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Tag Archives: Graphisoft EcoDesigner
Today is Public Beta launch day – EcoDesigner*
Do not miss the public launch webinars today for the new EcoDesigner* – THAT IS ECODESIGNER STAR – a new more advanced version of EcoDesigner:
register here: http://www.graphisoft.com/ecodesignerstar
EcoDesigner: Climatic zones of South Africa & Energy Analysis
A new feature of ArchiCAD 16 Energy Evaluation is the ability to choose the Climatic Data for your project location. Previously you were limited to a single source for this data, namely: “Download from StruSoft Climate Server”. This option is still there but now you can also choose: “Use ASHRAE IWEC, TMY, WTEC2 file”. 
I received the current 6 “official” climatic zone weather files that have the file extension EPW from Agrément South Africa. You can download these files from my Dropbox link –Click here!
You can also get your own free Dropbox account by joining and installing Dropbox by - clicking here
EcoDesigner: Change the Climate Data to reference one of the climatic zones of South Africa
The first step before changing the climate data is to set the Project Location. This is important considering that choosing one of the climatic zones of South Africa would not help you to locate the project correctly.
To do this you can access the Project Location from Energy Model Review > Environment Settings…
With the Project Location window open you can then enter a Latitude: and Longitude: Please note: this can be entered as “decimal degrees” or “degrees, minutes, seconds” by clicking on the arrow pointing to the right.
You can verify the coordinates that you have entered by clicking on the button “Show in Google Maps…”
Once you have done this you can click on “OK” to close the Project Location window. You should then see Environment Settings window once again. Now click on button “Climate Data”
Now click on the option: Use ASHRAE IWEC, TMY, WTEC2 file and then click on the “Browse…” button
You can now select one of the 6 climatic zone files. This can be accessed by downloading as per my previous blog. Then click on “Open” to close this window. The climatic data referenced will now be shown. In this example I choose Durban. Please note: that this data would not be as accurate as the climate data downloaded from the Strusoft Climate Server which would be related to the exact location. Whereas the Durban.epw file covers East London to Richards Bay?
You can now close the Climate Data window by clicking on “OK”.
EcoDesigner*… celestial body or greenstar?
register here: http://www.graphisoft.com/ecodesignerstar
gbXML add-on, How to export model from ArchiCAD for engineering analysis
Many users battle with placing of zones when exporting ArchiCAD model to gbXML for use in engineering analysis, as a result elements like walls do not show when imported into other softwares,this add-on simplifies all 3D geometry to the bare essentials and structured for applications such as thermal analysis and augmented with engineering data like material properties, power usage, plant and occupancy. Refer to the suggestions below, they may be helpful to get the zones working and ready for export.
1. Firstly, when placing room zones, they must bound with walls-any walls not adjoining the zones will be ignored. Zones identifying a room must be traced around the inside faces of the bounding walls, refer to figure (a) below. Any zone stamp, category, or layer may be used.
(a) 
2. In multiple storey buildings, zones have to be independent storey by storey, refer to figure (b) below.
(b) 
3. Zones bounding the exterior wall are also required to allow the add-on to calculate the relationships between surfaces, spaces and the out-doors. Zones must be traced around the exterior faces of the building, refer to figure (c) below. Any zone stamp, category, or layer may be used.
(c)
4. Site properties must be specified, and can be extracted from the project model, and most importantly, its location and orientation. The site post code will be exported if specified in the “project info” dialog (from File/Info menu), figure (d) below.
(d) 
The remainder are found in the ArchiCAD sun settings accessed through the “3D Projection Settings” dialog ( from “View/3D View Mode” menu) specifically the site location and project north, figure (e) below.
(e) 
5. Zones may be placed manually but it can be a long process hence the add-on provides the automated zone placing by going to Design/Design Extras/Place Zones fig (f) below, but this tool may not find all the rooms which might be due to some modelling problems like gaps between walls, and this leaves the user to adjust or add unidentified zones manually.
(f) 
6. Then specify which zones to place and their properties in the “Zone Placement” dialog, fig (g).
(g) 
7. Saving as gbXML, first select “Save As” from the “File” menu. In the “Save As” dialog, select “gbXML” as the export type, specify the file name and location, click “Save” ( The illustration below ( fig. (h)) is for Mac OS, but the principle is the same for Windows).
(h) 
The “gbXML Export Settings” dialog will appear, select the properties of the room and exterior zones to export. If no layer or category is selected, the add-on will export all zones. Refer to fig (i) below.
(i) 
ArchiCAD “HAMMERS” the opposition!
ArchiCAD 16 : Product of the Year in the UK!
Affectionately known as ‘The Hammers,’ the Construction Computing Awards, showcase and reward the technology, tools and solutions for the effective design, construction, maintenance, and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing and civil engineering projects of all sizes. In addition to the main category of Product of the Year, GRAPHISOFT also took home awards in 2012 for BIM Product of the Year for ArchiCAD 16, and Mobile Product of the Year for BIMx; the company was also runner up for the Environmental Project of the Year involving EuroBuild and their M-Labs project.
Join GRAPHISOFT in SADC at our range of training events and user group meetings, to learn more about ArchiCAD 16, BIMx & EcoDesigner during 2013. Events schedule and registration links here.
