• Building Performance Simulation with Grasshopper

  • Many designers, architects and engineers have been using Grasshopper as a part the building design proces.

  • This survey explores how building performance simulations are used to design buildings. More specifically, how you use and want to use visual programming languages like Grasshopper with building performance simulations in the early design stages.

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  • The following questions address the use of integrated dynamic models, which are defined as:

    "An integrated dynamic model is basically a combined model composed of a geometric model controlled in a design tool dynamically coupled to a visual programming language (VPL), which is again dynamically coupled to a building performance simulation (BPS) environment." [1]

    Where the Design tool, the VPL and the BPS are: 

    • Design tool: e.g. Rhino
    • VPL: e.g. Grasshopper
    • BPS: e.g. Robot, Energy+ or Radiance...* 

    *often accessed through plugins like Ladybug, Geco...

  • Click button to start the survey:

    • Integrated dynamic models used in research and practice 

    • Integrated dynamic models used in research and practice

    • Please think of the latest project where you have used (or participated in using) intergrated dynamic models.

      Which of the following arguments for that particular project are true?



    • Have the interactions between members of the design team affected by the use of integrated dynamic models in this project? If so, how?

    • 0/250

    • Has the use of integrated dynamic models had an impact on the simulated performance such as energy consumption, indoor environment and/or sustainability of this project? If so, how?

    • 0/250

    • Has the use of integrated dynamic models had an impact on other decisions in this project? If so, which?

    • 0/250

    • To what extent for this particular project do you agree on these five statements A), B), C), D) and E)?

      Statement A) The use of integrated dynamic models have created a better common starting point of collaboration between the members in the design team

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • Statement B) The use of integrated dynamic models have improved the communication between the members in the design team

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • Statement C) The use of integrated dynamic models have improved the (simulated) performance of the building design

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • Statement D) The use of integrated dynamic models have assisted in the exploration of architectural expressions and concepts of the building design that is not directly associated with the (simulated) building performance

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • Statement E) The use of integrated dynamic models have positively assisted in achieving high performing buildings without compromising the architectural expressions and concepts of the building design

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • Click button to continue the survey:

    • General use of integrated dynamic models 

    • General use of integrated dynamic models

    • How do you use integrated dynamic models as a tool in the early design stage? As a:

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • How would you like integrated dynamic models to be used as a tool in the early design stage?: As a:

      Select and drag the sliders. Where [0] is "I do not agree", and [100] is "I agree completely".

    • When using integrated dynamic models in the early design stage, what is more important:

      Select, drag and arrange the order of the characteristics of the model, where [1] is more important and [5] is least important: 

    • Specifically concerning BPS requirements, what is more important:

      Select and click one button, if more important. Click both buttons if equally important.

    • Specifically concerning visual feedback requirements, what is more important:

      Select and click one button, if more important. Click both buttons if equally important.

    • Specifically concerning VPL requirements, what is more important:

      Select and click one button, if more important. Click both buttons if equally important.

    • If you have any notes or comments to the researchers, please feel free to put them here:

    • Click button to submit the survey:

    • Should be Empty: