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

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_id	ddss9802
id	ddss9802
authors	Akin, O., Aygen, Z., Cumming, M., Donia, M., Sen, R. and Zhang, Y.
year	1998
title	Computational Specification of Building Requirements in theEarly Stages of Design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	We have been exploring computational techniques to help building designers to specify design requirements during the early stages of design. In the past, little has been accomplished in this area either in terms of innovative computational technologies or the improvement of design performance.The prospect of improving design productivity and creating a seamless process between requirements specification and formal design are our primary motivations. This research has been conducted as partof a larger project entitled SEED (Software Environment to Support Early Phases in Building Design). SEED features an open-ended modular architecture, where each module provides support for a design activity that takes place in early design stages. Each module is supported by a database to store and retrieve information, as well as a user interface to support the interaction with designers. The module described in this paper, SEED-Pro (the architectural programming module of SEED), is a workingprototype for building design requirements specification. It can be used by other modules in SEED or by design systems in other domains, such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, industrial designand electrical engineering. Our approach to SEED-Pro is divided into two phases: core, and support functionalities. The core functionalities operate in an interactive mode relying on a case-based approach to retrieve and adapt complex specification records to the problem at hand. The supportfunctionalities include the case-base, the data-base, and the standards processing environment for building specification tasks. Our findings indicate that SEED-Pro: (1) is a tool that structures the unstructured domain of design requirements; (2) enables the integration of design requirements with the rest of the design process, (3) leads to the creation of complex case-bases and (4) enables the observation of their performance in the context of real world design problems.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:15

_id	7560
authors	Gomez, Nestor
year	1998
title	Conceptual Structural Design Through Knowledge Hierarchies
source	Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pittsburgh
summary	Computer support for conceptual design still lags behind software available for analysis and detailed design. The Software Environment to Support the Early Phases in Building Design (SEED) project has the goal of providing design generation and exploration capabilities to aid in the conceptual design of buildings, from architectural programming and layout to enclosure design and structural configuration. The current work presents a component of the efforts of the SEED-Config Structure group in providing computer support for conceptual structural design. The Building Entity and Technology (BENT) approach models data about building elements in a general, hierarchical form, where design evolution is represented by the growing specificity of the design description. Two methods of system-supported design generation are provided: case-based reasoning and application of knowledge rules. The knowledge rules, termed technologies, and how they are specified and used are the primary focus of this thesis. In the BENT approach, conceptual structural engineering knowledge is modularized into technology nodes arranged in a directed 'AND/OR' graph, where OR nodes represent alternative design decisions and AND nodes represent problem decomposition. In addition, nodes in the graph may also be specified as having AND/OR incoming arcs thus reducing the duplication of nodes and enhancing the representational power of the approach. In order to facilitate the incorporation of new knowledge into the system, and verify and/or change the knowledge already in the system, the data model and the interface allow for dynamic creation, browsing, and editing of technology nodes. Design generation through the use of the knowledge hierarchy involves the conditional application of nodes according to the design context as represented by the building element(s) under consideration. Each application of a technology node expands the design of building elements by increasing the detail of the design description or by decomposing the elements into less abstract components. In addition, support for simultaneous design of multiple elements and for iteration control are also provided. An important feature of the BENT approach is that the generative knowledge (i.e., the technology hierarchy) is detached from the information repository (i.e., the database of entities which make up the building). This allows the technology hierarchies to be used in a modular fashion from building problem to building problem.
series	thesis:PhD
email
last changed	2003/02/12 22:37

