I am Kashif Dafedar, a design technology specialist at Arcadis (CallisonRTKL). I work on projects to promote technological innovation to improve architectural design and delivery. Last week we tried a fun experiment using Forma, with some surprising results.
We were working with Dr. La Roche and his students at Cal Poly Pomona who wanted to analyze the internal design of an office building. We knew Autodesk Forma could analyze the external façade but wondered if by removing the external façade would we get high-level analysis of the internal spaces.
We modelled the internal structure using Rhino, but one could use Revit and export the internal geometry too. We placed the skeletal 3D model on the site and used Forma’s internal analysis on it.
We added floors that match the slabs in the model, this worked, but is not accurate. We were able to run all the analysis except – Microclimate & Operational energy, which weren’t necessary applicable to this modelling strategy.
We were particularly impressed by the wind analysis, seeing the wind vectors go through the building was very exciting, obviously if the building is cladded, this would not happen. But this opens a possibility to analyze urban wind tunnels, venturi courtyards and thermo symphonic phenomena in projects.
Noise analysis was another such analysis that produces volumetric results. Perhaps the upcoming versions of the tool might add mesh based noise analysis.
All these analysis are high level but provided interesting insight for the students as they developed their proposals. An interesting conclusion that needs more experimentation so we can confidently use these techniques on professionals projects as well.
