientation
SunPath diagram
Sun up/down times
Sun rise/set graph
Solar shading calculations
Note this should not be confused with the Image toolbar (on the Image tab).
These functions are now described below.
5.1. Load Settings
Allows the user to load specific settings for the model. This function can also beactivated from the “File” menu.
5.2. Save Settings
This allows the user to save specific settings for the model. This function canalso be activated from the “File” menu.
5.3. Select Zone(s)
Allows the user to select zones from the Viewport – this is the default conditionthat is active.
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5.4. Image Script
This is activated from the button on the toolbar.
The toolbar buttons have the following functions -
add image(s) from current setting to script.
remove selected images from script.
remove all images from script.
open an existing script file.
save the script.
In addition to user defined scripts, SunCast comes supplied with some standardscripts which can be used with any model.
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The “Create Images” button will generate the images in the script and the“Close” button will exit from this option.
5.5. SunPath
This function can also be activated from the “Calculation” menu – see Section9.4 for more information.
5.6. Sun Up/Down Times
This function can also be activated from the “Calculation” menu – see Section9.2 for more information.
5.7. Sun Rise/Set Graph
This function can also be activated from the “Calculation” menu – see Section9.3 for more information.
5.8. Solar Shading Analysis
This function can also be activated from the “Calculation” menu – see Section9.1 for more information.
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6. File MenuThis menu has the following options:
6.1. Load Settings
This allows the user to load specific settings for the model (zone/surfacevisibility settings). This function can also be activated from the SunCast toolbar.
6.2. Save Settings
This allows the user to save specific settings for the model (zone/surfacevisibility settings). This function can also be activated from the SunCast toolbar.
6.3. Load Shading Results
This allows the user to load previously created shading results. The table ofresults is automatically displayed when the data has been read in.
6.4. Load Images
Load the images selected, also activated by the icon on the Image toolbar.
6.5. Save Images
Save the selected images, also activated by the icon on the Image toolbar.
6.6. Load AVI Movie
This plays the selected AVI file.
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7. Site MenuThis menu has the following options:
7.1. Location
Site data for the model is inherited from the <VE> and can only be changed bygoing back into ModelIT and running APLocate.
This data can be viewed from the “Site” → “Location” menu:
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7.2. Plan
A plan view of the model showing the orientation can be created from the “Site”→ “Plan” menu -
This image is added to the list of images -
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8. Image MenuThis menu has the following options -
The “Create New Image(s)”, “Delete Image(s)” and “Delete All Images” canalso be activated from the Image toolbar rather than the “Image” menu, by using
the , and buttons.
The “Image Creation Method” pull-down menu is as follows -
Clicking on these options will switch to the appropriate tab on the “Image” view.
Click the icon to create image.
8.1. Single Image
Here the user selects a single image for the given date and time from a fixed eyepoint defined by the Azimuth and Altitude (see Section 13.2 below).
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8.2. Timed Images
Here the user can generate a series of images at a fixed time interval over thegiven date from a fixed eye point defined by the Azimuth and Altitude.
8.3. Fly-Round
Here the user generates a series of images for a fixed date and time by rotatingthe model at the given step interval through 360° around the model at a setaltitude.
8.4. Sun-view Images
Here the user can generate a series of images at a fixed time interval over thegiven date from the position of the SUN (calculated automatically).
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9. Calculation MenuThis menu has the following options -
The functions can also be activated from the SunCast toolbar (see Section 5).
9.1. Solar Shading for Apache
This option is activated from the button in the toolbar or from the“Calculations” menu -
The following window is shown -
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From this window the user selects the time period for the calculations, thedesign day and has the option to include diffuse shading factors. There are alsooptions about backing up existing shading files.
When the shading results have been calculated they are displayed in a flexgrid:
Initially the grid shows the "Solar Altitude" values - when the user selects aparticular surface or opening, this shows the insolation data (by default showingthe Area of External insolation) -
If the Percent Area option is selected the grid shows the Area of Insolation as apercentage of the surface area -
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The value in the bottom right corner of the grid gives the Annual AveragePercent Area.
Data from previous shading files can be read in using the “File” → “LoadShading Results” menu option.
The area to the left of the flexgrid identifies the selected surface and gives twooptions for the results displayed -
The toolbar options have the usual function -
copy the current image to the clipboard.
save the images
print the image.
This example shows the “Internal” insolation -
This example shows the “External” insolation -
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The display of this data can be switched from the “Calculations” menu -
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9.2. Sun Up/Down Data
This option is activated from the button on the toolbar or from the“Calculations” → “Sunrise/Sunset Times” menu -
This shows for each day of the year the “Sun Up” time and azimuth and the“Sun Down” time and azimuth.
The toolbar buttons have the following functions –
copy the current data to the clipboard.
save the data to file.
print the data.
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9.3. Sun Up/Down Graph
This option is activated from the button on the toolbar or from the“Calculations” → “Sunrise/Sunset Times” menu -
The toolbar buttons have the following functions -
copy the current data to the clipboard.
save the data to file.
print the data.
9.4. SunPath
The SunPath program is run by activating the button on the toolbar or fromthe “Calculations” menu -
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The diagram represents the sky with the apparent paths of the sun shown forone or more days. Compass directions are shown round the outside of thediagram (these give the azimuth of the sun), and each of the internal circlesrepresents altitude. This gives a plot of the sun’s course for the given days.
The selected location (if any), the latitude and the longitude of the observer arealso displayed at the top left.
For more details on SunPath see the separate document on this program.
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10. Options MenuThis menu has the following options -
10.1. Ground Plane Settings
The ground plane is a virtual surface which simulates the surface on which themodel is standing and onto which shadows are cast. The height (z-value) of thiscan be set by the user. This option can be switched OFF, as can the display ofzones below this ground level. The option "Show DXF on ground plane" willdraw an attached DXF on the ground plane (see ModelIT for details onattaching DXF files).
For the majority of circumstances you will not have to change this from thedefault value of 0.0.
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10.2. Surface/Shading Colours
This option pops-up the following window -
Clicking on a colour box pops-up the following window -
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The selected colour can be changed using the standard options.
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10.3. Clock Position in Images
The clock position can be set via the “Options” → “Clock Position in Images”menu.
The default “Top, Left” option is shown below -
10.4. Model Obstructions
Turns the display of obstructions on/off, by selecting show/hide.
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11. View MenuThis menu has the following options -
The “Rotation” pull-down menu is as follows -
The “Zoom” pull-down menu is as follows -
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The “Colour” pull-down menu is as follows -
These functions are as described in the ModelIT documentation.
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12. Help Menu
The usual Windows help features are present:
ContentsSearchHelp on HelpAbout
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13. Miscellaneous
13.1. Zoom to an Area of an Image
Select the required image from the list.
Click the “Zoom To User Window” button . Now left mouse click and dragthe box across the image -
Release the mouse button to zoom in to the section.
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Note that this works in the same way as zooming in/out in the Model view.
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13.2. Definition of Azimuth and Altitude
13.2.1. Azimuth
The angle range is from 0° to 360° clockwise from North, see below. The azimuth willnot make a difference to the rotation of the graphic if the Altitude is set to 90°.
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13.2.2. Altitude
The angle range is from 0° to 90° from the horizontal, see below.
