IES-VE User Forum

Hello,

i was wondering if it is possible to model trees as components or as non-solid shading objects. I am doing a simulations on a building as part of my thesis and the results show high solar gains in the summer and therefore high temperatures in rooms which are actually partly shaded by trees. (It would be nice to take into account the difference between summer and winter since trees can actually optimize winter solar gains and summer shading)Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you

easy as pie.

There are two tree components in the component library - export a GEM from the complib then import that in ModelIT... mark as local obstruction - Job done!

You'll need to edit the tree to take leaves off it for winter though.

Zap

thanks a lot!
I guess a living tree that loses leaves in the winter would be too much to ask

I just have two more questions now:

- if I mark it as a local shade and I perform a daylight calculation with FlucsDL, setting shading bodies to receive and reflect light.. will the leaves incredibly slow down the simulation? (I imagine the solution would be taking them off also when running DL calculation?)

- I created an image with suncast and it doesn't show neither the leaves nor their shadow. Would their shading effect still be taken into account in the shading calculation?

thank you

bets

Hi,

1. FlucsDL calculations can take some time. The More complex the shading objects included in the model the longer the simulation will take to run. You might want to try experimenting with different complexity shading masses to see the impact on results Vs simulation time

2. As long as the surfaces are marked as a Local Shade and are included in the analysis (i.e. they are on a layer in the model that is switched on) then they will affect the solar shading results. If anything doesn't show up in the Sun cast images I would suggest you make sure the surfaces are set to opaque and not invisible - do this in Suncast by selecting a room in the model browser, then right click and Set Surfaces to Opaque.

Phil

i can't add trees to the component library. I have the mcl file on my hard drive though

Hi ,
Please follow the procedure to all the .mcl file in your current project.

1) Open the project in which you want to import the component.
2) Switch to 'Component Modeller' module.
3) Select 'CompLib>>Add from Library' action or Click 'Add component(s) from library' button from 'Component Browser'.
4) Click 'File >> Open' from 'Add components from library' form.
5) Select the .mcl file , you want to import (Here the .mcl file is for trees)
6) The Tree component will be shown in the list , Select that component & click 'Add' button.
7) Select 'CompLib >> Save Component Library'.
Usint this , you have successfully imported component.

Now , switch to ModelIT module & place the component.

1) Select a room in which you want to place a component.
2) Click 'Move down one level' button from the toolbar.
3) Select 'Component' from 'Display mode' comboBox.
4) Click 'Place component' button from the toolbar.
5) Select the 'Tree' component & place it .

Remember , you can move these component outside of the room using 'Move' function.

I hope this has been of some help.
If you have any further queries , please do not hesitate to post it on our forum.