Visual Programming of Canton Tower Model using Dynamo

INTRODUCTION

This project is an extension of the previously modeled Canton Tower using Revit. Dynamo is used to add certain features to the existing model. In the model, the top of the main body hosts a Ferris wheel which consists of 16 transparent pods circumnavigating in an elliptical track. Focus of this part of the project is mainly on these pods.

Firstly, dynamo is used to change the location of the pods on the uppermost elliptical track based on the sun settings, i.e. time. It is assumed that the pods will circumnavigate around the structure from 9 am to 9 pm and that the frequency is 1 revolution per hour for each pod. Consecutive pods are equally spaced between each other. Secondly, it is used to change the color of glass panels. The glass panels are meshed to form 6 bays separated by strips of metal sheets. 3 colors viz. blue, green and red are used to color the glass panels. Bays which are diametrically opposite to each other have similar colors. These glass panels will have light hues between 9 am to 1 pm; normal hues between 1 pm to 5 pm; dark hues between 5 pm to 9 pm; and regular transparent glass panels during the rest of the time.

POWERING WITH DYNAMO

Fig 1. The Dynamo program

This is the entire dynamo program which serves the objectives of the project. The 1^st part of the program dynamically changes the pod locations based on time and the 2^nd part of the program changes the color of the glass panels on the pods. The following screenshots will provide better description.

Fig 2. Time Retrieval from Revit program

This step retrieves the time from the Revit program. Since the raw time retrieved is according to UTC, it needs to be adjusted according to the local time in Guangzhou, China. This is further translated into total minutes which will be used in further calculations.

Fig 3. Determination of Location of 1^st Pod

The time range of operation of the pods are set between 540 and 1260 total minutes, i.e. 9 am to 9 pm. The normalized curve parameter of the 1^st pod are indexed from 0 to 61 (where 0 and 61 has same value). The corresponding values at each index will be assigned to the 1^st pod for each successive minutes.

Fig 4. Determine locations of other pods based on 1^st pod

The value of the 1^st pod location is equal to ‘a’ in this program. The other 15 pods will take the values based on this value. Since the value of the normalized curve parameter cannot be more than 1, all values greater than 1 are subtracted by 1 which is essential for proper operation of the program.

Fig 5. Assign calculated normalized curve parameter values for all the 16 pods

The 16 pod points are loaded on the program and listed. The controlling parameter is the Normalized Curve parameter which is defined by a string function. This meets the 1^st objective of the program.

Fig 6. Determination of current time on defined time ranges

The glass panel colors change at different time of operations. This part of the program identifies the current time and outputs the corresponding material index.

Fig 7. Material Database

The materials are assigned by index numbers. Based on the time range, a corresponding material list is invoked which will alter the glass panel colors in the subsequent step.

Fig 8. Assignment of glass panel color

All of the 16 pods are loaded into the program. The parameters needed for changing are identified by string functions and listed before it is fed to the glass panel color parameter changing function for the final step. This meets the 2^nd objective of the program.

THE GLASS PANELS

Fig 9. Glass panel definition based on curtain panel pattern based family

Fig 10. A transparent pod

This transparent pods is a hollow sphere extrusion. The glass panels are provided on the meshes created.

Fig 11. Transparent Pod defined on an adaptive point

This component is locked with the adaptive point which is hosted by the uppermost ellipse of the structure.

Fig 12. Example table of Glass Panel Color Parameter

VISUAL RESULTS

The following images describe the glass panel colors on different time ranges of the day.

Fig 13. Glass panel color during late morning

Fig 14. Glass panel color during afternoon

Fig 15. Glass panel color during evening

Fig 16. Glass panel color during the rest of the day

The following Graphics Interchange Formats highlight the essence of the 1st part of the program, i.e. circumnavigation of the pods around the structure.

GIF 1. Time range from 8:50 am to 9:20 am

GIF 2. Time range from 8:40 pm to 9:10 pm

This shows that the location of pods are programmed to change from 9 am to 9 pm with a frequency of 1 revolution per hour for each pod. 

Thanks & Gig'em.