_id	a037
authors	Aygen, Z. and Flemming, U.
year	1998
title	Classification of Precedents - A Hybrid Approach to Indexing and Retrieving Design Cases in SEED (a Software Environment for the Early Phases of Building Design)
source	CAADRIA ‘98 [Proceedings of The Third Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia / ISBN 4-907662-009] Osaka (Japan) 22-24 April 1998, pp. 435-444
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.1998.435
summary	An efficient indexing of past solutions is crucial to case-based design (CBD) systems performing complex retrieval on large case-bases. This paper suggests a hybrid approach to the indexing and retrieval of design precedents. The suggested approach accounts for the issues of classification manifested in architectural discussions on type and CBD literature. The indexing scheme integrates description-logic based representation for classification and an object-based representation for precedents. The hybrid scheme constitutes a basis for the implementation of a generic case indexing and retrieval mechanism for SEED.
keywords	Case-Based Design, Classification, Typology
series	CAADRIA
email
more	http://www.caadria.org
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	ddss9826
id	ddss9826
authors	Hendricx, A., Geebelen, B., Geeraerts, B. and Neuckermans, H.
year	1998
title	A methodological approach to object modelling in the architectural designprocess
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The paper describes a first prototype constructed in search for a central object model. It presents all possible data, concepts and operations concerning the architectural design process in the early phases.A central model of the process of design is essential: going from one design phase into another, the model describes geometrical shapes, abstract concepts like space and activity, concrete physical building elements and the basic operations all these entities undertake. Emphasis is put on combining all these different viewpoints, thus enabling the designer to use a broad range of design strategies. The aim is to help him and not steer or even hamper his creative process. Information necessary toassist the user of the system concerning energy calculation, stability checks etc can be extracted. By means of appropriate interfaces not only those tests built on top of the system but also existing software packages can make use of the model’s object structure. The implemented object model is one of the cornerstones of the IDEA+ project, aiming to provide an Integrated Design Environment for Architecture.
keywords	object model, building model, CAAD, IDEA+, MERODE
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	fce4
authors	Sequin, C.H. and Kalay, Y.
year	1998
title	A suite of prototype CAD tools to support early phases of architectural design
source	Automation in Construction 7 (6) (1998) pp. 449-464
summary	A suite of prototype CAD (computer-aided design) tools has been developed as part of an educational experiment in which an architectural design studio course was combined with a computer science graduate course on architectural CAD to study the collaboration between architects and their clients in a computer-based environment. The suite of tools is based on formalized abstractions inspired by lessons learned in the VLSI (very large-scale integrated circuit) CAD revolution of the 1980s. It encourages a step-by-step transformation of a building program, first into symbolic representations that can be checked and evaluated with automated programs, and eventually into simple but consistent 3-D (three-dimensional) geometry that can be inspected with an interactive walk-through visualization program.
series	journal paper
more	http://www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon
last changed	2003/05/15 21:23

_id	ddssar0203
id	ddssar0203
authors	Alkass, Sabah and Jrade, Ahmad
year	2002
title	A Web-Based Virtual Reality Model for Preliminary Estimates of Hi-Rise Building Projects
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Sixth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning - Part one: Architecture Proceedings Avegoor, the Netherlands), 2002
summary	Cost estimating of a construction project at its early stage is considered to be very important task since it will be used as a base to commit or otherwise not to commit funds to that project. Preparation of a reliableand realistic preliminary estimate to aid the decision makers to commit funds for a specific project is a complicated assignment. Traditional methods and operations produced unsatisfactory aid due to lack ofaccuracy especially in the pre-design stage of a project. This participates in the increase of percentage of bankruptcy in the construction industry, which has dramatically climbed up and ranked as 15 percent of thewhole bankruptcies claimed in Canada (Statistic Canada 1998). This paper presents a methodology for developing and a Web-based model to automate preliminary cost estimates for hi-rise buildings. This is achieved by integrating a database with design drawings in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment. The model will automatically generate preliminary estimates after modifying a 3D CAD drawing. It provides the user the option to visualize and simulate the drawing and its cost data through VR environment. Having done that, it will allow owners, architects and cost engineers to view a constructed building project, change its geometric objects and shapes, and accordingly generate a new conceptual cost estimate.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:15

_id	maver_089
id	maver_089
authors	Chen, Y., Fram, I. and Maver, T.W.
year	1998
title	A Virtual Studio Environment for Design Integration
source	Advances in Engineering Software, vol 29, No 10, 787-800
summary	In this paper the authors attempt to stress the social dimension of design and the role of explicit support for human-level interaction during design systems integration. A human-centred approach is proposed by taking design integration as the collaborative use of design artefacts, and a virtual studio environment (VSE) framework is presented as an integration vehicle to link the social and technical dimensions. A VSE consists of two subsystems: the VSE base system and the domain resources. While common generic facilities for human-human interaction are embedded within the VSE base system, the domain-specific resources are loosely coupled into VSE via resource agents. A VSE prototype for the domain of building design is described, and a demonstration of the use of the VSE prototype is presented. This is then followed by some discussion on related research and further work.
keywords	Design Integration, Collaborative Design, Human-Human Interaction, Virtual Design Studio, Building Design
series	journal paper
email
last changed	2003/09/03 13:23

