I-light a Webbased Learning System for Architectural Lighting Design a New Approach to Create, Evaluate, and Communicate Qualitative Lighting Design

This paper describes an innovative learning environment, which integrates the Internet, 3D-CAD, and simulation tools in a web based learning system to ensure a better understanding of light perception in architectural space. The learning system comprises of a virtual laboratory, in which architectural planning examples can be represented three-dimensionally and be changed interactively. A developed semantic scene model ensures that lighting, material and surfaces can be varied and compared, The focus lies on the exploration and evaluation of both visual effects and important interrelations between light, material and form. Hence, the standards for the visual representation of luminaires (check spelling) and light distribution are transformed from the static 2D drawing code to an interactive 3Drepresentation. By using a methodology of learning by exploration the user merges 3D-CAD and simulation programs into a easy-to-use new system, in which the rendered photo-realistic image is regarded as an interactive tool and no longer as a presentation material. Finally the user can (access) sp this system with a standard web browser and no software for CAAD, simulation and presentation needs to be installed on the users PC as he remote controls this software that runs on a specific web server (Wittkopf, S., 2001).