This research is an inquiry into the nature of computation, and specifically associative parametr... more This research is an inquiry into the nature of computation, and specifically associative parametric computational techniques, as a conceptual source of architectural design. It argues that parametric models, systems, and ideas are used not only to rationalize architectural designs, but increasingly to conceive and generate them. This is a notable departure form the dominant assumption that parametric design is solely applicable in postrationalization processes or for design development and delivery. The thesis states the case of the potentials of associative parametric design for affecting significant changes in though process, in design process, and in technological processes in architectural practice. It is suggested that the architectural profession is experiencing a paradigmatic shift from a predominant use of explicit CAD technologies and representational methods towards building architectural models as digital simulations, which more importantly are used as increasingly productive tools for design exploration.
Studies have shown that occupant behavior has a significant impact on a building's overall perfor... more Studies have shown that occupant behavior has a significant impact on a building's overall performance and energy consumption. The objective of this study is to understand occupants' lighting-use behavior by investigating the influence of manual and semi-automatic control systems on lighting-use in a single-occupancy office space. 114 participants were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions that varied in available lighting control options in an immersive virtual environment. They were asked to adjust the room's lighting by choosing one of the following lighting control options: (1) manual control system for artificial lights and interior shades; (2) same options as condition 1 and a semi-automatic control system for the shades; (3) same options as condition 1 and a semi-automatic control system for the artificial lights; and (4) same options as condition 1 and semi-automatic control systems for both the artificial lights and shades. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the participants were significantly more likely to use natural light if there was only a semi-automatic control system to control the shades. However, they were not more likely to use natural light if they were given semi-automatic control options for both the artificial lights and shades.
In order for a project to be satisfactory to end-users and completed with high quality, the archi... more In order for a project to be satisfactory to end-users and completed with high quality, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry heavily relies on digital modeling, simulation and visual communication. In the past two decades, the AEC community has examined different approaches, including virtual and augmented reality, to improve communication, visualization, and coordination among different project participants; yet these approaches are slowly being adopted by the industry. Such technological advancements have the potential to improve and revolutionize the current approaches in design (e.g., by involving end-user feedback to ensure higher performing building operations and end-user satisfaction), in construction (e.g., by improving safety through virtual training), and in operations (e.g., by visualizing real-time sensor data to improve diagnostics). The authors' research vision builds upon the value of using immersive virtual environments (IVEs) during the design, construction, and operation phases of AEC projects. IVEs could provide a sense of presence found in physical mock-ups and make evaluation of an increased set of potential design alternatives possible in a timely and cost- efficient manner. Yet, in order to use IVEs during the design, construction, and operation phases of buildings, it is important to ensure that the data collected and analyzed in such environments represent physical environments. To test whether IVEs are adequate representations of physical environments and to measure user performance in such environments, this paper presents results from an experiment that investigates user performance on a set of everyday office-related activities (e.g., reading text and identifying objects in an office environment) and bench- marks the participants' performance in a similar physical environment. Sense of presence is also measured within an IVE through a set of questionnaires. By analyzing the experimental data from 112 participants, the authors concluded that the participants perform similarly in an IVE setting as they do in the benchmarked physical environment for all of the measured tasks. The questionnaire data show that the participants felt a strong sense of presence within an IVE. Based on the experimental data, the authors thus demonstrate that an IVE can be an effective tool in the design phase of AEC projects in order to acquire end-user performance feedback, which might lead to higher performing infrastructure design and end-user satisfaction.
This paper presents the results of an experiment that measured human abilities to solve parameter... more This paper presents the results of an experiment that measured human abilities to solve parameter design problems specific to the building design domain. The subjects of the experiment were university students who solved a series of parameter design problems that varied in terms of scale (number of design variables) and coupling (interactions between variables). Results show an exponential decrease in solution quality as the scale of the problem increases. Coupling has a comparable impact on solution quality for problems involving two to three variables, but becomes less significant as the scale of the problem increases. We discuss these findings in the context of information processing models for human cognition and explore the implications for current design theories and methodologies.
ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 2014
This paper includes the results of an online survey that was conducted by the American Society of... more This paper includes the results of an online survey that was conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) task committee on computing education to assess the evolution of computing in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education in 2012. The committee aims to understand and measure the evolution of computing in civil engineering, architecture, and construction management curricula and evaluate the current state of computing within the AEC curricula. The paper contains an investigation of the levels and concentrations of computer-science knowledge versus computer skills in curricula. In addition, the committee seeks to recognize the similarities and differences between architecture, engineering, and construction management programs by comparing the data associated with these disciplines. The paper also includes a discussion of basic aspects of computing education including the prerequisites that are necessary for further learning. The survey results provide useful benchmarks for decision making regarding research, industry collaboration, and curricula. Findings of the study include: (1) the importance and coverage of computer skills and competence of graduates has increased over the past decade; (2) computing skills are judged to be more important than computer-science knowledge in AEC curricula; (3) the links between computer-science concepts and AEC applications of computing are not yet fully recognized; (4) computing education is not sufficient to meet the demands of the AEC industry and the share of computing courses is less than what educators desire; and (5) scientific concepts of computing are important for preparing architects and engineers for unknown future developments in information technology.
Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) has been identified as a potential means for integrat... more Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) has been identified as a potential means for integrating design and energy performance domains but has not been fully explored for the specific demands of early stage architectural design. In response a design framework, titled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD), is developed to support early stage design decision-making by providing rapid iteration with performance feedback through parameterization, automation, and multi-objective optimization. This paper details the development and initial validation of EEPFD through two identified needs of early stage design: 1) the ability to accommodate formal variety and varying degrees of geometric complexity; and 2) the ability to provide improved performance feedback for multiple objective functions. Through experimental cases the research presents effective application of EEPFD for architectural design.
In pursuit of including energy performance as feedback for architects’ early stage design decisio... more In pursuit of including energy performance as feedback for architects’ early stage design decision mak- ing, this research presents the theoretical foundation of a designer oriented multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework titled evolutionary energy performance feedback for design (EEPFD). Through a comprehensive literature review and gap analysis EEPFD is developed into an MDO methodol- ogy that provides energy performance as feedback for influencing architects’ decision making more fluidly and earlier than other approaches to date. Secondly, in response to the lack of an MDO best practice EEPFD is investigated and evaluated through two experiments. The first experiment demonstrates the ability to utilize EEPFD provided energy performance as feedback to pursue multiple architectural designs with competing objectives and tradeoffs. The second experiment identifies performance boundaries as a best practice for MDO applications to the early stage architectural design processes. The research synthe- sizes the results into the basis for measuring these performance boundaries as a best practice in the context where architects must gauge multiple design concepts with varying complexity coupled with performance objectives through EEPFD, thereby enhancing the influe
Simulation: Special Issue: Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design, 2013
While the overall performance of buildings has been established to be heavily impacted by design ... more While the overall performance of buildings has been established to be heavily impacted by design decisions made during the early stages of the design process, design professionals are typically unable to explore design alternatives, or their impact on energy profiles, in a sufficient manner during this phase. The research presents a new design simulation methodology based on incorporating a prototype tool (H.D.S. Beagle) that combines parametric modeling with multi-objective optimization through an integrated platform for enabling rapid iteration and trade-off analysis across the domains of design, energy use intensity, and finance. The research evaluates how the proposed method impacts design simulation processes, by either enabling and/or disrupting the early stages of design decision making. This simulation technology is presented through two major experiment sets: (1) a series of hypothetical cases emulating the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) design modeling and simulation process using our integrated simulation framework and technology; and (2) a pedagogically based experiment used for establishing benchmarks. Through these experiment data sets, both quantitative and qualitative data are collected, including human designer and computational analysis speeds, quantity of generated design alternatives, and quality of resulting solution space as defined by the evaluation metric of this research. The affordances for incorporation of real world design complexity into our computational design prototype and simulation methodology are discussed through both the enabling and the disruptive impact on the early stages of the design process.
International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2012
This paper presents design research and instruction into the use of constraint based digital and ... more This paper presents design research and instruction into the use of constraint based digital and analogue modelling techniques and the development of associative parametric models to simulate highly differentiated fabricated form. One set of these design research projects were conceived as manual analogue generative processes for prototyping modularity and serial differentiation.Then through parametric design techniques, modular aggregations were design explored and developed in concert with material properties and constraints. Utilizing digital fabrication full-scale installations were designed, manufactured, and for site-specific configurations. A second set of projects provides an extension of the design instruction that includes the integration of performance criteria into these design objectives.The objectives of the research are to present benefits and limitations of the incorporation of parametric design, performance analysis, and prototyping techniques in comprehensive studio instruction.The paper discusses the resultant informed materialized difference and the impacts on achieving reinforced and hands on learning objectives.
