Accessing a Shared Project
Getting Started Logging in Add New Project Add New Scenario Navigating The Viewer Understanding Results 1. Locate the Project Sharing Email Look for the Project Sharing invitation email from no-reply@orbitalstack.com. Choose one of the following approaches to access your project: 2. Logging in to the Application 2.1 Accessing via One-Time Password Click the Access Now…
Activity Types
A breakdown of the various Activity Types. The activity that a person is expected to be doing in a given space has an important impact on how comfortable they will feel under different conditions. The more vigorous the activity, the more heat their bodies will generate which in turn will impact their perception of thermal…
Add New Project
This page will walk you through how to Submit a New Project to the Orbital Stack Portal.
Add New Scenario
This page explains how to create and submit scenarios for both AI and CFD simulations.
Airflow
Orbital Stack’s Airflow analysis examines a location’s wind patterns by evaluating winds one direction at a time, revealing potential issues with usability, comfort, and safety when winds originate from the given direction. Ground level winds and spatial streamlines are mapped onto a virtual model of a proposed design in the context of the local built…
Automatic Generation of Surrounds
A surrounds model is one of the four geometry files needed in order to run a simulation. This context model includes all the buildings that surround the building that you are studying. We understand that as a designer you may not have access to the surrounding buildings and as such we have provided you the…
Choosing Your Simulation Approach – AI vs CFD
AI Engine This option provides a quick evaluation of wind conditions based on an AI-based wind estimator. The results are high level, based on user selected parameters, local area weather data and subject to the quality of modeling. Results are rapid and return almost immediately after submission. This product is offered by purchases of bundles,…
Cladding Pressures
Surface pressures (or cladding pressures) are crucial in the structural analysis of building designs as they quantify the effects of wind pressure on different surfaces of a structure. This data is often calculated as a set of pressure coefficients. Pressure coefficients are dimensionless numbers that represent the ratio of the pressure exerted by the wind on…
Clothing Profiles
Clothing Profiles are separated into 3 different climate types; Northern Temperate, Northern Moderate, and Tropical. First choose which climate works best for your site based on its geolocation, then choose the Clothing Profile (i.e. Casual, Business Casual, or Business etc.) that aligns best with the intended activity of your site. Note: you can see throughout…
Company Administration Page
This guide explains how to view and/or manage your subscriptions, user permissions, and share groups through the Company Administration page. Getting Started On your Projects home page, navigate to the top right corner of the screen and click “Company Administration”. Subscriptions and Usage Management Orbital Stack manages usage via a credit (or token) system. There…
Directional Arrows
How to interpret the Directional Arrows in the viewer.
Directional Pressure Coefficient Plots
The Orbital Stack Viewer enables users to visualize Directional Pressure Coefficients within Cladding-AI simulations using a four-point pressure coefficient graph. This graph displays the Min, Max, Mean, and RMS pressure coefficients for each wind direction at selected points on a building’s façade. What are Wind Pressure Coefficients? Wind Pressure Coefficients (Cp) are a non-dimensional way…
Directional Wind Color Legends
Directional Wind Orbital Stack provides directional wind results on presentation plane surfaces as well as volumetric streamlines. Each of these results has its own color scale. Results displayed on presentation planes use the horizontal color legend and are 80th percentile scaled. This means that the results shown consider wind speeds in the 80th percentile for…
Downloading Data
Guidance on retrieving data from your project scenario.
Duplicating Scenarios
Instructions on how to duplicate a scenario
Future Climate Data
Guidance for Running Simulations with Future Climate Data
How To Choose Your Thermal Comfort Simulation Parameters
Thermal Comfort When thinking about thermal comfort, you want to consider the intended use of the space(s). How are occupants going to use the space? Will they be walking? Will they be dining? Will they be playing a sport? Select the Activity that best describes your intended usage. Click here for Activity Types Available How…
Identifying the Simulation Engine Used
Guidance on determining the simulation engine used
Logging In
This page will walk you through how to Login to the Orbital Stack Portal
Modeling Landscaping Features
Landscaping is often added to a location to provide a more comfortable environment for users of outdoor spaces. In a CFD simulation, the landscaping is modelled as a porous region. Special cells (regions) are placed into the model where the landscaping is meant to be which alter the behaviour of the simulation. For wind, this…
Modeling Terrain
The terrain model, also known as the ground plane, is one of the geometry files required to complete your simulation. It’s most appropriate to include minimal detail in your terrain model. A representative flat plane is ideal if the gradient is insignificant. Otherwise, the topography should be simplified to only include the important grading around…
Navigating The Viewer
Instructions on how to navigate the viewer and review your results.
