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Cultural and technological evolution have profoundly transformed architectural simulation and visualisation, revolutionising how architects communicate and execute projects. The integration of digital tools, in particular, has advanced building behaviour prediction and decision-making capabilities during the design process, playing a pivotal role in promoting benefits for sustainable building design. However, inherent uncertainties within daylight simulation and visualisation can significantly impact the precision and credibility of the obtained results. The objective of this literature review is to examine challenges related to accuracy and validation complexities when employing digital tools in daylighting studies. However, in assessing the quality and accuracy of models, it's crucial to consider their suitability for the intended purpose at various stages of design or research. This necessitates an initial overview of how digital tools are currently applied in daylighting studies, which helps to understand the goals of these models and ensure they are aligned with their intended applications. To address this, a systematic search conducted on the Web of Science (WoS) database yielded 1,441 studies, of which 1,102 were found relevant and employed digital tools for daylight analysis up to March 2023. This thorough analysis identified five primary thematic areas in the use of digital tools for daylighting research: Optimisation (49%), Calculation methods (17%), Assessment (13%), Accuracy (10%), and Decision-making (8%), collectively compromising 97% of the analysed articles. We subsequently concentrated on two pivotal areas, 'Calculation Methods' and 'Accuracy', to undertake a qualitative analysis of the discussed challenges related to accuracy linked to three main aspects: Input data, Computational process, and Output. The discussion further delves into the significance of the feedback step within this process, highlighting the complexities of validation and reviewing pertinent examples from the analysed studies. In conclusion, for those involved in education, research, and practice within the realm of (day)lighting analysis, grasping the nuances of these challenges is crucial to making more informed design decisions, particularly in Assessment and Optimisation areas, which represent a significant 62% of daylighting studies. As the field of architecture progresses, tackling these challenges becomes essential to maintaining the precision and trustworthiness of digital tools in daylighting studies, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable building design.
Nazari et al. (Fri,) studied this question.