What is the precise meaning of daylighting in civil engineering? My vague notion was when a basement opens to grade? Is there more to it?
We use the term for a couple of things. When a proposed slope intersects with the natural ground, that’s the daylight line. Also, if you daylight a storm pipe, that’s when it comes out of the ground to a ditch/creek/stream. So I guess that’s sort of the same concept: proposed grade meets natural ground.
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When it comes to a basement, does it mean it cuts the slope to expose the front?
I wish I could give an intelligent answer here. But I’m not personally in this field. However, my daughter is a sustainability specialist/director for an architecture firm. I recall precisely when she was in graduate school at MIT, she took an entire course in Daylighting and I attended the presentation of all of their projects. My understanding is that buildings aiming for sustainability, includes the daylighting aspect, where the design aims for less artificial lighting, which can reduce carbon emissions. The design aims to bring significant natural daylight into the work environment which positively benefits the health and productivity of the building’s occupants. Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light, direct sunlight, and diffused-skylight into a building to reduce electric lighting and saving energy. .Daylighting is one aspect of green building codes/standards. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use.
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