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	ascaad2007_002
id	ascaad2007_002
authors	Abdellatif, R. and C. Calderon
year	2007
title	SecondLife: A Computer-Mediated Tool for Distance-Learning in Architecture Education?
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 17-34
summary	Despite the importance of distance learning for its ability to reach a wide audience, easiness to access materials, and its lower cost compared to traditional learning, architecture education has not been well served by distance education. This is because it has a higher level of learning objectives, it is taught by coaching methodologies, and involves nonverbal forms of communication. One of the most common learning methods used in the design studio is the Criticism/Critique, which is a graphic and oral type of communication between the tutor and the students. In this investigation, Second Life, a massive multi-user online virtual environment that offers three-dimensional spatial capabilities via Avatars impersonation, is used as a computer-mediated tool for text and graphic-based communication in a distance learning situation. The study describes a demonstration experiment where students had to communicate with their tutor, display and describe their projects at a distance, in a purposely designed criticism space in SecondLife. The main objective of this paper is to observe and document the effects and the use of SecondLife virtual environment as an online 3D graphical-based tool of computer-mediated communication in distance learning in architecture education. The study also answers some questions: How well did the students use the tools of the medium provide? Was there a sense of personal communication and realism gained through using Avatars in the virtual environment? Did SecondLife provide a successful means of communication for a graphic-based context? And what are the students’ opinions about the learning environment? Using multiple methods of data collection, mainly based on an electronic observation of the experiment, questioning the participants before and after the experiment, and the analysis of the chat transcripts, the study presents descriptive results of the experiment, and discusses its main features. Proposals for modifications are made for future replications.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	ecaade2007_044
id	ecaade2007_044
authors	Richter, Katharina; Heylighen, Ann; Donath, Dirk
year	2007
title	Looking Back to the Future
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2007.285
source	Predicting the Future [25th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-0-9541183-6-5] Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 26-29 September 2007, pp. 285-292
summary	In the early and mid 1990s the idea to apply CBR to the task of designing — in short Case-Based Design (CBD) — led to a considerable number of research initiatives across the world. Several promising CBD tools and prototypes were developed and enthusiastically celebrated within the research community, seemingly announcing a promising future for CAAD. However, because the predicted breakthrough failed to appear, an in-depth evaluation of six CBD tools was conducted in 2001 in search of reasons for this limited success. At first sight the situation has not changed much since then, yet a closer look reveals CBD research still to be quite active, be it sometimes disguised. This observation, combined with our belief in CBD’s potential for aiding professional and student architects, motivated an expanded issue of the 2001 study. This issue determines the position of current CBD research within the CAAD domain and uncovers focal points set by CBD researchers and the tools they created. Additionally it analyses the role of emerging technologies in overcoming earlier identified drawbacks of CBD tools in architecture.
keywords	Case-based design, architectural design, design support systems
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:56

_id	caadria2007_611
id	caadria2007_611
authors	Arpornwicharnop, Kittisak; Pinyo Jinuntuya and Pizzanu Kanongchaiyos
year	2007
title	Simulation Software Development for Urban Landscape Possibility Analysis
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2007.x.u9u
source	CAADRIA 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] Nanjing (China) 19-21 April 2007
summary	This research paper proposes a simulation software development for possibility analysis of urban landscape development project. Normally, analysis of land potentiality and feasibility study for investment are necessary pre-processed for supporting urban planning, developing and architectural designing. However, most available tools are usually tailor made for each process individually, causing difficulties in information interchange between each processes. In this research, we propose a policy making support system for urban planning project development providing several functions such as testing land use and its physical character which are important to urban expansion and architectural design based on impact analysis of urban comprehensive plan. The proposed integrated system consists of a topological analysis module, constraint checking module and geographical information processing module. First, Geographical information stored in 3D graphic file format is converted to object-oriented data model and stored in a database. With several constraint and regulations, the stored information is then checked in the landscape topological analysis module. In evaluation process, the developed software is tested with geographical information of Bangkok area under constraints and regulations of Building Control Act of Thailand. While controlling building properties, the software can model the buildings and generate urban physical character. The result is then checked by several urban landscape planning experts. Experimental result shows that proposed system provides flexibility in information interchanging with constraints and regulations updating without system reconfiguration. The system also provides internet accessing for public participation in the process of making urban comprehensive plan.
series	CAADRIA
type	normal paper
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	ijac20075305
id	ijac20075305
authors	Cabral, Claudia Pianta Costa
year	2007
title	ZOOM-IN, ZOOM-OUT: Architectural scale and digital technology
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 3, pp. 523-534
summary	This paper aims at contributing to the study of the relationship between technology, knowledge and representation. It is based on previous studies on architecture, art and technology in modernity and its development, as well as on studies about scale in architectural design. In despite of the fact that scale can be technically considered indifferent for computer-aided design, I intend to discuss how digital tools intercede in the process of clipping that selecting a specific scale eventually implies sustaining that, for architectural design, the concept of scale has to do both with representation and with knowledge of reality.
series	journal
last changed	2007/11/20 18:06

_id	cf2007_585
id	cf2007_585
authors	Fischer, Thomas
year	2007
title	Enablement or Restriction? On supporting others in making (sense of things)
source	Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures / 978-1-4020-6527-9 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures / 978-1-4020-6527-9] Sydney (Australia) 11–13 July 2007, pp. 585-598
summary	In this paper I present and reflect upon a five-year investigation of designing digital tools for designing in the area of architectural space grid structures. I understand design as a novelty and knowledge generating conversational process as described by Pask (see Scott 2001) and Glanville (2000). Furthermore, I regard making design tools as a design task in itself, rendering this paper a reflection on designing for designing. This paper gives a report on observations I made during the toolmaking study, and subsequently contextualizes these observations using second-order cybernetic theory. This reflection focuses on different relationships between observers and systems, on conditions under which observers construct knowledge and on limits of supporting others in this activity.
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2007/07/06 12:47

_id	ecaade2007_049
id	ecaade2007_049
authors	Gane, Victor; Haymaker, John
year	2007
title	Conceptual Design of High-rises with Parametric Methods
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2007.293
source	Predicting the Future [25th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-0-9541183-6-5] Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 26-29 September 2007, pp. 293-301
summary	This paper describes the use of parametric methods in generating conceptual designs of high-rise buildings. We first assess current conceptual design practice at a leading AE firm and illustrate the challenge of satisfying a complex set of requirements with the tools currently used by the AEC industry. Few design options are generally developed and analyzed; better design solutions are most likely being overlooked. Parametric tools can potentially help address this problem by allowing designers to formalize and generate solution spaces that can be explored. But few case studies exist to document the construction and impact of these models. We present such a case study. We describe the variables, constraints, components, and rules in the model. We discuss the costs and benefits, and conclude with recommendations for expanding the use of parametric methods.
keywords	Conceptual, rule-based, parametric design
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	caadria2007_057
id	caadria2007_057
authors	Kouide, Tahar; G. Paterson
year	2007
title	BIM as a Viable Collaborative Working Tool: A Case Study
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2007.x.l1j
source	CAADRIA 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] Nanjing (China) 19-21 April 2007
summary	For the majority of design practices in the construction industry the use of CAD systems have been used to merely automate hand drafting (Cohen 2003). This is the traditional way of working that has changed very little since the introduction of commercial CAD systems. These practices as means of communication are being replaced by a virtual building model environment which encapsulates all of the information for an entire construction project and thereby enables computer-supported co-operative working practices. (Newton 2003) This study aims to determine whether Building Information Modelling (BIM) can, and whether it will, replace traditional communication media as the standard in the industry for computersupported co-operative working practices in the Architecture Engineering and construction (AEC) sector. The bulk of the research comprises an extensive literature review looking at the principal reasons behind the development of BIM, the potential advantages and drawbacks of the technology, and the barriers and obstacles which inhibit its adoption as a means of computer-supported co-operative working. The findings of the study have been validated and analysed against current practice in the field through a live case study analysis of the on-going Heathrow airport Terminal 5 Project in London (UK). The Terminal 5 case study demonstrates that present software tools, although usable, still present significant implicit technical constraints to wider implementation among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The case study has also shown that in practice, the success of BIM depends just as much on the working practices and ethos of participants in the project chain as it does on the capabilities of the software itself, in particular the willingness of practitioners to change traditional working practices. The case study has shown that the present investment, in terms of time, cost, and effort required to implementing the technology means that BIM is unlikely to be adopted on small simple projects where conventional CAD is still adequate. It also highlighted that BIM tools currently available are not yet adequately developed to satisfy the requirements of the many procurement and especially contractual arrangements which presently exist and many firms will be frightened off by the unresolved legal issues which may arise from implementing BIM in their practices.
series	CAADRIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	caadria2007_081
id	caadria2007_081
authors	Lertlakkhanakul, Jumphon; Choungkyu Ryu and Jinwon Choi
year	2007
title	Providing Interactive Usability Framework and Scenario in Virtual Architecture: Ubiquitous Virtual Working Place Case Study
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2007.x.n7f
source	CAADRIA 2007 [Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia] Nanjing (China) 19-21 April 2007
summary	In virtual workplace, two-dimensional system with desktop metaphor can provide only limited functions and interactions. It is indispensable to create a framework that can change traditional computer generated 3D model into interactive virtual architecture exploited by end users. However, such framework cannot be established without fundamental understanding of the new virtual architecture. The aim of this research emphasizes on how to design a virtual working place supporting actual office activities to extend the boundary of the conventional office through ‘Digital Space Lab’ case study. To achieve our goals, potential usability of virtual architecture is investigated. The next step is to design the virtual working place. After that, a set of scenarios indicating how the end users will utilize our interactive workplace is demonstrated. Eventually, the result serves as basis knowledge to construct a usability framework for the novel virtual architecture.
series	CAADRIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:50

_id	ascaad2007_005
id	ascaad2007_005
authors	Loh, E.; N. Dawood and J. Dean
year	2007
title	Integration of 3D Tool with Environmental Impact Assessment (3D EIA)
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 51-66
summary	Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) tools have been available for some years now and their function is predominantly to predict and identify the environmental impact of building projects. However EIA analysis is often done after the completion of the project or building and when it is too late to influence the design, materials or components to be used. Also, more than 80% of the design decisions that influence the whole life cycle of a building are made at the initial design phase. EIA does not receive the required attention. A new approach is suggested in this research to ensure that designers, clients and stakeholders have all of the relevant information needed at the outline design stage for the assessment of cost and environmental impact. The idea is that building owners and users will have the opportunity to minimise their operating costs from ‘cradle to cradle’. As energy resources reduce over the next few decades, the value of this research will increase and it is possible to foresee government legislation which drives building construction in this direction. By making environmental impact analysis readily linked to 3D products at the very early stage of the design process, the value of 3D technology will be enhanced significantly resulting in more use of the technology in the construction process. In this context, the objective of this paper is to introduce and explore approaches for developing integrated 3D- EIA, LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) and LCCA (Life Cycle Cost Analysis) and VR (Virtual Reality) tools and develop trade-off analysis to assist in the decision making process. To demonstrate initial results, a pilot case study in the UK is being developed.
