A design proposal for an internet based Simulation Quality Control Tool

The lack of widespread use of building environmental design decision support tools in architecture appears to be because the tools are often too simplistic. Designers find it difficult to trust the output of a tool that apparently trivialises the design issues. Even, regular users of simulation have a difficult time developing procedures to ensure that they can trust the output of the simulation. A web site has been developed which addresses this need directly. This paper describes the design principles on which the web site is based. Its aim is to develop a means by users can test the “reality” of the performance figures which simulation software predicts for the thermal, visual and acoustic environment of a building