# Run your first simulation · infrared.city

> Set up a Vienna site, check the inputs, run an analysis and read the result. Use this guide to run an analysis in the current infrared.city platform.

Source: https://infrared.city/getting-started/tutorial-run-your-first-simulation

25 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

Set up a Vienna site, check the inputs, run an analysis and read the result.

Use this guide to run an analysis in the current infrared.city platform. The example is a site around the MuseumsQuartier and the Hofburg in Vienna. The screenshots show the staging platform on 25 October 2026.

## Step 1: Set up your site

![The Vienna project with its site boundary, buildings, trees and saved results](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-project.webp)

The Vienna project with its site boundary, buildings, trees and saved results

Open the [platform ↗](https://platform.infrared.city/) and sign in. In **Analyze**, select **New project**. Search for Vienna and select **Vienna, Austria**. Use **Circle** or **Polygon** to draw the area you want to study. Follow the instructions on the map to complete the boundary and create the project.

Start with one neighbourhood. Include the buildings and open spaces that can affect your site. Use the mouse wheel to zoom. Move closer until you can see the streets, courtyards and tree cover.

## Step 2: Check your site data

![Data layers for the Vienna site, with buildings, trees, ground materials and the weather station](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-data-layers.webp)

Data layers for the Vienna site, with buildings, trees, ground materials and the weather station

Open **Data layers** on the project card. Check that buildings, trees and ground materials have loaded. Check the weather station too. This example uses Wien-Innere.Stadt.

Use the upload control beside a layer to bring your own data. The panel also accepts GeoJSON, OBJ and EPW files. Check the supported formats before you upload. Review the placement and boundary before you save a design.

You can inspect **Sun & shadows** before you run an analysis. Select a month and move the time slider to see the sun path and building shadows. This display uses the selected day and time; it is separate from a saved thermal result.

![Sun path and building shadows on the Vienna site, with month and time controls](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-sun-shadows.webp)

Sun path and building shadows on the Vienna site, with month and time controls

## Step 3: Choose and configure an analysis

![Thermal Comfort Index configuration with weather presets and the selected analysis cart](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-thermal-setup.webp)

Thermal Comfort Index configuration with weather presets and the selected analysis cart

Select **Add analysis**. Choose a single simulation or open the details of a workflow. For a first result, select **Thermal Comfort Index**. It is added to the **Selected** cart.

Use the configure control on the cart row. Check **Weather & period**. **Customize period** offers weather presets. **Advanced** opens custom months and hours. Select **Done** when the settings are ready.

For analyses that support building surfaces, the cart also lets you choose Ground, Buildings, or both. Buildings results include facades and roofs. Some analyses, including thermal comfort, use Ground only.

## Step 4: Run and read the result

![The saved Vienna Thermal Comfort Index result, with the map, findings and distribution](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-thermal.webp)

The saved Vienna Thermal Comfort Index result, with the map, findings and distribution

Check the token total in the cart. Press **Run** to submit the selected analyses. Wait for **Done** in **Results**, then open the result card. An identical saved result can show **View** instead of a new charge.

Read the saved scenario, weather source and period above the findings. The map, summary and histogram describe that run. Thermal comfort values use UTCI in degrees Celsius. The result is not the air temperature.

## Step 5: Inspect a building or ask the assistant

![A selected Vienna building with facade, roof and height-band statistics](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/vienna-building-stats.webp)

A selected Vienna building with facade, roof and height-band statistics

Open a saved Buildings result, such as Direct Sun Hours. Click a coloured building to open its **Building statistics** card. Read its facade mean, roof mean and height bands. These values describe the selected building.

Open **Site assistant** to ask about the saved results. You can ask it to highlight areas or facades that meet a condition. Check its answer against the result and its units.

## Step 6: Compare design options

![The Hong Kong comparison dashboard with five scenario columns and saved wind and thermal maps](https://infrared.city/assets/media/platform-2026-10/hk-compare.webp)

The Hong Kong comparison dashboard with five scenario columns and saved wind and thermal maps

Use **Add scenario** to prepare another design. Run the same analysis with the same weather and period for each option. Select **Compare**, then **Across scenarios**.

The Hong Kong example below has a baseline and four variants. Use image view to inspect the result patterns. Use table view to read the values together.