<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I agree with John, eQuest can be used to simulate an urban scenario using the Design Development Wizard and the Detailed mode. I am not aware of any single software that is geared specifically for an "urban:" scenario testing. However, eQuest allows you to create multiple buildings on a site, and the "fixed shades" feature allows you to create shading shapes on the building exterior simulating street and landscape objects that interact with the building. I am not sure however, about eQuest's handling of radiant exchange between the street materials and the buildings and between the buildings themselves. I've only used it for single building
analysis. </span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Another software that I looked at (only scratching the surface though) is ECOTECT, which seems to address some of the urban issues that you're interested in. The advantage is that it is a European software and uses metric units which is probably more compatible with your research. However, it is not free (euro 325 for educational purposes euro 80 for student) whereas eQuest is.</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.squ1.com/ecotect/features">http://www.squ1.com/ecotect/features</a></span></span></font><br><br><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Arial;">Respectfully</span></font></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Akram Rosheidat,
Architect</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TRK Architecture & Facilities Management, Inc.</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><st1:Street style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">2632 East Thomas Rd.
#200</st1:address></st1:Street><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><st1:City style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:City><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> -
</span><st1:place style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Arizona</st1:State></st1:place><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
85016</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phone (602)331-1800 extension 223</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fax (602)331-3558</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mobile
(480)703-3676</span><br></span></font><a title="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/akram/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Signatures/www.trkinc.com" href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/akram/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Signatures/www.trkinc.com"><font title="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/akram/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Signatures/www.trkinc.com" face="Arial" size="2"><span title="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/akram/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Signatures/www.trkinc.com" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">www.trkinc.com</span></font></a><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> </span></font></p><br><br><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">----- Original Message ----<br>From: "Aulbach, John" <jaulbach@nexant.com><br>To: fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de; bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br>Sent: Wednesday,
January 9, 2008 11:32:29 AM<br>Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] Expert Opinion on Energ. Bldg Simulation in Urban Context<br><br>
Hi Farzia:<br><br>I am sure there are more robust, but more complicated 3-D models to
use.<br>But many of us use eQuest, which is based on DOE-2.2. The 2.2 program
is<br>an advance of the 25+ years of experience used in the US Department of<br>Energy's supported DOE-2 program. eQuest now gives us a front end to at<br>least ramp up various levels of intensity. There are three levels of<br>opportunity:<br><br>1) Schematic Design Wizard - Using a basic floor shape, one can do a<br>cursory building and a few Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs).<br><br>2) Design Development Wizard - Input floor by floor footprint shapes
(or<br>multiple buildings) with the same level of EEM detail as the Schematic<br>Wizard.<br><br>3) Detailed interface - After creating your building (or buildings) in<br>either of the above Wizards, input anything DOE-2.2 can muster. <br><br>All three levels can generate a 3-D interface.<br><br>You will still need to take a training course to acquaint you with the<br>basic program "theology" and hierarchies. But I believe this will give<br>you the best "bang for the buck (or Euro) that is presently available.<br><br>And this forum wonderful experts can give you assistance 24/7 (or so it<br>seems).<br><br><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: <a ymailto="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org" href="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org">bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br>[mailto:<a ymailto="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org"
href="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org">bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>] On Behalf Of<br><a ymailto="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de" href="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de">fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de</a><br>Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 3:29 AM<br>To: <a ymailto="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org" href="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org">bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br>Subject: [Bldg-sim] Expert Opinion on Energ. Bldg Simulation in Urban<br>Context<br><br>Dear Colleagues,<br><br>I am just starting with a research dealing with the energy performance<br>of urban buildings. The focus is put on the urban context, that is how<br>would be the energy consumption, thermal and comfort conditions of a<br>building if placed in a dense built area? also which urban and building<br>describers are the most decisive? Several urban arrangements (plan<br>density, H/W, etc.) and various building shapes
(and<br>properties:Materials, Use, etc.) will be studied.<br><br>I am right now looking for the best tool for performing my simulations,<br>so preferably a building energy model (with a strong physical basis)
but<br>including a 3D geometry module.<br>I would be very grateful if I can have some expert opinion on which
tool<br>would be the most appropriate:<br>1. TRNSYS is a powerful tool but I still do not know whether it can<br>include any surrounding buildings (or even vertical screens offset from<br>the main building which would serve to represent those surroudings?) 2.<br>TAS includes a 3D modeller which allows the design of the whole 3D area<br>but I have not used it so far so I do not really know its capabilities,<br>strengthens and weaknesses.<br>3. Other models...? Please let me know for any proposed tool about its<br>ease of use vs. complexity. and how much time I need to learn use it.<br>4. Of course, I welcome every advice, literature references, or any<br>useful material.<br>Many Thanks in advance,<br>Best regards,<br>Fazia A.<br><br>---------------------------------------------<br>Fazia Ali-Toudert, Arch. Ph.D.<br>University of Dortmund - Faculty of Building Chair for Environmental<br>Architecture Baroper Str. 301<br>D-44227 Dortmund<br>Phone: +49
231 755 5426<br>Fax: +49 231 755 5423<br>website: <a href="http://www.bauwesen.uni-dortmund.de/ka/" target="_blank">http://www.bauwesen.uni-dortmund.de/ka/</a><br>email: <a ymailto="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de" href="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de">fazia.alitoudert@daad-alumni.de</a><br> <a ymailto="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@tu-dortmund.de" href="mailto:fazia.alitoudert@tu-dortmund.de">fazia.alitoudert@tu-dortmund.de</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Bldg-sim mailing list<br><a ymailto="mailto:Bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org" href="mailto:Bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org">Bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org" target="_blank">http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Bldg-sim mailing list<br><a
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