An interactive workflow for Urban Solar Design approach: a case study of Norway

The paper presents an interactive workflow of a new urban planning approach controlled by electronic devices. It presents how could be conducted a feasibility study for preventing the overshadowing effect on a building’s façade in a case study located in a high urban density area of Trondheim (Norway). The workflow simplifies the communication between experts and clients combining the digital language and the technical analysis. The real time manipulation and analysis of the 3D building’s model using the generative modelling software (Rhynoceros/Grasshopper) and solar dynamic simulation tool (Radiance/Daysim), was developed for evaluating the solar potential of the buildings for different geometric configurations created by iterative parametric design transformations in every urban scenario and locations. The results demonstrate how an alternative design configuration could reduce the overshadowing effect on a building conducting a preliminary multi-level simulation during the early design phases. A future development of the work will be an app for tablets and smartphones used by experts in supporting decision making during the project.