Lab 1 Geometry

You can download a really handy guide to help with this tutorial from:
http://www.iesve.com/content/downloadasset_7330

This exercise guides you through the construction of a simplified

version of this building

The actual floor plan is shown above. The simplified floor plan is shown below. We are
going to build this and then duplicate it 9 times to form the 10 storey office block

IES ModelIT - what am I looking at?

5

The View Window lets you change between

views of your model. The default is plan view
but you can select front, side and axiometric
views (these make more sense when you have
built something you want to look at)

The Tree Pane

provides
information
about
everything you
have built

This is the Drawing Pane

it is where you build
your models

You can specify x and y coordinates to

precisely locate points when you are
drawing. The red cross is the origin, ie (0,0)

These are the Drawing Tools they

let you configure the drawing pane
and construct your model

Setting up the drawing pane

The Grid Settings button allows you to

change the size of the mesh so that it
matches the dimensions in your model.

Drawings currently snaps to the nearest metre. If your

building had dimensions with half metre values, it would
make sense to reduce the grid to 0.5m in the x and y
directions.

3
1

If you drag the mouse

around, the cursor will show
where you are on the
drawing pane.
2

The cursor snaps to the grid, ie,

these grey points on the drawing
pane

Where am I? The little window at

the bottom right of the drawing
pane contains the coordinates of
the cursor (the black cross in the
middle of the screen).

Starting to draw
1

We will start by using the

Extrusion tool to draw the
outline of the floor plan
click on the Extrusion
Button

4 .or you can specify the

coordinates of the
corners using the
keyboard to type
dimensions into the
Command Window
3

You can either draw by

using your mouse to
move the cursor and left
clicking to fix the room
corners .

In the Shape Settings

window set the
height/depth to 3.6m

Using the Command Window

We will use the Command Window type in the information shown below
and hit the return key on your
keyboard each time

dx=0,20

dx=-49.5,0

x=0,0

dx=49.5,0

dx=0,-20

What has happened?

You now have the outline of the

building on plan.

and some information relating

to all the elements you have
drawn appear in the Tree Pane

Building the core

1

There is a core in the building that we need to add. You can

model this as part of the same thermal zone (its floor area
and volume will be included in the simulation of the room
you have just drawn) or as a separate thermal zone (the
simulation will calculate different energy flows and
temperatures for it. We will model it as part of the same
zone

Click on the Draw

Partitions button

In the partitions window

select the two options
shown

left click on your mouse

and drag over the building
elements to select them

Building the core

Change the Grid

Settings to 0.5m

Next use the Command Window and type steps 3, 4 and 5

(below), hitting the return button on your keyboard after
each one
4 dx=0,5

5 dx=-40.5,0

3 dx=40.5,0

Note the
extra
elements
appearing
on the tree

You need to locate the first point using the mouse watch the
coordinates at the bottom right of the screen and click on 0.0m , 7.5m

Alternative views
1

If you select the axiometric view,

you can see what you have built
in 3D one of our ten stories

Return to the plan view and we

will add some windows

Adding windows

Make sure the

model is selected
either drag over
the model with
your mouse or
select the room
from the tree

Click on the Add by

height/width/spacing
tab

Click on the Edit

Glazing button

Adding windows

This option allows you to add lots of windows quickly

if they are of a regular size and are evenly spaced

The definitions of the key cells in the

Add by Height/Width/Spacing panel
are given in the sketch below

x-spacing
x-offset

height

y-offset

width

Use the values in the cells

above to add windows to the
room you have just built, then
click on the Apply button

Adding windows

Lots of windows should

now appear both on the
model and in the tree

The windows along the long

sides of the building look
fine, we will look next at
how we can fix the windows
along the short edges
there are too many of them

Adding windows
1

We will start by deleting the

windows on the short edges
to do this we will select
each in turn

On the tree, click on the

Wall and then from the
drop down branches, click
on the window

Right click the window in the

tree and then select Delete

The view on the drawing

pane should change we
are looking here at part of
the end wall with the
window highlighted in red

Adding windows
1

If you select Axiometric view, you

should be able to see that one of the
windows has gone (the view will differ
depending on which wall you selected)

Adding windows

Repeat the process until you have

removed all of the windows on the
short walls

Adding windows

Next we will use the Add window tool

to replace the windows we have just
deleted. We want the right number in
the right place. Click on the Add
window button

Adding windows
1

and the Place Opening

window will open. Enter the
base height, width and
height

You can change

the view the
window if you
want to by
selecting from the
drop down box

Adding windows

1 It is easiest to work in plan when adding

windows manually. First select plan view

Adding windows

Use the mouse to locate

the window (the red
line) on the wall

Watch the coordinates window to

get the correct separation between
the (top or bottom) edge of the
window and the edge of the wall

Adding windows

Repeat the process to

place the remaining
windows

Have a rest and look at what you have built

1

Click on the Model

Viewer button to have a
look at what you have
built

Click the Model Viewer

button again to return
to the Drawing Pane

You can use the scroll

button on your mouse
to zoom in and out and
right click and drag to
rotate the model

From single storey to multi-storey

1

We have finished the ground floor

now we need to duplicate it to
make a 10 storey building click
on Selection from the tool bar

We will ignore floor and ceiling voids so

ensure these are unchecked in the
Storey Extruder/Creator window - then
type in 10 in the Number of storeys cell
and make sure the Storey height is 3.6m

Select Create storeys

Click on the OK button

From single storey to multi-storey

1

You should wind up with

something that looks like the
image in the Drawing Pane

Check the Tree Window there

should be an additional 9 rooms
showing

From single storey to multi-storey

1

Click on the Model

Viewer button to have a
proper look at the
finished product

Click the Model Viewer

button again to return
to the Drawing Pane

Checking for errors

1

Before going on to use the model

for simulation, it is important to
check for any modelling errors.
To do this.

click on Model in the

toolbar and then select
Model Report

You will then see the Model report

options window (there will be default
options selected add any others you
are interested in) - click the OK button

Check the report for

errors and fix any
identified

Specifying your site

1

We need to tell VE where our site is so it can use the longitude

and latitude to generate the sunpath and select the correct
climatic data to drive the simulation. The default is
London/Heathrow Airport you should be able to see this as
the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

We will change the location

to Sheffield. To do this.

.click on Tools in the

toolbar and then select
APlocate

In the Location and Site Data

tab, select Select Site Location
and then choose Sheffield.

Select the Sheffield

weather data file in the
Simulation Weather
Data tab

Specifying your site

Once you are happy, you need to

save the file by clicking on the
little disk icon at the top left of
the window

Once you have done this,

you should notice the site
has changed to Sheffield

Where is north?

Simulation will include calculations of solar

gain and for this reason it is important your
model is pointing in the right direction
relative to the sunpath/north. To do this.

. click on the Edit

button in the toolbar
and select Site rotation

Type in the angle that

you need to rotate your
model through to get
the correct orientation
your model wont
move, but the north
arrow will.

Saving your work

1

This should probably have come nearer the

start of the tutorial save your work
regularly. To do this

from the File option in the

toolbar, select Save project
or Save Project as

and then give your model an

appropriate name. Make sure
you take a copy away with you so
you can use it in the next
exercise.