Computer-Aided EcoDesign4 Mar, 2010 By: Kenneth Wong 3D
model–based technologies are helping assess — and reduce — a
design's impact on the environment. Editor's note: This article
was originally published in the Winter 2010 edition of Cadalyst
magazine. Until recently, building information modeling (BIM)
software such as Autodesk Revit, Bentley Architecture,
Graphisoft ArchiCAD, and Vectorworks Architect focused primarily
on modeling and refining building geometry. To analyze the
energy consumption of a building, users relied on third-party
software such as Green Building Studio, Ecotect, Hevacomp, and
IES In January 2008, Bentley Systems acquired energy-analysis
software maker Hevacomp Ltd. In June 2008, the company struck an
agreement with Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. (EDSL),
securing exclusive worldwide rights to distribute EDSL's Tas, a
full-featured analysis software suite intended for complex
building systems and large projects. In July 2008, Autodesk
followed suit. It snatched up Green Building