series	ASCAAD
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	ecaade2007_189
id	ecaade2007_189
authors	Mark, Earl
year	2007
title	Simulating Dynamic Forces in Design with Special Effects Tools
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2007.219
source	Predicting the Future [25th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-0-9541183-6-5] Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 26-29 September 2007, pp. 219-226
summary	Special effects technology can facilitate dynamic sketching in the early stage of a design project without needing time-consuming effort. This form of sketching was tested in a design studio taught by the author. The study of dynamic materials and oceanfront site conditions set the stage at the beginning of a design process for a more comprehensive analysis later on. On the one hand, the risk of using special effects tools is that the visual look can seem convincing, but the apparent result is based upon an overly simplified set of assumptions. On the other hand, the use of such technology can be very stimulating to the design imagination without requiring complex analysis that may bog down the free flow of ideas. Once a greater commitment is made to a particular design proposal, more complete physical analysis and modeling can be undertaken to help avoid the risk of false first impressions. In the studio, cloth simulation was used to develop the design of tension membrane structures (tents) that retracted and unfurled in a series of complex movements. Fluid dynamics effects were used in the design and development of related boat dock facilities. A wind-tunnel simulation tool was used to explore the performance of the tension-membrane fabrics under varied wind loads. The visualization techniques were complemented by ¼ to ½ scale assembled components created by rapid prototyping. The use of an actual wind-tunnel further tested the prototypes in some cases. On the whole, quickly implemented special effects were the starting point for reacting to and developing some initial design concepts and served as the basis for more complete physical modeling of prototypes later on. Using animation as a design method is well established in other work (Hirschberg 06). Animation is also a helpful way to work out the step by step assembly of complex architectural form (Mark 95). The special effects tools permit a larger range of initial design alternatives to be initially considered that are subsequently narrowed down by physically based prototypes that are more predictive of real world performance.
keywords	Cloth simulation, fluid dynamics effects, design sketching, special effects, tension membrane fabrics
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:59

_id	ecaade2017_265
id	ecaade2017_265
authors	Motalebi, Nasim and Duarte, José Pinto
year	2017
title	A Shape Grammar of Emotional Postures - An approach towards encoding the analogue qualities of bodily expressions of emotions
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2017.2.485
source	Fioravanti, A, Cursi, S, Elahmar, S, Gargaro, S, Loffreda, G, Novembri, G, Trento, A (eds.), ShoCK! - Sharing Computational Knowledge! - Proceedings of the 35th eCAADe Conference - Volume 2, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 20-22 September 2017, pp. 485-492
summary	This paper is concerned with the translation of analogue qualities of human emotions into digital readings. Human body postures are considered as one of the main behavioral conduits for non-verbal communication and emotional expressions (Shan et.al., 2007). This research is the first step towards identifying and detecting emotions through posture analysis of users moving through space; leading towards generating real time responses in the form of spatial configurations to users' emotions. Such spatial configurations would then help inhabitants reach certain emotional states that would enhance their life quality. In order to achieve this goal, we propose a methodology for developing a comprehensive shape grammar algorithm that could evaluate and predict bodily expressions of emotions. The importance of this study lies under the embodied interactions (Streech et.al., 2011) in space. As the circumfixed space impacts the embodied mind, the body impacts its surrounding including the architectural space.
keywords	Shape Grammar; Computation; Emotion; Posture; Interactive Architecture
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:58

_id	acadia07_074
id	acadia07_074
authors	Peters, Brady
year	2007
title	The Smithsonian Courtyard Enclosure: A Case-Study of Digital Design Processes
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.074
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 74-83
summary	This paper outlines the processes involved in the design of the Smithsonian Institution’s Patent Office Building’s new courtyard enclosure. In 2004, Foster + Partners won an invited international competition to design the new courtyard enclosure in Washington, D.C. Early in the project, the Specialist Modelling Group (SMG), an internal research and design consultancy, was brought in to advise the project team on computer modelling techniques, develop new digital design tools, and help solve the complex geometric issues involved. Throughout the project, computer programming was used as one of the primary tools to explore design options. The design constraints were encoded within a system of associated geometries. This set-out geometry performed as a mechanism to control the parameters of a generative script. The design evolution involved the use of many different media and techniques and there was an intense dialog between a large team and many consultants. The computer script was a synthesis of the design ideas and was constantly modified and adapted during the design process. The close collaboration between architects, consultants, and fabricators was of key importance to the success of the project. This project, now named The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, will complete in late 2007.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 08:00

_id	eaea2009_piga
id	eaea2009_piga
authors	Piga, Barbara E.A.
