IES Virtual Environment training

Trainee notes
RadianceIES

VE 2019
Session B
Introduction
In the previous RadianceIES session (Session A) you were shown how to use RadianceIES, IES’s 3D
lighting simulation tool, to perform luminance lighting simulations. You were shown how to place
components (such as a desk and chair) in a room for inclusion in the simulations. You were then shown
how to perform external and internal luminance lighting simulations.

In this session you will be shown how to perform illuminance simulations and also how to modify surface
properties. You will also see how to perform Vertical Sky Component (VSC) analyses.

If applicable, you will also be shown how to place light sensors in rooms for linking to ApacheSim
dynamic thermal simulations (daylight - linked dimming), and how to use luminaires imported from IES’s
LightPro or FlucsPro lighting tools.

The trainer will show you how to perform various functions as shown in the following pages, and images
are included to assist you in following the trainer as the session proceeds, and to act as a memory
jogger after the session.

For more detailed help you can use the Help menu within the specific IES application, and also you
can refer to the product manuals accessible from the IES software.

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Performing an internal simulation
As in Session A, we will perform a simulation within a selected room. We will select the L-shaped room
and move down one level of decomposition.

We will then switch to a plan view.

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Component Settings tab - activating room components
As before, using the Component Settings tab, we will activate the components placed within the room
for inclusion in the simulation.

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Setting the eye and focus positions for an internal simulation
As before, we will set the eye and focus positions in plan view.

Sky/Eye tab - Setting sky and eye settings

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Simulate tab - setting the simulation type and quality
Before we perform an internal simulation we will choose to perform an illuminance simulation and we
will set the simulation quality, using the Simulate tab.

Running the simulation

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Viewing the generated image

Setting the lighting level units to be displayed

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Dynamic display of lighting level
You will see how to view the light level at the mouse cursor position in the image.

Display of light levels in the image

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Generating contours
We will see how to create different types of contour images.

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Generating plan view images
As well as creating 3D perspective images, you can create plan view images. In the Sky/Eye tab we
will choose to create a plan image, with the image size set to 800. Again we will use a CIE overcast
sky.

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In the Simulate tab, we will perform a plan view illuminance simulation, and we can then display a grid
of lighting levels in Lux (or Foot-Candles).

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We will also change the units to see the grid in terms of daylight factors.

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We will create lighting contour images from the plan view.

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Area of interest (AOI)
You will be shown how to create an area of interest (AOI).

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When you next generate a grid, you can then choose to see the AOI.

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Viewing light level statistics within the AOI
You can view statistics of lighting levels within the AOI.

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Threshold analysis
You can perform a threshold lighting level analysis for the AOI or for the entire image to show the
percentage area above or below a defined lighting level or daylight factor.

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Surface Properties tab – creating or editing constructions and changing their properties
You will be shown how to create a new construction for a particular category of surface and how to use
it to replace an existing construction.

In this session we will change the south wall of the L-shaped room. We will create a new wall type and
use it to replace the existing wall type. We will also change some windows in this room.

Creating constructions
Constructions for the project are created and edited via the Apache Constructions Database (APcdb).
If you are familiar with Apache you will know how to use APcdb.

Note that you can also access APcdb from the Apache view or from the Building Template Manager
(BTM).

Constructions are split up into multiple categories for both opaque and glazed constructions.

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Construction data can be viewed or edited by double clicking the ID column of the construction. You
can also edit constructions from the menu to the left of the window:

You will see a RadianceIES tab where you can edit the material lighting properties for opaque or glazed
constructions:

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Construction data can be created in different ways. You can select a ready-made construction either
from the System database or Library database. You can also create a new construction or edit an
existing construction.

To select a construction from the System database; select View>System constructions. The System
Constructions window will appear.

There is a default system database of glazed constructions:

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The additional Library database contains a large manufacturers’ database of glazed constructions:

Select View Construction or double click the ID to view the construction details if needed:

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From either the System Constructions or Library Constructions window, select the required
constructions by ticking them, then copy the selected constructions to the Project Constructions window
using the Copy option.

