Cumincad : CUMINCAD Papers : Search Results

CumInCAD is a Cumulative Index about publications in Computer Aided Architectural Design
supported by the sibling associations ACADIA, CAADRIA, eCAADe, SIGraDi, ASCAAD and CAAD futures

PDF papers
References

Hits 1 to 20 of 255

Reformat results as: short short into frame detailed detailed into frame

_id	0f73
authors	Ervin, Stephen M.
year	1990
title	Designing with Diagrams: A Role for Computing in Design Education and Exploration
source	The Electronic Design Studio: Architectural Knowledge and Media in the Computer Era [CAAD Futures ‘89 Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-262-13254-0] Cambridge (Massachusetts / USA), 1989, pp. 107-122
summary	Environmental designers, design educators and design students using computers are a constituency with a set of requirements for database structure and flexibility, for knowledge representation and inference mechanisms, and for both graphical and non-graphical operations, that are now articulatable and to-date largely unmet. This is especially so in the area called 'preliminary' or 'schematic' design, where our requirements are related to, but different from, those of our colleagues in mechanical and electrical engineering, whose needs have dominated the notable developments in this area. One manifestation of these needs is in the peculiar form of graphics called diagrams , and the ways in which environmental designers (architects, landscape architects., urban designers) use them. Our diagrams are both similar to and different from structural, circuit, or logical diagrams in important ways. These similarities and differences yield basic insights into designing and design knowledge, and provide guidance for some necessary steps in the development of the next generation of CAD systems. Diagrams as a form of knowledge representation have received little scrutiny in the literature of graphic representation and computer graphics. In the following sections I present an overview of the theoretical basis for distinguishing and using diagrams; examine some of the computational requirements for a system of computer-aided diagramming; describe a prototype implementation called CBD (Constraint Based Diagrammer) and illustrate one example of its use; and speculate on the implications and potential applications of these ideas in computer-aided design education.
series	CAAD Futures
last changed	1999/04/03 17:58

_id	8c2b
authors	Peleg, Uriel J. and Shaviv, Edna
year	1990
title	A Knowledge Based Computer- Aided Solar Design System
source	ASHRAE Transactions (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). Atlanta, GA: 1990. v.st.-96-2: [5] p. : ill. includes bibliography
summary	A knowledge based computer-aided architectural design system (KB-CAAD) for the schematic design and evaluation of passive solar buildings is presented. The presented tool is based on the integration of knowledge based and procedural simulation methods with any available CAAD system for building representation. The knowledge base contains the heuristic rules for the design of passive solar buildings. Whenever possible, the knowledge base guides the designer through the decision making process. However, if 'rules of thumb' are not acceptable for the particular design problem, the KB-CAAD tool guides the architect towards the optimal solution, by using a procedural simulation model. It is demonstrated, through a case study, that the proposed knowledge based design system not only leads to the design of better solar buildings, but that it takes less time and man-power to introduce the geometrical data that would be needed for a regular non-solar building representation
keywords	CAD, knowledge base, energy, design, systems, evaluation, analysis
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/06/02 10:24

_id	1e97
authors	Wojtowicz, Jerzy
year	1990
title	Aspects of design logic and Le Corbusier's universe of forms
source	Harvard University, Graduate School of Design
summary	Generation of form in architectural design tends to become a highly structured process when computational tools are engaged. The objective of this study was to develop an alternative way of designing with a computer--one that is not framed by assumptions of monotonicity and determinism. To realize this aim the case study method was chosen. It was followed by formalization and design etudes rooted in a specific corpus of significant design work. A corpus of work was isolated from Le Corbusier's Oeuvre complete to serve as the vehicle for: (a) Construction, using shape grammar rules of a dynamic model of a concise design world. (b) Analysis of the process of rupture and dialectic which results in the fundamental transformation of the design world. (c) Generation of existing and new examples in the given language. (d) Examination of the limitations of the shape grammar formalism and proposal of alternatives formalisms based on non-monotonic logic. Le Corbusier's purist tradition, selected as the corpus for this study, is characterized by formal continuity followed by a sudden rupture in its formal language. The issue of change and collapse of one design world into a new one was therefore the focus of the investigation. The method that was developed interprets the formal procedure of examining the architectural object as 'reading' and the procedure of generating the architectural object as 'writing'. Design is seen as a continuous feedback loop between reading and writing within the boundaries of a given universe of forms. This is demonstrated by abstracting an architectural vocabulary and compositional rules from Le Corbusier's purist work, translating the vocabulary into a set of computer models, and using the computer to transform and recompose these elements into new designs.
keywords	Data Processing; Composition; Proportion; Data Processing
series	thesis:PhD
email
last changed	2003/03/11 09:59

