Sunscape™ APP User Guide

The Sunscape™ APP sun exposure map creation process is driven by the Sunscape™ Menu.

Each execution of the Sunscape Menu creates sun exposure maps for the uploaded model. The Menu allows selection of parameters used to create maps for selected model surfaces, and a precision for Menu execution. The executed maps are listed in a View queue, by day span and date range parameters.

Maps are selected from the View menu queue for viewing in the Sunscape 3D interactive Viewer. Images of a Map in the Viewer and/or the complete model/map set can be saved.

Practice Session

Sunscape™ App opens with a practice model in the Viewer.

  1. Use the simple 2-surface model to familiarize yourself with the Sunscape mapping process.

  2. Review Viewer and Toolbar functions on Page 4.

  3. Review About in a function section to learn more about the function.

  4. Use Advanced methods when comfortable with the mapping process.

  5. Troubleshooting is located on Page 5.

  6. Please review “Optimizing Models for Mapping” in the Sunscape User Area before uploading a model for mapping.

Sunscape™ Map Creation Steps

Step 1. Choose Mapping Area.

Sunscape™ maps are created for selected model surfaces(s), collectively, the mapping area.

Process:

  1. Use mouse left click to apply green mapping material to the first model surface. Use

    CONTROL left click to continue adding mapping material to surfaces.

  2. If you forget to press CONTROL when selecting additional surfaces or click outside the

    model during mapping area selection, all surfaces will lose mapping material.

  3. With mapping area selected you’re ready to Open the Menu and proceed to Step 2.

    Choose Time Span and Date Range Parameters.

About the Mapping Area:
1. Execution of the Menu clears the model of mapping material.

  • Mapping area must be selected prior to each Menu execution.

  • The area selected becomes the area for all existing parameter sets in the Menu.

    • Maps in the View queue display mapping on the mapping area only.

2. Both previously mapped and unmapped surfaces can be selected to the mapping area.

3. If no surface of the model is selected, you will be prompted to select a mapping area.

  • Model surfaces and View Queue maps may appear blank.

  • Select a mapping area, open the Menu, and re-execute.

Advanced:
1. Expand mapping area of parameter set maps in the View queue.

  1. Add mapping material to model surface(s) not previously selected.

  2. Open the Sunscape Menu.

  3. DO NOT ADD A PARAMETER SET TO THE MENU QUEUE.

    • Adding a new parameter set to the Menu will change the mapping area to only the newly selected surfaces.

  4. Execute the Menu.

  5. The added surface(s) become part of the mapped area for ALL parameter set maps in the View queue.

2. Clear the model of mapping material and map sets to re-start the mapping process. This process clears the maps in the View queue. You may wish to save a wanted model/View queue map set before beginning this process.

  1. Open the Sunscape Menu.

  2. Do not select an area.

  3. Delete existing parameter sets from the Menu queue.

  4. Execute the Menu.

    • Model surfaces will appear blank.

    • The View Queue appears unchanged, but maps no longer exist.

  5. Begin a new mapping session.

1. Executing the Menu for the first time after this clearing process will replace the ghost parameter sets in the View queue with the parameter sets in the executed Menu.

Open the Menu by selecting SUNSCAPE on an application toolbar.

1. The mapping area of the model now displays precision material.

Step 2. Choose Time Span and Date Range Parameters
Sunscape creates sun exposure maps calculated based on sunlight received at analysis points during the time span and date range selected.

1. A time span parameter and date range parameter together form a parameter set.

Process:

  1. Use drop-down menus or a preset to select a one-day time span parameter.

  2. Use drop-down menus or a preset to select a date range parameter.

  3. Use the Add to Queue button to add any number of parameter sets to the Menu queue.

  4. When you’re happy with your parameter selection, you’re ready for Step 3. Choose

    Precision.

About the Menu Queue and Presets

  1. Executing a Menu without a parameter set in the Menu queue will result in one map being created using the parameter set on the Menu at the time of execution.

  2. Any number of parameter sets can be added to the Menu Queue for simultaneous

    processing. The number of sets in the queue has little to no effect on processing time.

  3. Parameter sets can be added to an existing menu queue.

  4. Parameter sets remain in the Menu Queue until deleted or Sunscape™ App is exited.

  5. Delete parameter sets from the queue by selecting the trash icon on the parameter line.

  6. When maps are processed, Menu queued parameter sets are listed in the View queue.

  7. See the Calculation, Presets, and Legend user document for preset details and use cases.

Step 3. Choose Precision
Sunscape mapping precision can be adjusted to any distance from .3 feet (.1 meters) to 33 feet (10 meters) between analysis points, with precision being increased by decreasing the distance between analysis points.