Journal of Information Technology in Construction, 2011
The U.S. AEC industry is faced with the ever-increasing challenge of managing the public and priv... more The U.S. AEC industry is faced with the ever-increasing challenge of managing the public and private facilities and infrastructure to support the accomplishment of its economy. The increasing global emphasis on sustainable approaches and the need to increase efficiency and improve cost over the lifecycle of projects, demand new approaches to architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education. This study was initiated to look for insight into the current educational environment and to provide a baseline for possible solutions to cope with the complexity of the challenge. This paper examined 101 U.S. AEC programs focusing on emerging subject areas of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainability, and reviewed how educational innovations of distance learning, multidisciplinary collaboration, industry collaborations, are incorporated to develop core competencies in those two subject areas. The researchers reviewed and categorized the AEC disciplines based on the respective accrediting bodies of ABET, NAAB, and ACCE, and surveyed the internal factors (e.g., program resources, expertise, etc.) and external factors (e.g., accreditation requirements, sustainability initiatives, etc.) that affect the pedagogical approaches. This study illustrates the challenges incorporating new knowledge areas into constrained curricula and the various approaches that the university programs are undertaking. A comparative analysis also reveals the similarities and differences and specific advantages and disadvantages of particular approaches across the AEC programs. The findings reinforce the notion that there are disparities in these educational programs, which need realignment to develop the workforce of the future that will lead the AEC industry transformations.
This research is an inquiry into the nature of computation, and specifically associative parametr... more This research is an inquiry into the nature of computation, and specifically associative parametric computational techniques, as a conceptual source of architectural design. It argues that parametric models, systems, and ideas are used not only to rationalize architectural designs, but increasingly to conceive and generate them. This is a notable departure form the dominant assumption that parametric design is solely applicable in postrationalization processes or for design development and delivery. The thesis states the case of the potentials of associative parametric design for affecting significant changes in though process, in design process, and in technological processes in architectural practice. It is suggested that the architectural profession is experiencing a paradigmatic shift from a predominant use of explicit CAD technologies and representational methods towards building architectural models as digital simulations, which more importantly are used as increasingly productive tools for design exploration.
Studies have shown that occupant behavior has a significant impact on a building's overall perfor... more Studies have shown that occupant behavior has a significant impact on a building's overall performance and energy consumption. The objective of this study is to understand occupants' lighting-use behavior by investigating the influence of manual and semi-automatic control systems on lighting-use in a single-occupancy office space. 114 participants were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions that varied in available lighting control options in an immersive virtual environment. They were asked to adjust the room's lighting by choosing one of the following lighting control options: (1) manual control system for artificial lights and interior shades; (2) same options as condition 1 and a semi-automatic control system for the shades; (3) same options as condition 1 and a semi-automatic control system for the artificial lights; and (4) same options as condition 1 and semi-automatic control systems for both the artificial lights and shades. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the participants were significantly more likely to use natural light if there was only a semi-automatic control system to control the shades. However, they were not more likely to use natural light if they were given semi-automatic control options for both the artificial lights and shades.
In order for a project to be satisfactory to end-users and completed with high quality, the archi... more In order for a project to be satisfactory to end-users and completed with high quality, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry heavily relies on digital modeling, simulation and visual communication. In the past two decades, the AEC community has examined different approaches, including virtual and augmented reality, to improve communication, visualization, and coordination among different project participants; yet these approaches are slowly being adopted by the industry. Such technological advancements have the potential to improve and revolutionize the current approaches in design (e.g., by involving end-user feedback to ensure higher performing building operations and end-user satisfaction), in construction (e.g., by improving safety through virtual training), and in operations (e.g., by visualizing real-time sensor data to improve diagnostics). The authors' research vision builds upon the value of using immersive virtual environments (IVEs) during the design, construction, and operation phases of AEC projects. IVEs could provide a sense of presence found in physical mock-ups and make evaluation of an increased set of potential design alternatives possible in a timely and cost- efficient manner. Yet, in order to use IVEs during the design, construction, and operation phases of buildings, it is important to ensure that the data collected and analyzed in such environments represent physical environments. To test whether IVEs are adequate representations of physical environments and to measure user performance in such environments, this paper presents results from an experiment that investigates user performance on a set of everyday office-related activities (e.g., reading text and identifying objects in an office environment) and bench- marks the participants' performance in a similar physical environment. Sense of presence is also measured within an IVE through a set of questionnaires. By analyzing the experimental data from 112 participants, the authors concluded that the participants perform similarly in an IVE setting as they do in the benchmarked physical environment for all of the measured tasks. The questionnaire data show that the participants felt a strong sense of presence within an IVE. Based on the experimental data, the authors thus demonstrate that an IVE can be an effective tool in the design phase of AEC projects in order to acquire end-user performance feedback, which might lead to higher performing infrastructure design and end-user satisfaction.
This paper presents the results of an experiment that measured human abilities to solve parameter... more This paper presents the results of an experiment that measured human abilities to solve parameter design problems specific to the building design domain. The subjects of the experiment were university students who solved a series of parameter design problems that varied in terms of scale (number of design variables) and coupling (interactions between variables). Results show an exponential decrease in solution quality as the scale of the problem increases. Coupling has a comparable impact on solution quality for problems involving two to three variables, but becomes less significant as the scale of the problem increases. We discuss these findings in the context of information processing models for human cognition and explore the implications for current design theories and methodologies.
ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 2014
This paper includes the results of an online survey that was conducted by the American Society of... more This paper includes the results of an online survey that was conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) task committee on computing education to assess the evolution of computing in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education in 2012. The committee aims to understand and measure the evolution of computing in civil engineering, architecture, and construction management curricula and evaluate the current state of computing within the AEC curricula. The paper contains an investigation of the levels and concentrations of computer-science knowledge versus computer skills in curricula. In addition, the committee seeks to recognize the similarities and differences between architecture, engineering, and construction management programs by comparing the data associated with these disciplines. The paper also includes a discussion of basic aspects of computing education including the prerequisites that are necessary for further learning. The survey results provide useful benchmarks for decision making regarding research, industry collaboration, and curricula. Findings of the study include: (1) the importance and coverage of computer skills and competence of graduates has increased over the past decade; (2) computing skills are judged to be more important than computer-science knowledge in AEC curricula; (3) the links between computer-science concepts and AEC applications of computing are not yet fully recognized; (4) computing education is not sufficient to meet the demands of the AEC industry and the share of computing courses is less than what educators desire; and (5) scientific concepts of computing are important for preparing architects and engineers for unknown future developments in information technology.
Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) has been identified as a potential means for integrat... more Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) has been identified as a potential means for integrating design and energy performance domains but has not been fully explored for the specific demands of early stage architectural design. In response a design framework, titled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD), is developed to support early stage design decision-making by providing rapid iteration with performance feedback through parameterization, automation, and multi-objective optimization. This paper details the development and initial validation of EEPFD through two identified needs of early stage design: 1) the ability to accommodate formal variety and varying degrees of geometric complexity; and 2) the ability to provide improved performance feedback for multiple objective functions. Through experimental cases the research presents effective application of EEPFD for architectural design.
In pursuit of including energy performance as feedback for architects’ early stage design decisio... more In pursuit of including energy performance as feedback for architects’ early stage design decision mak- ing, this research presents the theoretical foundation of a designer oriented multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework titled evolutionary energy performance feedback for design (EEPFD). Through a comprehensive literature review and gap analysis EEPFD is developed into an MDO methodol- ogy that provides energy performance as feedback for influencing architects’ decision making more fluidly and earlier than other approaches to date. Secondly, in response to the lack of an MDO best practice EEPFD is investigated and evaluated through two experiments. The first experiment demonstrates the ability to utilize EEPFD provided energy performance as feedback to pursue multiple architectural designs with competing objectives and tradeoffs. The second experiment identifies performance boundaries as a best practice for MDO applications to the early stage architectural design processes. The research synthe- sizes the results into the basis for measuring these performance boundaries as a best practice in the context where architects must gauge multiple design concepts with varying complexity coupled with performance objectives through EEPFD, thereby enhancing the influe
Simulation: Special Issue: Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design, 2013
While the overall performance of buildings has been established to be heavily impacted by design ... more While the overall performance of buildings has been established to be heavily impacted by design decisions made during the early stages of the design process, design professionals are typically unable to explore design alternatives, or their impact on energy profiles, in a sufficient manner during this phase. The research presents a new design simulation methodology based on incorporating a prototype tool (H.D.S. Beagle) that combines parametric modeling with multi-objective optimization through an integrated platform for enabling rapid iteration and trade-off analysis across the domains of design, energy use intensity, and finance. The research evaluates how the proposed method impacts design simulation processes, by either enabling and/or disrupting the early stages of design decision making. This simulation technology is presented through two major experiment sets: (1) a series of hypothetical cases emulating the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) design modeling and simulation process using our integrated simulation framework and technology; and (2) a pedagogically based experiment used for establishing benchmarks. Through these experiment data sets, both quantitative and qualitative data are collected, including human designer and computational analysis speeds, quantity of generated design alternatives, and quality of resulting solution space as defined by the evaluation metric of this research. The affordances for incorporation of real world design complexity into our computational design prototype and simulation methodology are discussed through both the enabling and the disruptive impact on the early stages of the design process.
International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2012
This paper presents design research and instruction into the use of constraint based digital and ... more This paper presents design research and instruction into the use of constraint based digital and analogue modelling techniques and the development of associative parametric models to simulate highly differentiated fabricated form. One set of these design research projects were conceived as manual analogue generative processes for prototyping modularity and serial differentiation.Then through parametric design techniques, modular aggregations were design explored and developed in concert with material properties and constraints. Utilizing digital fabrication full-scale installations were designed, manufactured, and for site-specific configurations. A second set of projects provides an extension of the design instruction that includes the integration of performance criteria into these design objectives.The objectives of the research are to present benefits and limitations of the incorporation of parametric design, performance analysis, and prototyping techniques in comprehensive studio instruction.The paper discusses the resultant informed materialized difference and the impacts on achieving reinforced and hands on learning objectives.
