IES-VE User Forum

Is it possible to import high relief or mountainous topography from Google Earth (via Sketchup) into the VE that will function in Microflo (for an external wind analysis) and Suncast (for shading effects)? Thank you.

Hi Richard,

Yes you can bring in topography from Google Earth and import this to VE as a shade. The process is described in the IESVE Plug-in for SketchUp User Guide (access from the IES toolbar).

It would certainly be used in SunCast but I can't say if it would be useful for MicroFlo (have a feeling the terrain contours would be too complex for the grid though

Phil

Hi, I have a question more or less on the same topic: This topography will work also in ApacheSim? In fact I'm just guessing if the use of the shadows surfaces as a "ground" will have a negative impact in the thermal properties between the building floor and the "ground".

Maybe I'm just a little bit scare because in other Building simulation programs like ESP-r the input in the ground act as a temperature profile and this has an enormous influence in the heating energy needs.

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Regards,

David Garcia

Hi David,

Importing the topography would only act as a shading surface for the SunCast calcs (acts the same as drawing topographical shade in ModelIT directly).

To model the effects of the Ground you would define Ground Contact Constructions and/or edit the ground contact surfaces adjacent condition to be an absolute profile to define it as underground for the purposes of the thermal analyses.

Phil