Performance Modelling and Conceptual Design

A number of interactive design tools have recently been developed by the author. These tools differ from many similar packages in that they have been developed from a design perspective, to allow the performance analysis of buildings at any stage in the design process. In addition, within the one application, simultaneous analysis of thermal performance, daylight and electric lighting levels, shading and overshadowing patterns, acoustic response, transmitted sound levels, approximate overall cost and total environmental impact is possible. This means that the ramifications of any design decision can quickly be compared on many different levels without having to input the same data in different formats to a number of different tools.