5-phase method model reflectance

Dear All

I am doing some analyses on reflectance values and I have just started using the 5-phase method for those.

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

5pm_dsc.opt: -ab 1 -ad 50000 -as 0 -lw 2e-5 -dc 1 -dt 0 -dj 1 -st 1 -ss 0

rfluxmtx -n 4 -faa -I+ @5pm_dsc.opt -y `wc -l < $prj.pts` < $prj.pts - skies/suns.rad $pmats/materials-$i.rad $prj-black.rad windows.rad > dmx/MF6.dsc
oconv $pmats/materials-$i.rad $prj-black.rad windows.rad skies/suns.rad > octs/model_suns-$i.oct
rcontrib -n 4 -I+ @5pm_dsc.opt -faa -e MF:6 -f reinhart.cal -b rbin -bn Nrbins -o dmx/MF6-$i.dsc -m solar octs/model_suns-$i.oct < $prj.pts

Am I doing something wrong or is this the normal behaviour? The data I get in the end are plausible. Could you explain why the Sun Coefficient Matrix needs to take into account the model reflectances at all?

I hope I managed to explain the issue somehow... Thanks for your help!

Eleonora

From: giulioandrea antonutto foi <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Radiance-general] 5-phase method model reflectance
Date: 17 June 2015 21:53:57 BST
To: Radiance general discussion <[email protected]>

Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

···

Begin forwarded message:

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> wrote:

Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

···

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

The direct sun coefficient matrix only includes materials in your window
system, assuming you're using pass-through BSDF in you model. So it
shouldn't change when you change other materials. Maybe check that your
materials are actually black using rvu?

There are ways to reduce the amount of time the direct sun coefficient
matrix takes, the most useful is to delete the suns in suns.rad that will
never be used. So if you don't plan on changing the orientation or latitude
in your simulations you can delete suns that fall outside of your solar
band. Also if you're only doing hourly analysis, you could delete suns
between hourly analemas.

···

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 9:56 AM, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected] > wrote:

Dear All

I am doing some analyses on reflectance values and I have just started
using the 5-phase method for those.

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not
matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is
assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks
like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’
reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly
the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I
think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is
all simple clear glass).

5pm_dsc.opt: -ab 1 -ad 50000 -as 0 -lw 2e-5 -dc 1 -dt 0 -dj 1 -st 1
-ss 0

  rfluxmtx -n 4 -faa -I+ @5pm_dsc.opt -y `wc -l < $prj.pts` < $prj.pts -
skies/suns.rad $pmats/materials-$i.rad $prj-black.rad windows.rad >
dmx/MF6.dsc
oconv $pmats/materials-$i.rad $prj-black.rad windows.rad skies/suns.rad
> octs/model_suns-$i.oct
rcontrib -n 4 -I+ @5pm_dsc.opt -faa -e MF:6 -f reinhart.cal -b rbin -bn
Nrbins -o dmx/MF6-$i.dsc -m solar octs/model_suns-$i.oct < $prj.pts

Am I doing something wrong or is this the normal behaviour? The data I
get in the end are plausible. Could you explain why the Sun Coefficient
Matrix needs to take into account the model reflectances at all?

I hope I managed to explain the issue somehow... Thanks for your help!

Eleonora

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

Hi Giulio,

A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?

Greg (and David G-M) changed the way direct jittering works for round
sources so that there are no longer aiming failures (


).

and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular

sampling?

You want to turn specular sampling off for the direct sun coefficient
matrix to avoid double counting in the 5-phase method.

Best,
Andy

···

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM, giulioandrea antonutto foi < [email protected]> wrote:

Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if
there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular
sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> > wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter
for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a
black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun
Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances
(and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that
is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the
same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple
clear glass).

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

Thanks Andy!
There is a time to quit boxing…
Maybe it is my time today…
:slight_smile:
G

···

On 17 Jun 2015, at 22:25, Andrew McNeil <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Giulio,

A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
Greg (and David G-M) changed the way direct jittering works for round sources so that there are no longer aiming failures (http://www.radiance-online.org/community/workshops/2009-boston-ma/Presentations/GW_RadianceImprovements.pdf).

and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
You want to turn specular sampling off for the direct sun coefficient matrix to avoid double counting in the 5-phase method.

