Advanced lighting simulation in architectural design in the tropics

This paper outlines a 2-year research program that the team attempted to apply one of the most powerful computational lighting simulation softwares, radiance, to assist in the daylighting design of an actual building in the tropics. The validation studies, which were carried out in the Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM) in Singapore, showed that radiance can be used to predict the internal illuminance with a high degree of accuracy under overcast sky conditions. The experimental application of radiance to daylighting investigation of the ACM further supports its capabilities as well as its accuracy. Using radiance to study two daylighting control options (curtains and louvers), it can be found that louvers are more effective than curtains as daylighting control devices, and that the angle of the louvers have more effect than their reflectance on daylight penetration and distribution.