[Radiance-general] Rtcontrib-BSDF and DAYSIM-pmap: where are we heading?

[John Mardaljevic]

Fellows,

The intention here is to try to envisage what the software landscape  
might be like in five / ten years time, at least for Radiance users  
doing climate-based (i.e. annual) daylight modelling, perhaps  
including complex glazing systems.

Jan Wienold mentioned a while back that a photon-mapping Radiance add- 
on (I assume pmap) is in the works, and that it would be integrated  
with DAYSIM for annual simulations. Greg Ward has recently  
demonstrated the rtcontrib-BSDF approach that seems to offer similar  
functionality.

So, are we being presented with a fork in the road ahead?  If so, how  
will we decide which path to take?  Is now perhaps the right time to  
consider working-up a checklist of capabilities/strengths/weaknesses  
for the two approaches?

I don't believe that we are too far away from seeing metrics founded  
on climate-based daylight modelling appearing in guidelines such as  
LEED etc.  In which case, there could be something of a scramble as  
potentially many, many new Radiance users join what is still a fairly  
small bunch of 'enthusiasts' doing annual simulations.  It think it  
would be useful to get this discussion on the go sooner rather than  
later.

Best,

-John

-----------------------------------------------
Dr. John Mardaljevic
Reader in Daylight Modelling
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development
De Montfort University
The Gateway
Leicester
LE1 9BH, UK
+44 (0) 116 257 7972
+44 (0) 116 257 7981 (fax)

jm at dmu.ac.uk
http://www.iesd.dmu.ac.uk/~jm