URBAN DESIGN PERFORMANCE MODELLING
UDPM utilises parametric modelling capabilities to enable project teams to rapidly test and evaluate built form scenarios using planning controls, design guidelines and environmental parameters. Compared to traditional approaches UDPM provides a customisable, adjustable and interactive urban modelling methodology that rapidly generates visualizations with embedded performance data.
UDPM creates a strategic and flexible platform that:
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promotes stakeholder understanding and engagement
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supports evidence based decision making
DAYLIGHT MODELLING
Nowadays, on multi-residential developments, delivering optimal daylight to apartments is likely to involve the integration of lightwells, borrowed light and other novel design initiatives.
Urban Digestor has successfully apply detailed computer daylight modelling as a design verification & optimisation service. Our service involves working closely with the design team to integrate daylight strategies into the proposed building.
Our daylight modelling reports
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assess the effectiveness of the daylight strategies
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reduce risk from both a Council approval perspective as they demonstrate how the team has worked towards a daylighting solution
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demonstrate how the design results in better indoor-environment quality of the rooms
ESD FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) is an association of 20 Victorian rural and urban councils committed to the creation of a sustainable built environment within and beyond their municipalities. It is growing as more Victorian councils are getting involved. The association’s focus is on applying ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles to the built environment through the statutory planning system. This is resulting in more councils requesting for sustainable design to be considered at the planning stage.
Projects get a better response from council when sustainable design initiatives are integrated from the start of the design. This also reduces the likelihood of the planner suggesting initiatives not appropriate to your project. We understand sustainable initiatives impact the design aesthetics and budget of the project and by engaging us early in the design process we can help work cost-effective sustainable initiatives into the design. This is done through our 5-step process to engage the whole design team.
JV3 Modelling is a design-flexible, cost-effective approach to meeting the requirements of Section J1 Thermal Fabric & J2 Glazing through an optimised JV3 building simulation.
Section J of the National Construction Code (NCC), refers to the legal minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings, covering their insulation, glazing, air-tightness, lighting, air-conditioning & hot water requirements. Compliance with insulation & glazing requirements can be shown via a Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) approach or a JV3 verification method.
The JV3 method uses building simulation to show equivalent performance to a building built to the DTS requirements. This gives the client & design-team maximum design flexibility, cost-effective energy efficiency specifications & allows for innovative design solutions.
NCC SECTION J DEEMED-TO-SATISFY AND JV3 ASSESSMENTS
"We engaged Urban Digestor to write a Section JV3 report to assist with finding the most appropriate, compliant and cost effective glazing specification for a recent retail project. The team were incredibly communicative, pro-active and helpful. The concise report was delivered quickly and enabled us to find the most appropriate specification for the glazing within the holistic context of the project’s energy assessment. We wouldn’t hesitate to work with Urban Digestor again."
Mark
ENERGY RATING ASSESSMENTS
The National Construction Code (NCC) requires all new dwellings in Victoria to achieve a minimum 6-star energy rating (for apartments a 6-star average and 5-star minimum). An energy rating is an assessment of how much heating and cooling energy the designed house will require in a typical year. The performance of the dwelling is analysed using software that calculates a star-rating, similar to the energy stars on refrigerators.
While a 6-star rating is a significant improvement on older Australian homes, a house can achieve a rating from 6-star through to 10 stars. A 10-star home will require almost no heating or cooling energy to maintain comfortable temperatures in your home.
Whether you’re after a 6-star or a 10-star home, Urban Digestor’s House Energy Rating assessment can reduce your construction costs by cost optimising design measures such as insulation, glazing and shading. Energy Rating assessment is a mandatory process to obtain a building permit. Traditionally a rating is conducted at the end of the design process. We recommend conducting ratings early to inform the design process and to enable design decisions to made relating to budget, efficiency and thermal-comfort.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PEER REVIEW
Urban Digestor has extensive experience in delivering built environment ESD within local government and the private sector. This expertise spans all building typologies and covers projects of varied scales. Within these projects we have played diverse roles that range project managers on building projects, ESD consultants, Council ESD advisors and educators. The experience gives us the background suitable for evaluating sustainable design strategies and/or projects that are in need of a third-party review.
KNOWLEDGE SHARE SESSIONS
Urban Digestor works across local government and industry and understands the challenges of creating sustainable buildings from multiple perspectives. We have experienced the complexities involved in the design and construction of buildings. We have also seen the positive influence local governments have on sustainable building outcomes for their communities. With our unique experience, we want to share our knowledge and skills to promote better built outcomes that contribute to the co-creation of sustainable communities.
CONTACT US TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES ON YOUR PROJECT