Simulations sometimes work, sometimes don't

First of all, thank you Mostapha (et al) for your tremendous work! I plan on using Honeybee for daylighting analyses linked with thermal storage.

My concern is that the simulations sometimes work and other times don't. I ran the first example file, I will on occasion get a result, if it doesn't work, I run it again and it works. I also tried using false colour (downloaded the falsecolor2.exe as described) and I sometimes get a render and other times a false colour image.

Similarly, for the "Watch the sky" example, I will miss one or two sky conditions on 5. For a different weather file, the sky condition that fails changes.

Is it possible that a batch is starting before a previous one is finished and causes errors?

I've also noticed that some filepaths had double "\" and I wasn't able to find the source in the Python code.

Let me know if you want me to post a file or a screenshot.

Vasken

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on September 25, 2014 at 2:11am

Hi Vasken, Thanks -

My understanding from your notes is that the simulation always works but converting .hdr images to .gif or generating falsecolor image fails. I assume that it is only happening for image-based analysis?

My best guess is I messed up something when I applied parallel run for image-based analysis. I wonder if one of the pieces of the image is problematic and makes the whole process fail. Here is another case that Alexander reported recently (http://www.grasshopper3d.com/photo/shadow-study-with-radiance).

Can you send me .hdr file which fails in the process of generating falsecolor image? I can look into it then. Should be an easy fix.

Mostapha

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on September 25, 2014 at 2:12am

One more question. Did you update your Radiance recently? (e.g. did you download it from Radiance github?)

Permalink Reply by Vasken Merovingian on September 25, 2014 at 7:12am

Hello Mostapha,

First, I'm running Radiance version 4.2.1.

I tried running simulations using only one core to see if it's the multi-core part that's problematic and that's not the case.

What I've noticed is that by changing the view angle just a bit in Rhino will either make the image-based simulation work or fail. Even in "Top" view, depending on how I've zoomed in the scene, it makes a difference.

The falsecolor HDR seems to consistently work. The normal render HDR doesn't always. Converting HDR to GIF is also inconsistent, and I'm not sure why since the code doesn't change...

Here are some screenshots of a case that was successful and another that failed. I've also included the files. Notice the slight change in viewing angle.

Attachments:

testing.zip, 3.6 MB
Failed.jpg, 473 KB
Successful.jpg, 508 KB

Permalink Reply by Vasken Merovingian on September 25, 2014 at 7:13am

The rest of the screenshots:

Attachments:

Failed_to_convert_but_HDR_OK.jpg, 214 KB
Conversion_bat.jpg, 227 KB

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on September 25, 2014 at 9:20pm

Thanks. Even if you only use a single CPU honeybee merges the single image with itself (I know it may not make sense but this is what happens). I will work on this during the weekend.

For the Failed picture, the component is turned orange. Did you read the warning message? I wonder if something else is wrong in the model.

Mostapha

Permalink Reply by Vasken Merovingian on September 25, 2014 at 9:39pm

I had just change the units in Rhino from mm to m and it hadn't updated yet.

It was the "1. Default Radiance parameters are set based on meters. Make sure to modify the parameters for document units or change the units to Meters." message.

Thanks, let me know if you want me to do anything on my side. I will continue checking out the other example files and I'll keep you posted!

Permalink Reply by Vasken Merovingian on September 29, 2014 at 6:00am

I tested out all the other files from the Honeybee examples and none are giving me any trouble! Even the file that analyses glare would render correctly.

Vasken

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on September 29, 2014 at 8:18pm

Thanks Vasken for the update. I couldn't get to this on the weekend but have it on the top of the list. Will get back to you soon.

Mostapha

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on October 19, 2014 at 9:11pm

Hi Vasken, I finally managed to find an hour to check this issue. It appears to be a problem with newer version of RADIANCE. I emailed Radiance community and waiting for their reply. Meanwhile if you an older version of Radiance it should work fine. Here is the installation file: https://db.tt/Oo0eWaa3

Permalink Reply by Vasken Merovingian on October 20, 2014 at 7:43am

Hey Mostapha,

I downgraded Radiance to v.4.2.a and everything works flawlessly! Thank you for the support, and really, excellent work!

Have a good week,

Vasken

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