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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References

Hits 1 to 20 of 6585

_id 065b
authors Beitia, S.S., Zulueta, A. and Barrallo, J.
year 1995
title The Virtual Cathedral - An Essay about CAAD, History and Structure
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.1995.355
source Multimedia and Architectural Disciplines [Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on Education in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe / ISBN 0-9523687-1-4] Palermo (Italy) 16-18 November 1995, pp. 355-360
summary The Old Cathedral of Santa Maria in Vitoria is the most representative building of the Gothic style in the Basque Country. Built during the XIV century, it has been closed to the cult in 1994 because of the high risk of collapse that presents its structure. This closure was originated by the structural analysis that was entrusted to the University of the Basque Country in 1992. The topographic works developed in the Cathedral to elaborate the planimetry of the temple revealed that many structural elements of great importance like arches, buttresses and flying buttresses were removed, modified or added along the history of Santa Maria. The first structural analysis made in the church suggested that the huge deformations showed in the resistant elements, specially the piers, were originated by interventions made in the past. A deep historical investigation allowed us to know how the Cathedral was built and the changes executed until our days. With this information, we started the elaboration of a virtual model of the Cathedral of Santa Maria. This model was introduced into a Finite Elements Method system to study the deformations suffered in the church during its construction in the XIV century, and the intervention made later in the XV, XVI and XX centuries. The efficiency of the virtual model simulating the geometry of the Cathedral along history allowed us to detect the cause of the structural damage, that was finally found in many unfortunate interventions along time.

series eCAADe
more http://dpce.ing.unipa.it/Webshare/Wwwroot/ecaade95/Pag_43.htm
last changed 2022/06/07 07:54

_id ecaadesigradi2019_412
id ecaadesigradi2019_412
authors Leit?o de Souza, Thiago, Fialho, Valéria, Bicalho, Giovany, Schelk, Vinicius and Mendes, Isabella
year 2019
title An Immersive 360° Experience in Rio de Janeiro in the Late 19th Century - The panorama of Victor Meirelles and Henri Langerock
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2019.3.107
source Sousa, JP, Xavier, JP and Castro Henriques, G (eds.), Architecture in the Age of the 4th Industrial Revolution - Proceedings of the 37th eCAADe and 23rd SIGraDi Conference - Volume 3, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 11-13 September 2019, pp. 107-114
summary This essay is related to the research project "The immersive experience in 360°: investigation, representation and digital immersion in the city of Rio de Janeiro in the 19th and 20th centuries", developed at PROURB in FAU-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. This work will investigate the Panorama of Rio de Janeiro looking for memories and historical truths in its context: Which part represents a historical point of view? Which part is invention? How were the city and its landscape represented on the canvas? As the most well-known Rio de Janeiro's panorama, which project was idealized by the Brazilian painter Victor Meirelles de Lima (1832-1903) and the Belgian photo-painter Henri Charles Langerock (1830-1915), it was exhibited in Brussels 1888, Paris 1889, and Rio de Janeiro 1891-1896, with great recognition in all these cities. This paper will explore this Panorama, its initial studies, its landscape and the architecture depicted, newspapers descriptions of its exhibitions, and mainly, distinguishing among memories, historical truths and verisimilitudes. In order to achieve these objectives, digital and analogical systems of representations, sketches and computer graphics techniques, specially, tridimensional models will be developed and applied.
keywords Panorama of Rio de Janeiro; Immersive experience in 360°; Geolocation; Virtual Reality; Digital Technologies; Cultural Heritage
series eCAADeSIGraDi
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:52

_id sigradi2021_283
id sigradi2021_283
authors Alexandrino, Joao Victor Mota, Amorim, Leonardo Edson, Muniz, Vinícius Fernandes and Leite, Raquel Magalhaes
year 2021
title Architecture and Context: A Data-based Approach to Optimize Climate Performance of Built Facades
source Gomez, P and Braida, F (eds.), Designing Possibilities - Proceedings of the XXV International Conference of the Ibero-American Society of Digital Graphics (SIGraDi 2021), Online, 8 - 12 November 2021, pp. 1139–1150
summary The present research stems from a critical reflection about the environmental adaptability of existing building envelopes. The main goal is to explore how to balance environmental optimization with contextual constraints, using modularity, flexibility and mass customization as guiding principles. An application study was carried out with the development of a second skin proposal aligned with the use and context of the building under study. For this purpose, simulations that assess environmental conditions were developed within a visual programming tool, not only feeding the design process with essential information, but also providing a flexible creative process. Results show that such simulations allow the designer to interpret these studies more accurately, reducing the iterative guesswork, since in this workflow it is possible to transform these outputs into proposition parameters for new designs or interventions.
keywords Data-Driven Analysis, Optimization, Parametric Facade Design, Thermal performance, High-low architecture, Mass Customization, Second Skin
series SIGraDi
email
last changed 2022/05/23 12:11