_id	4ac0
authors	Balachandran, M. B. and Gero, John S.
year	1990
title	Knowledge Engineering and Multicriteria Optimization
source	Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1990. pp. 115-147. CADLINE has abstract only
summary	Many aspects of optimization, including problem formulation, algorithm selection and the interpretation of results require human judgment and experience, and are traditionally carried out by humans. Recently developed knowledge-based system methodologies now allow us to incorporate different forms of knowledge required to carry out such non-numeric tasks. The role and effectiveness of knowledge-based methodologies in multicriteria optimization are described and illustrated with examples
keywords	design, multicriteria, optimization, knowledge base
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/06/02 13:58

_id	avocaad_2001_02
id	avocaad_2001_02
authors	Cheng-Yuan Lin, Yu-Tung Liu
year	2001
title	A digital Procedure of Building Construction: A practical project
source	AVOCAAD - ADDED VALUE OF COMPUTER AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Nys Koenraad, Provoost Tom, Verbeke Johan, Verleye Johan (Eds.), (2001) Hogeschool voor Wetenschap en Kunst - Departement Architectuur Sint-Lucas, Campus Brussel, ISBN 80-76101-05-1
summary	In earlier times in which computers have not yet been developed well, there has been some researches regarding representation using conventional media (Gombrich, 1960; Arnheim, 1970). For ancient architects, the design process was described abstractly by text (Hewitt, 1985; Cable, 1983); the process evolved from unselfconscious to conscious ways (Alexander, 1964). Till the appearance of 2D drawings, these drawings could only express abstract visual thinking and visually conceptualized vocabulary (Goldschmidt, 1999). Then with the massive use of physical models in the Renaissance, the form and space of architecture was given better precision (Millon, 1994). Researches continued their attempts to identify the nature of different design tools (Eastman and Fereshe, 1994). Simon (1981) figured out that human increasingly relies on other specialists, computational agents, and materials referred to augment their cognitive abilities. This discourse was verified by recent research on conception of design and the expression using digital technologies (McCullough, 1996; Perez-Gomez and Pelletier, 1997). While other design tools did not change as much as representation (Panofsky, 1991; Koch, 1997), the involvement of computers in conventional architecture design arouses a new design thinking of digital architecture (Liu, 1996; Krawczyk, 1997; Murray, 1997; Wertheim, 1999). The notion of the link between ideas and media is emphasized throughout various fields, such as architectural education (Radford, 2000), Internet, and restoration of historical architecture (Potier et al., 2000). Information technology is also an important tool for civil engineering projects (Choi and Ibbs, 1989). Compared with conventional design media, computers avoid some errors in the process (Zaera, 1997). However, most of the application of computers to construction is restricted to simulations in building process (Halpin, 1990). It is worth studying how to employ computer technology meaningfully to bring significant changes to concept stage during the process of building construction (Madazo, 2000; Dave, 2000) and communication (Haymaker, 2000).In architectural design, concept design was achieved through drawings and models (Mitchell, 1997), while the working drawings and even shop drawings were brewed and communicated through drawings only. However, the most effective method of shaping building elements is to build models by computer (Madrazo, 1999). With the trend of 3D visualization (Johnson and Clayton, 1998) and the difference of designing between the physical environment and virtual environment (Maher et al. 2000), we intend to study the possibilities of using digital models, in addition to drawings, as a critical media in the conceptual stage of building construction process in the near future (just as the critical role that physical models played in early design process in the Renaissance). This research is combined with two practical building projects, following the progress of construction by using digital models and animations to simulate the structural layouts of the projects. We also tried to solve the complicated and even conflicting problems in the detail and piping design process through an easily accessible and precise interface. An attempt was made to delineate the hierarchy of the elements in a single structural and constructional system, and the corresponding relations among the systems. Since building construction is often complicated and even conflicting, precision needed to complete the projects can not be based merely on 2D drawings with some imagination. The purpose of this paper is to describe all the related elements according to precision and correctness, to discuss every possibility of different thinking in design of electric-mechanical engineering, to receive feedback from the construction projects in the real world, and to compare the digital models with conventional drawings.Through the application of this research, the subtle relations between the conventional drawings and digital models can be used in the area of building construction. Moreover, a theoretical model and standard process is proposed by using conventional drawings, digital models and physical buildings. By introducing the intervention of digital media in design process of working drawings and shop drawings, there is an opportune chance to use the digital media as a prominent design tool. This study extends the use of digital model and animation from design process to construction process. However, the entire construction process involves various details and exceptions, which are not discussed in this paper. These limitations should be explored in future studies.
series	AVOCAAD
email
last changed	2005/09/09 10:48

