Characterization of view in relation to solar-control systems

¹ Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
² International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Environment and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Demnark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

^* Corresponding author: masak@dtu.dk

Abstract

In this study, we developed a method to identify the affecting parameters that can characterize the view-out in relation to different solar-control systems. We hypothesize that the photometric composition, e.g., contrast, in the visual environment as a result of using solarcontrol systems impacts the subjective assessment of the view out. To test our hypothesis, we conducted user assessment studies where we measured objective photometric measurements and subjective human responses in a real semi-controlled environment. The user-assessment study was done with 51 participants. The participants were randomly allocated to a combination of five views out and six solar shading systems in a work environment where they answered questions related to the indoor environment and view quality. The relation between view and solar-control systems and their impact on the subjective assessment of view out was tested through the development of linear mixed-effects models. The models were developed using forward and backward selection and likelihood ratio test (LRT) to test the effects of adding or removing variables.

Photometric quantities were measured as achromatic contrast and calculated both locally and globally, which are two different algorithms for the calculation of contrast as perceived by humans. Both were found to be significantly associated with respectively view rating and satisfaction and could be used to characterize the view-out quality through commonly used shading devices.