_id	fb22
authors	Chien, Sheng-Fen
year	1998
title	Supporting information navigation in generative design systems
source	Camegie Mellon University, School of Architecture
summary	Generative design systems make it easier for designers to generate and explore design altematives, but the amount of information generated during a design session can become very large. Intelligent navigation aids are needed to enable designers to access the information with ease. Such aids may improve the usability of generative design systems and encourage their use in architectural practice. This dissertation presents a comprehensive approach to support navigation in generative design systems. This approach takes account of studies related to human spatial cognition, wayfinding in physical environments, and information navigation in electronic media. It contains a general model of design space, basic navigation operations, and principles for designing navigation support. The design space model describes how the space may grow and evolve along predictable dimensions. The basic operations facilitate navigation activities in this multi-dimensional design space. The design principles aim at guiding system developers in creating navigation utilities tailored to the needs of individual design systems. This approach is validated through prototype implementations and limited pilot usability studies. The validity of the design space model and basic navigation operations is examined through the development of a design space navigation framework that encapsulates the model and operations in a software environment and provides the infrastructure and mechanisms for supporting navigation. Three prototype navigation tools are implemented using this framework. These tools are subjected to usability studies. The studies show that these tools are easy to leam and are efficient in assisting designers locating desired information. In summary, it can be demonstrated that through the prototype implementations and usability studies, this approach offers sufficient support for the design and implementation of navigation aids in a generative design system. The research effort is a pioneer study on navigation support in generative design systems. It demonstrates why navigation support is necessary; how to provide the support; and what types of user interaction it can offer. This research contributes to information navigation studies not only in the specific domain of generative design system research, but also in the general field of human-computer interaction.
series	thesis:PhD
email
last changed	2003/02/12 22:37

_id	ddss9829
id	ddss9829
authors	De Hoog, J., Hendriks, N.A. and Rutten, P.G.S.
year	1998
title	Evaluating Office Buildings with MOLCA(Model for Office Life Cycle Assessment)
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	MOLCA (Model for Office Life Cycle Assessment) is a project that aims to develop a tool that enables designers and builders to evaluate the environmental impact of their designs (of office buildings) from a environmental point of view. The model used is based on guidelinesgiven by ISO 14000, using the so-called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. The MOLCA project started in 1997 and will be finished in 2001 resulting in the aforementioned tool. MOLCA is a module within broader research conducted at the Eindhoven University of Technology aiming to reduce design risks to a minimum in the early design stages.Since the MOLCA project started two major case-studies have been carried out. One into the difference in environmental load caused by using concrete and steel roof systems respectively and the role of recycling. The second study focused on biases in LCA data and how to handle them. For the simulations a computer-model named SimaPro was used, using the world-wide accepted method developed by CML (Centre for the Environment, Leiden, the Netherlands). With this model different life-cycle scenarios were studied and evaluated. Based on those two case studies and a third one into an office area, a first model has been developed.Bottle-neck in this field of study is estimating average recycling and re-use percentages of the total flow of material waste in the building sector and collecting reliable process data. Another problem within LCA studies is estimating the reliability of the input data and modelling uncertainties. All these topics will be subject of further analysis.
keywords	Life-Cycle Assessment, Office Buildings, Uncertainties in LCA
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	3d1d
authors	De Vries, B. and Jessurun, A.J.
year	1998
title	An Experimental Design System for the Very Early Design Stage
source	Timmermans (ed.) Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning, Maastricht
summary	The concepts of the experimental design system that are discussed are feature modeling and geometrical constraints. The main technique for creating the user environment is Virtual Reality. Feature modeling forms the basis for managing the design data. To start with, data storage is implemented in a Relational Data Base Management System. Along with this a (traditional) interface is developed for managing the data. Data management consists of feature type creation and feature type instancing. Features are used to define building elements, their relationships and additional constraints. Apart from the design data, geometrical data are stored. Possible design solutions can be limited using geometrical constraints. Specifying connection types between building elements result in a set of solutions for the position of the bounding boxes of the building elements in space.
series	other
email
last changed	2003/04/23 15:50

