Use of digital 3D urban models for view evaluation in building envelope design

A feature of digital 3D urban models is that they provide semantic information on various objects in urban space. This paper proposes a basic framework for obtaining visual information about the external conditions of a building to be designed using a 3D urban model. Ray emission and collision detection are used in a game engine to identify the type and distance of objects surrounding the building in the 3D urban model. Tagging the objects with their semantics identifies their type such as sky, building, road, greenery and so on. This paper also proposes setting two different viewpoints at the façade and the interior to consider the building design and the indoor visual environment design from both aspects of the whole building and individual rooms.