Best,
Andy

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM, giulioandrea antonutto foi <[email protected]> wrote:
Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

Don't say that, Giulio -- I would have to quit, too! I was also puzzled by the -st 1 setting.... (I still need to learn Andy's 5-phase method.)

-Greg

···

From: G <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Radiance-general] 5-phase method model reflectance
Date: June 17, 2015 5:15:56 PM PDT

Thanks Andy!
There is a time to quit boxing…
Maybe it is my time today…
:slight_smile:
G

On 17 Jun 2015, at 22:25, Andrew McNeil <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Giulio,

A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
Greg (and David G-M) changed the way direct jittering works for round sources so that there are no longer aiming failures (http://www.radiance-online.org/community/workshops/2009-boston-ma/Presentations/GW_RadianceImprovements.pdf).

and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
You want to turn specular sampling off for the direct sun coefficient matrix to avoid double counting in the 5-phase method.

Best,
Andy

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM, giulioandrea antonutto foi <[email protected]> wrote:
Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

Noooooooooo!
Don't quit.

···

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 5:29 PM, Greg Ward <[email protected]> wrote:

Don't say that, Giulio -- I would have to quit, too! I was also puzzled
by the -st 1 setting.... (I still need to learn Andy's 5-phase method.)

-Greg

*From: *G <[email protected]>

*Subject: *Re: [Radiance-general] 5-phase method model reflectance

*Date: *June 17, 2015 5:15:56 PM PDT

Thanks Andy!
There is a time to quit boxing…
Maybe it is my time today…
:slight_smile:
G

On 17 Jun 2015, at 22:25, Andrew McNeil <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Giulio,

A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?

Greg (and David G-M) changed the way direct jittering works for round
sources so that there are no longer aiming failures (
http://www.radiance-online.org/community/workshops/2009-boston-ma/Presentations/GW_RadianceImprovements.pdf
).

and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular

sampling?

You want to turn specular sampling off for the direct sun coefficient
matrix to avoid double counting in the 5-phase method.

Best,
Andy

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM, giulioandrea antonutto foi < > [email protected]> wrote:

Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if
there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular
sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> >> wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not
matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is
assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks
like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’
reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly
the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I
think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is
all simple clear glass).

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

ok, if you all insist I will not quit :slight_smile:
but beware, I may ask the odd thing here and there…
thanks
G

···

On 18 Jun 2015, at 02:14, Andrew McNeil <[email protected]> wrote:

Noooooooooo!
Don't quit.

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 5:29 PM, Greg Ward <[email protected]> wrote:
Don't say that, Giulio -- I would have to quit, too! I was also puzzled by the -st 1 setting.... (I still need to learn Andy's 5-phase method.)

-Greg

From: G <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Radiance-general] 5-phase method model reflectance
Date: June 17, 2015 5:15:56 PM PDT

Thanks Andy!
There is a time to quit boxing…
Maybe it is my time today…
:slight_smile:
G

On 17 Jun 2015, at 22:25, Andrew McNeil <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Giulio,

A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
Greg (and David G-M) changed the way direct jittering works for round sources so that there are no longer aiming failures (http://www.radiance-online.org/community/workshops/2009-boston-ma/Presentations/GW_RadianceImprovements.pdf).

and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
You want to turn specular sampling off for the direct sun coefficient matrix to avoid double counting in the 5-phase method.

Best,
Andy

On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM, giulioandrea antonutto foi <[email protected]> wrote:
Off topic completely…
your setting for dj and st are a bit odd. maybe interesting to know if there is a reason.
A jitter of 100% will lead to aiming failure?
and also setting a specular threshold to 100% will mean no specular sampling?
unless there is a reason? new radiance settings meaning different things?
just a curiosity.
G.

On 17 Jun 2015, at 17:56, Eleonora Brembilla <[email protected]> wrote:

At first I thought the reflectances assigned to the model would not matter for the part that is specific to the 5-phase, as the model is assigned a black material, but comparing the resulting matrices it looks like the Sun Coefficient Matrix (.dsc) changes with the original materials’ reflectances (and it’s the only matrix that change). And that is exactly the matrix that is taking most of the computational effort (about 4 hours I think - the same model with the 2-phase method takes 5 minutes, glazing is all simple clear glass).

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general

_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general