Automating the Selection of Fenestration Systems to Best Meet Daylighting Performance Goals

Traditional selection of fenestration systems follows a trial-and-error approach, i.e., iterative selection of fenestration systems and evaluation of their performance through the use of simulation tools and techniques. This paper is about the development of a new method, which inverts traditional practice, i.e., aims at automated selection of fenestration systems that best meet specific lighting performance goals.

The new method is based on manipulation of matrices that represent the optical properties of fenestration systems, the propagation of light in interior spaces, and the outdoors luminous conditions. The method follows two steps: 1) the determination of the luminous flux distribution originating from the location of the fenestration that best meets the desired lighting performance goals and 2) the selection of the fenestration system that comes closer to producing the desired flux distribution from the outdoor daylight distribution.