Evaluation of Natural Lighting Provision for Educational Purposes through Architectural Prototype Mosque Designs in Riyadh Using ECOTECT Software

Abstract

This paper studies and evaluates illumination provision in its Natural and artificial form for a proto-type mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study comprised of comparisons to components of lighting in both natural and artificial forms determined by field measurements with that simulated through computer software, ECOTECT. Agreement between measured and simulated results was evident. This validates the use of ECOCTECT software for lighting simulations. The provided illumination levels are compared to the recommendations of American illumination engineers society IES, to establish adequacy. ECOTECT software provided a useful tool to study several proposals to improve illumination levels of the existing design and make use of natural lighting and its sustainable provision in a timely and inexpensive way. The paper concludes that ECOTECT is an effective tool to simulate and evaluate buildings design in providing natural as well as artificial lighting.