New Climate Analysis Tool for Early Phases in Building Design

摘要

Detailed climate analysis provides the basis for sustainable architecture. This paper presents ClimateTool, a new interactive, graphics-based, easy-to-use planning tool for climate analysis. ClimateTool's outcome is demonstrated by discussing its input parameters and analyzing a location in the subtropics. The aim of the tool goes beyond just offering climate data to conjunctively show the challenges and potentials of each location, providing users with the basis to develop sustainable buildings for a specific location. ClimateTool facilitates the analysis of the climate relevant aspects in planning, presenting results in charts for any given location on earth. World maps using and combining the necessary parameters show differences in climate caused by specific geographic factors like height or proximity to the sea. Also included is UrbanTool, a tool which enables shading and insolation examinations for buildings to be evaluated, e.g. the potential of solar power systems on roofs and facades.