_id ecaadesigradi2019_335
id ecaadesigradi2019_335
authors Amorim, Luiz and Griz, Cristiana
year 2019
title Amorim's Law - A modern grammar
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2019.2.393
source Sousa, JP, Xavier, JP and Castro Henriques, G (eds.), Architecture in the Age of the 4th Industrial Revolution - Proceedings of the 37th eCAADe and 23rd SIGraDi Conference - Volume 2, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 11-13 September 2019, pp. 393-402
summary In normative or prescriptive theories, architectural requirements are set as parameters to support design decisions. A set of formal parameters is suffice to generate a wide variety of compositions, but associated to the same formal language. This paper looks at the work of the Portuguese-Brazilian architect, Delfim Fernandes Amorim, whose contributions to the dissemination of modern ideas and the development of a particular architectural lexicon is quite relevant, particularly his addendum to the municipal land use and occupation act, which became generally known as the Amorim's Law. It consists basically in allowing spaces of transitory occupation and specific architectural elements to be built beyond the mandatory setback limits. This paper presents the development of a grammar that shows how some of the parameters described in Amorim's law are able to create a strong formal language and influence the building's architectural composition. The grammar was developed in two successive stages: the first allows the generation of the pattern of adjacency of the apartment's rooms; the second, guide the insertion of the openings and architectural elements as defined by the Amorim's Law.
keywords Shape grammar; Parametric design; Design building; Modern architecture
series eCAADeSIGraDi
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:54

_id sigradi2016_450
id sigradi2016_450
authors Araujo, André L.; Celani, Gabriela
year 2016
title Exploring Weaire-Phelan through Cellular Automata: A proposal for a structural variance-producing engine
source SIGraDi 2016 [Proceedings of the 20th Conference of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics - ISBN: 978-956-7051-86-1] Argentina, Buenos Aires 9 - 11 November 2016, pp.710-714
summary Complex forms and structures have always been highly valued in architecture, even much before the development of computers. Many architects and engineers have strived to develop structures that look very complex but at the same time are relatively simple to understand, calculate and build. A good example of this approach is the Beijing National Aquatics Centre design for the 2008 Olympic Games, also known as the Water Cube. This paper presents a proposal for a structural variance-producing engine using cellular automata (CA) techniques to produce complex structures based on Weaire-Phelan geometry. In other words, this research evaluates how generative and parametric design can be integrated with structural performance in order to enhance design flexibility and control in different stages of the design process. The method we propose was built in three groups of procedures: 1) we developed a method to generate several fits for the two Weaire-Phelan polyhedrons using CA computation techniques; 2) through the finite elements method, we codify the structural analysis outcomes to use them as inputs for the CA algorithm; 3) evaluation: we propose a framework to compare how the final outcomes deviate for the good solutions in terms of structural performance and rationalization of components. We are interested in knowing how the combination of the procedures could contribute to produce complex structures that are at the same time certain rational. The system developed allows the structural analysis of structured automatically generated by a generative system. However, some efficient solutions from the structural performance point of view do not necessarily represent a rational solution from the feasibility aspects.
keywords Structural design; Complex structures; Bottom-up design approach
series SIGRADI
email
last changed 2021/03/28 19:58

_id ecaade2012_290
id ecaade2012_290
authors Barakat, Merate
year 2012
title Urban Acoustic Simulation: Analysis of Urban Public Spaces through Auditory senses
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2012.1.587
source Achten, Henri; Pavlicek, Jiri; Hulin, Jaroslav; Matejovska, Dana (eds.), Digital Physicality - Proceedings of the 30th eCAADe Conference - Volume 1 / ISBN 978-9-4912070-2-0, Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Architecture (Czech Republic) 12-14 September 2012, pp. 587-592
summary This paper explores the sonic characteristics of urban spaces, with the application of apprehending acoustic space and form theory. The theory defines auditory spaces as acoustical arenas, which are spaces defi ned and delineated by sonic events. Historically, cities were built around a soundmark, for example, the resonance of a church bell or propagation of a calling for prayer, or a factory horn. Anyone living beyond the horizon of this soundmark was not considered citizens of that town. Furthermore, the volume of urban sonic arenas depends on natural. Digital simulation is necessary to visualize the ephemeral and temporal nature of sound, within a dynamic immersive environment like urban spaces. This paper digitally analyses the different morphologies of old cities and forms of growth in relation to the sound propagation and ecological effects. An experiment is conducted with the aid of an ancient North-African city model, exposed to a point cloud agent system. By analysing how the sound propagates from the known soundmark through the urban fabric, with the wind pressure interference; the paper compares the theoretical concept of soundmarks and the known perimeter of the ancient city
wos WOS:000330322400060
keywords Urban Public Spaces; Aural Design; Auditory Arena Simulation; Soundmark
series eCAADe
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:54

_id ijac201210303
id ijac201210303
authors Bohnenberger, Sascha; Chin Koi Khoo, Daniel Davis, et al.
year 2012
title Sensing Material Systems - Novel Design Strategies
source International Journal of Architectural Computing vol. 10 - no. 3, 361-375
summary The development of new building materials has decisively influenced the progression of architecture through the link between built form and available material systems. The new generation of engineered materials are no exception. However, to fully utilise these materials in the design process, there is a need for designers to understand how these new materials perform. In this paper we propose a method for sensing and representing the response of materials to external stimuli, at the early design stage, to help the designer establish a material awareness. We present a novel approach for embedding capacitive sensors into material models in order to improve material performance of designs. The method was applied and tested during two workshops, both discussed in this paper. The outcome is a method for anticipating engineered material behaviour.
series journal
last changed 2019/05/24 09:55