year	2011
title	The Urban Simulation and Projects Evaluation Laboratory at the Politecnico di Milano: An Educational and Research Facility
source	Projecting Spaces [Proceedings of the 9th European Architectural Endoscopy Association Conference / ISBN 978-3-942411-31-8 ], pp. 115-120
summary	At the beginning of 2007 an Italian Urban Simulation Laboratory was founded at the Politecnico di Milano. The laboratory, coordinated by prof. Fausto Curti, has been developed thanks to the one year presence of the visiting professor Peter Bosselmann, director of the Environmental Simulation Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley. The laboratory has an interdisciplinary approach and a threefold mission: experiment, using the laboratory setting to study urban projects at different scales; communicate, aiding public communication by making urban projects understandable to everyone; integrate and innovate, working on different kind of simulations techniques in an integrated way. In its initial experience the laboratory is primarily a didactic and research facility. Students can join the work and participate actively to the research. Until now about 40 students have worked with us, more than a half were foreign students from all over the world. The majority of the students did an internship of about 150 (three-year degree) or 300 (master degree) hours and some of them have continued working after this period developing a thesis. At the moment the case study, used as a pilot research, is about the Porta Nuova project at the Garibaldi- Repubblica area in Milan. The 300.000 mq of the total area and its well served central position make this place strategic for Milan. In this area the adopted urban transformation plan is creating a new business center that affects redevelopment projects, new infrastructures, and a park. The overall project will overhanging the surroundings city center with some of the highest buildings of its skyline. The importance of the site and the dimension of the project make this case significant to test the use of simulation for supporting evaluations about morphological aspects, comfort conditions, visual impacts, and other aspects that directly influence the quality of the new urban spaces. We are now applying different simulation methodologies in order to better understand the peculiar usefulness of each kind as a tool to support evaluation. As any kind has its own limits we work with different typologies at the same time. We are working with 1:500 scale physical model of a 1 km square of the area and different kind of static and dynamic simulations. We developed, with an external office, a micro-car to move a micro-camera in the maquette. We use this equipment to better explain the project implications to the students by producing subjective shot videos or showing a walk in real-time. To reproduce in a better way some relevant walks through the transformed site we have also produced some videos made of a superimposition of the real existing context and the virtual projects. To do this we used a rendered video of the project superimposed to the filmed promenade of the today condition, previously recorded using steadycam. A lot of static simulations has been employed to better understand the new city configuration from some representative points of view, as for example the roof of the Duomo cathedral. We are now developing some other kinds of analysis such as shadows impact; this is done by using a 1:1000 scale maquette in the Heliodon, but also with some digital tools. In the next future a work with the wind tunnel will help to understand some other comfort implications of the project at the micro-urban scale. The multilayer approach is the main aim of the laboratory and is an important tool to clarify the multidimensional project impacts to the students. In this way the laboratory can be a learning tool, it can stimulate the project process and support decision-making while improving the knowledge about the correct use of simulations for evaluating the cumulative implications of the proposed urban processes.
series	other
more	http://info.tuwien.ac.at/eaea
last changed	2011/03/04 08:45

_id	ascaad2007_036
id	ascaad2007_036
authors	Pratini, E.F.
