Sky View Factor Calculation - A computational-geometrical approach

Sky view factor (SVF) is a well-known parameter in urban-climatic studies, but there is a lack of consensus on its effectiveness, especially with regard to the interpretation of changes in urban air temperatures. This led the authors to develop the new concept of the partial sky view factor (SVFp), which showed promise in a previous study. The objective of this study is to save the time associated with manual methods of calculating SVF and SVFp by developing a Rhino-Grasshopper component to quantify them via the hemispheric projection of a 3D model. In addition, a different approach, in terms of a hemispheric projection to calculate SVF, will be introduced by another component, and the pros and cons of each approach are considered. We will name these methods 'Ray Method' and 'Geometrical Method' respectively. The Ray Method has achieved a good balance between accuracy, processing time and urban scale and complexity compared to the Geometrical Method.