The lighting simulation program RADIANCE has been used for many years at Fraunhofer ISE. In addition to using RADIANCE, we also develop tools for
RADIANCE in order to solve specific problems that arise. We optimize models and calculating procedures and validate the results by comparison with existing measurements or those made in our laboratory.

For planning strategies with daylighting, we offer the following
services using RADIANCE:

• Estimating the daylighting potential based on regional irradiation data and the geometry of the buildings and of the surroundings
• Choosing and evaluating components for daylighting systems: glazings, light- redirecting elements, shading systems, glare protection systems, combined systems
• Advising and evaluating the set-up at the workplace and the color design
• Calculating and evaluating the daylight factor, the building´s “optical efficiency”
• Calculating and evaluating the daylight autonomy, that is, the fraction of occupation time in which no artificial light is required
• Selecting and evaluating the operation of electric lighting
• Predicting and evaluating the user comfort through illuminancestatistics and luminance level statistics
• Predicting and evaluating annual glare behavior for offices, shadings or facade solutions (dynamic calculations).

The following tools were developed at ISE and can be downloaded:

gendaylit - for RADIANCE

evalglare v 1.04 - source code, tested under Linux, Cygwin

evalglare v 1.04 - Windows Version

photon-mapping

daysim