year	2007
title	Experimental Tools for the Teaching of Technical Graphics and Improving Visualization
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 457-468
summary	This paper presents an updated evaluation of an experience of applying computer graphics, virtual reality and Internet resources in the teaching of technical graphics at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. It differs from a previous paper (Pratini, 2004) for the addition of an overview of the course, the context and the new teaching methodology. It is an extended, more detailed paper, which includes examples, and closes with some results of surveys on the didactic material and the methodology. Our motivation for this experiment is the fact that most of the students have a lack of previous knowledge on the basis of drawings, resulting difficulties in both understanding and visualizing technical drawings. In this experiment, we introduced VRML 3D modeling in addition to CAD and regular pencil-and-paper drawings study and practice. To support the learning of this broad knowledge not present in the technical graphics bibliography, we first provided a website with animations and virtual reality resources. Since 2003 we are providing a CD-ROM containing all the former website material which is updated each semester. At the present time, the CD-ROM contains almost all the needed didactic material and software for the one semester technical graphics course. This experience was intended to improve and to support learning in a way that motivates the students, young people who are used to play video and computer games. Classes, website and CD-ROM material were conceived to take advantage of computers´ interactivity and animated resources. The use of computers´ technology and new media to support the learning resulted a new methodology and several new unanswered questions.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	acadia07_230
id	acadia07_230
authors	Qian, Cheryl Z.; Chen, Victor Y.; Woodbury, Robert F.
year	2007
title	Participant Observation Can Discover Design Patterns in Parametric Modeling
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2007.230
source	Expanding Bodies: Art • Cities• Environment [Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 978-0-9780978-6-8] Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1-7 October 2007, 230-241
summary	Our research aims to understand the mid-level patterns of work that recur across designers and tasks. Our users comprise active architects and civil engineers. The hypothesis is that making such patterns explicit will result in improved expert work practices, in better learning material and suggestions for improvements in parametric design. The literature shows that patterns express design work at a tactical level, above simple editing and below overall conception. We conducted a user experience study based on Bentley’s GenerativeComponents, in which geometry can be related, transformed, generated, and manipulated parametrically within a user-defined framework. After interviewing the system’s chief, we ran a participant-observer study in the January 2007 SmartGeometry workshop. We engaged designers through the role of tutor and simultaneously observed and discussed their design process. We found clear evidence of designers using patterns in the process and discerned several previously unknown patterns. In February at another 10-day workshop, we found more evidence supporting prior findings. The paper demonstrates that participant observation can be an efficient method of collecting patterns about designers’ work and introduces such new patterns. We believe these patterns may help designers work at more creative levels and may suggest new ideas of interest to CAD application developers.
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 08:00

_id	ascaad2007_041
id	ascaad2007_041
authors	Tolba, O.
year	2007
title	The Role of GIS in Documenting Bahrain’s Historic Cities
source	Em‘body’ing Virtual Architecture: The Third International Conference of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2007), 28-30 November 2007, Alexandria, Egypt, pp. 517-526
summary	Geographic information systems have long been established as useful tools for urban planning. The aim of this study is to put forward applications of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to urban conservation in cities with architectural heritage. The study presents a specific database design to be integrated within a GIS, and the methodology of gathering data for such a database. This study concerns Bahrain’s architectural heritage, which includes many significant historic buildings as well as an overall traditional character of Bahrain’s old towns. This heritage is endangered due to extensive new urban development and the general neglect over the past decades. The study also describes an experimental database that is implemented for documenting the urban character of the old towns of Manama and Muharraq. This database was tested during a partial visual survey of Manama. It is hoped that this database will be the nucleus of a long-term process of urban conservation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The work described here is part of a larger study conducted by the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and the municipal government in Bahrain. A group of international experts in urban planning, urban design, and historic preservation also presented their own specific recommendations. The author of this paper was responsible for designing the GIS that helps in documenting the historic cities of Bahrain. This report proposes the development of a geographic information system for urban conservation planning. The system supports planning specialists and decision makers in their areas of work, such as the creation of urban conservation zones and redevelopment strategies. The system documents existing structures and their present conditions in order to assist in decisions regarding their preservation, restoration, and possible reuse. Such a system will also help the municipalities in regular heritage management tasks.