_id	5477
authors	Donath, D., Kruijff, E., Regenbrecht, H., Hirschberg, U., Johnson, B., Kolarevic, B. and Wojtowicz, J.
year	1999
title	Virtual Design Studio 1998 - A Place2Wait
source	Architectural Computing from Turing to 2000 [eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-5-7] Liverpool (UK) 15-17 September 1999, pp. 453-458
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.1999.453
summary	This article reports on the recent, geographically and temporally distributed, intercollegiate Virtual Design Studio based on the 1998 implementation Phase(x) environment. Students participating in this workshop had to create a place to wait in the form of a folly. This design task was cut in five logical parts, called phases. Every phase had to be finished within a specific timeframe (one day), after which the results would be stored in a common data repository, an online MSQL database environment which holds besides the presentations, consisting of text, 3D models and rendered images, basic project information like the descriptions of the phases and design process visualization tools. This approach to collaborative work is better known as memetic engineering and has successfully been used in several educational programs and past Virtual Design Studios. During the workshop, students made use of a variety of tools, including modeling tools (specifically Sculptor), video-conferencing software and rendering programs. The project distinguishes itself from previous Virtual Design Studios in leaving the design task more open, thereby focusing on the design process itself. From this perspective, this paper represents both a continuation of existing reports about previous Virtual Design Studios and a specific extension by the offered focus. Specific attention will be given at how the different collaborating parties dealt with the data flow and modification, the crux within a successful effort to cooperate on a common design task.
keywords	Collaborative design, Design Process, New Media Usage, Global Networks
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:55

_id	de62
authors	Eriksson, Joakim
year	1998
title	Planning of Environments for People with Physical Disabilities Using Computer Aided Design
source	Lund Institute of Technology, School of Architecture
summary	In the area of environment adaptations for people with physical disabilities, it is of vital importance that the design is optimized considering the human-environment interactions. All involved persons in such a planning process must be given sufficient support in understanding the information, so that everyone can participate actively. There is an apparent risk that discussions will be kept between experts, due to difficulties in understanding the complex and technical adaptation issues. This thesis investigates the use of computer-based tools for planning/designing environments for physically disabled people. A software prototype, and a method to use such a tool in the planning process, was developed and evaluated, based on the findings from six case studies of real planning situations. The case studies indicated that although such a tool would support the design, as well as the dialog between the participants, a certain level of technical and economical efficiency must be obtained. To facilitate the professional planner's work, an important issue is to maintain a large library of 3D objects. With the latest prototype implementation, it was found that such a planning tool can be produced, even when using consumer-oriented computers. One previous critical factor, interactive manipulation of 3D objects, can now be achieved if utilizing modern graphic cards with 3D acceleration. A usability test was performed to evaluate the prototype's basic operations, involving two groups of future users: five occupational therapist students, and four persons with major physical impairments. It was found that although the usability was satisfactory for the basic tasks, several items needed to be improved or added in future versions. It is important with an integrated support for manikins, in order to evaluate, e.g., wheelchair accessibility, reach ability, positioning of handrails, etc. This thesis reviews and compiles published anthropometrical and biomechanical data into a uniform segment-by-segment structure, in order to aid the design and modifications of manikins. The compilation was implemented as a spreadsheet document. An MRI investigation of the neck-shoulder region was performed on 20 healthy Scandinavian, female volunteers, measuring various musculoskeletal properties. These measurements can be used for further refinements of manikin specifications and biomechanical models.
keywords	Rehabilitation; Disability; Adaptation; Participatory Planning; Design Tool; 3D Graphics; Computer Aided Design; Virtual Reality; Manikin; Anthropometry; Biomechanics; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Cervical Spine Kinematics
series	thesis:PhD
email
more	http://www.lub.lu.se/cgi-bin/show_diss.pl?db=global&fname=tec_250.html
last changed	2003/02/26 09:21

