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Shading Studies and Sun Path Diagrams
Background Reading: DH-I chapter 6 | MIT lecture: Where is the Sun

1. Direct Shading The objective of this exercise is to validate the results of direct shading studies provided by DIVA-for-Rhino and other daylight simulation tools. To do so, you are asked to take at least two photos of an object of your choice outside at different times of day under clear sky conditions. You are then asked to model the object in Rhino and generate two clear sky visualizations under the same sky conditions from about the same perspective as the photos. Discuss your findings. If you are using DIVA-for-Rhino, a tutorial on how to conduct a direct shading study are available for both DIVA Rhino and DIVA Grasshopper . An example study by Jeff Geisinger is shown below.

Tips: The two most common mistakes for this exercise are that the simulationist forgets to consider daylight saving time or that the physical model is not properly oriented. Simulation programs use standard time as oposed to daylight saving time (DST). The two time conventions are identical during winter months but when DST is in session, local time has to be moved back by an hour. A smartphone or physical compass offers a convenient way to ensure that a physical model is properly aligned.

Sep8_12.00_Photo Sep8_15.45_Photo
September 8, 12.00pm Photo
September 8, 3.45pm Photo
Sep8_12.00_Photo Sep8_15.45_Photo
September 8, 12.45pm DIVA/Radiance
September 8, 3.45pm DIVA/Radiance

2. Annual Sun Path Diagram Show an annual sun path diagram of your object in Rhino using for example the DIVA Grasshopper sunpath component. An example result is shown below..

Sunpath diagram using DIVA

Sunpath Diagram DIVA