New add-on designed to integrate real-time rendering with building performance analysis
Chaos has introduced Enscape Impact (beta), a real-time energy modelling add-on for Enscape 4.1, the latest release of its BIM-focused visualisation software. Developed in partnership with IES, Enscape Impact is designed to make building performance analysis more accessible for architects and designers, by simplifying the analysis process.
With Enscape Impact, architects and designers can quickly view the energy performance of their building and optimise it within their usual design workflow. The software is integrated with Archicad, Revit, Vectorworks, SketchUp and Rhino, but only on Microsoft Windows, not on Mac.
Enscape Impact is not intended to provide building performance certification directly. Instead, it aims to offer real-time feedback that brings architects ‘close to certification-level accuracy’. According to Chaos, what used to take several hours or even days can now be done in minutes.
The software allows users to calculate and benchmark key performance metrics, such as peak loads and total carbon emission. The data is presented within Enscape’s real-time visualisation environment, making it easier to comprehend and communicate the impact of design decisions.
There’s also a dials panel with ‘easy-to-read’ charts and diagrams that display how geometry adjustments impact building performance
According to Chaos, the unified energy analysis and visualisation workflow is not only important for architects, but also for engineers working on a project, significantly cutting down the cost and time required to bring a poorly performing project back into meeting sustainability goals.
“Previously, the design process was separated into architects using BIM for design, while engineers conducted performance analysis separately in software like IES offers”, explains Ruth Kerrigan, chief operating officer, IES. “This led to duplicated visualisation efforts and frequent misalignment between design intent and analytical models. Thus, the loop of recreating and aligning took long and engineers’ reports were often too technical for clients and architects.”
The free trial version of Enscape Impact will be available for anyone who upgrades to Enscape 4.1 until October 2024.
To learn more about the aims of Enscape Impact, read this AEC Magazine article.
