ECOTECT Tutorials

Welcome to the ECOTECT Tutorials. These exercises are provided to give you both introductory and in-depth knowledge of ECOTECT. By using these tutorials you will quickly master the basics of modelling and analysis.

It is recommended that you do each tutorial in the order listed below, as some commands may not be explained as thoroughly in successive tutorials.

The analysis tutorials are particularly useful for gaining a better understanding of how buildings and materials work, and how to improve your designs.

Whether you are a student architect or an experienced environmental engineer, you will find information here to assist you in learning how to get the most from ECOTECT.

Modelling Fundamentals

Simple House

 
  1. Setting up a New Model
  2. Adding the First Zone
  3. Adjusting the Zone Height
  4. Adding a Second Zone
  5. Adding Windows and Doors
  6. Creating a Pitched Roof
  7. Importing DXF Files

Classroom

 
  1. Creating a Zone Using Interactive Measurements
  2. Adding Windows
  3. Copying (transforming) Child Objects
  4. Inserting Multiple Doors
  5. Adding a Ridge Skylight
  6. Mirroring Child Objects

Auditorium

 
  1. Using Construction Lines to Setup a Model
  2. Creating the Auditorium Zone
  3. Modelling the Seating Rows using Morph Between...
  4. Fixing the Auditorium's Volume
  5. Modelling the Control Room

Advanced Modelling Techniques

Importing CAD Geometry - 3DS & DXF files

 
  1. Introduction
  2. General Points to Remember
  3. 2D Import - DXF Files
  4. 3D Import - 3DS Files

Tracing a Scanned Plan Image

 
  1. Loading a Background Bitmap
  2. Scaling the Bitmap
  3. Tracing the Bitmap

Object Morphing

 
  1. How Morphing Works
  2. Different Types of Morph...

Solar Analysis

Internal Sun Penetration

 
  1. Displaying Shadows
  2. Displaying Internal Shadows
  3. Displaying Reflections

Optimised Shading Design

 
  1. Inserting a Window
  2. Designing an Optimised Shade
  3. Other Types of Shades

Overshadowing & Site Analysis

 
  1. Loading the Overshadowing Model
  2. Setting the Date and Time
  3. Displaying a Sun-Path Diagram
  4. Interacting with Shadows

Creating a Linked Louvres

 
  1. Loading the Linked Shading Device Model
  2. Duplicating the Louvre
  3. Manipulating the Louvres
  4. Choosing a Cut-Off Date

Lighting Design

Internal Lighting Calculations

 
  1. Setting up the Analysis Grid
  2. Calculating light levels
  3. Designing the lighting system
  4. Adding Electric Lights
  5. Assigning Light Types

Exporting to Radiance

 
  1. Interfacing with Radiance
  2. Creating a Camera View
  3. Setting Camera Properties
  4. Exporting to Radiance
  5. Generating Contour/False-colour Images

Radiance Materials

 
  1. Introduction
  2. Rendering the Base Model
  3. Defining a More Complex Material
  4. Experimenting with Different Values

Thermal Performance

A Thermal Introduction

 
  1. Loading the Thermal Model
  2. Calculating Internal Temperatures
  3. Changing Materials in the Model
  4. Statistical Analysis

Acoustic Analysis

Reverberation Times

 
  1. Statistical Reverberation
  2. Loading the Example Model
  3. Adjusting the RT
  4. Simple Exercise

Designing Acoustic Reflectors

 
  1. Loading the Reflector Model
  2. Spraying Linked Acoustic Rays
  3. Tagging Acoustic Reflectors
  4. Restricting Rays to Acoustic Reflectors
  5. Spraying Acoustic Particles
  6. Displaying Reflector Coverage

Designing Raked Audience Seating

 
  1. Creating Construction Lines
  2. Starting the Seating Profile
  3. Creating Horizontal Steps
  4. Extruding a Line
  5. Cutting and Shaping the Seating

Miscellaneous

Cost & Environmental Impact

 
  1. Loading the Cost Analysis Model
  2. Calculating Material Costs
  3. Calculating Environmental Impacts

Converting Weather Data with The Weather Tool

 
  1. Introduction
  2. Importing Fixed Format Data
  3. Importing Separated Value Data
  4. Importing Meteonorm Data

Output from ECOTECT

 
  1. Introduction
  2. Storing a Bitmap
  3. Storing a Metafile