series	ASCAAD
email
last changed	2008/01/21 22:00

_id	sigradi2007_af98
id	sigradi2007_af98
authors	Valadão Cardoso, Antônio; Isabela Sbampato Batista Reis de Paula; Leandro Henrique Britto de Oliveira; Leandro Ribeiro Araújo; Mateus de Sousa van Stralen
year	2007
title	Visualizing scientific theories through multimedia in Materials Science [Visualização de teorias científicas através de multimídia em Ciência dos Materiais]
source	SIGraDi 2007 - [Proceedings of the 11th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] México D.F. - México 23-25 October 2007, pp. 74-77
summary	The production of an electronic book at the site www.cienciadosmateriais.org for high school teachers stimulated the reflection about the advantage of the transmission of the most important scientific theories (atomism and thermodynamics) using Materials Science (MS) as a course study and reaffirmed the power of animation and 3D graphical tools to improve the understanding and the spread of these theories. Supported in these reflections, the electronic book produced differentiates itself, in the way and the manner it was produced in relation to what has been presented on the Internet.
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 10:02

_id	sigradi2008_180
id	sigradi2008_180
authors	Vincent, Charles
year	2008
title	Gulliver in the land of Generative Design
source	SIGraDi 2008 - [Proceedings of the 12th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] La Habana - Cuba 1-5 December 2008
summary	The current trend in architectural design towards architectural computing has been treated both from a philosophical standing point and as an operational systems’ problem, in a quest for explications which could at last break ground for a more broad development and adoption of design tools. As Kostas Terzidis (2007) puts it, the intuitiveness that architects have put on so high a pedestal seems to be the central issue to be dealt with by both views. There seems to be no apparent shortcut toward the reconciliation between traditional practice and new media and most certainly it is not only a problem of interface design, but one of design method clarification and reinterpretation of those methods into computing systems. Furthermore, there’s no doubt left as to whether computing systems can generate such new patterns as to impact our own understanding of architecture. But even if computer algorithms can make possible the exploration of abstract alternatives to an abstract initial idea, as in Mathematica and Processing, the issue of relating abstract and geometric representations of human centered architecture lays in the hands of architects, programmers or, better yet, architect-programmers. What seems now to be the relevant change is that architectural design might escape from the traditional sequence embedded in the need – program – design iterations – solution timeline, substituted by a web of interactions among differing experimental paths, in which even the identification of needs is to be informed by computing. It is interesting to note that the computational approach to architectural design has been praised for the formal fluidity of bubbles and Bezier shapes it entails and for the overcoming of functionalist and serialization typical of modern architecture. That approach betrays a high degree of canonic fascination with the tools of the trade and very little connection to the day to day chores of building design. On the other hand, shall our new tools and toys open up new ways of thinking and designing our built landscape? What educational issues surface if we are to foster wider use of the existing technologies and simultaneously address the need to overtake mass construction? Is mass customization the answer for the dead end modern architecture has led us to? Can we let go the humanist approach begun in Renascence and culminated in Modernism or shall we review that approach in view of algorithmic architecture? Let us step back in time to 1726 when Swift’s ‘Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World by Lemuel Gulliver’ was first published. In Swift’s fierce critic of what seemed to him the most outrageous ideas, he conceived a strange machine devised to automatically write books and poetry, in much the same generative fashion that now, three centuries later, we begin to cherish. “Every one knew how laborious the usual method is of attaining to arts and sciences; whereas by his contrivance, the most ignorant person at a reasonable charge, and with a little bodily labour, may write books in philosophy, poetry, politicks, law, mathematics and theology, without the least assistance from genius or study. He then led me to the frame, about the sides whereof all his pupils stood in ranks. It was twenty foot square, placed in the middle of the room. The superficies was composed of several bits of wood, about the bigness of a dye, but some larger than others. They were all linked together by slender wires. These bits of wood were covered on every square with paper pasted on them; and, on these papers were written all the words of their language in their several moods, tenses, and declensions, but without any order. The professor then desired me to observe, for he was going to set his engine at work. The pupils at his command took each of them hold of an iron handle, whereof there were forty fixed round the edges