A simulação computacional em iluminação natural: uma avaliação da usabilidade de software

Abstract

The daylighting simulation software has specific characteristics in relation to the usage algorithm, data input and output and processing. The accuracy of the results has been a common point in the development of this computational tools. The reliability of the generated data is one of the factors that influence the user's choice, as well as the interaction with the software, which gives the interface a fundamental role. Software quality assessment can focus on functional, non-functional and performance requirements. This thesis aims to evaluate the usability of daylighting simulation software and, in this perspective, to propose a set of heuristics to assist the user in making software decisions. The user's perception of usability was identified through a questionnaire applied to a sample of the research universe. For statistical analysis, we used the methods of relation and comparison between proportions, performed using the Kruskal Wallis and Dunn’s test and the Chi-square test. The results of this stage show that the aspects that deal with efficiency, safety, memorization and satisfaction are present in the evaluated software. However, facility of use and facility of learning are not common to everyone. The practice of using software in research was verified through the collection of bibliographic data in scientific articles. Aspects related to computer simulation were investigated, such as: input data, processing and output data. In the statistical analysis of the results, we opted for calculating the average and comparing proportions. There was an increase in the use of computer simulation in the last decade and trends were pointed out to mesh simulation and the use of annualized metrics. The use of plug in for software integration to the BIM platform was observed. To propose the set of heuristics, the statistical results of the questionnaire were used. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the heuristics was carried out through the focus group. The qualitative method of content analysis was adopted. The inferences were based on the calculation of proportions and on the driving rule. The set of heuristics is anchored in a specific context and the method used for its conception can be used in other areas. The analysis of the interfaces, through the usability assessment, provides users with information that goes beyond the reliability of the data, but which includes this aspect in a set that also aims to reveal the quality of the user's interaction with the software.