SBIR-STTR Award

The Radiance lighting simulation system, primarily developed by the Department of Energy, is capable of helping teams solve a variety of problems related to daylight and energy efficiency. Nevertheless, for non-experts this platform is notoriously difficult to install and use, hence limiting its impact to industry. The technical objective is to harden Radiance for profitable commercial use. Light Foundry is taking a multifaceted approach to harden Radiance which includes a web-based architecture; commercial features, advanced simulation, visualization, and analysis; collaboration; and user-research.Commercial Applications and Other

Benefits:
This proposed research effort will create innovative, collaborative lighting analysis and visualization tools based on the Radiance lighting simulation software, which will help a variety of people formulate, manage, understand, and solve complex parametric environmental problems. There will be several potential environmental benefits as the result of this project. It will aid design teams reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings, which electric lighting accounts for 35-50% of its usage. It also will have a range of physiological and psychological benefits to occupants encouraging a healthy circadian rhythm, reducing stress, providing distant focal points for relaxation and connection with the outdoors, and correlates with increased performance in schools and commerce in brick and mortar stores.

Simulation tools that physically model daylight and electric lighting systems show promise in planning energy efficient lighting systems. There are still many barriers for these tools to reach the market. This research examines using bring high performance computing and user-centered design to the creation of an innovative lighting simulation and analysis software system. During Phase I of this project, research was performed in user interfaces and usability to determine baseline practices of architects and consultants as well as iteratively building a feasibility prototype. The Phase II research will focus on building the high performance computing platform, interoperability, and further user-centered prototype developments. Commercial Applications and Other

Benefits:
This proposed research effort will create a highly functional Beta system that will help a variety of people to formulate, manage, understand, communicate, and solve complex parametric environmental problems.