Precomputed Radiative Heat Transport for Efficient Thermal Simulation

Area of Science:

• Computer Graphics
• Environmental Science
• Architecture

Background:

• Architectural design and urban planning involve complex tasks with significant thermal impacts.
• Predicting thermal performance early in the design phase is crucial for energy efficiency and mitigating urban heat islands.
• Current methods often lack the speed required for interactive design feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient simulation method for predicting the thermal impact of architectural design choices.
• To enhance user guidance in the early design stages of large-scale construction projects.
• To improve energy efficiency and outdoor comfort in urban environments.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of computer graphics methods, specifically hardware-accelerated photon tracing.
• Integration with finite element discretization, inspired by precomputed radiance transfer.
• Precomputation of a radiative transport operator for rapid steady-state or transient heat transport solutions.

Main Results:

• The developed method enables rapid simulation of heat transfer via thermal radiation.
• It allows for the integration of time-dependent solar irradiation data for diverse scenario analysis.
• The approach facilitates interactive design workflows with fast feedback for city planning.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method significantly improves the ability of designers to assess thermal impacts interactively.
• It offers a pathway to enhanced energy efficiency and outdoor comfort in architectural and urban design.
• This approach provides valuable tools for early-stage design guidance in large-scale projects.