_id ascaad2012_022
id ascaad2012_022
authors Borham, Ahmad; Lobna Sherif and Osama Tolba
year 2012
title Resilient Rules - Culture and Computation in Traditional Built Environments
source CAAD | INNOVATION | PRACTICE [6th International Conference Proceedings of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD 2012 / ISBN 978-99958-2-063-3], Manama (Kingdom of Bahrain), 21-23 February 2012, pp. 211-221
summary This study explores the influence of the socio-cultural rules, based upon Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), on the complexity of the traditional built environment. This system of rules organized the societal activities, including decisions and activities related to design and construction in the Arab-Islamic city. Considering the city as a complex system, the study will try to show how this rules system made the Arab-Islamic city resilient and adaptive. Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) are non-linear, self-organizing systems that have the ability to adapt to changing conditions through changing the rules that organize the random autonomous interactions between agents in the environment. This adaptation takes place through gradual gained experience that is reflected in the behavior of agents. This study attempts to interrelate different bodies of literature (Complexity/Chaos theory and built environment studies) in a single framework that aims to show that the socio-cultural rules system based on fiqh was a major factor in the resilience of the traditional built environment. These interrelations are illustrated using a graph called Computational Rules Graph (CRG). The CRG relates the traditional rules system to attributes of complex systems in a graph that can be modeled computationally. Traditional rules (codes of conduct) are proscriptive (non-deterministic), defining what is prohibited, thereby producing autonomous environments where agents had control over their immediate environment. In comparison, contemporary rules of the built environment (building codes) are prescriptive (deterministic), subscribing definite actions that need to take place by the stake-holder (agent) neglecting user needs and preferences. The application of these traditional rules system increased the agent’s autonomy and freedom of action. It also helped establish stronger social networks among agents, which resulted in a resilient environment.
series ASCAAD
email
more http://www.ascaad.org/conference/2012/papers/ascaad2012_022.pdf
last changed 2012/05/15 20:46

_id f2f1
authors Breen, Jack and Nottrot, Robert
year 2000
title Project a2W. A Dialogue on New Media Perspectives
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2000.291
source Promise and Reality: State of the Art versus State of Practice in Computing for the Design and Planning Process [18th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-6-5] Weimar (Germany) 22-24 June 2000, pp. 291-296
summary This paper documents an initiative taking the form of a "dialogue". The format which has been developed is somewhat similar to that of the "conversation" which Mondrian conceived in 1919, taking place between two fictitious characters - A and B - discussing the new direction in art, which he called "Nieuwe Beelding" and which contributed to the "De Stijl" movement (the dialogue was followed later that year by a "trialogue" between X, Y and Z on a virtual walk taking them from the countryside to the city) 1 . This time the issue is not so much the evolvement of a new artistic or architectural style, but the role of "new media" in architecture... The present dialogue takes place between two fictitious media proponents ("Alpha" and "Omega"). They take turns questioning several issues and exchanging proposals... What are the values - and the promises - of computer supported instruments in creative design and research - concerning the art and science shaping the built environment? How do the present applications measure up, how do they compare to the expectations and ambitions expressed a number of years ago? The form of a dialogue means that issues and ideas, which are not often aired within the confines of academic discourse, can be played back and forth and a measure of exaggeration was intended from the beginning... This contribution does not in any way pretend to be all-inclusive. Rather, the paper is meant to put forward ideas and experiences - from the perspective of the Delft Media group, in practice, in teaching and in research - which may stimulate (or even irritate?) but will hopefully activate. The aim is to open up discussions, to allow other (hidden) agendas for the future to become more visible and to look for platforms for sharing concepts and fascinations, however improbable they might be...
keywords A Dialogue on New Media
series eCAADe
email
more http://www.uni-weimar.de/ecaade/
last changed 2022/06/07 07:54

_id 8e02
authors Brown, A.G.P. and Coenen, F.P.
year 2000
title Spatial reasoning: improving computational efficiency
source Automation in Construction 9 (4) (2000) pp. 361-367
summary When spatial data is analysed the result is often very computer intensive: even by the standards of contemporary technologies, the machine power needed is great and the processing times significant. This is particularly so in 3-D and 4-D scenarios. What we describe here is a technique, which tackles this and associated problems. The technique is founded in the idea of quad-tesseral addressing; a technique, which was originally applied to the analysis of atomic structures. It is based on ideas concerning Hierarchical clustering developed in the 1960s and 1970s to improve data access time [G.M. Morton, A computer oriented geodetic database and a new technique on file sequencing, IBM Canada, 1996.], and on atomic isohedral (same shape) tiling strategies developed in the 1970s and 1980s concerned with group theory [B. Grunbaum, G.C. Shephard, Tilings and Patterns, Freeman, New York, 1987.]. The technique was first suggested as a suitable representation for GIS in the early 1980s when the two strands were brought together and a tesseral arithmetic applied [F.C. Holdroyd, The Geometry of Tiling Hierarchies, Ars Combanitoria 16B (1983) 211–244.; S.B.M. Bell, B.M. Diaz, F.C. Holroyd, M.J.J. Jackson, Spatially referenced methods of processing raster and vector data, Image and Vision Computing 1 (4) (1983) 211–220.; Diaz, S.B.M. Bell, Spatial Data Processing Using Tesseral Methods, Natural Environment Research Council, Swindon, 1986.]. Here, we describe how that technique can equally be applied to the analysis of environmental interaction with built forms. The way in which the technique deals with the problems described is first to linearise the three-dimensional (3-D) space being investigated. Then, the reasoning applied to that space is applied within the same environment as the definition of the problem data. We show, with an illustrative example, how the technique can be applied. The problem then remains of how to visualise the results of the analysis so undertaken. We show how this has been accomplished so that the 3-D space and the results are represented in a way which facilitates rapid interpretation of the analysis, which has been carried out.
series journal paper
more http://www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon
last changed 2003/05/15 21:22