_id	f9e5
authors	Cherneff, Jonathan Martin
year	1990
title	Knowledge Based Interpretation of Architectural Drawings
source	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Cambridge, MA
summary	Architectural schematic drawings have been used to communicate building designs for centuries. The symbolic language used in these drawings efficiently represents much of the intricacy of the building process (e.g. implied business relationships, common building practice, and properties of construction materials). The drawing language is an accepted standard representation for building design, something that modern data languages have failed to achieve. In fact, the lack of an accepted standard electronic representation has hampered efforts at computer intergration and perhaps worsened industry fragmentation. In general, drawings must be interpreted, by a professional, and then reentered in order to transfer them from one CAD system to another. This work develops a method for machine interpretation of architectural (or other) schematic drawings. The central problem is to build an efficient drawing parser (i.e. a program that identifies the semantic entitites, characteristics, and relationships that are represented in the drawing). The parser is built from specifications of the drawing grammar and an underlying spatial model. The grammar describes what to look for, and the spatial model enables the parser to find it quickly. Coupled with existing optical recognition technology, this technique enables the use of drawings directly as: (1) a database to drive various AEC applications, (2) a communication protocol to integrate CAD systems, (3) a traditional user interface.
series	thesis:PhD
last changed	2003/02/12 22:37

_id	268e
authors	Christiansson, Per
year	1990
title	Integration of Knowledge Based Systems and Media
source	BYGGA MED IT. Informatiosteknologi i byggprocess. November, 1990. 4 p. : ill. includes bibliography The borders between different representations and their implementation in the computer systems are not sharp. It is possible now to create models which bring about a clearer and more obvious connection between the application and the computer stored models. knowledge base / systems / media / modeling / representation / integration. 32. Christiansson, Per. 'The KBS-MEDIA Project.' MacWorld Expo Asia '89. 1989. 2 p. : ill.
summary	A short description of the KBS-MEDIA, knowledge based systems - media project advanced software
keywords	knowledge base, systems, media
series	CADline
last changed	1999/02/12 15:07

_id	4616
authors	Christiansson, Per
year	1990
title	Advanced Information Technology in Building Maintenance Support
source	computer Integrated Construction CIB W78 + W74 Seminar (2nd. : 1990 : Tokyo). 6 p. : ill. includes bibliography
summary	The paper describes how modern information technology may impact the properties of future building maintenance systems. Examples have been picked from ongoing research under the heading KBS-MEDIA LAB, knowledge based systems media lab
keywords	building, maintenance, product modeling, information, user interface, knowledge, representation, hypermedia, AI
series	CADline
last changed	1999/02/12 15:07