_id	ddss9838
id	ddss9838
authors	Mallory-Hill, Shauna
year	1998
title	Building a Case-Based Design Assistant forWorkplace Environment Design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	This paper reports on the early stages of development of a case-based design tool. The purpose of this tool, called the Workplace Environment Design Advisor (WEDA), is to support architects in the conceptual design of workplace environments. The objective of this system is to provide electronic storage, retrieval and the exploration of post-occupancy performance knowledge of workplace environments. The paper provides a description of the reasoning behind choosing a case-based approach and thesteps used to develop a prototype case-based system. This includes recent efforts to collect and structure real case data. This experience led to observations about issues such as case content (the availability and format of post-occupancy data) and retrieval strategies. The data collected for use in the system is based on a building-in-use study of the Centre ofBuilding Research’s office rooms located at the University of Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	253a
authors	Snyder, James Daniel
year	1998
title	Conceptual modeling and application integration in CAD: the essential elements
source	Camegie Mellon University, School of Architecture, Pittsburgh
summary	A research focus in design research has been the exchange of information between different participants in the design process. While information system automation has occurred in various areas, known as islands of informafion, significant software integration has yet to emerge. A current belief among researchers in this area is that support for information sharing will require shared resources, and more specifically, shared descriptions of the information to be exchanged. If buildings are viewed as a product, the notion of a product and process modeling system ought to support the electronic exchange of information between various design process participants. While significant research has been done, no consensus has emerged as to a satisfactory solution to design information exchange. Many important contributions have been discovered, however, no overall strategy has emerged that embraces both the research issues as well as the practical issues surrounding information exchange. To address the above issues in a specific context, a series of experiments were conducted utilizing a prototype modeling framework that supports product modeling via the Object Model Language (Om). The results of these experiments along with a literature survey allowed for a comprehensive set of product/process modeling requirements. The resulting requirements were then formalized into a product /process modeling environment that includes a modeling language called SPROUT (supported by a compiler) and an associated software architecture that can be targeted toward many different hardware and software platforms. A particularly unique capability supported in this environment is formal support for integrating existing software systems. Given a schematic description in SPROUT, a formal specification can be used to generate computer programs that provably map data to and from the application program.
series	thesis:PhD
last changed	2003/02/12 22:37

_id	297e
authors	Van Asperdt, Anita and Diamond, Beth
year	1998
title	Integrating Digital Media in the Lanscape Architecture Studio: Overlaying Media and Process
source	Digital Design Studios: Do Computers Make a Difference? [ACADIA Conference Proceedings / ISBN 1-880250-07-1] Québec City (Canada) October 22-25, 1998, pp. 74-86
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.1998.074
summary	For landscape architecture students beginning to experiment with computer generated imagery, the focus should be on integrating digital media in a comprehensive manner, throughout various phases of the design process. Digital media exercises must be developed in such a manner that they support, express and enhance the design content of a studio project in conjunction with the chosen design process. In a beginning-level studio, digital media is best explored through easy-to-learn applications in a structured yet flexible studio environment. One powerful way to integrate digital media with design inquiry in a comprehensive and reciprocal manner is the electronic overlay of information and poetic impressions. This method takes on particular relevance in dealing with the multiple issues that face landscape architects today.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:58

_id	e336
authors	Achten, H., Roelen, W., Boekholt, J.-Th., Turksma, A. and Jessurun, J.
year	1999
title	Virtual Reality in the Design Studio: The Eindhoven Perspective
source	Architectural Computing from Turing to 2000 [eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-5-7] Liverpool (UK) 15-17 September 1999, pp. 169-177
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.1999.169
summary	Since 1991 Virtual Reality has been used in student projects in the Building Information Technology group. It started as an experimental tool to assess the impact of VR technology in design, using the environment of the associated Calibre Institute. The technology was further developed in Calibre to become an important presentation tool for assessing design variants and final design solutions. However, it was only sporadically used in student projects. A major shift occurred in 1997 with a number of student projects in which various computer technologies including VR were used in the whole of the design process. In 1998, the new Design Systems group started a design studio with the explicit aim to integrate VR in the whole design process. The teaching effort was combined with the research program that investigates VR as a design support environment. This has lead to increasing number of innovative student projects. The paper describes the context and history of VR in Eindhoven and presents the current set-UP of the studio. It discusses the impact of the technology on the design process and outlines pedagogical issues in the studio work.
keywords	Virtual Reality, Design Studio, Student Projects
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	ascaad2006_paper19
id	ascaad2006_paper19
authors	Arjun, G. and J. Plume
year	2006
title	Collaborative Architectural Design as a reflective Conversation: an agent facilitated system to support collaborative conceptual design
source	Computing in Architecture / Re-Thinking the Discourse: The Second International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2006), 25-27 April 2006, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
summary	In this paper, definitions of collaborative design are discussed and understood in terms of a designer’s cognitive collaborations to explore his/her experiential memory for remote idea associations. Based on Schon’s reflective practice theory, Valkenburg and Dorst’s (1998) description of collaborative team designing is adopted as a model for a proposed design conversation system. The design conversation system is aimed at triggering the experiential memory of the designer by associating significant ideas from different design domains to provide different perspectives of a design situation. The paper describes a proposed framework for the design conversation system incorporating computational agents in a blackboard architecture environment.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2007/04/08 19:47

