Autodesk Forma Site Design Analyses: A Step-by-Step Guide for Early Design

Scope and getting started

This guide is based on the analysis workflows in Autodesk’s official training and product documentation for Forma Site Design. The user interface training does not specify a software version number, so the steps apply to the features shown in the Forma Site Design documentation. An Autodesk Platform Services API document also describes Forma Site Design API Version 1, marked Beta; the interface steps in this guide do not require API use.

The analyses help evaluate different environmental conditions in the early stages of design. Autodesk positions these tools for preliminary and schematic design work. However, the results alone do not produce a formal environmental impact assessment (EIA); Autodesk also notes that local checklists, expert assessments and documentation requirements must be addressed separately.

To get started, open an existing Forma project. Make sure the proposal and model areas to be analyzed are ready. Autodesk’s product description outlines a general workflow: define the model and areas to analyze, configure and run the appropriate analysis, review the results, and compare different design proposals to refine the concept.

Running the analyses step by step

1. Check site metrics. In the project’s right-hand panel, open Area metrics from the Analyze menu. Autodesk’s training notes that some default metrics are displayed and can be changed using the drop-down menus. The Units tab lets you review project units, while the Parking tab can be used to check parking metrics such as the number of parking spaces and access roads. This helps evaluate key decisions, including site area and parking, in the context of the same project.

2. Review sun hours. Run Sun hours analysis from the Analyze menu. This analysis measures how long points on the ground and on proposed buildings receive sunlight on a specific date. Use the results as design input when assessing shading needs, the use of outdoor spaces, or the placement of balconies and similar sun-dependent features. Keep in mind that the date selected can affect the results; Autodesk’s documentation notes that assessments can be made for different dates.

3. Evaluate daylight potential separately. Daylight potential analysis does not answer the same question as sun hours analysis. According to Autodesk, the tool uses Vertical Sky Component (VSC) measurements based on how much of the sky façade areas can see, providing insight into the daylight performance of proposed buildings. So, use daylight potential results to examine indoor daylight conditions, and sun hours results to understand direct sunlight duration on the ground and façades.

4. Choose wind, microclimate and noise analyses based on the design question. Wind analysis helps assess wind conditions affecting a site at an early stage. Autodesk says there is a quick, indicative analysis option as well as a more detailed simulation suitable for documentation. Use quick results to compare options early, and consider the detailed result when a more comprehensive assessment is needed. Microclimate analysis combines sun, wind and local weather data to calculate the perceived temperature in outdoor spaces. Noise analysis examines noise from nearby road and rail traffic; it also offers quick and detailed options.

5. Review energy and solar metrics. Operational energy analysis is intended to estimate the energy a proposed building will need for lighting, heating and cooling, and running appliances. Solar energy analysis helps identify façades and roofs with greater exposure to solar radiation and estimate the annual electricity generation potential of solar panels. Autodesk’s environmental analysis page also lists embodied carbon analysis, described as a tool for measuring the embodied carbon impact of buildings.

6. Compare results and feed them back into the design. Rather than treating a single analysis output as the final decision, compare the results of different proposals. Autodesk describes a process of evaluating analysis results, comparing design proposals and their attributes, updating the concept based on findings, and presenting the data clearly. If needed, access extension analyses from the Extensions icon in Forma.

Impact on architecture and visualization workflows

These tools can be useful to architecture and interior design teams discussing topics such as site layout, massing, façade design and outdoor comfort early in the process. Because sun hours and daylight analyses answer different questions, they make it easier to assess façade and outdoor-space decisions without conflating the two. Quick wind and noise analyses can help evaluate early alternatives; when documentation is needed, Autodesk’s detailed options should also be considered.

According to Autodesk, the analyses are available with the AEC Collection or a separate Autodesk Forma subscription; the sources do not provide pricing for Turkey. The documentation does not specify hardware requirements either, so it is not possible to make a specific workstation recommendation. Before purchasing or using the tools, teams should confirm subscription coverage, access to the analyses they need, and their own project requirements. Forma results support early design decisions; they do not replace code compliance checks or expert reports.

Common mistakes

• Treating sun hours and daylight potential as the same measurement. The former examines the duration of sunlight, while the latter addresses daylight potential based on VSC.

• Using quick wind or noise analyses for the same purpose as Autodesk’s detailed options. Choose the analysis type according to the assessment required.

• Treating the result for a single proposal as final without comparing alternatives. Analyze different design options and bring the results back into the decision-making process.

• Treating a Forma output as a complete EIA or formal expert assessment. Autodesk says Forma helps examine some environmental factors early on, but does not complete an EIA on its own.