Knowledge Base

Sun Exposure

What is Sun-Hour Exposure Analysis?

Sun-hour exposure analysis is a critical assessment tool used to measure the amount of direct sunlight and help optimize the design to ensure natural light and the comfort and well-being of occupants. This tool is essential for proposed developments, open spaces, landscapes, and gardening.

Set Revit view for Sun Exposure Analysis

1. Open a view In Revit
2. On the view control bar, enable shadows. Could be a floor plan or any 3D view.

Shadow Colour 1.9 Sun Setting Icon

3. Under Sun Settings, set the location for the project, and enable Daylight Saving if needed.

4. Make sure crop view is enabled.

Shadow Colour 1.9 Crop view

5. Add a scale bar (a detail family) to the view – Recommended.

Shadow Colour scale bar

6. Open ‘Shadow Colour’ from the Add-Ins tab.

Shdow Colour Add-in 1.9

Conduct Sun Exposure Analysis

1. Click on the ‘Sun Exposure’ tab to switch to the sun exposure analysis mode.

Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Mode

2. Select a date for the analysis.

Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Select Date

3. Select the time range.

Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Select Time

4. Select time intervals. – 2 Hours, Hour, 30 Minutes, 15 Minutes.

Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Select Interval

5. On the time-increments bar you may:

  • Adjust the time increments by dragging the hour marks below the bar.
Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Adjust
  • Add increments by clicking below the bar.
Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Adjust2
  • Remove increments by clicking the garbage bin icon.
Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Remove
  • Assign colours for time increments by clicking the coloured section.
Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Adjust Colours

5. Click ‘Preview Image’ to get a preview of how your sun exposure analysis will look like.

Shadow Colour 2.0 Sun Exposure Preview Image

Short walkthrough video for sun-exposure:

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