_id	4c8a
authors	Ball, L.J., Maskill, L. and Ormerod, T.C.
year	1998
title	Satisficing in engineering design: causes, consequences and implications for design support
source	Automation in Construction 7 (2-3) (1998) pp. 213-227
summary	We describe an approach to investigating design cognition which involved comparing prescriptive theories of good design practice with observations of actual design behaviour. The tenet of prescriptive theory which formed the focus of the research is the idea that designers should generate and evaluate multiple design alternatives in order to increase the chances of attaining better design solutions than might arise if they fixated upon an initial solution. Our study focused upon six professional electronic engineers attempting a novel integrated-circuit design problem. Verbal-protocol data revealed: (i) a failure to search for alternative solutions; (ii) a marked inclination to stick with early `satisficing' solution ideas even when these were showing deficiencies; and (iii) only superficial modelling and assessment of competing alternatives when such options were actually considered. We argue that while minimal solution search in design may sometimes be caused by motivational factors and working-memory limitations, its major determinant relates to inhibitory memory processes that arise subsequent to the recognition-based emergence of familiar design solutions. We conclude by exploring the implications of minimal solution search for design support, with particular reference to an agent-based indexing system which we are developing in order to facilitate the pursuit of design alternatives in engineering contexts.
series	journal paper
more	http://www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon
last changed	2003/05/15 21:22

_id	ddss9811
id	ddss9811
authors	Barbanente, A., Conte, E. and Monno, V.
year	1998
title	Changing trends and approaches in human and computer modelling for social housing policies
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The paper discusses conceptual issues, goals and preliminary results of an on-going research which aims at building a Decision Support System for public housing environmental oriented maintenance and management in a city in Southern Italy, Bari. Traditional post-war Italian housing policies are compared with more recent approaches in the field, pointing out the change from quantitative, aggregated, more simple building problems and relatedapproaches to qualitative, differentiated, complex ones integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions with the aim of regenerating deteriorated residential areas. The paper claims for the need shift, both in the human and computer areas, from traditional quantitative models to new approaches able to manage also qualitative variables, temporal dynamics, emergencies, and intentionality, since they appear key aspects of the real world to be modelled. The housing estate of Bari and its needs of maintenance and management are examined, eliciting essential related knowledge using the interview technique. The clear orientation towards sustainable policies for urban regeneration, at a local, national, and Community level, is also considered. The innovative and collaborative nature of such policies and the attention to be paid to the social aspects ofthe problem require a complex DSS, integrating various kind of hypertexts, information systems and case-based fuzzy expert systems, whose main aims, functions, software and general organisation are outlined in the paper.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

_id	ddss9807
id	ddss9807
authors	Boelen, A.J. and Lugt, Hermen J. van der
year	1998
title	Communication of design parameters within groups
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	This paper discusses the facilitation of worldwide concurrent design within the domains involved in environmental planning, urban design and civil engineering. Typical projects in these domains require the collaboration of many experts. Each of these has his reference framework for the taskat hand and for the variables used. The amount of variables makes it impossible for each project participant to take account for all possible impacts of proposed or planned actions. The typical project demands for a concurrent design process that enables all participants to concentrate ontheir domain of expertise. On the other hand the design process should enable them to have insight in the problems, within the domains of other experts. The system should provide a generic environment with the ability to attach domain specific knowledge. By providing this support thesystem integrates knowledge specific to various expert domains.In the PortPlan project within the LWI organization a system is being developed that supports the integration of various reference frameworks involved in environmental planning. We no longer need to develop a common language for the users. The system contains a dynamic set of scalebound reference objects for the domains involved. The system facilitates the communication of object characteristics. It also supports the presentation of these objects, in legends for each participant involved.We achieve the communication between participants using a dynamic legend. We also enable all participants to become informed on the interests of other participants. We achieve the technical communication using the exchange of interventions. We do not exchange results. This leads to alow "network traffic load" and thus enables the system to operate within the current Internet infrastructure. In this paper we present the problem area of concurrent design in environmental planning. We present this describing the background of our project, describing the overall architecture of the system and presenting the first findings of user studies.
keywords	Concurrent Design, Interfaces, Legends
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

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