Since 2002, a number of different studies have been carried out at the Daylighting Laboratory, ranging from site planning to single indoorenvironments ordaylighting components analysis.

Most studies carried out in the facility refer to one of the following categories:

— comparison of environmental performances of different daylighting systems (openings, glazed surfaces, shading devices)

— optimisation, during the design stage, of a specific daylighting system.

The different goals of the studies belonging to the two categories imply different procedures in the use of the scanning sky simulator and artificial sun.

Forthe comparative evaluation ofdifferent daylighting systems, models reproducing sample environments are used. Besides, reference conditions are assumed, both forsky conditions and sun positions, and repeated in orderto compare environmental performances due to

assessed systems. At present, for this category, most studies have been carried out to evaluate the performances ofdifferent shading systems (overhangs, vertical fins, Venetian blinds, light-shelves, PVC, wood or aluminium louvered screens) for both residential and non-residential environments (e. g. attics, offices, classrooms, etc.)19,20,21.

The optimisation of a specific daylighting system is carried out during the building design stage and it is related to the distributive and photometric characteristics ofthe space for which the system has been conceived. At present, forthis category, most studies have been carried out to optimise the design of shading systems such as mobile or fixed, matt or specular, continuous or micro-perforated louver shades. Aim of the studies has been concerned with maximising the amount of admitted daylight while screening direct sun­light, hence controlling glare and overheating phenomena and meeting at the same time the Daylight Factorstandard requirements. In these cases, quantitative (illuminance and Daylight Factor levels) and qualitative (images taken inside the scale model) data were collected fordifferent louver tilt angles and for maximum and minimum daylight availability during the year (clear and overcast skies, June and December, morning and noon)22,23.