CU1703

SOFTWAREreview
own Script Store, enabling users to
purchase ready-made scripts, or to
submit their own scripts for sale.
INTEROPERABILITY NAVIGATOR
The Interoperability Navigator, like
Python Scripting, is an entirely new
feature of IESVE, and is used to get the
building model ready for analysis. It
enables users to set up data import
settings, providing modelling guidance
that indicates the type of input data it
can handle, and how it is used. It lists
the functionality available and guides
you through a step by step process
that shows you how to import your
model, from whichever modelling tool
you are using, into IESVE,
The Interoperability Navigator
provides all of the tools and guidance
that architects need to run complete
analyses in one application, then adds
refinements to some of IESVE's earlier
features, or new functionality that
further streamlines building
performance simulations.
A feature already implemented in IESVE
and improved in the new version is Shell
Correction (room geometry healing).
Some imported drawings have geometry
imperfections that need to be fixed
before they can be used for analysis - not
always successfully. Now the process
goes through a second correction phase
that has an improved success rate at
fixing defective geometry.
These Geometry Errors can be
viewed at any time in the new
'Quarantine Zone' from the model tree
and the model viewer. The model
viewer also allows for the visible
checking of surface orientations that
were previously only listed in a report,
which still remains available for those
who would prefer it in that format.
Capping resolves an issue that occurs
when the source model file is not
available. The capping functionality
allows multiple zones to be capped
that have some of their geometry
extending beyond the volumes set up
for the simulation.
One of the most common issues of
importing models are gaps in the
geometry where rooms in the
originating source models have not
been accounted for, for example
ceiling voids, risers and stair access
areas. Gap Filling will add in a volume
to the model, removing the necessity
of returning to the originating model to
rectify the ommission.
EXPANSIONS IN DATA IMPORT
Different levels of data are required for
different simulations, and to this end
IES has provided a filter to limit data
import where applicable. Options
include Room Data only, Geometry
only, Geometry & Assigned Data or
Geometry & All Data. There is also an
Import Wizard that compares an
existing, imported and simulated
model to newly imported model
geometry and data.
The new Interoperability Navigator
forms the standard model import
workflow for all users beginner to
advanced - but that's only the start.
IESVE has more advanced utilities that
enhance the workflow, enabling fluid
interoperability with Revit. Users can
build up their expertise using the
Interoperability Navigator, and then
build on that by watching the IES
Faculty on YouTube which, amongst a
whole series of valuable tutorials, gives
an overview of the steps to achieving
bi-directional interoperability between
Revit and IES. The bi-directional
function syncs data between the two
platforms - update in one and it
automatically updates in the other.
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS
There are also a couple of
performance enhancements which
current users of IESVE will probably
appreciate, one of which, the
Parametric Tool and Home
optimisation, was requested by an IES
customer. This is a standalone tool that
references a VE model instead of
being part of a Virtual Environment,
which could potentially 'lock up' the VE.
VE can still be used whilst the software
is performing a parametric study, or
whilst optimisation tools are employed.
Another performance enhancement is
provided by the Parallel Simulation
Manager, which significantly speeds up
simulations. This is one of the most
exciting feature for users in terms of
productivity, producing approx. 75%
faster simulation times. It’s a new tool
that is intended to manage all
simulations within the Virtual
Environment. It separates the
simulations from the VE interface,
enabling users to continue to work on
a model, or set up a new simulation
whilst their current model is
undergoing analysis.
AFFORDABLE PERFORMANCE
IESVE is not, as I thought, an expensive
application to run, despite its reputation
in the market of being a top of the
range environmental analysis tool. In
fact IES were quite taken aback when I
suggested it, saying that the cost of
running individual simulations was very
favourable compared to their
competitors.
www.iesve.com
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