of the frame; and giving them a sudden turn, the whole disposition of words was entirely changed. He then commanded six and thirty of the lads to read the several lines softly as they appeared upon the frame; and where they found three or four words together that might make part of a sentence, they dictated to the four remaining boys who were scribes. This work was repeated three or four times, and at every turn the engine was so contrived, that the words shifted into new places, as the square bits of wood moved upside down.” (Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, A Voyage to Balnibarbi) What astonishing forecast did Swift show in that narrative that, in spite of the underlying incredulity and irony, still clarifies our surprise when faced to what might seem to some of us just an abandonment of all that architects and designers have cherished: creativeness and inventiveness. Yet, we could argue that such a radical shift in paradigm occurred once when master builders left the construction ground and took seat at drafting boards. The whole body of design and construction knowledge was split into what now seem to us just specialties undertaken by more and more isolated professionals. That shift entailed new forms of representation and prediction which now each and all architects take for granted. Also, Cartesian space representation turned out to be the main instrument for professional practice, even if one can argue that it is not more than the unfolding of stone carving techniques that master builders and guilds were so fond of. Enter computing and all its unfolding, i.e. DNA coding, fractal geometry, generative computing, nonlinear dynamics, pattern generation and cellular automata, as a whole new chapter in science, and compare that to conical perspective, descriptive and analytical geometry and calculus, and an image begins to form, delineating a separation between architect and digital designer. In previous works, we have tried approaching the issues regarding architects education in a more consensual way. But it seems now that the whole curricular corpus might be changed as well. The very foundations upon which we prepare future professionals shall change, not only in College, but in High School as well. In this paper, we delve further into the disconnect between current curricula and digital design practices and suggest new disciplinary grounds for a new architectural education.
keywords	Educational paradigm; Design teaching; Design methods;
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 10:02

_id	ijac20075404
id	ijac20075404
authors	Wierzbicki, Madalina N.; de Silva, Clarence W.
year	2007
title	Design Tools for Foldable Structures with Application of Fuzzy Logic
source	International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 5 - no. 4, pp. 645-662
summary	Rigidly foldable shells offer tremendous potential for developing kinetic architectural structures. However, the added element of motion poses new design challenges. Initially, sketchy shell geometry is constructed to reflect the intended form. Further steps involve assuring an error free folding within a range that satisfies desired functional requirements. The kinematics of a parallel topology of the shell's geometry is difficult to express algorithmically what prevents from developing of automated adjustment tools based on computational methods. The geometry can be adjusted manually based on intuitive observations; however the process is tedious, time consuming and unpredictable. This paper develops automated adjustment tools based on the intuitive approach of a human designer. The study applies the fuzzy logic formalism as a computational interface between human approach and structured adjustments to the geometry. The advantages of fuzzy logic stem from its natural ability to represent human knowledge and effectiveness in reconciling ambiguities, uncertainties and redundancies that the intuitive human approach brings along. The development steps of fuzzy logic based algorithm are presented. Performed evaluation tests and the results are discussed.
series	journal
last changed	2008/02/25 20:30

_id	sigradi2007_af113
id	sigradi2007_af113
authors	Zorzano Betancourt, Osvaldo; Eduardo Hamuy Pinto; Marcelo Quezada Gutiérrez; Bruno Perelli Soto
year	2007
title	Introduction to Digital Culture in Design Teaching [Introducción a la Cultura Digital en la Enseñanza de Diseño]
source	SIGraDi 2007 - [Proceedings of the 11th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics] México D.F. - México 23-25 October 2007, pp. 163-167
summary	This academic experience is about the Computer Graphics I course, version 2006, part of the first academic year in the Design career at Universidad de Chile and the results obtained due to the study program update, besides an improvement of a methodolgy for digital media teaching. The academic team has evolved from planning focused on sofware operation to a competences-based approach, which is defined as the curricula model by Universidad de Chile. The relevant issue in this experience is the perspective of setting the accent in the learning process lying beneath the tools, more than the final results or products.
keywords	Digital Culture; Design; Teaching/Learning; TIC
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 10:03

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