SPOT™ - Sensor Placement + Optimization Tool

Version 4.0 Includes Spectral and Spatial Photosensor Data

Take the SPOT survey

SPOT™ Software Release Notes

SPOT™software is publicly funded and available at no cost to the public.

SPOT v 4.0 Minor Bug Fixes, Release Date: July 2008 - Installation note:

SPOT is a Radiance based program that uses a RAYPATH variable in the system environmental variables to find necessary files. If another Radiance based program is already installed then the RAYPATH for SPOT might not append properly. If you know you have another Radiance based program installed or you experience trouble on an initial run of SPOT then check the RAYPATH using the following steps.

-Go to the Environmental Variables definition through Start Menu - Control Panel - System, and clicking on the "Advanced" tab

-Check the RAYPATH in the user variables to see if "C:\Program Files\SPOT\Radiance\lib;." is in the string. Append this text if it does not exist. Note that the period ";." at the end must be included

-Note that the C:\Program Files\SPOT directory in the text given above should be replaced with directory in which SPOT is installed if a custom directory was selected upon installation.

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SPOT v 4.0 Features - Release Date: May 2008 (pdf of features)

Spatial, spectral, and power curves for specific photosensor
manufacturers are now available based on the 2007 NLPIP Specifier Report on Photosensors by the Lighting Research Center.
The addition of CHPS and LEED daylighting metrics, calculating compliance with required criteria and generating printable reports.
The IES Library is improved with the ability to group light sources using subdirectories and a generic database.
Navigation throughout the program is enhanced with quick movement from the various input and output screens, triggering re-simulation only when necessary to reduce overall user wait time.
Functionality and usability of automatic and fixed shade control definition is improved.
Works with Excel 2007.

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SPOT v 3.1 Features - Release Date: January 2007 (pdf document of features)

Various CHPS and LEED daylighting metrics have been added, calculating the required criteria and generating a printable report.
Review and discussion of Perez and CIE sky models and annual simulation techniques were used to validate the new annual simulation algorithms and contributed to the software knowledge base.
Improved IES Library with the ability to group light sources using subdirectories and a generic database.
Improved navigation throughout the program allowing quick movement from the various input and output screens, triggering re-simulation only when necessary to reduce overall user wait time.
Improved functionality and usability of automatic and fixed shade control definition; active manual shade control was extensively researched and an accurate and clear solution is still under development.
Review and update of the algorithms used in the SPOT Annual Analysis modules in collaboration with daylighting experts improved the accuracy of the various annual simulations.
Validation activities focused on the electric lighting, daylight design day, and annual daylighting simulations are ongoing. The underlying Radiance light simulation engine has been independently validated.
Ancillary activities included the development of Help Files, a photosensor analyzer tutorial, and an update of the users' manual.

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SPOT Version 3.0 - Release Date: March 2006
Installation notes:
- Bug still exists in installation procedure if RAYPATH environmental variable is already defined with a "."
If this is the case, RAYPATH fails to be defined and should be edited manually by adding:
C:\Program Files\SPOT\Radiance\lib and . to the RAYPATH variable.
- When Python 2.3 is finished installing it asks to restart computer. Cancel this window to allow the numarray
installer to also run. Restart computer after all components have been installed.
Bugs Fixed:
- Photosensor Generator correlation plots fixed.
- Missing luminaire data bug fixed.
- Many sheets protected to prevent accidental program modifications and potential bugs.
- Photosensor Analyzer control bugs fixed.
- Bug related to inputting 10 skylights fixed.
- View files not existing bug fixed.
- Fixed bugs related to simulating 4 months or more as selected on Advanced options.
- Fixed LPD update bug, now shows correct LPD's at all times.
- Fixed file management bug when site is changed leading to missing files.
General Improvements:
- Provided ability to model multiple shade device control zones.
- Provided page to determine optimal settings for automated shade devices.
- Added a printable standardized daylight report giving a daylight rating and suggestions.
- Added ability to view daylight illuminance on a specific day during the year using TMY2 data.
- Improved speed and stableness when navigating throughout the program using next / back buttons.
- Added the ability to specify the shade transmittance.
- Added ability to specify start and stop simulation times and adjust time step for calculations.

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SPOT Beta Version 2.3 - Release Date: November 7, 2005
Installation notes:
- Bug still exists in installation procedure if RAYPATH environmental variable is already defined with a "."
If this is the case, RAYPATH fails to be defined and should be edited manually by adding:
C:\Program Files\SPOT\Radiance\lib and . to the RAYPATH variable.
- When Python 2.3 is finished installing it asks to restart computer. Cancel this window to allow the numarray
installer to also run. Restart computer after all components have been installed.
- SPOT v 2.1 projects will have to be reentered and reran in SPOTv2.3. The file formats are not compatible.
Bugs Fixed:
- Improved data import speed / eliminated screen flashes upon import
- Fixed bug causing data to be mistakenly erased
General Improvements:
- Added electric lighting arrays to allow for odd shaped zones to be defined
- Added months option on advanced options
- Added dynamic and overridable workplane grid spacing options
- Added Light Loss Factor (LLF), Max/Min, and Lighting Power Density (LPD) Calculations to electric lighting page
- Added view interactive rendering option to electric lighting page
- Improved display of daylight conditions on daylight page
- Improved annual daylight performance calculation
- Added Daylight Autonomy and Max Daylight Autonomy calculations to daylight page
- Added view interactive rendering of selected daylight day option to daylight page
- Added view options to calculating page
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SPOT Beta Version 2.1.01 - Release Date: March 15, 2005
Bugs Fixed:
- Fixed south wall second exterior overhang placement problem
- Fixed bug causing crashes upon displaying Photosensor Analyzer page
- Fixed several bugs resulting in error messages and/or crashes
on Photosensor Analyzer sheet
General Improvements:
- Decreased dimming calculation time for all dimming types
- Improved import speed on Annual Analysis page

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SPOT Beta Version 2.1 - Release Date: March 8, 2005
Bugs Fixed:
- Fixed blinds rotation problem
- Fixed SI blinds size problem
- Fixed photosensor organization for additional photosensors
- Fixed photosensor name export to annual.bat
- Fixed photosensor name assignment on analyzer sheet for more than two zones
- Fixed color coding problem on annual analysis sheet
- Prevent divide by zero error when electric lights are poorly zoned
- Fixed Y-axis numbering on electric lighting illuminance plot
- Fixed top "back/next" bar so its stationary when scrolling down
- Fixed photosensor correlation plots to properly account for cloudy days
General Improvements:
- Improved overall calculation time by ~30-40%
- Reduced overall SPOT directory size to roughly 10% of previous
- Protected all sheets possible
Features Added:
- Added workplane illuminance line to photosensor analyzer illuminance page
- Added sensor signal lines to correlation plot
- Added Length and Width titles to the illuminance grids for clarity
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SPOT Beta Version 2.0 - Release Date: February 1, 2005
Original Release

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