Using 3D modelling and dynamic thermal simulation software tools to facilitate student understanding of complex principles in “passive” building design

Students today are very much more PC and IT literate than their counterparts of only five or ten years ago. The huge increase in Internet usage, PC’s in schools and interactive game play environments are surely a contributory factor in this. Students enjoy using IT, both during leisure and their studies. The purpose of this innovative introduction to student studies was to develop in students an enthusiasm for working with others and team building whilst developing, analysing and understanding “real world” projects having a strong IT link and incorporating those projects within a 3-D building modelling and simulation software tool. Working as teams, students created two simple case study buildings and, by carrying out interactive real-time “what if” scenarios, determined how and why the materials used in the construction of buildings affect their thermal performance. This analysis was carried out within an overall study of “Passive” approaches to the control of a buildings internal temperature environment.