Lighting Simulation Laboratory: A Networked/Distributed Computing Facility for Design Decision Making

本项目旨在建立一个“照明模拟实验室”，为建筑和室内设计专业的本科生提供互动的、以项目为导向的学习设计、评估和分析建筑环境的视觉和定性方面的原则。它提供了将先进的视觉计算技术迭代和流畅地应用于创意设计的机会。我们建议在高端台式计算机上使用基于radioity的可视化技术来预测建筑空间中的照明性能，作为设计决策的基础。Radiosity代表了计算机图形技术的一个基本进步，因为它允许基于光和材料的物理特性进行精确的模拟。拟议的照明模拟实验室将增强我们的建筑设计和可视化实验室（ADVisLab）的现有设施，该实验室的部分资金来自NSF先前的i - ip拨款，通过利用高端台式计算机来促进视觉工程方法的设计。这个实验室设置带来的附加功能将使我们的本科生能够做他们无法用其他现有的软件程序或物理建模替代品做的事情：科学和准确地可视化他们的照明设计，而不是在没有良好的光度基础的情况下直观地说明所需的照明效果。本项目将结合先进的技术，在入门阶段介绍设计表现和探索的基本技能（每年80名学生），对本系本科生的学习经历产生直接而深远的影响。通过CAAD工作室（每年30名学生）和技术选修课（每年约60名学生），它还将丰富高级学生的学习经验，使他们能够熟练使用先进技术，从而对课程产生更广泛的影响。该设施也将在夏季学期被迈阿密大学的本科生研究学者以及该地区的少数民族高中生使用。该设备将包括15台联网的高端台式计算机，配有用于照明模拟的适当软件和外围设备。

This project is to develop a "lighting simulation laboratory" to facilitate interactive, project- oriented learning of principles of design, evaluation, and analysis of visual and qualitative aspects of the built environment for undergraduate students of architecture and interior design. It provides opportunities to apply advanced visual computing technologies iteratively and fluidly for creative design. We propose to use Radiosity-based visualization techniques on high-end desk-top computers to predict lighting performance in built spaces as a basis for design decisions. Radiosity represents a fundamental advance in computer graphic technology because it allows accurate simulations based on the physical characteristics of light and materials. The proposed lighting simulation laboratory will augment the current facilities in our Architecture Design and Visualization Laboratory (ADVisLab), funded in part by a prior ILI-IP grant from NSF, by utilizing high-end desktop computers to facilitate visual engineering approaches to design. The added capabilities brought by this laboratory setup will enable our undergraduate students to do what they cannot do with other existing software programs or physical modeling alternatives: to visualize their lighting designs scientificallv and accuratelv rather than illustrating desired lighting effects intuitively without a sound photometric basis. This project will have a direct and profound effect on the learning experiences of beginning undergraduate students in the department by incorporating advanced technologies in introducing fundamental skills of design representation and exploration (80 students per year) at the introductory level. It will also have a broader curriculum-wide effect by enriching the learning experiences of upper-level students by allowing them to achieve proficiency in the use advanced technologies through CAAD studios (30 students per year) and technology electives (about 60 students per year). This facility will al so be used during summer semester by Miami University's undergraduate research scholars, as well as area minority high school students. The equipment will include fifteen networked high-end desktop computers with appropriate software and peripherals for lighting simulation.