[Bldg-sim] Tools for designers

[Mostapha Sadeghipour]

Hi,

As an architect, I agree with you that we need software with both good
interface AND sophisticated engines. But I think we need more INSIGHT in
simulation to work with USER FRIENDLY software more than some software just
EASY TO USE.

On more point to add is: while the use of multiple software (or it is better
to say the use of different simulation techniques) is unavoidable in many
cases, but usually what we done with one simulation tool is almost ignored
when start the other simulation (e.g. a CFD and a thermal simulation).

I think the need of some tools with the ability to run combined simulations
is more than important, Especially when it comes to natural ventilation
design. I think run a combined multizone airflow network and thermal
simulation is more effective than a CFD simulation, but the current software
vendors, especially the one who try to make the software for designers, are
concentrating to add a CFD engines to their tools. I don't know why but
maybe because the CFD simulation is more fashionable or the results are more
pretty! ;). I think we should strike a balance, and concentrate on WHAT CAN
BE MORE EFFECTIVE rather than WHAT THE MARKET TENDS TO. Hearing about new
software such as NATVENT made a great hope to me, but after reading the
related pages in the ibpsaNEWS, I wonder if it will support DIFFERENT DESIGN
STRATEGIES or it is just designed to support some TYPICAL CASES?!

Best,

Mostapha Sadeghipour



2009/3/17 Raoni Venâncio dos Santos Lima <raoniv at ig.com.br>

> Hi,
>
> I would like to know from our many simulation specialists which tools you
> think are the most indicated for designers (using it to effectively support
> design decisions). I believe that these tools must combine algorithm
> robustness with interface resources (graphical modeling) and ease
> operability (but I am interested in other opinions on that too).
>
> I’ve been using DesignBuilder for a while and it works fine for me but I
> think that the design process should be supported by multiple tools for
> different purposes. Therefore if you could suggest tools for the following
> items I would appreciate a lot:
>
> 1)      Climate analysis
>
> 2)      Thermal performance
>
> 3)      Energy assessment
>
> 4)      CFD calculations
>
> Just to explain my interest…I am defining a group of tools which are
> suitable for design activity to test its integration within the design
> practice (that’s a part of my doctorate research).
>
> Best regards,
>
> Raoni Lima
>
> _______________________________________________
> Bldg-sim mailing list
> http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list send  a blank message to
> BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE at ONEBUILDING.ORG
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org/attachments/20090318/f6fcccbc/attachment-0002.htm>