To create a new construction, click the “Add a New Construction” button in the Project Constructions
window. You can also add constructions from the menu to the left of the window:

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To edit the new construction, double click in the ID column of the new construction (note from this point
on, this is equivalent to editing an existing construction).

You can also edit constructions from the menu to the left of the window:

To set the RadianceIES lighting properties for the construction, simply go to the RadianceIES tab.

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For opaque constructions you can set the reflectances or colour, or select from a list of predefined
materials:

For glazed constructions you can edit the transmissivities or select from a list of predefined materials:

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Assigning constructions
You will see how to assign constructions to all rooms or selected rooms at the top level (Model level)
of decomposition. If you are familiar with Apache you will know how to do this.

Assignation to all rooms or selected rooms:

The currently assigned Construction Type can be replaced with one of the Possible Replacement
Construction Types.

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You can move down a level to the middle level (Space level) of decomposition for a selected room to
assign a construction to a selected surface of that room.

Space level assignation:

We will change the south wall of the L-shaped room

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By moving down to the bottom level (Surface level) of decomposition, you can change the construction
for selected windows (or doors) in a surface.

Surface level assignation:

Any constructions you have assigned in to the model will appear in the Surface Properties tab in
RadianceIES:

For convenience it is possible to edit the construction directly (without having to go to APcdb) by double-
clicking the required construction in the Surface Properties tab.

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We will then run a luminance simulation within the L-shaped room using a sunny sky and the same
time and date as before. We will include the components.

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Pattern properties
You will see how to create a pattern property and to apply it to a surface. In this session we will apply
a brick pattern to all external walls of the building.

Using the same method as before, we will create a new external wall in APcdb.

We will add a pattern property to the wall, and then use the new wall to replace existing walls. Pattern
properties are set in the Surface Properties tab.

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We will apply this property to the exterior of the new wall type.

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You will be shown how to save your own surface and pattern properties in a .map file, so that when
you re-open this project at a later stage you can open your saved .map file and use the same properties
again.

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Once the new wall has been assigned to the building we will then run an external luminance simulation
for a sunny sky to see the pattern on the external walls of the building.

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Performing Vertical Sky Component (VSC) analyses
If required, you will be shown how to generate Vertical Sky Component (VSCs) for windows in the
model. Note there is no need to set the sky type, as sky conditions are automatically set.

VSC results can then be viewed in the VSC tab.

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You can see VSCs for selected zones in the model view:

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You can also see VSCs in the ModelViewer:

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Placing sensors in rooms for linking to ApacheSim dynamic thermal simulations
If required, you will be shown how to place light sensors in rooms in the model, and to run simulations
to determine illuminance levels for the sensors for a year. These lighting levels can then be used in
ApacheSim dynamic simulations for daylight-linked dimming of lighting gains and lighting power.

Sensor Settings tab

You can also enable sensors via the icon in the RadianceIES toolbar:

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You can place sensors in selected rooms or in all rooms in the model, and choose various placement
options:

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Once sensors have been enabled you can disable them, make changes to the placement and
add/remove sensors by using the icons in the RadianceIES toolbar.

You can edit the position of a sensor for a selected room:

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You will be shown how you can also change the sensor position by moving down a level of
decomposition for a room, switching to a plan (or elevation) view, and double right-mouse clicking.

Simulate tab - running sensor simulations

Alternatively, you can run the simulation using the icon on the RadianceIES toolbar:

Once the simulations are complete you can then use the sensor lighting levels in ApacheSim to control
lighting gains, and to run ApacheSim dynamic thermal simulations linked to RadianceIES. This is
covered in ApacheSim training.

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Luminaire Settings tab - including light fittings in a RadianceIES simulation (if applicable)
If you have used IES’s LightPro luminaire placement tool or FlucsPro lighting design tool to populate a
room with light fittings, you can include them in a RadianceIES luminance or illuminance simulation.

You will be shown how to use the luminaires in the L-shaped room and how to include or exclude
daylight.

We will then perform luminance and illuminance simulations within the L-shaped room using the same
eye position as before.

This concludes the RadianceIES training session.

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