_id	6ee1
authors	Christiansson, Per
year	1990
title	Background Agents to Enhance Access and Growth of Loosely Coupled Models for Building Design
source	System Research, Informatics and Cybernetics, International Conference -- ICSRIC-90. (5th. : 1990 : Baden-Baden, Germany). 6 p. : ill. includes bibliography
summary	The paper describes and exemplifies how modern information technology may impact the properties of future building information systems. Examples have been picked from ongoing research under the heading KBS-MEDIA LAB, Knowledge based systems media lab
keywords	AI, user interface, knowledge, representation, hypermedia,
series	CADline
last changed	1999/02/12 15:07

_id	e5e2
authors	Coyne, R.D., Rosenman, M.A. and Radford, A.D. (et.al.)
year	1990
title	Knowledge Based Design Systems
source	576 p. : ill Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1990. includes bibliographies and index.
summary	This book describes the bases, approaches, techniques, and implementations of knowledge-based design systems, and advocates and develops new directions in design systems generally. A formal model of design coupled with the notion of prototypes provides a coherent framework for all that follows and is a platform on which a comprehension of knowledge-based design rests. The book is divided into three parts. Part I, Design, examines and describes design and design processes, providing the context for the remainder of the book. Part II, Representation and Reasoning, explores the kinds of knowledge involved in design and the tools and techniques available for representing and controlling this knowledge. It examines the attributes of design that must be described and the ways in which knowledge-based methods are capable of describing and controlling them. Part III, Knowledge-Based Design, presents in detail the fundamentals of the interpretation of design, including the role of expert systems in interpreting existing designs, before describing how to produce designs within a knowledge-based environment. This part includes a detailed examination of design processes from the perspective of how to control these processes. Within each of these processes, the place and role of knowledge is presented and examples of knowledge-based design systems given. Finally, the authors examine central areas of human design and demonstrate what current knowledge-based design systems are capable of doing now and in the future
keywords	knowledge base, design process, representation, CAD, AI, prototypes, expert systems
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/05/17 10:13

_id	411f
authors	Coyne, Richard D. and Postmus, A.G.
year	1990
title	Spatial Applications of Neural Networks in Computer-Aided Design
source	Artificial Intelligence in Engineering. 1990. vol. 5: pp. 9-22. CADLINE has abstract only
summary	Neural networks of PDP (parallel distributed processing), models of computation are based on mathematical models of neural processes. The authors explore the application of PDP to simple spatial reasoning in computer-aided design. Knowledge that provides a mapping from performances to design descriptions can be encoded into PDP systems in the form of learned patterns. The implementation of a simple PDP pattern associator is described. The system is shown to facilitate a rudimentary kind of associative or analogical reasoning. It also facilitates reasoning where only incomplete information is available. There are important concerns in design reasoning
keywords	CAD, neural networks, design, representation, knowledge, reasoning
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/05/17 10:13

_id	eee2
authors	Gero, John S. and Rosenman, Michael A.
year	1989
title	A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge-Based Design Research at Sydney University's Design Computing Unit
source	Southampton/Berlin: CMP/Springer- verlag, 1989. pp. 363-382. Published also in Artificial Intelligence in Engineering 5(2):363-383, 1990
summary	This paper presents the conceptual framework behind the Design Computing Unit's knowledge-based design research. It commences with a brief overview before introducing the role of experience in design. The conceptual schema 'prototypes' is introduced and described within a framework of design as transforming required or expected functions to structure descriptions. Current projects related to this conceptual framework are briefly described
keywords	CAD, knowledge base, design, prototypes, representation
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/06/02 13:58

