VI-Suite Support Needed for Complex Single-Family Project Geometry

[Gerard T.]

Hi All,

@Ryan, thank you for all your hard work!

I am working on a single-family project called "The Columbia Lexington" and plan to utilize VI-Suite for various tasks, including energy analysis, simulation, radiance analysis, and others.

I intend to import the 3D model, which is a complex geometry (see attached screenshot), into Blender as a .DAE file. I've reviewed your YouTube video on considerations for importing geometry from external modeling tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5LnQm8mXtA.

My primary questions regarding VI-Suite are:

1. Geometry Complexity: Does VI-Suite support energy analysis/simulation on this full, complex 3D model, or is a simplified geometry required?

2. Roof Boundary Definition: If simplification is necessary, how should I define the boundaries for the complex roof structure?

3. Sloped Terrain: I noticed in your shadow analysis video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFVcPz8gX9g) that the building was on sloped terrain. Does energy analysis/simulation also support a sloped ground plane, similar to the shadow analysis feature?

4. Export Nodes: Is there a specific node within VI-Suite that facilitates exporting the model as an.OSM and/or.IDF file?

Thanks in advance for your help and responses.

Gérard,

[VI-Suite]

Hi.

1. All energy analyses programs ultimately require simplified geometry as far as I am aware. There is an experimental converter in the EnVi Geometry node for solid to planar geometry, but it is unlikely to work with a model like this.
2. That depends. Sometimes people take the interior, exterior or mid-point of the construction. I personally like to take the interior surface of the main insulation layer.

3. If the terrain object has an EnVi shading material associated with it then it should.

4. 'fraid not. You would have to look for other Blender addons to do that.

Cheers

Ryan