Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Students at Texas A&M's College of Architecture now have an opportunity to see a 3-D representation of sunlight's effect on a building from in any location on earth, at any time of day, any day of the year, with the arrival this spring of a model 126 heliodon.
"Understanding how the sun moves is so difficult to visualize," said Liliana Beltrán, who was recently promoted to associate professor of architecture. "The heliodon is a perfect tool for students to easily see the sun's effect on their designs. It'll be a great help to determine a building's solar response."
Once a model is placed on the helidon's table, the device's carriage can be rotated to simulate the latitude of a building's site. One of seven lamps, selected with a hand switch, representing the sun at different times of the year, illuminates the model.
The passage of the sun from morning to evening is simulated by moving a lamp over the model.
The heliodon, manufactured by High Precision Devices, Inc., has a distinct advantage over computer-based simulations, said Beltrán.
"In a computer model, you see a 3-D object represented in two dimensions," she said. "With the heliodon, students can observe their design from more angles than in computer models. I like computer tools a lot, and I use them a lot, but for understanding solar geometries this tool is better."
Beltrán's been using the device during her daylighting and green building design classes this semester.
"I've noticed the 'oh wow, I understand now where the sun is in the summer' type reactions from students," she said. "You see it in a computer model, but it doesn't have the vision you get when you see the object."
Acting on a proposal penned by Beltrán, the college purchased the heliodon through funds gathered from Instructional Enhancement Equipment Fees, which are earmarked for improvements that enrich the college's educational environment.
Faculty members wanting to use the heliodon in their studios are welcome to contact Beltrán at LBeltran@archmail.tamu.edu or 979.845.6545 for a demonstration or visit her website for more information.
She said former students interested in using the device may also contact her.
- Posted: March 31, 2010 -