_id	04aa
authors	Harfmann, Anton C. and Chen, Stuart S.
year	1990
title	Building Representation within a Component Based Paradigm
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.1990.117
source	From Research to Practice [ACADIA Conference Proceedings] Big Sky (Montana - USA) 4-6 October 1990, pp. 117-127
summary	This paper questions the use of a 2-dimensional medium to convey 3-dimensional information about design intent and proposes a computer-aided paradigm that could radically alter the way in which buildings are designed and built. The paradigm is centered about the accurate and rational representation (Rush, 86) of each individual component that makes up a building in a single, shared, computer based model. The single model approach couples the accurate physical representation of components with the accurate representation of technical information and knowledge about the assemblies of building components. It is anticipated that implementation of this approach will result in fewer communication problems that currently plague the fragmented process of practicing in the professions of architecture and engineering. The paper introduces the basic concepts within the paradigm and focuses on the development of intuitive, reasoning about the component-based design suitable for incorporation in a computer-aided setting.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:49

_id	39e0
id	39e0
authors	Jablonski, Allen D.
year	1991
title	Integrated Component-based Computer Design Modeling System: The Implications of Control Parameters on the Design Process
source	New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ Graduate Thesis - Master's Program College of Architecture
summary	The design process is dependent on a clear order of integrating and managing all of the control parameters that impact on a building's design. All component elements of a building must be defined by their: Physical and functional relations; Quantitative and calculable properties; Component and/or system functions. This requires a means of representation to depict a model of a building that can be viewed and interpreted by a variety of interested parties. These parties need different types of representation to address their individual control parameters, as each component instance has specific implications on all of the control parameters. Representations are prepared for periodic design review either manually through hand-drawn graphics and handcrafted models; or with the aid of computer aided design programs. Computer programs can profoundly increase the speed and accuracy of the process', as well as provide a level of integration, graphic representation and simulation, untenable through a manual process. By maintaining a single control model in an Integrated Component-based Computer Design Modeling System (ICCDMS), interested parties could access the design model at any point during the process. Each party could either: 1. Analyze individual components, or constraints of the model, for interferences against parameters within that party's control; or 2. Explore design alternatives to modify the model, and verify the integration of the components or functions, within the design model, as allowable in relation to other control parameters.
keywords	Architectural Design; Data Processing
series	thesis:MSc
type	extended abstract
email
more	http://www.library.njit.edu/etd/1990s/1990/njit-etd1990-005/njit-etd1990-005.html
last changed	2006/09/25 09:04

_id	0b62
authors	Maher, Mary Lou
year	1990
title	Process Models for Design Synthesis
source	AI Magazine. 1990. vol. 11: pp. 49-58
summary	Models of design processes provide guidance in the development of knowledge-based systems for design. The basis for such models comes from both research in design theory and methodology as well as problem solving in artificial intelligence. Three models are presented: decomposition, case-based reasoning, and transformation. Each model provides a formalism for representing design knowledge and experience in distinct and complementary forms
keywords	design process, knowledge base, systems, theory, decomposition, representation, reasoning
series	CADline
email
last changed	2003/05/17 10:19

_id	c903
authors	Mark, Earl
year	1990
title	Case Studies in Moviemaking and Computer-Aided Design
source	The Electronic Design Studio: Architectural Knowledge and Media in the Computer Era [CAAD Futures ‘89 Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-262-13254-0] Cambridge (Massachusetts / USA), 1989, pp. 393-412
summary	A movie which is developed from site location video, sync sound, and computer graphics animation can provide a highly convincing simulation of reality. A movie that conveys a sense of the space, materials and juxtaposition of objects of a proposed architectural design provides a special kind of realism, where the representation may be of a proposed building that exists only within the mind of an architect. For an experienced architect, however, the movie may not provide a good surrogate experience for what it feels like to actually be within the architectural space. In these case studies, a few projects that combine moviemaking and computer-aided design technologies are examined. These projects were completed using a combination of resources at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. The integrated use of these media is presented as conceptualized with the Electronic Design Studio, a research project that has been supported over the past five years by Project Athena at MIT. The impact of movies and computer-aided design on the perception of architectural space is also reported- based on a pilot study of twenty architectural students.
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2003/05/16 20:58