_id ecaade2012_127
id ecaade2012_127
authors Burry, Jane; Goscinski, Wojec; Aranda-Mena, Guillermo; Alhadidi, Suleiman; Pena de Leon, Alex; Williams, Mani
year 2012
title Trade Off and Real Time Analysis Feedback for Designers: Sailing as a Research Vehicle for Developing Systems and Skills
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2012.2.543
source Achten, Henri; Pavlicek, Jiri; Hulin, Jaroslav; Matejovska, Dana (eds.), Digital Physicality - Proceedings of the 30th eCAADe Conference - Volume 2 / ISBN 978-9-4912070-3-7, Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Architecture (Czech Republic) 12-14 September 2012, pp. 543-550
summary This paper describes the investigation and outcomes of a workshop aiming to answer the dual questions of how best to link technologies and how best to harness expert knowledge to capture and integrate dynamic performance feedback in the design process. In order to focus on these intrinsic questions, the workshop moved outside the domain most familiar to most of the participants, the built environment, and introduced the participants to design and performance feedback for what, to most, was the new domain of sailing and sail design. It resulted in novel and valuable prototypical systems for analysis and feedback to inform immediate design iteration. It achieved this through problem decomposition and synthetic design activity engaging integrated models and prototypes with components from multiple players and sources of informed or expert knowledge or knowing.
wos WOS:000330320600057
keywords Design feedback; nested systems; sailing; interaction design
series eCAADe
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:54

_id acadia21_392
id acadia21_392
authors Carlow, Jason
year 2021
title Al Janah Pavilion
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2021.392
source ACADIA 2021: Realignments: Toward Critical Computation [Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Association of Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) ISBN 979-8-986-08056-7]. Online and Global. 3-6 November 2021. edited by B. Bogosian, K. Dörfler, B. Farahi, J. Garcia del Castillo y López, J. Grant, V. Noel, S. Parascho, and J. Scott. 392-397.
summary This pavilion project was built as an outcome of an undergraduate design studio and design practicum at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE. The research methodology for the studio included case studies of various traditional building types to understand how traditional architecture in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region has been intelligently shaped by desert climate and Islamic culture over hundreds of years. Understanding and analysis of the precedent projects helped students to formulate climatic, structural, and material strategies for their design endeavors. Of the thirteen conceptual building envelopes developed by thirteen students in the design studio, the Al Janah scheme was chosen for development and construction.
series ACADIA
type project
email
last changed 2023/10/22 12:06

_id 04f2
authors Cimerman, Benjamin
year 2001
title Clients, architects, houses and computers: Experiment and reflection on new roles and relationships in design
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2001.100
source Reinventing the Discourse - How Digital Tools Help Bridge and Transform Research, Education and Practice in Architecture [Proceedings of the Twenty First Annual Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 1-880250-10-1] Buffalo (New York) 11-14 October 2001, pp. 100-109
summary This paper reports on recent work that focused on the potential impact of standard computer technology on the relationship between client and architect in the context of residential design. A study of software applications a client could use to develop and evaluate ideas exposed the dearth of software available for the design of spatial complexity by individuals without advanced computer skills, and led to the design of a specific piece of software we call “Space Modeler.” It was prototyped using off-the-shelf virtual reality technology, and tested by a group of freshmen students. The paper discusses the specificities of the software and provides analysis and reflection based on the results of the test, both in terms of design artifacts and users’ comments. The paper concludes that the evolution of the interface to electronic environments is a matter of interest for those concerned with rethinking the training, role and activity of the architect. In the near future prospective homeowners may be able to experience and experiment with the space of their home before it is built. How can the profession embrace new information technology developments and appropriate them for the benefits of society at large?
keywords Design Software, Design Participation, Visualization, Simulation
series ACADIA
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:52

_id a96f
id a96f
authors Clayton, M., Johnson, R., Song, Y and Al-Qawasmi, J.
year 1998
title Delivering Facility Documentation using Intranet Technology
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.1998.240
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. 240-253
summary Intranet technologies present new opportunities for delivering facility documentation for use in facility management. After the design stage, building documentation is reused to support construction and then facility operation. However, a common perception is that construction documents and as-built drawings are less than optimal for reuse to support operations. We have conducted a study of facility management processes and the information content of facility documentation in the context of information technologies that are emerging into the marketplace. The study provides guidance for facility managers who are implementing and fielding new information technology systems. A better understanding of information needs during operations may also help designers to better structure their own documents for reuse. An analysis of documents that are used throughout the life cycle of facilities has led us to a characterization of operations documents that are distinct from design drawings, record drawings or as-built drawings. From an analysis of facility management processes, we have identified different roles for facility documentation in those processes. Facility documentation may be used as a resource, as input, or as output. Furthermore, from interviews of facility management personnel, we identified facility information that was rated high in importance and low in satisfaction that might be targeted when implementing a facility information system. We prepared software demonstrations that show how the information may be extracted from drawings, entered into databases and then retrieved via Web and CAD interfaces. We suggest that operations documents consist of a variety of information types and require several kinds of information tools, including databases, CAD drawings and hypertext. Intranet technologies, databases and CAD software can be integrated to achieve facility management systems that address shortcomings in current facility management operations. In particular, intranet technologies provide improved accessibility to information for facility management customers and occasional users of the systems. Our study has produced recommendations based upon utility and ease-of-implementation for delivery of information from the design team to the owner, and among personnel during operation of the facility.

series ACADIA
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:56

_id ecaade2023_350
id ecaade2023_350
authors Coraglia, Ugo Maria, Wurzer, Gabriel and Bragadin, Marco Alvise
year 2023
title A Methodological Approach to represent Climate Change Impacts on Buildings
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2023.2.227
source Dokonal, W, Hirschberg, U and Wurzer, G (eds.), Digital Design Reconsidered - Proceedings of the 41st Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe 2023) - Volume 2, Graz, 20-22 September 2023, pp. 227–236
summary The main aim of the research is to propose a methodological approach to permit an assessment of the climate change impacts on buildings and their lifecycle, also by making the process computable. Climate change is a problem that designers and professionals in the AEC sector have begun to tackle more consistently and intensively in recent years. From the perspective of building sustainability in its entire life cycle, in fact, the problem of changing conditions in which the building 'lives' cannot be ignored, since many times they can be completely different from those in which it was designed and built. Recent research has shown how the use of BIM models, more systematic and relevant in the last few years, can be one of the best strategies for the management of new constructions and renovations in the different phases that characterise a building, from its design to its realisation and up to its renovation or change of use. That is not only due to the accurate 3D model, but especially thanks to the considerable availability of data and information related to the Building Object in question. The management of the simulation through a game engine, on the other hand, allows the user to live a direct experience in real-time. In this research, therefore, through the use of BIM models (Autodesk Revit) as a database (DB) of building-related data and combined and enriched with those obtained from other DBs from case studies and literature, it is possible to obtain a useful database which allows, through algorithms implemented within a game engine (Unity 3D), to visualise existing problems according to the date of construction and/or renovation.
keywords Climate change, BIM, Impacts, Building, Game Engine
series eCAADe
email
last changed 2023/12/10 10:49

_id acadia23_v3_173
id acadia23_v3_173
authors Doyle, Shelby; C Niquille, Simone; Cornelius, Chris; Kanngieser, AM
year 2023
title Operational Transitions: Panel Discussion
source ACADIA 2023: Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy [Volume 3: Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference for the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) ISBN 979-8-9891764-1-0]. Denver. 26-28 October 2023. edited by A. Crawford, N. Diniz, R. Beckett, J. Vanucchi, M. Swackhamer 24-32.
summary Hi. I have three questions for Simone. They are kind of built on top of each other. I will try to be as brief as I can. The first is about language. You talked about how object recognition algorithms have these kinds of different categories, such as the difference between iPod and media player. So how much of the kind of errors we are seeing in the case of the chairs are contributed by the limits of the language? And the second question is kind of built on top of that. It's like the matter of context. When those chairs, as shown without background, they are kind of floating objects. So how would multi-modal inputs, such as image to image, or video to 3D, will contribute or improve the algorithm's understanding of the context? And the third one is something that you haven't talked about as much as the matter of user agency. I was thinking about the diagram between the cup and the bowl. And something similar, such as a glass used for drinking water when it's tall enough. At some point, it can be used as a vase. What kind of situation would enable users to make different decisions about what the object is used for?
series ACADIA
type keynote
email
last changed 2024/04/17 14:00

_id ecaade2020_044
id ecaade2020_044
authors Dumlu, Burcu Nimet
year 2020
title Virtual Reality as a Tool for Measuring Spatial Tendencies in Urban Experience
doi https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2020.1.365
source Werner, L and Koering, D (eds.), Anthropologic: Architecture and Fabrication in the cognitive age - Proceedings of the 38th eCAADe Conference - Volume 1, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 16-18 September 2020, pp. 365-374
summary Virtual reality (VR) enables the controlled acquisition of physical reality into the virtual environment. The virtual built environment stimulates people as physical urban experiences. Room-scale experience allows wandering around the urban space. The purpose of this study is to understand VR as a tool for measuring spatial tendencies of the individual through distance structuring (proxemics) in the virtual environment. According to the concept of proxemics, individuals interact with the built environment and people through personal, social, and public distances. The study provided a virtual space that was designed as a streetscape with a road and buildings along the way both sides. Users were immersed in the VR model for 10 minutes through navigating on the chosen route and recorded in the video. The objective was understanding how the architectural elements are related to proxemics tendencies. This study describes VR as a tool for understanding user tendencies through user spatial behavior.
keywords Virtual Reality; Virtual Space; Proxemics; HTC Vive
series eCAADe
email
last changed 2022/06/07 07:52

_id 349e
authors Durmisevic, Sanja
year 2002
title Perception Aspects in Underground Spaces using Intelligent Knowledge Modeling
source Delft University of Technology
summary The intensification, combination and transformation are main strategies for future spatial development of the Netherlands, which are stated in the Fifth Bill regarding Spatial Planning. These strategies indicate that in the future, space should be utilized in a more compact and more efficient way requiring, at the same time, re-evaluation of the existing built environment and finding ways to improve it. In this context, the concept of multiple space usage is accentuated, which would focus on intensive 4-dimensional spatial exploration. The underground space is acknowledged as an important part of multiple space usage. In the document 'Spatial Exploration 2000', the underground space is recognized by policy makers as an important new 'frontier' that could provide significant contribution to future spatial requirements.In a relatively short period, the underground space became an important research area. Although among specialists there is appreciation of what underground space could provide for densely populated urban areas, there are still reserved feelings by the public, which mostly relate to the poor quality of these spaces. Many realized underground projects, namely subways, resulted in poor user satisfaction. Today, there is still a significant knowledge gap related to perception of underground space. There is also a lack of detailed documentation on actual applications of the theories, followed by research results and applied techniques. This is the case in different areas of architectural design, but for underground spaces perhaps most evident due to their infancv role in general architectural practice. In order to create better designs, diverse aspects, which are very often of qualitative nature, should be considered in perspective with the final goal to improve quality and image of underground space. In the architectural design process, one has to establish certain relations among design information in advance, to make design backed by sound rationale. The main difficulty at this point is that such relationships may not be determined due to various reasons. One example may be the vagueness of the architectural design data due to linguistic qualities in them. Another, may be vaguely defined design qualities. In this work, the problem was not only the initial fuzziness of the information but also the desired relevancy determination among all pieces of information given. Presently, to determine the existence of such relevancy is more or less a matter of architectural subjective judgement rather than systematic, non-subjective decision-making based on an existing design. This implies that the invocation of certain tools dealing with fuzzy information is essential for enhanced design decisions. Efficient methods and tools to deal with qualitative, soft data are scarce, especially in the architectural domain. Traditionally well established methods, such as statistical analysis, have been used mainly for data analysis focused on similar types to the present research. These methods mainly fall into a category of pattern recognition. Statistical regression methods are the most common approaches towards this goal. One essential drawback of this method is the inability of dealing efficiently with non-linear data. With statistical analysis, the linear relationships are established by regression analysis where dealing with non-linearity is mostly evaded. Concerning the presence of multi-dimensional data sets, it is evident that the assumption of linear relationships among all pieces of information would be a gross approximation, which one has no basis to assume. A starting point in this research was that there maybe both linearity and non-linearity present in the data and therefore the appropriate methods should be used in order to deal with that non-linearity. Therefore, some other commensurate methods were adopted for knowledge modeling. In that respect, soft computing techniques proved to match the quality of the multi-dimensional data-set subject to analysis, which is deemed to be 'soft'. There is yet another reason why soft-computing techniques were applied, which is related to the automation of knowledge modeling. In this respect, traditional models such as Decision Support Systems and Expert Systems have drawbacks. One important drawback is that the development of these systems is a time-consuming process. The programming part, in which various deliberations are required to form a consistent if-then rule knowledge based system, is also a time-consuming activity. For these reasons, the methods and tools from other disciplines, which also deal with soft data, should be integrated into architectural design. With fuzzy logic, the imprecision of data can be dealt with in a similar way to how humans do it. Artificial neural networks are deemed to some extent to model the human brain, and simulate its functions in the form of parallel information processing. They are considered important components of Artificial Intelligence (Al). With neural networks, it is possible to learn from examples, or more precisely to learn from input-output data samples. The combination of the neural and fuzzy approach proved to be a powerful combination for dealing with qualitative data. The problem of automated knowledge modeling is efficiently solved by employment of machine learning techniques. Here, the expertise of prof. dr. Ozer Ciftcioglu in the field of soft computing was crucial for tool development. By combining knowledge from two different disciplines a unique tool could be developed that would enable intelligent modeling of soft data needed for support of the building design process. In this respect, this research is a starting point in that direction. It is multidisciplinary and on the cutting edge between the field of Architecture and the field of Artificial Intelligence. From the architectural viewpoint, the perception of space is considered through relationship between a human being and a built environment. Techniques from the field of Artificial Intelligence are employed to model that relationship. Such an efficient combination of two disciplines makes it possible to extend our knowledge boundaries in the field of architecture and improve design quality. With additional techniques, meta know/edge, or in other words "knowledge about knowledge", can be created. Such techniques involve sensitivity analysis, which determines the amount of dependency of the output of a model (comfort and public safety) on the information fed into the model (input). Another technique is functional relationship modeling between aspects, which is derivation of dependency of a design parameter as a function of user's perceptions. With this technique, it is possible to determine functional relationships between dependent and independent variables. This thesis is a contribution to better understanding of users' perception of underground space, through the prism of public safety and comfort, which was achieved by means of intelligent knowledge modeling. In this respect, this thesis demonstrated an application of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) as a partner in the building design process by employing advanced modeling techniques. The method explained throughout this work is very generic and is possible to apply to not only different areas of architectural design, but also to other domains that involve qualitative data.
keywords Underground Space; Perception; Soft Computing
series thesis:PhD
email
last changed 2003/02/12 22:37

_id ea0f
authors El Araby, Mostafa and Okiel, Ahmed
year 2003
title The Use of Virtual Reality in Urban Design: Enhancing the Image of Al-Ain City, UAE
source CORP 2003, Vienna University of Technology, 25.2.-28.2.2003 [Proceedings on CD-Rom]
summary This study aims at exploring the rapid growth of the use of Virtual Reality techniques in the field of Urban Design with application to the Al-Ain City. Currently, Virtual Reality and Virtual Environments are the most growing fields of information technology and have a great media attention. There is evidence to suggest that the use of such technology will enhance conceivable image of any proposed project at any urban setting for users, designers and clients. Therefore, city officials and administrators (clients) and the public (users) can reach better decisions regarding proposed projects within their towns and cities. Because of the limited time and resources, this study examines the visual quality of Downtown Al Ain, UAE, specifically, the Khalifa street (major shopping street). A basic VRmodel to the street was constructed. Modifications to the basic model were made to examine how changes in buildings’ heights and street vegetation affect the visual quality of the street. Results of this study showed that urban visualization is proving to be a valuable tool for designers and planners. Increasing the heights of buildings in the mid-street and on the edges, along with enforcing distinctive architectural styles for the proposed buildings will enhance the overall quality of the street. Furthermore, decreasing the intensity of current vegetation and tree heights will increase the imaginable quality of the street. Nevertheless, the built of a comprehend VR model needs more time, resources and facilities that were not available to this study. This model, if completed, tothe whole downtown area can be used both to identify existing problems and to quickly evaluate alternative solutions to those problems.
series other
email
last changed 2003/03/11 20:39

_id 2068
authors Frazer, John
year 1995
title AN EVOLUTIONARY ARCHITECTURE
source London: Architectural Association
summary In "An Evolutionary Architecture", John Frazer presents an overview of his work for the past 30 years. Attempting to develop a theoretical basis for architecture using analogies with nature's processes of evolution and morphogenesis. Frazer's vision of the future of architecture is to construct organic buildings. Thermodynamically open systems which are more environmentally aware and sustainable physically, sociologically and economically. The range of topics which Frazer discusses is a good illustration of the breadth and depth of the evolutionary design problem. Environmental Modelling One of the first topics dealt with is the importance of environmental modelling within the design process. Frazer shows how environmental modelling is often misused or misinterpreted by architects with particular reference to solar modelling. From the discussion given it would seem that simplifications of the environmental models is the prime culprit resulting in misinterpretation and misuse. The simplifications are understandable given the amount of information needed for accurate modelling. By simplifying the model of the environmental conditions the architect is able to make informed judgments within reasonable amounts of time and effort. Unfortunately the simplications result in errors which compound and cause the resulting structures to fall short of their anticipated performance. Frazer obviously believes that the computer can be a great aid in the harnessing of environmental modelling data, providing that the same simplifying assumptions are not made and that better models and interfaces are possible. Physical Modelling Physical modelling has played an important role in Frazer's research. Leading to the construction of several novel machine readable interactive models, ranging from lego-like building blocks to beermat cellular automata and wall partitioning systems. Ultimately this line of research has led to the Universal Constructor and the Universal Interactor. The Universal Constructor The Universal Constructor features on the cover of the book. It consists of a base plug-board, called the "landscape", on top of which "smart" blocks, or cells, can be stacked vertically. The cells are individually identified and can communicate with neighbours above and below. Cells communicate with users through a bank of LEDs displaying the current state of the cell. The whole structure is machine readable and so can be interpreted by a computer. The computer can interpret the states of the cells as either colour or geometrical transformations allowing a wide range of possible interpretations. The user interacts with the computer display through direct manipulation of the cells. The computer can communicate and even direct the actions of the user through feedback with the cells to display various states. The direct manipulation of the cells encourages experimentation by the user and demonstrates basic concepts of the system. The Universal Interactor The Universal Interactor is a whole series of experimental projects investigating novel input and output devices. All of the devices speak a common binary language and so can communicate through a mediating central hub. The result is that input, from say a body-suit, can be used to drive the out of a sound system or vice versa. The Universal Interactor opens up many possibilities for expression when using a CAD system that may at first seem very strange.However, some of these feedback systems may prove superior in the hands of skilled technicians than more standard devices. Imagine how a musician might be able to devise structures by playing melodies which express the character. Of course the interpretation of input in this form poses a difficult problem which will take a great deal of research to achieve. The Universal Interactor has been used to provide environmental feedback to affect the development of evolving genetic codes. The feedback given by the Universal Interactor has been used to guide selection of individuals from a population. Adaptive Computing Frazer completes his introduction to the range of tools used in his research by giving a brief tour of adaptive computing techniques. Covering topics including cellular automata, genetic algorithms, classifier systems and artificial evolution. Cellular Automata As previously mentioned Frazer has done some work using cellular automata in both physical and simulated environments. Frazer discusses how surprisingly complex behaviour can result from the simple local rules executed by cellular automata. Cellular automata are also capable of computation, in fact able to perform any computation possible by a finite state machine. Note that this does not mean that cellular automata are capable of any general computation as this would require the construction of a Turing machine which is beyond the capabilities of a finite state machine. Genetic Algorithms Genetic algorithms were first presented by Holland and since have become a important tool for many researchers in various areas.Originally developed for problem-solving and optimization problems with clearly stated criteria and goals. Frazer fails to mention one of the most important differences between genetic algorithms and other adaptive problem-solving techniques, ie. neural networks. Genetic algorithms have the advantage that criteria can be clearly stated and controlled within the fitness function. The learning by example which neural networks rely upon does not afford this level of control over what is to be learned. Classifier Systems Holland went on to develop genetic algorithms into classifier systems. Classifier systems are more focussed upon the problem of learning appropriate responses to stimuli, than searching for solutions to problems. Classifier systems receive information from the environment and respond according to rules, or classifiers. Successful classifiers are rewarded, creating a reinforcement learning environment. Obviously, the mapping between classifier systems and the cybernetic view of organisms sensing, processing and responding to environmental stimuli is strong. It would seem that a central process similar to a classifier system would be appropriate at the core of an organic building. Learning appropriate responses to environmental conditions over time. Artificial Evolution Artificial evolution traces it's roots back to the Biomorph program which was described by Dawkins in his book "The Blind Watchmaker". Essentially, artificial evolution requires that a user supplements the standard fitness function in genetic algorithms to guide evolution. The user may provide selection pressures which are unquantifiable in a stated problem and thus provide a means for dealing ill-defined criteria. Frazer notes that solving problems with ill-defined criteria using artificial evolution seriously limits the scope of problems that can be tackled. The reliance upon user interaction in artificial evolution reduces the practical size of populations and the duration of evolutionary runs. Coding Schemes Frazer goes on to discuss the encoding of architectural designs and their subsequent evolution. Introducing two major systems, the Reptile system and the Universal State Space Modeller. Blueprint vs. Recipe Frazer points out the inadequacies of using standard "blueprint" design techniques in developing organic structures. Using a "recipe" to describe the process of constructing a building is presented as an alternative. Recipes for construction are discussed with reference to the analogous process description given by DNA to construct an organism. The Reptile System The Reptile System is an ingenious construction set capable of producing a wide range of structures using just two simple components. Frazer saw the advantages of this system for rule-based and evolutionary systems in the compactness of structure descriptions. Compactness was essential for the early computational work when computer memory and storage space was scarce. However, compact representations such as those described form very rugged fitness landscapes which are not well suited to evolutionary search techniques. Structures are created from an initial "seed" or minimal construction, for example a compact spherical structure. The seed is then manipulated using a series of processes or transformations, for example stretching, shearing or bending. The structure would grow according to the transformations applied to it. Obviously, the transformations could be a predetermined sequence of actions which would always yield the same final structure given the same initial seed. Alternatively, the series of transformations applied could be environmentally sensitive resulting in forms which were also sensitive to their location. The idea of taking a geometrical form as a seed and transforming it using a series of processes to create complex structures is similar in many ways to the early work of Latham creating large morphological charts. Latham went on to develop his ideas into the "Mutator" system which he used to create organic artworks. Generalising the Reptile System Frazer has proposed a generalised version of the Reptile System to tackle more realistic building problems. Generating the seed or minimal configuration from design requirements automatically. From this starting point (or set of starting points) solutions could be evolved using artificial evolution. Quantifiable and specific aspects of the design brief define the formal criteria which are used as a standard fitness function. Non-quantifiable criteria, including aesthetic judgments, are evaluated by the user. The proposed system would be able to learn successful strategies for satisfying both formal and user criteria. In doing so the system would become a personalised tool of the designer. A personal assistant which would be able to anticipate aesthetic judgements and other criteria by employing previously successful strategies. Ultimately, this is a similar concept to Negroponte's "Architecture Machine" which he proposed would be computer system so personalised so as to be almost unusable by other people. The Universal State Space Modeller The Universal State Space Modeller is the basis of Frazer's current work. It is a system which can be used to model any structure, hence the universal claim in it's title. The datastructure underlying the modeller is a state space of scaleless logical points, called motes. Motes are arranged in a close-packing sphere arrangement, which makes each one equidistant from it's twelve neighbours. Any point can be broken down into a self-similar tetrahedral structure of logical points. Giving the state space a fractal nature which allows modelling at many different levels at once. Each mote can be thought of as analogous to a cell in a biological organism. Every mote carries a copy of the architectural genetic code in the same way that each cell within a organism carries a copy of it's DNA. The genetic code of a mote is stored as a sequence of binary "morons" which are grouped together into spatial configurations which are interpreted as the state of the mote. The developmental process begins with a seed. The seed develops through cellular duplication according to the rules of the genetic code. In the beginning the seed develops mainly in response to the internal genetic code, but as the development progresses the environment plays a greater role. Cells communicate by passing messages to their immediate twelve neighbours. However, it can send messages directed at remote cells, without knowledge of it's spatial relationship. During the development cells take on specialised functions, including environmental sensors or producers of raw materials. The resulting system is process driven, without presupposing the existence of a construction set to use. The datastructure can be interpreted in many ways to derive various phenotypes. The resulting structure is a by-product of the cellular activity during development and in response to the environment. As such the resulting structures have much in common with living organisms which are also the emergent result or by-product of local cellular activity. Primordial Architectural Soups To conclude, Frazer presents some of the most recent work done, evolving fundamental structures using limited raw materials, an initial seed and massive feedback. Frazer proposes to go further and do away with the need for initial seed and start with a primordial soup of basic architectural concepts. The research is attempting to evolve the starting conditions and evolutionary processes without any preconditions. Is there enough time to evolve a complex system from the basic building blocks which Frazer proposes? The computational complexity of the task being embarked upon is not discussed. There is an implicit assumption that the "superb tactics" of natural selection are enough to cut through the complexity of the task. However, Kauffman has shown how self-organisation plays a major role in the early development of replicating systems which we may call alive. Natural selection requires a solid basis upon which it can act. Is the primordial soup which Frazer proposes of the correct constitution to support self-organisation? Kauffman suggests that one of the most important attributes of a primordial soup to be capable of self-organisation is the need for a complex network of catalysts and the controlling mechanisms to stop the reactions from going supracritical. Can such a network be provided of primitive architectural concepts? What does it mean to have a catalyst in this domain? Conclusion Frazer shows some interesting work both in the areas of evolutionary design and self-organising systems. It is obvious from his work that he sympathizes with the opinions put forward by Kauffman that the order found in living organisms comes from both external evolutionary pressure and internal self-organisation. His final remarks underly this by paraphrasing the words of Kauffman, that life is always to found on the edge of chaos. By the "edge of chaos" Kauffman is referring to the area within the ordered regime of a system close to the "phase transition" to chaotic behaviour. Unfortunately, Frazer does not demonstrate that the systems he has presented have the necessary qualities to derive useful order at the edge of chaos. He does not demonstrate, as Kauffman does repeatedly, that there exists a "phase transition" between ordered and chaotic regimes of his systems. He also does not make any studies of the relationship of useful forms generated by his work to phase transition regions of his systems should they exist. If we are to find an organic architecture, in more than name alone, it is surely to reside close to the phase transition of the construction system of which is it built. Only there, if we are to believe Kauffman, are we to find useful order together with environmentally sensitive and thermodynamically open systems which can approach the utility of living organisms.
series other
type normal paper
last changed 2004/05/22 14:12

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