Engineers need a practical tool to assist with designing architectural and lighting components made from reflecting materials such as glass and mirror. So the MAX: R+I team developed one in-house.

The result is Beam Tracer. A custom-written plug-in for Rhino 3D CAD software, Beam Tracer simulates and draws paths taken by beams of light passing through spaces with multiple specular reflections.

Using ‘forward ray tracing’ the program algorithm traces the paths of light through 3D model geometry. It implements the required transmissions, absorptions and reflections wherever the light meets a surface.

Both electric and natural light can be simulated, and the app includes a module to create virtual sunlight rays at any world location, date and time.