_id	e167
authors	McMillan, T.
year	1990
title	Multimedia and education
source	Computer Graphics World. v13, 10, 68-72
summary	Image-based rendering is a powerful new approach for generating real-time photorealistic computcr ghraphics - lt can provide convinc-ing animations without any cxplicit geomeric representation. We, use the P lenoptic functionf of Adelson and Bergen to provide a concise problem statement for Imagc-based rendering paradigms. such as morphing and view interpolation.The Plenoptic function is a paramparameterized function for describing everything that is visible from a given point in space. We present an image-based rendering system based on sampling, reconstructing, and resampling the, Plenoptic function. ln addition we introduce a novel visible surface algorithm and a geometric invariant for cylindrical projections that is equivalent to the epipolar constraint defined for planar projections.
series	journal paper
last changed	2003/04/23 15:50

_id	avocaad_2001_20
id	avocaad_2001_20
authors	Shen-Kai Tang
year	2001
title	Toward a procedure of computer simulation in the restoration of historical architecture
source	AVOCAAD - ADDED VALUE OF COMPUTER AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Nys Koenraad, Provoost Tom, Verbeke Johan, Verleye Johan (Eds.), (2001) Hogeschool voor Wetenschap en Kunst - Departement Architectuur Sint-Lucas, Campus Brussel, ISBN 80-76101-05-1
summary	In the field of architectural design, “visualization¨ generally refers to some media, communicating and representing the idea of designers, such as ordinary drafts, maps, perspectives, photos and physical models, etc. (Rahman, 1992; Susan, 2000). The main reason why we adopt visualization is that it enables us to understand clearly and to control complicated procedures (Gombrich, 1990). Secondly, the way we get design knowledge is more from the published visualized images and less from personal experiences (Evans, 1989). Thus the importance of the representation of visualization is manifested.Due to the developments of computer technology in recent years, various computer aided design system are invented and used in a great amount, such as image processing, computer graphic, computer modeling/rendering, animation, multimedia, virtual reality and collaboration, etc. (Lawson, 1995; Liu, 1996). The conventional media are greatly replaced by computer media, and the visualization is further brought into the computerized stage. The procedure of visual impact analysis and assessment (VIAA), addressed by Rahman (1992), is renewed and amended for the intervention of computer (Liu, 2000). Based on the procedures above, a great amount of applied researches are proceeded. Therefore it is evident that the computer visualization is helpful to the discussion and evaluation during the design process (Hall, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998; Liu, 1997; Sasada, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998). In addition to the process of architectural design, the computer visualization is also applied to the subject of construction, which is repeatedly amended and corrected by the images of computer simulation (Liu, 2000). Potier (2000) probes into the contextual research and restoration of historical architecture by the technology of computer simulation before the practical restoration is constructed. In this way he established a communicative mode among archeologists, architects via computer media.In the research of restoration and preservation of historical architecture in Taiwan, many scholars have been devoted into the studies of historical contextual criticism (Shi, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995; Fu, 1995, 1997; Chiu, 2000). Clues that accompany the historical contextual criticism (such as oral information, writings, photographs, pictures, etc.) help to explore the construction and the procedure of restoration (Hung, 1995), and serve as an aid to the studies of the usage and durability of the materials in the restoration of historical architecture (Dasser, 1990; Wang, 1998). Many clues are lost, because historical architecture is often age-old (Hung, 1995). Under the circumstance, restoration of historical architecture can only be proceeded by restricted pictures, written data and oral information (Shi, 1989). Therefore, computer simulation is employed by scholars to simulate the condition of historical architecture with restricted information after restoration (Potier, 2000). Yet this is only the early stage of computer-aid restoration. The focus of the paper aims at exploring that whether visual simulation of computer can help to investigate the practice of restoration and the estimation and evaluation after restoration.By exploring the restoration of historical architecture (taking the Gigi Train Station destroyed by the earthquake in last September as the operating example), this study aims to establish a complete work on computer visualization, including the concept of restoration, the practice of restoration, and the estimation and evaluation of restoration.This research is to simulate the process of restoration by computer simulation based on visualized media (restricted pictures, restricted written data and restricted oral information) and the specialized experience of historical architects (Potier, 2000). During the process of practicing, communicates with craftsmen repeatedly with some simulated alternatives, and makes the result as the foundation of evaluating and adjusting the simulating process and outcome. In this way we address a suitable and complete process of computer visualization for historical architecture.The significance of this paper is that we are able to control every detail more exactly, and then prevent possible problems during the process of restoration of historical architecture.
series	AVOCAAD
email
last changed	2005/09/09 10:48