Process:
Choose a precision for processing the parameter sets in the Menu queue.

  1. The dot matrix pattern, on the mapping area, represent analysis points.

  2. Slide and release slider to positions on the slider to view various analysis point densities.

  3. Place the slider at the preferred distance.

  4. You are ready to execute the Menu. Press Sunscape!

About Precision:

  1. Precision affects processing time.

  2. All parameter sets in the Menu queue are mapped for the selected mapping area using

    the precision on the Menu at the time of Menu execution.

Advanced:

To change the precision of parameter set maps in the View queue.

  1. Change precision for all surfaces in the mapped areas.

    • Select to add mapping material to surfaces of the mapped area.

    • Open the Sunscape Menu.

    • You may add new parameter(s) to the Menu queue.

    • Change precision.

    • Execute the Menu.

    • ALL maps in the View queue will appear at the new precision.

  2. Change precision for specific surfaces of the mapped area.

    • Select to add mapping material to specific surface(s) of the mapped area.

    • Open the Sunscape Menu.

    • Select precision for the selected areas.

    • DO NOT ADD A PARAMETER SET TO THE MENU QUEUE

      1. Adding a parameter set will change precision and mapping area for all maps in the queue.

    • Execute the Menu.

    • Selected surfaces will appear in all maps in the View queue at the new precision.

    • Unselected mapped surfaces on all maps will remain at the previous precision.

  3. Change precision when adding a new surface(s) to the previously chosen mapping area.

    • Follow the procedure for adding new surface(s) to the mapping area in Choosing

      Area - Advanced Point 1.

    • Prior to executing the Menu, choose a precision for the new surface(s).

Press Sunscape!

The Sunscape! Menu button executes the mapping process for the selected mapping area, using the menu precision, and the parameter sets in the Menu queue.

  1. The processing screen with process completion indicator, appears onscreen.

  2. You will receive a message and tone when the mapping process is complete.

  3. The map for the last parameter set in the Menu queue displays in the Viewer.

  4. Time to View the Sunscape Maps

About Menu execution:

  1. The Menu will not execute if no surface has been selected for mapping. See Choose Area – About – Point 3 above for how to recover.

  2. You can cancel mapping after execution with the Cancel button.

    • If the mapping process has not yet begun, you may need to press Cancel again.

    • If the mapping process has begun press Abort in the processing screen.

      1. You may see a partially mapped area.

      2. Proceed to change what prompted cancellation and re-execute the Menu.

  3. Execution of the Menu does not clear the Menu queue.

  4. Execution of the Menu clears the mapping area from the model.

View the Sunscape Maps

The View queue in the right-side View Toolbar is used to access parameter set maps.

About the View queue:

  1. The View queue lists parameter sets by attribute set label in the executed Menu queue.

  2. Click on a View queue parameter set to bring the parameter set map to the Sunscape

    3D viewer.

  3. The model/view queue map set can be saved, with the SAVE tool.

    • Save the current model/map set, if wanted, before importing a new model or closing Sunscape APP.

    • Files saved from Sunscape App are saved in .ssc file format.

    • The Exit toolbar function will prompt you to save the map set.

Advanced:

  1. Mapping area and precision of parameter set maps in the View queue can be altered.

    • See expanding mapping area and changing precision of View queue parameter set maps in Choosing Area and Choosing Precision Sections above.

      1. See Area – Advanced – Point 1. Expanding Mapping Area

      2. See Precision – Advanced Point 1, 2, and 3.

Sunscape APP Interactive 3D Viewer

  1. The Viewer can be resized by dragging edges and has 3-button mouse functionality, Move with right button.

  2. Model Location is shown at the upper left of the viewer.

  3. The maps attribute set is displayed on the line below model location.

  4. The Sunscape legend is on the left. See Calculation, Presets, and Legend in Sunscape® User Area document for details.

  5. A North indicator is located bottom right.

  6. A curser related sun exposure indicator is located bottom left.

    • The indicator reads “No data” when the curser is not on a mapped surface.

  7. Sunscape® App has three toolbars.

    • Two Function toolbars on the top left offer similar application functions.

      1. i. The uppermost toolbar is fixed, the lower is floating.