Journal of Information Technology in Construction, 2011
The U.S. AEC industry is faced with the ever-increasing challenge of managing the public and priv... more The U.S. AEC industry is faced with the ever-increasing challenge of managing the public and private facilities and infrastructure to support the accomplishment of its economy. The increasing global emphasis on sustainable approaches and the need to increase efficiency and improve cost over the lifecycle of projects, demand new approaches to architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education. This study was initiated to look for insight into the current educational environment and to provide a baseline for possible solutions to cope with the complexity of the challenge. This paper examined 101 U.S. AEC programs focusing on emerging subject areas of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainability, and reviewed how educational innovations of distance learning, multidisciplinary collaboration, industry collaborations, are incorporated to develop core competencies in those two subject areas. The researchers reviewed and categorized the AEC disciplines based on the respective accrediting bodies of ABET, NAAB, and ACCE, and surveyed the internal factors (e.g., program resources, expertise, etc.) and external factors (e.g., accreditation requirements, sustainability initiatives, etc.) that affect the pedagogical approaches. This study illustrates the challenges incorporating new knowledge areas into constrained curricula and the various approaches that the university programs are undertaking. A comparative analysis also reveals the similarities and differences and specific advantages and disadvantages of particular approaches across the AEC programs. The findings reinforce the notion that there are disparities in these educational programs, which need realignment to develop the workforce of the future that will lead the AEC industry transformations.
In modern architecture, construction processes are based on top down planning, yet in nature but ... more In modern architecture, construction processes are based on top down planning, yet in nature but also in vernacular architecture, the shape of shelters/nests is the result of evolutionary material processes which takes place without any global coordination or plan. This work presents a framework for exploring how self-organizing structures can be achieved in a bottom up fashion by implementing a swarm of simple robots(bristle bots). The robots are used as a hardware platform and operate in a modular 2D arena filled with differently shaped passive building blocks. The robots push around blocks and their behaviour can be programmed mechanically by changing the geometry of their body. Through physical experimentation and video analysis the relationships between the properties of the emergent patterns (size, temporal stability) and the geometry of the robot/parts are studied. This work couples a set of agent based design tools with a robust robotic system and a set of analysis tools for generating and actualising emergent 2D structures.
This paper presents an integrated workflow for interactive design of shell structures, which coup... more This paper presents an integrated workflow for interactive design of shell structures, which couples structural and environmental analysis through a multi-agent systems (MAS). The work lies at the intersection of architecture, engineering and computer science research, incorporating generative design and performance driven design via artificial intelligence techniques used in voting and multi-objective optimization problems. A review of architectural shell structures and the structural logic of reciprocal frames is presented. Through the workflow that integrates form finding techniques, daylight factor analysis (DFA), finite element analysis (FEA), into an interactive design centric multi-agent system a solution space of free form shells are explored, analyzed and evaluated based on their performance in a multi-objective fashion. An experimental design is described in which the generation of large span shell structures with variable topology and support conditions are design explored. The relationships between structural and environmental analysis (i.e. stress distribution, solar radiation) and key design parameters of the reciprocal frames (i.e. number of elements, profile) are used to inform the behavior of a multi agent system, enabling the generation of different design alternatives and an understanding for their performance and trade offs. A case study for the design of a large span hangar structure at is developed as a benchmark for measuring the efficiencies achieved in the presented workflow. The research objectives include, to improve upon design decision making latency and certainty through harnessing geometric complexity and structural from finding for early stage design. Additionally the research aims to improve upon design outcomes by establishing a feedback loop between design generation and performance. The paper presents results and analysis of the affordances and limitations of the system.
This paper presents the continuing development of research into the applicability, customization ... more This paper presents the continuing development of research into the applicability, customization and evaluation of a multi-agent systems approach for architectural design. The research describes the system architecture of a bespoke generative and multi-objective optimization design system and computational workflow. Through the use of the system a large solution space of façade designs are generated and ranked in an automated fashion for their improvement in their affect on lighting distribution, intensity, and efficiency. The paper presents the evolution from framework to implemented methodology, the initial in depth experimental design, experimental results, and provides discussion of the analysis of design process and design product improvements. The paper then presents a set of next steps for incorporation of further parameters of relevance to our interest in defending complex geometry for improving building performance. The research culminates with an argument in which we attempt to articulate the benefits of highly intricate geometry as not only a feasible but as well potentially more optimal approach within contemporary architectural discourse and production.
