ElumTools

[BenSammis]

Anybody else using this yet? I've just spent the week testing the trial version to destruction, with pretty positive results.

pros: accurate light level point by point calcs, I don't have to build a separate model in AGI, ability to calculate spaces separately or together, quality renderings, material reflectances derived from ARCH model, simple and intuitive workflow, generates calc data as shared parameters that can be scheduled

cons: absolute need for architects to properly bound rooms and spaces, inability to modify calc points individually, some special equipment families have tiny surfaces that prohibit calculating an entire space, Autodesk doesn't allow the program access to all of the material properties in the models, necessitating a workaround (I have to paint exposed ductwork with a metal finish to make it show up in the calc and rendering, for example)

That's a quick overview. On the whole, I'm fairly confident we'll be implementing this software and using it in place of AGI32 as much as possible.

[mattw]

We've been using it successfully for a few months now. No major glitches to speak of.

Matt

[BenSammis]

Good deal, I was starting to think no one was actually using it yet.

The only real issue we've noticed so far is a "File Parse Error" cropping up when a space contains a family with unusual geometry, usually something with one dimension much smaller than the others. Simple enough to correct once you identify the offending family and get rid of it.

[daniel.morrison]

We've started using it here and in our Melbourne office. Still testing at the moment but it looks to be every bit as good as any other software we use, either way it is at least good enough for our modellers to use to give a rough idea before the engineers use their preffered software, and to use for QA purposes.