        Tip: Move the floating toolbar to the left of the viewer.

    • b. The right-side View Menu is used for maps in the Viewer.

Sunscape™ APP Toolbars

The fixed function and floating toolbars provide the following functions:

  1. File, the fixed toolbar has Load, Save, and Quit (Exit) in the File drop-down menu.

  2. Load, to select a model for import.

  3. Save, to save the current Sunscape model/map set in Sunscape APP ssc format.

  4. Location, to change model location.

  5. Sunscape, for opening the Sunscape Menu.

  6. Save Image, to save Sunscape viewer images (for use as model overlays & reference)

  7. Exit, for exiting Sunscape™ APP with option to save the current model set before exiting.

  8. The fixed toolbar has Help, for mouse function and technical support contact information.

The View Toolbar on the right, provides tools for interacting with maps in the Sunscape Viewer:

  1. Top and Cardinal Direction, use cube and circle segments for snap-to camera views.

  2. Edges, to view object edges, click Default to turn Edges off.

  3. 2-sided rendering, select to see 2D objects with all viewing angles

  4. Sunscape Queue lists parameter sets for viewing the created map in the Viewer.

Trouble Shooting

Sunscape APP is a time-tested and proven application that’s easy to use when you’re familiar with the processes. Like most applications it takes some time and practice to gain familiarity.

It is also possible that we, being familiar with our application, have assumed some things are intuitive when they’re not.

We endeavor to cover additional potential issues here:

The model isn’t loading properly.

The important factors for the model to load and process property are:

  1. The Model is in a file format readable by Sunscape™ App.

    1. Check the model file type against the file formats listed in the load menu.

    2. We recommend saving to use files in fbx or obj file formats.

  2. Model units, vertical axis, and location must be identified and accurate at import.

    1. Modeling units of measure are used for display and precision.

    2. The model vertical axis is used to determine plane.

    3. The model location at import must be the location designated on the model at import.

      1. The wrong location can cause the model to import on the wrong plane.

      2. Location can be changed after import using the Menu Location tool.

Functions not working as expected.

When you encounter issues with a particular step of the mapping process.

  1. Review the About sections. An explanation and solution may be found there.

  2. Review the Advanced sections. You may be inadvertently using an advanced method

    with unexpected results.

Map processing is taking longer than expected.

Factors that affect processing time are:

  1. The amount of geometry in the model.

  2. The number of analysis points (determined by area and precision selection)

  3. Hardware component performance.

  1. To reduce model geometry.

    • See Optimizing Models for Sunscape in Sunscape User Area documents.

    • Try turning off unneeded model layers, particularly interior layers that have no effect on sun exposure.

    • 3D trees may require geometry reduction or replacement with lower geometry 3D proxies. Cross trees work fine for sun exposure mapping.

    • Save the altered model from the APP, in Sunscape ssc format.

  2. To reduce the number of analysis points you will need to adjust the mapping area or mapping precision.

    • Try using preset 3’3” precision, which creates good quality maps quickly. Large surfaces generally have many precision points but little geometry.

    • Mapping large surface(s) separately and adding them to the mapping area can be done using Area Advanced method 1.

    • To change the precision of an added area, use Precision Advanced method 3.

  3. To assess hardware component functioning

Mapping Time Standard Examples
We used the downloadable Autodesk Revit home model, racbasicsampleproject.rvt, saved and uploaded to Sunscape APP in fbx file format, with interior layers and unnecessary exterior objects turned off. All trees were retained intact as modeled. Estimated property size: 1⁄2 acre.

For these examples, Sunscape APP was operating on an off-the-shelf Dell Latitude laptop computer running Windows 11 PRO.

We selected to map all or sections of the ground surface of the model using 3 different parameter sets: morning, afternoon, and 8am-6PM time spans and Meteorological date range.

Example 1
Time to create 3 queued parameter set maps for the large ground surface, balconies, and the enclosed terraces and utility areas around the home, using 3’3” precision. 90 seconds

Example 2
Time to create 3 queued parameter set maps for the balconies and the enclosed terrace and utility areas around the home, using 3’3” (omitting the large ground surface). 20 seconds

Selecting the large ground surface and re-executing the same menu using Advanced Area Method 1 and Advanced Precision Method 3 to add the large ground surface to the mapping area using 10’ precision for the large ground surface only. 20 seconds

If you have questions or require further assistance, please contact us. We’re here to help.

Your Sunscape Technical Support Team

techsupport@ecoscape.app.