Pedestrian Wind Comfort
What is Pedestrian Wind Comfort? Put simply, pedestrian wind comfort is a measure of how local wind patterns impact the pedestrian experience. The speed, direction, and gustiness of winds can all affect how comfortable pedestrians will feel in a certain space. As a general rule of thumb, higher wind speeds and – in particular –…
Preparing Geometry Guide
Full step-by-step video guiding you on how to Prepare Your Geometry 1. Requirements on Input Geometry Orbital Stack accepts the input geometry in the form of .stl files. Please ensure that the geometry aligns with the following parameters; 2. Tools that Support STL Orbital Stack can accept Binary or ASCII formatted .stls. There are many programs that…
Probe Data Values
How to interpret the data probe feature within the viewer
Sharing Your Project
1. Locate the Project to Share To share a project, start by locating it on your Orbital Stack Dashboard. Alternatively, if you are inside the project, select the three-dot icon in the top left corner of the Orbital Stack Viewer to access the properties. 2. Manage Share Settings and Permissions Once in the Properties menu,…
SPMV Color Legends
SPMV* In an outdoor environment, the “Standard Predicted Mean Vote Modified” (SPMV*) metric is used as it can effectively account for the physics associated with elevated solar exposure and humidity ranges present outdoors. SPMV* is a modified version of the ASHRAE PMV metric which better accounts for the larger range of outdoor conditions. Thermal comfort is a useful concept and SPMV*…
Streamlines and Generalized Wind Flows
When interpreting the results of a Directional Wind Study in Orbital Stack, the generalized wind flows will be show in color-coded streamlines.
Subscription Management
Congratulations on subscribing to Orbital Stack! We are thrilled to support your team to optimize climate comfort throughout your projects. Subscription credits operate differently than trial credits. They are allocated to one user at a time but can be reassigned anytime through the Company Administration Page. See below for brief instructions on assigning and…
Thermal Comfort
Orbital Stack’s Thermal Comfort analysis provides objective metrics (e.g., SPMV*, UTCI) and vivid imagery that show how outdoor spaces meet their desired usage profiles. Thermal comfort is a complex concept as it accesses an individuals perception of temperature which are reliant on both physiological/environmental causes and psychological factors. The thermal comfort analysis combines wind and…
Time Slicing Considerations
A breakdown of the Time Slicing Considerations
Understanding Bundles, Subscriptions and Credits
Orbital Stack manages usage via a credit (or token) system. There are two types of credits, AI Credits and CFD Credits. See the table below to determine the number of credits required for each type of simulation. Bundles Bundles can be purchased at any time, and are ideal for testing new design ideas, supporting project…
Understanding Results
Guidance on interpreting your simulation results
Uploading Custom MET Data
A step-by-step guide to preparing and using TC360 weather files in Orbital Stack
Weather Station Selection
When it comes to conducting simulations within the Orbital Stack Application, choosing the right weather station is crucial. The accuracy and reliability of the data collected can greatly impact the results of your project. In this post, we will explore the different options available and provide recommendations for optimal outcomes. Measured Data: The Preferred Option…
Wind Cooling Potential (Ventilation)
What is Wind Cooling Potential? Wind Cooling Potential is a metric that provides the average wind speed of a location at an indicated time. It is generally understood that wind reduces the perceived temperature people experience in a given location. In the summer, a nice breeze on a hot day acts as a cooling agent.…
Wind Directions and Terrain Considerations
When submitting a new scenario, you will be required to choose the Wind Directions for your analysis as well as the Terrain types found in the areas adjacent to your project site. Choosing Wind Directions In general, choose a minimum of 6 wind directions up, however 8 are preferred. Choosing 8 directions help ensure that…
Wind Rose
Wind Roses are helpful tools which display wind speed and direction at a specified season and location. What is it measuring? The Wind Rose displays three types of information: Wind direction (where wind is blowing from, not towards) is displayed in a compass configuration. The shade of each ‘spoke’ of the wind rose indicates a…
Worst Case Pressure Coefficients
The worst-case pressure coefficient is determined by identifying the lowest minimum Cp or the highest maximum Cp among all simulated wind directions at each location on the building. As with the directional Pressure Coefficients, this is a non-dimensional value and has no units.
Worst Case Pressure Estimates
The Worst Case Pressure Estimates are the envelope of the estimated peak positive and negative surface pressures in kPa. Like the Worst Case Pressure Coefficients, this is the lowest minimum or highest maximum pressure coefficient among all simulated wind directions at each location on the building, but factored by the gradient height wind pressure and…