Role Of Software Tools For Analyzing Building Performance With Respect To Daylight

Daylighting is a cornerstone of sustainable architecture, offering benefits that extend beyond energy savings to encompass occupant health, productivity, and aesthetic quality. Predicting daylight performance in buildings, however, is a complex challenge due to the dynamic nature of natural light and its interaction with architectural forms. Traditional methods relied on simplified calculations, but the advent of advanced computational tools has revolutionized daylight analysis. This paper explores the role of software in analyzing building performance for daylight, tracing the evolution of methodologies, reviewing major simulation platforms, and examining their advantages, limitations, and future directions. By situating daylight analysis within the broader context of sustainable design, the paper demonstrates how software tools have transformed day lighting from a static calculation into a dynamic, integrated design process.