A computer model for predicting the daylight performance of complex parallel shading systems

In tropical areas where the exclusion of solar heat from buildings is a par amount consideration, shading systems consisting of adjustable parallel mul tiple slats have evolved which exclude direct solar radiation whilst permit ting some daylight penetration. The modelling of daylight illuminance from these systems is not easy using conventional graphical or computational qua ntitative techniques. This paper sets out a computer-based model for the an alysis of the general case of parallel shading systems. The model is illust rated by reference to the Rowshan shading system used in the Hedjazi archit ecture of Saudi Arabia. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.