The First International Symposium on Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (ISSHBE)
Increasing the use of natural light in commercial buildings could save up to 50 percent in energy... more Increasing the use of natural light in commercial buildings could save up to 50 percent in energy consumption. Previous research has shown that there is a direct connection between occupant behavior and the energy consumed in a building. Experimental studies suggest occupants are less likely to adjust the shades if the available lighting is within their preferred levels and enough to perform their daily tasks. Therefore, in order to be able to increase daylighting in an office space, it is important to understand the effect of default lighting settings on occupants’ rate of lighting adjustments as well as their performance. In this paper, through the use of immersive virtual environments, the authors have analyzed 64 participants’ interactions and performance in a virtual office space when put in a room with default light setting set at either (1) only natural light available or (2) only artificial light available. The preliminary results indicate that people are significantly more likely to keep the lighting setting if the default has only natural light available than only artificial light.
Computer-Aided Architectural Design Futures -- New Technologies and the Future of the Built Environment Celani
This paper presents research on the prototyping of multi-agent systems for architectural design. ... more This paper presents research on the prototyping of multi-agent systems for architectural design. It proposes a design exploration methodology at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and computer science. The moti‐ vation of the work includes exploring bottom up generative methods coupled with optimizing performance criteria including for geometric complexity and objec‐ tive functions for environmental, structural and fabrication parameters. The paper presents the development of a research framework and initial experiments to provide design solutions, which simultaneously satisfy complexly coupled and often contradicting objectives. The prototypical experiments and initial algo‐ rithms are described through a set of different design cases and agents within this framework; for the generation of façade panels for light control; for emergent design of shell structures; for actual construction of reciprocal frames; and for robotic fabrication. Initial results include multi-agent derived efficiencies for environmental and fabrication criteria and discussion of future steps for inclusion of human and structural factors.
2015 Proceedings of the 6th annual Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD)
This paper presents research on the development of multi- agent systems (MAS) for integrated and ... more This paper presents research on the development of multi- agent systems (MAS) for integrated and performance driven architectural design. It presents the development of a simulation framework that bridges architecture and engineering, through a series of multi-agent based experiments. The research is motivated to combine multiple design agencies into a system for managing and optimizing architectural form, across multiple objectives and contexts. The research anticipates the incorporation of feedback from real world human behavior and user preferences with physics based structural form finding and environmental analysis data. The framework is a multi-agent system that provides design teams with informed design solutions, which simultaneously optimize and satisfy competing design objectives. The initial results for building structures are measured in terms of the level of lighting improvements and qualitatively in geometric terms. Critical to the research is the elaboration of the system and the feedback loops that are possible when using the multi-agent systems approach.
ASCE International Workshop of Computing in Civil Engineering
Buildings and their systems are primarily designed based on several assumptions about end-users’ ... more Buildings and their systems are primarily designed based on several assumptions about end-users’ requirements and needs, which in many cases are incomplete and result in inefficiencies during operation phases of buildings. With advancements in fields of augmented and virtual reality, designers and engineers have now the opportunity to collect information about end-users’ requirements, preferences, and behaviors for more informed decision-making during the design phase. These approaches allow for buildings to be designed around the users, with the goal that the design will result in reduction of energy consumption and improved building operations. The authors examine the effect of design features on occupants’ preferences and performance within immersive virtual environments (IVEs). Specifically, this paper presents an approach to understand end-users’ lighting preferences and collect end-user performance data through the use of IVEs.
Proceedings of the 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction
Recent studies have focused on increasing energy
efficiency in commercial buildings through tech... more Recent studies have focused on increasing energy
efficiency in commercial buildings through technological means (e.g., efficient HVAC systems, sensors and sensing systems). However, most studies underestimate the impact of occupants’ behavioural choices. Lighting systems account for approximately a fifth of the total electricity consumption in the US; commercial buildings account for 71 percent of such consumption. This paper focuses on human behaviour related energy consumption by investigating the impact of personal control on lighting use in office environments. To effectively examine human energy consumption behaviour, alternative 3D design models of an office are created using an immersive virtual environment to visualize different lighting control features. Participants are brought into these immersive virtual environments by wearing Head-Mounted Displays and are asked to interact within these environments and perform a defined task. Participants were then allowed to control and change the room’s lighting settings based on their preferences in order to perform their assigned task. Unique to our experimental design is the use of immersive virtual environments, enabling measurement and control of a series of design feature isolations and combinations. The work presents the impact of decisions made both during design and operation of buildings on occupants’ energy related behaviour. The experiment demonstrated that when participants are provided with personal controls for the blinds and the artificial light, there is no significant difference in their preferences between natural and artificial lighting; however participants are significantly more likely to open the blinds remotely if they are only provided with a personal control for the blinds.
