Comparison of results

DL-Light makes it possible to compare the results of two calculations on a model. The comparison is made on the saved archives of the calculations (see Archiving results).
This feature allows you to analyze scenarios or variants for a model, for example changes according to the seasons or following the addition of an awning or blinds.

Comparisons and calculation parameters

The simplest method is to archive a first calculation, to vary a parameter, archive the new result, and compare the two archives. Most of the parameters of a calculation can be used to establish a comparison:

• Calculation period,
• Adding / removing surfaces,
• Location,
• Project orientation (angle with the north),
• Sensor grids,
• ...

Several comparison reports can be displayed simultaneously.

Limitations and constraints

The mandatory constraints for the two archives to compare:

• All extensions allow comparison except for SunExposure in "Single moment" mode (representation of illuminated surfaces),
• The SKP models of the two calculations must be very close. To compare the influence of added surfaces (awning ...), try to use the same model by changing only the layers displayed.
  Comparing slightly different SKP files is possible but of course if a calculated area is changed in the second model, its informations are no longer relevant.
• The models must have the same palette. If a calculation is archived with an "automatic" palette, you have to recalculate it with a palette "gradient" or "custom" to be able to compare it.

How to use the comparator

Selection of archives to compare

Open the "Comparator" dialog via the menu: Extension -> De Luminae -> Comparator

Select both archives:

By default, the proposed folder is the archive directory of the extension in use. Click on the path to select another folder if necessary.
If the two archives are not comparable (different palettes, different extensions...), an error message is displayed.

A detailed description of the calculation is displayed for each archive.

When both archives are selected, click on the button Compare :

The calculation of the comparison can take from a few seconds (MacOS) to a few tens of seconds (Windows). The longest step is the loading of the archives (a cache mechanism reduces the time of loading in the case of successive comparisons).

The comparison report

The comparison is displayed in a special report comparing the results of archive "A" and archive "B" for each calculated surface in both archives and for each interval of the palette.

• Example: comparison with the extension Sun Exposure:
  

For each interval, the columns are:

• A : value during the first calculation,
• B : value during the second calculation,
• Δ : difference B - A,
• Δ % : percentage (B - A) / A %
• Ratio : ratio B / A

These columns can be displayed / hidden. The rows of the report can be deleted or sorted by clicking on the header of the sorting column.
Clicking on a line of the report selects the corresponding surface on the model, the yellow icon "Highlight" allows to activate / deactivate the highlighting of the selected area.

The buttons at the bottom of the window:

• Export spreadsheet - export the results to a file compatible with Excel and LibreOffice (.ods).
• Export as CSV - export the results in CSV format.
• Load all - load results for all calculated surface.
• Clear - clear all table entries
• Close - close dialog.

The report opened in a spreadsheet, description tab:

The report opened in a spreadsheet, results tab: