VI-Suite v0.4 – Version 0.4.11 & Sky View Factor Calculation

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Ryan Southall

Version 0.4.11 has now been released. This version contains a number of bug fixes and new features, including the ability to create a sun path with hourly or monthly suns and a new Sky View Factor node. A zip file containing the VI-Suite addon for Blender version 2.7.8 has also been released for Linux 64bit systems. See the changelog page for more details.

The sky view factor (or VI SVF) node operates in a similar manner to the Shadow Map node except that instead of checking if a point can be seen from the perspective of simulated sun positions it is checked if it can be seen from different portions of the sky. The sky can be subdivided into 145 portions (Tregenza) 577 portions (Reinhart 577) or 2305 portions (Reinhart 2305). Accuracy and simulation time increases with each one.

The VI Sky View Factor node can be added through the ‘Analysis Nodes’ menu. An image of the node is shown below. Options are similar as for the Shadow Map node except there is no location input required and no time options, as sky view factor is location and time independent. The ‘Results Out’ socket can be used to save the results to CSV file.

Sky View Factor Node

An example analysis with a 3D city model of the Hague in the Netherlands can be seen below.

Sky View Factor analysis of the Hague. Model provided courtesy of Filip Biljecki.

VI-Suite v0.4 – Radiance Text & Results Export

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Ryan Southall

Hello.
Radiance geometric and sky text descriptions can be accessed, edited and exported via the ‘VI Text Edit’ node. Radiance results can be exported in comma separated CSV format with the ‘VI CSV Export’ node.
The short video below shows how to use these two nodes.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 11 – LiVi Photon Mapping

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a short video on how to use Radiance’s new Photon Mapping capability with the VI-Suite.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 10 – Multiple EnVi Zones

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a short video detailing how to create multiple EnVi zones and designate the boundary between these zones as thermal transfer surfaces for EnergyPlus simulation.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 9 – EnVi Airflow Network

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a short video detailing how to specify a natural ventilation network in EnVi for simulation with EnergyPlus.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 8 – EnVi Zone Specification

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a short video detailing the specification of EnVi zone operation for simulation with EnergyPlus.
Please note that when I say m³/hr in the video I actually mean m³/s.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 5 – LiVi Natural Lighting

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a video detailing how to calculate natural lighting levels such as Lux and Daylight Factor with Radiance using the LiVi nodes of the VI-Suite.

VI-Suite v0.3 – Tutorial 4 – Shadow Study

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Ryan Southall

Below is a short tutorial video detailing how to do a shadow study analysis with the VI-Suite.

VI-Suite

An integrated suite of environmental analysis tools within Blender

Tag Archives: VI-Suite