Assessing Mean Average During Occupied Time

[R Tibenham]

Dear All,

I am trying to assess something pretty basic within VistaPro, however to date I am yet to find a solution.

I am trying to assess the mean average of a variable (in the current case, volume flow in through a window), during occupied time only.

A mean average function is available within the 'Synopsis' dialog of VistaPro, though this accounts for all time, not occupied time only, therefore it is not suitable.

The 'range tests' dialog allows time ranges and occupied time to be defined, and by using the percentage of time lesser/greater tool, it is possible to establish a mode average (by establishing the figure for which during 50% of the time, the value is higher or lower). This does not provide an arithmetic mean average though.

I have tried using an AVG (X) function within the custom variables manager; testing this within a prescribed time range within the 'range tests' dialog, but to no avail - It reports an output of 0, and graphs state 'no data to plot'.

Does anyone have any solutions to this reasonably simple requirement?

[Complex Potential]

If you figure this one out, I'd love to know because I've never found a way within IES. The same goes for max and min values within occupied hours.

My "solution" is to export all 8760 hours to excel and then remove the ones I don't want with formulae.

[JohnM]

Hi peeps,

It is possible to create the variable using custom variables.
The two caveats being: it can only be viewed using the table, and it's for the entire simulation (i.e. not the selected range).
See below:
Output:

Variable 1 'occ vol flow in' - 'IF( B > 0, A, NAN )':

Variable 2 'mean occ vol flow in' - 'AVG( A )':

You could just create one variable to do it, but i split it up so you can see it working.

I hope this helps.

John

[R Tibenham]

Hi John,

Thanks for providing details on how to achieve this.

Is this something that might be incorporated into future software revisions by means of additional analysis setting?

Assessing average, peak and minimum values within occupied time or a given time period would be really useful to a lot of people I would think.

In the mean time, thanks for your solution.

[JohnM]

I don't see why it couldn't be added to the software so i've passed your comments onto our feedback team.

Regards,
John

[R Tibenham]

Thanks John