Integration

Seamlessly connecting climate models and real-world data

Daylight Availability integration screenshot

Daylight Availability

The Daylight Availability simulation evaluates how consistently daylight reaches different areas of your site during selected periods of the year, offering a dynamic and time-sensitive perspective on environmental performance. By enabling users to choose a specific month and define an hour range within the day, the model calculates the percentage of time that each surface area meets predefined daylight thresholds. Rather than presenting a single static snapshot, this approach captures temporal variations in solar position and shading patterns, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of daylight behavior.

The analysis integrates key urban parameters such as building geometry, height, spacing, and orientation. In doing so, it reveals how massing strategies and spatial configurations directly influence daylight penetration at pedestrian level and within semi-outdoor environments. Results are expressed as percentages, clearly distinguishing areas that consistently receive adequate daylight from those that remain shaded for significant portions of the selected timeframe.

This evidence-based insight supports informed decisions regarding site layout, program distribution, and urban density. It is particularly valuable for evaluating the environmental quality and usability of public spaces, courtyards, streets, and plazas, while also guiding design strategies aimed at enhancing daylight access and reducing reliance on artificial lighting systems.

Daylight Availability FAQ

How is daylight availability measured in the simulation?
The simulation calculates the percentage of time each area meets predefined daylight thresholds during your selected period, accounting for building shadows and urban geometry to map spatial daylight quality.
Can I analyze daylight for specific months and hours?
Yes. You select a target month and hour range, and the simulation evaluates how consistently daylight reaches each point during that window, capturing seasonal and diurnal variations in solar position.
Why does daylight availability matter for outdoor spaces?
Adequate daylight improves usability, visual comfort, and attractiveness of public spaces. The analysis guides massing and orientation decisions to optimize light access and reduce artificial lighting needs.