Using the Computer in Analysis of Architectural Form
One of the most important aspects of the designing process is: the design activity is usually conducted with incomplete information. Another important aspect of designing activity is: designing activity is usually based on past experience. As a matter of fact looking at designers in the early conceptual phases, one thing that appears clear is, instead starting from scratch, they spend a part of their time thinking about existing designing experience, reviewing the literature, and so on. That is
Algorithm For The Automatic Design Of A Shading Device
Given that there is a need to shade a window from the summer sun and also a need to expose it to the winter sun, this article describes an algorithm to design automatically a geometric construct that satisfies both requirements. The construct obtained represents the minimum solution to the simultaneous requirements. The window may be described by an arbitrary convex polygon and it may be oriented in any direction and it may be placed at any chosen latitude. The algorithm consists of two sequenti
Virtual learning environments: an evaluation of their development in a sample of educational setting
This resource is a 28-page Ofsted survey of VLE usage in 35 selected establishments. It also draws upon the reference to VLEs in recent Ofsted reports. The data is drawn from the full range from primary schools through secondary and post-16 to colleges providing adult education. Some of the data comes from the virtual survey of VLEs. Published in 2009, this extensive survey covers the period following the publication of the DfES Harnessing Technology in 2005.
Architectural Applications of Complex Adaptive Systems
This paper presents methods and case studies of approaching architectural design and fabrication utilizing Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs). The case studies and observations described here are findings from a continuing body of research investigating applications of computational systems to architectural practice. CASs are computational mechanisms from the computer science field of Artificial Life that provide frameworks for managing large numbers of elements and their inter-relationships. The a
Shared, Collective, Generative, Dynamic Virtual Environments - Geneve
In this project we plan to create an experimental novel medium setup for the study of the ?presence? experience in shared, collective, generative, dynamic virtual environments (GENEVEs) in order to study the cross interactions between a given GENEVE and/among its creators/users and to explore the logic of presence in each GENEVE. The new shareable / generative media will try to add personal creativity and social dimension to telefruition of contents. For the European Industry having a leading ed
The darwinian structure of the design process
This text is meant only to be a stimulus for the discussion to be held, in a specific panel, at Generative Art 2001. In the text, ?provocative enough? to spur animated discussion, some very basics of darwinism and genetics are given with the only purpose of declaring a common ?stage for the play? where everybody feels at ease. Common stage and common vocabulary ifnot even common language. The main thesis is very strong, therefore comments and critics are warmly encouraged. They are the selective
Let's Improvise Together
The creators of ?Let's-Improvise-Together? adhere to the idea that while there is a multitude of online games now available in cyberspace, it appears that relatively few are focused on providing a positive, friendly and productive experience for the user. Producing this kind of experience is one the goals of our Amusement Project.To this end, the creation of ?Let's Improvise Together? has been guided by dedication to the importance of three themes:* the importance of cooperation,* the importance
Study on the collaborative design process over the internet: A case study on VRML 2.0 specification
In this paper, we analyze the process of VRML 2.0 (Virtual Reality Modeling Language, Version 2.0) specification design for the deeper understanding of Internet-based collaboration. The VRML design process has the characteristics of being open to the public, geographically distributed, long-term, large-scale, and diverse. First, we examine the overall features of the design process by analyzing the VRML mailing list archive statistically. Secondly, we extract prototyping vocabulary (operational
Film Theory and Architectural Design
This paper describes a 10 week, 3rd year architectural design studio, taught by the author, that explored the use of film and video techniques in the design process. The exploration was of (1) the potential of recently available personal computer software and hardware for image and video capture, manipulation and recording, and (2) the potential for application of video, informed by film theory, in the early stages of architectural design.
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
CAD in Architectural Practice
A leading architecture/engineering firm has made use of in- house computer system since 1963. This paper discusses some special topics in using computers for the design of HVAC systems, and the process of implementing CAD in the HVAC engineering practice
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
Centro de Refer?ncia e Informa??o em Habita??o - Infohab (Reference Center and Information on Housi
The Center of Reference and Information in Habitation - INFOHAB - is a project led for the ANTAC, that intends to facilitate the access to the technique information relative to all the aspects and subjects that are contained in the construction environment concept, through the captation, selection, organization and spreading this information, offering it in the Internet through a database permanently brought up to date with the reference and, always when authorized, with the complete works. The
Representation and re-Presentation: Emerging Digital Conventions of Architectural Communication
This paper examines the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of digital architectural representation. Emerging digital tools, processes, and methods are sponsoring new conventions for the communication of architectural ideas and motives. New conventions yielded through digital media offer fresh and currently uncodified ways to communicate. These new conventions attempt to communicate the same ideas as the old, sometimes subverting the imperative for drawing as the representation does not ref
Three-dimensional Input and Visualization
The aim of this chapter is to investigate techniques by which man-computer interaction could be improved, specifically in the context of architectural applications of CAD. In this application the object being designed is often an assembly of defined components. Even if the building is not actually fabricated from such components, it is usually conceptualized in these terms. In a conventional graphics- based CAD system these components are usually represented by graphical icons which are displaye
The Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms
A text book for a first course in design and analysis of algorithms. The emphasis is on ideas and ease of understanding rather then on implementation details or programming tricks. It starts with formulating several models that include random access register machine, random access stored program machine and variants of these, so one can establish analytical results and at the same time accurately reflect on the salient features of real machines
Design Generation of the Central Asian Caravanserai
Challenges for the study of Islamic architecture include its abundance and diversity in expression and its classification based on distinct functional or stylistic types. We address these issues by presenting shape grammars as a methodology for the analysis and design generation of Islamic architecture, with a specific example in the form of a parametric shape grammar for central Asian caravanserais. The grammar is developed by identifying distinct design types. Shape rules are created based on