Proceedings of theCAADRIA 2014, 19th International Conference on the Association of Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia
This research prefaces the need for engaging with end-users in early stages of design as means to... more This research prefaces the need for engaging with end-users in early stages of design as means to achieve higher performing de- signs with an increased certainty for end-user satisfaction. While the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community has previously used virtual reality, the primary use has been for coordina- tion and visualization of Building Information Models (BIM). This work builds upon the value of use of virtual environments in AEC processes but asks the research question "how can we better test and measure design alternatives through the integration of immersive vir- tual reality into our digital and physical mock up workflows? " The work is predicated on the need for design exploration through associa- tive parametric design models, as well as, testing and measuring de- sign alternatives with human subjects. The paper focuses on immer- sive virtual environments (IVEs) and presents a literature review of the use of virtual environments for integrating end-user feedback dur- ing the design stage. In a controlled pilot experiment, the authors find that human participants perform similarly in IVE and the physical en- vironment in everyday tasks. The participants indicated they felt a strong sense of "presence" in IVE. In the future, the authors plan on using IVE to explore the integration of multi agent systems to impact building design performance and occupant satisfaction.
Proceedings of the 2013 Association of Computer Aided Design of Architecture (ACADIA)
This paper presents research and experimentation with context-aware multi-agent-based design syst... more This paper presents research and experimentation with context-aware multi-agent-based design systems to simulate and propose urban schemes that specifically utilize fields of differentiated intensity data in order to propose an infrastructure to support urban revitalization. The research objective of the work is to propose a semi-autonomous system that can be deployed to analyze and then design and construct urban-scale infrastructure where regen- eration or revitalization is necessary, emphasizing the possibilities for emergent efficiencies. The research presents the system development in the context of a hypothetical design research for a contaminated area of Mexico City. The problem definition, system development and simulation and analysis of the results to date are described and discussed. The system consists of a series of steps undertaken by a group of hypothetical simulated robotic agents that react to local conditions to generate a network for irrigation and buildable areas in a contaminated brown-field site with high salinity. Evaluation of the system is conducted by comparing initial data sets with the final form of the simulated irrigation network. These results provide a workflow for negotiating with intensive fields generally. The work also illustrates a site-specific scheme for deployment of different infrastructure networks. The work is discussed in the context of generative urban design and the ways in which architects are appropriating simulation technologies to generate urban form.
Material Swarm Articulations, is an experiment in developing a multi-objective optimization syste... more Material Swarm Articulations, is an experiment in developing a multi-objective optimization system that incorporates bottom up approaches for informing architectural design. The paper presents an initial built project that demonstrates the combination of a structural form finding method, with an agent based design system through the digital fabrication processes. The objective of this research is to develop a workflow combined with material and construction constraints that has the potential to increase performance objectives while enabling geometric complexity and design driven articulation of a traditional tectonic system. The emphasis of the research at this stage is to take advantage of material properties and assembly methods applied to a digital design and simulation workflow that enables emergent patterns to influence the performance of the space.The paper illustrates the research through a prototype of a self standing canopy structure in 1:1 scale. It presents results of the form finding, generative patterning, digital fabrication affordances and sets and agenda for next steps in the use of multi-agent systems for design purposes.
Proceedings of the Engineering Project Organization Conference
With improvements in computer modeling that allow AEC professionals to rapidly simulate trillions... more With improvements in computer modeling that allow AEC professionals to rapidly simulate trillions of design and construction alternatives, decision-makers need a way to efficiently and effectively interpret and explore the vast design space while building team and organizational consensus around a solution. Multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) and data visualization methods play an important role in successfully achieving these goals. However, while the prescriptive benefits of these methods are widely acknowledged, the precise impact that they have on design team performance and project quality has not been fully described. This paper presents the descriptive findings from four early-stage building design charrettes that implemented normative data visualization and MADM techniques. Key metrics considered are normalized solution quality, level of design exploration, and consensus among multiple decision-makers. Empirically, the results show that MADM is associated with higher rates of group consensus, and that a combination of MADM and visual aids generates the greatest improvement in solution quality over time.
2014 Proceedings of the Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD)
This work presents prototypes of multi-agent system simulation for design search and exploration.... more This work presents prototypes of multi-agent system simulation for design search and exploration. We describe an experimental approach in part based on a previously established multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework. Here the work further explores the potential impact of MDO in conjunction with multi-agent systems on the early stages of design. Specifically, this paper addresses the potential of introducing agent based computing techniques into the multidisciplinary architectural design optimization and search workflow to tackle geometrically complex design problems and to facilitate early stage design exploration. To address these interests a series of prototyped workflows were studied inclusive of environmental performance and structural performance metrics and benchmarks. This paper presents a novel methodology for using simulation data in conjunction with multi-agent systems as a way for re-informing form and enhancing performance in a generative design environment. The methodology is based on the use of swarm algorithms and their integration with data generated by simulation software. The interaction between these two domains, the simulation data and swarm algorithms, generates the final outputs as a modified geometry that is then evaluated by comparison for enhanced design performance.
