Blog

Case studies, news and thought leadership.

Using Lawson Wind Comfort Criteria to Elevate Pedestrian Experience in Urban Spaces

Understanding and optimizing the microclimate around buildings becomes paramount as we step into a new era of sustainable and climate-conscious design. But how do we measure something as…
Introducing 3D Wind Streamlines for AI: Revolutionize Early Design with Orbital Stack

Orbital Stack, along with the experts at RWDI and Neural Concept, is proud to announce its newest, game-changing feature: 3D Wind Streamlines for AI Simulations. This feature will…
A Deep Dive into Wind Effects in Urban Design

As anyone who’s spent time around skyscrapers knows from experience, the wind effects encountered at ground level — as well as on patios, balconies, terraces, etc. — can…
How Predictive AI Is Revolutionizing Building Design

Every building has a purpose, from tall residential buildings designed to provide dense housing options in urban environments to commercial buildings that house lively restaurants on one floor…
Choosing the Right Path to Comfort: Comparing UTCI and SPMV Thermal Comfort Indexes

Creating comfortable outdoor environments is a complex endeavor. It hinges on understanding thermal comfort – an individual’s perception of temperature, influenced by both physiological and psychological factors. To…
Making Outdoor Urban Spaces More Valuable Using Climate Analysis

Urbanization — the population shift from rural to urban areas — is one of the greatest forces reshaping our world. By 2050, it’s projected that 68% of the…
Unlocking Design Potential: Discover Our New AI Thermal Comfort Solution

Creating comfortable and usable outdoor spaces is crucial, whether in scorching hot climates or freezing cold regions. To address this challenge, we are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking…
Modeling Architectural Microclimate Effects: Which Approach, When?

A model is a representation — typically simplified and/or idealized — of a ‘thing’ (e.g., a structure, a system, a phenomenon, etc.). In scientific pursuits, wind models are…
The Ultimate Pedestrian Wind Analysis Guide [2023]

Offering rewards for architects and property developers who wield it well, Pedestrian-Level Wind (PLW) analysis (also known as Pedestrian Comfort analysis) is becoming a must-have for urban construction…
3 Urban Design Trends that Influence Microclimate

Pedestrian Level Wind (PLW) analysis has risen to prominence — and will continue to grow in importance — because of three converging trends. These include 15-minute cities and…
How Early Design Guidance Could Have Saved an Architect Over $100,000 in Redesign Costs

The time and energy saved using early design guidance and implementing proactive and effective mitigation measures instead of experimenting with and paying for several failed options are invaluable…
How CFD Varies in the AEC Industry and the Importance of Validation

A version of this article was first published on LinkedIn. With the growth of DIY microclimate tools, it is more important than ever to understand the quality of…
Orbital Stack Announces AI-features For CFD Tool Based on Decades of Wind Tunnel Data

Orbital Stack is proud to announce that RWDI, an industry leading wind engineering firm, has partnered with AI and machine learning company Neural Concept to create AI-powered CFD for early-stage design guidance.
How early design insights swayed a masterplan

Early analysis of solar, wind, and thermal comfort on a proposed masterplan confirms that a multi-use community space will be climate-friendly and livable.
Integrating sustainability into tight design schedules

Learn how a climate-analysis tool can inform early design to improve a proposed building’s long-term performance.
Adding outdoor comfort to a luxury hotel

An early stage CFD wind study detects any outdoor comfort issues for a new hotel in a tropical climate.
Make the most of the zoning process with CFD wind assessment

Orbital Stack confirms that a climate-responsive building design will meet a City’s wind guidelines through early stage CFD analysis.
A proposal for pedestrian comfort

Early designs for a proposed condo development are optimized to keep pedestrians comfortable using Orbital Stack’s climate insights.
When to choose CFD for a pedestrian-level wind study

RWDI wind engineers outline when a CFD wind study using Orbital Stack is ideal for early stage building designs.
Hidden lessons from 2020 to carry us through 2021

Beyond the obvious public health crisis, the pandemic exposed the fragility of many of our systems and economies.
Changing the game on building design

Creating great cities through high-performance buildings has always been a driving passion at RWDI. But such ambitious design requires thoughtful consideration from many perspectives—environmental, engineering and humanistic.
Why “planet experience” is the new UX

A focus on user experience changed the game. Now, companies who embrace “PX” will gain the next competitive advantage.
Building community: Thoughtful building design is altering cities

As cities grapple with the effects of climate change and increased density, we consider how urban spaces can be climate-positive communities.