Calculating the solar potential of the urban fabric with SketchUp and HTB2

Bassett, Thomas, Lannon, Simon Charles ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4677-7184, Waldron, Diana and Jones, Phillip John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1559-8984 2012. Calculating the solar potential of the urban fabric with SketchUp and HTB2. Presented at: Solar Building Skins, Bressanone, Italy, 6-7 December 2012.

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Abstract

This paper introduces a new tool for analysing annual solar insolation potentials for façades and roofs at an urban scale using Trimble SketchUp and the dynamic simulation model HTB2. The tool is in the form of a plugin which 1) generates shading masks for every façade and roof in a model, 2) exports geometries to HTB2 for analysis, 3) invokes HTB2 from within SketchUp, and 4) returns outputs into SketchUp for review. Its capability to calculate the effects of complex terrain (imported from Google Earth) on façade and roof solar insolation levels is demonstrated. Case studies of the tool applied to both urban and rural areas of Wales and Europe are examined and results discussed. The simplicity of the tool in performing complex solar potential analyses is demonstrated, and its broader application as an analysis tool for calculating urban energy demands are presented.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Solar, SketchUp, HTB2, Terrain
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2022 10:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/41395

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