_id	8a0c
authors	Tan, Milton
year	1990
title	Saying What It Is by What It Is Like - Describing Shapes Using Line Relationships
source	The Electronic Design Studio: Architectural Knowledge and Media in the Computer Era [CAAD Futures ‘89 Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-262-13254-0] Cambridge (Massachusetts / USA), 1989, pp. 201-213
summary	Shapes - taken as well-defined collections of lines - are fundamental building blocks in architectural drawings. From doodles to shop drawings, shapes are used to denote ideas and represent elements of design, many of which ultimately translate into actual objects. But because designs evolve, the shapes representing a design are seldom static - instead, they are perpetually open to transformations. And since transformations involve relationships, conventional methods of describing shapes as sets of discrete endpoints may not provide an appropriate foundation for schematic design. This paper begins with a review of the perception of shapes and its significance in design. In particular, it argues that juxtapositions and inter-relationships of shapes are important seedbeds for creative development of designs. It is clear that conventional representation of shapes as sets of discrete lines does not cope with these -emergent" subshapes; the most basic of which arise out of intersecting and colinear lines. Attempts to redress this by using ‘reduction rules’ based on traditional point-and-line data structures are encumbered by computational problems of precision and shape specification. Basically, this means that some ‘close’ cases of sub-shapes may escape detection and their specifications are difficult to use in substitution operations. The paper presents the findings of a computer project - Emergence II - which explored a 'relational' description of shapes based on the concept of construction lines. It builds on the notion that architectural shapes are constructed in a graphic context and that, at a basic compositional level, the context can be set by construction lines. Accordingly, the interface enables the delineation of line segments with reference to pre-established construction lines. This results in a simple data structure where the knowledge of shapes is centralized in a lookup table of all its construction lines rather than dispersed in the specifications of line segments. Taking this approach, the prototype software shows the ease and efficiency of applying ‘reduction rules’ for intersection and colinear conditions, and for finding emergent sub-shapes by simply tracking the construction lines delimiting the ends of line segments.
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2003/05/16 20:58

_id	ddss9503
id	ddss9503
authors	Wineman, Jean and Serrato, Margaret
year	1994
title	Visual and Spatial Analysis in Office Design
source	Second Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture & Urban Planning (Vaals, the Netherlands), August 15-19, 1994
summary	The demands for rapid response to complex problems, flexibility, and other characteristics of today's workplace, such as a highly trained work force, have led many organizations to move from strict hierarchical structures to a more flexible project team organization. The organizational structure is broader and flatter, with greater independence given to organizational units, in this case the project teams. To understand the relationship between project team communication patterns and the design and layout of team space, a study was conducted of an architectural office before and after a move to new space. The study involved three project teams. Information was collected on individual communication patterns; perceptions of the ease of communication; and the effectiveness of the design and layout of physical space to support these communications. In order to provide guidance for critical decision-making in design, these communication data were correlated with a series of measures for the specification of team space enclosure and layout. These group/team space measures were adaptations of existing measures of individual work space, and included an enclosure measure, based on an enclosure measure developed by Stokols (1990); a measure of visual field, based on the "isovist" fields of Benedikt (1979); and an "integration" measure, based on the work of Hillier and Hanson (1984). Results indicate both linear and non-linear relationships between interaction patterns and physical space measures. This work is the initial stage of a research program to define a set of specific physical measures to guide the design of supportive work space for project teams and work groups within various types of organizations.
series	DDSS
email
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

For more results click below: