Urban Protophenomenon: Introducing the notion of primordial phenomenon in urbanism
This paper aims to draw the necessary distinctions in order to contribute to identify, among all the objects that populate our world of perception, the urbanist?s own object of study. In systemic jargon, it aims to distinguish that elemental unity that ensures that a phenomenon is an urban one and none other. This, in order to help to distinguish in turn the urbanist?s own field of action. It calls into question the widespread belief that this object of study might be the already built city as c
Representation and Delivery of City Models
City modelling has a considerable range of potential applications and because of this, as a field of research has attracted a great deal of attention over recent years. Here we reflect on work already reported by the authors in this area, describe some more recent work on improving the system that had been developed and show an example of how city modelling is being applied in practice as a planning tool in the UK.
Hidden Line Elimination in Projected Grid Surfaces
The hidden line and hidden surface problems are simpler when restricted to special classes of objects. An example is the class of grid surfaces, that is, graphs of bivariate functions represented by their values on a set of grid points. Projected grid surfaces have geometric properties which permit hidden line or hidden surface elimination to be done more easily than in the general case. These properties are discussed in this paper, and an algorithm is given which exploits them
Software design of maintainable knowledge-based systems for building design
Identifying and establishing a basic structure for knowledge representation is one of the keys to successful design of knowledge-based computer systems. In Building Design and Construction, this initial knowledge structure can be achieved by utilizing a query driven approach to software engineering. As (user) queries reflect the user's demand for in/output, it is natural to link the overall user dialogue with key elements in the knowledge base direct connections between user screen and objects i
The Pattern That Connects
While patterns have a spotty history in architecture, their definitions and uses in other fields offer new possibilities for design. This paper examines those definitions and uses?including theories put forward by architectural theorist, Christopher Alexander; art educator, Gyorgy Kepes; chemist, Ilya Prigogine; and anthropologist, Gregory Bateson. Of particular interest is the shift from eternal, essential, universal, and fundamental patterns to fleeting, superficial, specific, and incidental v
Automation of Passive Solar Design System
This research, focus on the automation of passive solar design system using computational method. The quantitative nature of passive solar design system makes the automation possible. The automation is done in stages, because implementing the passive solar design system is not an isolated process, but intertwined with the overall design process. The first phase of automation concentrates in conceptual stage, to avoid major deviations in later stages of the design. The conceptual stage use Eco-gr
Organisation of Pedestrian Movements: an Agent-Based Approach
Cities are becoming more complex in this digital era due to technological changes. Thinking of cities without such technological changes is equivalent to an embryonic state in the morphology of city growth, that is, the growth seems less advanced. So it is appropriate to think of the non digital city digitally. Urban design is one state which establishes the perfect relationship between the street, people and building. The relationship of the people with the building and street is becoming one o
Modelagem 3D e anima??o para o desenvolvimento de um modelo virtual interativo em realidade virtual
This article describes the development of a project that combines modeling and animation of three-dimensional objects (virtual model, clothing, environment) in the software 3D Studio Max with VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). The project allows various interactions between the user and the environment developed. The main interaction is the choice of clothing, in which different parts can be proven in the virtual model. The results can be applied to online sales, marketing strategies and
Creacion/Creatividad: Evaluando Dise?os Arquitect?nicos con Realidad Virtual (Creation/Creativity: E
?Can the computer improves the architectural creativity? This question is explored through a Virtual-Reality system developed for the modeling of timber structures, based on parametric elements, constructive programming and immersive visualization on real-time. Making experiences of evaluation with advanced students of architecture, whose use the system in the beginning of projects, compared with other group use not the system. This research faces the possibilities to rationalizate part of the c
Didactic Design: light and optics for preschool level
Since 2003, we have been developing a pedagogic proposal and didactic material for teaching Light and Optics to kindergarden children that enhances the construction of the first scientific thinking schemes. The design (industrial and graphic) applied to this project has generated an educational product composed of 44 objects. These materials allow teaching concepts such as: combination of colors, light indispensable to see, formation of shadows and images are not objects. These have been develop
Comparison of Designers? Modeling Approaches During Architectural Design Process
This study has been started as a part of a research, related to exploring impact of novel interfaces during collaborative architectural design process on designers? way of thinking. However, in this paper it is intended to focus on how the input devices reflect on designers? modeling behavior in computer environment. Therefore it is intended to compare designer?s modeling approaches in computer environment via a case study. Four master students in architectural design computing graduate program
Technical Aspects of the Urban Simulator in Tampere University of Technology
The colour video recording Urban Simulator in TUT was built very early compared with the development of video systems. A contract for planning the simulator electronics, mechanics and camera systems was made in january 1978 with two TUT students: Jani Granholm (computer science and engineering) and Ilkka Alavalkama (machine design and automation). Ease of control and maintenance were asked by side of ?human movement inside coloured small-scale architectural models?. From the beginning, all compo
Developing a new endoscopy laboratory with digital tools.
Tampere School of Architecture had to leave its old down-town building and move to the TU Tampere university campus in Hervanta, 10 km away. In this process, the 20 years old endoscopic system "The Urban Simulator" was one of the victims. Old mechanical parts and especially the original home-built microcomputer system were too old to compete with modern computer-aided methods.
A new endoscopical system is now under construction, using all of the 20-year experience, new technical components and c
Ethics of Virtuality? Virtuality of Ethics
This paper addresses issues pertaining to architecture, virtuality and ethics by establishing an interactive, non-linear virtual environment as a tool for investigation into the virtuality of ethics and ethics of virtuality, in the context of architecture. Starting from the assertion that ?Virtual Environment (VE) is a metaphor of Real Environment (RE)?, we test the proposition that suggests ?Ethics of RE can be tested and simulated in VE?. Challenging the notion that sees people reacting to VE
Embodiment and Illusion: The Implications of Scale as a Cue for Immersion in Virtual Environments
This paper examines the extent to which the issue of scale impinges on our sense of immersion in virtual environments. We consider perception from the point of view of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology, and describe a study involving extended interviews of a small number of subjects who were presented with static, moving and interactive images of spaces. We test a series of propositions about scale cues, and speculate on the wider phenomenological issues of expectation, metaphor and play.
3-Axis CNC Milling in Architectural Design
Physical scale models still have a role in architectural design. 3-axis CNC milling provides one way of making scale models both for study purposes and for presentation in durable materials such as wood. We present some types of scale models, the methods for creating them and the place in the design process that scale models occupy. We provide an overview of CNC milling procedures and issues and we describe the process of how one can creatively develop appropriate methods for milling different t
Recursos de anima??o digital para aprendizagem de leitura de plantas [Digital Animation Resources fo
This paper discusses the evolution of the technical resources employed in a website destined for the professional formation of constructors workers throught the interpretation of plans. Developed as a doctoral thesis in the Ph.D. program of Information Technology in Education, the reconstruction of the website is assimilating new resourses of digital animation, allowing a richer and more significative interaction, acording to the principles of Piaget's theory on constructivism that oriented the
The Importance of Virtual Environments in the Design of Electronic Games and Their Relevance to Arch
Ever increasing complexity in architectural design and the need to deliver a cost effective solution requires the employment and adoption of innovative design methods. Although technological changes have entered the field of architecture at a slower pace, the recent adoption of 3D modelling, Virtual Environment and multimedia represent significant changes in architectural design, visualisation and presentation. These now include tools for conceptualisation, design synthesis, design presentation,
Computer animation for architectural visualisation
This thesis critically reviews the state of architectural animation, and relates this specific field to the more general motion-based representations, particularly traditional film-making techniques. It identifies key elements from traditional filmmaking and shows how these elements can improve computer-based architectural animation. The process of identification of the key elements from traditional film-making starts with a critical survey of the use of motion-based representation in local arch
Interactive Animation on the Macintosh II
The efficiency of images in communication between humans has so far been used almost exclusively by TV and other mass medias. The costs have been too great to encourage the use of images in the financially restricted everyday practice of architecture. With a range of application programs for the Apple Macintosh II the vision has come close to reality. It is now possible to create guided walks with the chance to choose different routes and views in a model of buildings and surroundings in 256 col
