Integrating building information modeling and virtual reality development engines for building indoor lighting design

Background Lighting simulation tools are extending the functionality of Building Information Modeling (BIM) authoring software applications to support the lighting design analysis of buildings. Although such tools enable quantitative and qualitative analysis and visualization of indoor lighting, they do not provide an interactive environment between users and the design context. Moreover, their visualization environments do not allow users to experience visual phenomena such as glare. In addition, lighting energy consumption generated from traditional tools is often separated from the 3D virtual context of the building. Therefore, an incorrect interpretation by designers regarding the relationship between their desirable lighting design and energy feedback may occur. Methods This research proposes a method and develops a BIM-based lighting design feedback (BLDF) prototype system for realistic visualization of lighting condition and the calculation of energy consumption. Results The results of a case study revealed that BLDF supports design stakeholders to better perceive and optimize lighting conditions in order to achieve a higher degree of satisfaction in terms of lighting design and energy savings for future occupants. Conclusions The developed system utilizes an interactive and immersive virtual reality (VR) environment to simulate daylighting and the illumination of artificial lights in buildings and visualizes realistic VR scenes using head mounted displays (HMD). BLDF allows users to interact with design objects, to change them, and to compare multiple design scenarios, and provides real-time lighting quality and energy consumption feedback.