Proceedings of the XVIII Conference of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics (SIGRad)i: Design in Freedom, Dec 2014
This paper presents research into a technique using context-aware agent based branching L-systems... more This paper presents research into a technique using context-aware agent based branching L-systems to design explore an urban development scheme in an area of peripheral Mexico City. The design research demonstrates a viable approach to engaging design with specific agent driven objectives that negotiate across highly differentiated fields of data sets. These data sets are the driving force behind this technique, to generate highly differentiated infrastructure and urban networks that are simulated to be autonomous and emergent. The described system consists of simulated robotic autonomous agents that sample and negotiate across data from the site, and react to differences in order to deploy an irrigation network for a polluted and highly saline former lake-bed east of Mexico City.
Proceedings of the 2013 Association of Computer Aided Design of Architecture (ACADIA)
This paper explores the application of a novel Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) frame... more This paper explores the application of a novel Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) framework to the early stage design process, through a case study where the designer serves as the primary user and driver. MDO methods have drawn attention from the building design industry as a potential means of overcoming obstacles between design and building performance feedback to support design decision-making. However, precedents exploring MDOs in application to the building design have previously been limited to driving use by engineers or research teams,thereby leaving the incorporation of MDO into a design process by designers largely unexplored.In order to investigate whether MDO can enable the ability to design in a performance environment during the conceptual design stage, a MDO design framework entitled Evolutionary Energy-Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD) was developed. This paper explores the designer as the primary user by conducting a case study where the application of EEPFD to a single family residential housing unit is incorporated. Through this case study EEPFD demonstrates an ability to assist the designer in identifying higher performing design options while meeting the designer’s aesthetic preferences. In addition the benefits, limitations, concerns and lessons learned in the application of EEPFD are also discussed.
In order to understand the applicability of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) to the bu... more In order to understand the applicability of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) to the building design process, a MDO framework, titled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD), along with the prototype tool, H.D.S. Beagle, were developed to support designers with the incorporation of partially automated performance feedback during the early stages of design. This paper presents 2 experimental case studies, one from the design profession and the other from a design studio, that evaluate the applicability and impact of EEPFD on the early stage design process. Through these two case studies two different interaction and automation approaches for applying EEPFD are explored as part of the framework validation. Observed benefits, challenges and suggestions of EEPFD’s implementation are then presented and discussed.
The paper describes the development, testing, and initial findings of a design tool that generate... more The paper describes the development, testing, and initial findings of a design tool that generates parametrically defined, semi-automatically analyzed, and visualized structural performance of specific truss designs. The prototypical design tool provides structural truss solutions for spans of uniform to non-uniform surface curvatures. Real-time visual structural performance feedback enables the designer to more rapidly develop viable and potentially more efficient designs under user defined load conditions. The research methodology is an example of reinforcing structural learning and intuition within the design process. The research presents findings of the impact of iterative and interactive structural feedback through the development of a parametrically integrated structural truss analysis tool for aiding in design decision support.
PLEA 2013 Proceedings of the 29th Conference, Sustainable Architecture for a Renewable Future
Researching the potential of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) for overcoming current o... more Researching the potential of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) for overcoming current obstacles between the design and energy simulation domains, a MDO design centric framework, titled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD) was developed to explore the applicability of this design framework to the early stage design process. EEPFD incorporates both conceptual energy analysis and the exploration of complex geometry for the purpose of providing early stage design performance feedback. This paper presents a practice based case study through a design competition project for a net zero energy school design with the purpose of evaluating the applicability and impact of EEPFD on the early stage design process. The research then compares three approaches used to obtain energy performance feedback during the case study; including in-house energy analysis, collaboration with MEP consultants, and the use of EEPFD. Through a comparative study EEPFD demonstrates the ability to generate performance feedback more rapidly than the industry standard alternatives. Challenges and suggestions for improvement of EEPFD are then presented and discussed.
Proceedings of BS2013: 13th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association
A framework entitled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD) was developed to... more A framework entitled Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD) was developed to mobilize the potential of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) towards solving current obstacles between design and energy performance feedback. However, EEPFD needs to be applicable to the early stage design process where it has the potential for the greatest impact on the overall building lifecycle performance. This paper focuses on examining two criteria identified as necessary components to confirming the validity of EEPFD prior to EEPFD’s application to the actual design process: 1) the ability to accommodate varying degrees of geometric complexity; and 2) the ability to provide a continuing improved solution space. Through 12 hypothetical cases, the research confirms that EEPFD meets these criteria and therefore is suitable for further exploration in application to the early design process. Effective applications of EEPFD to the early stages of design are also explored and discussed.
Proceedings of the 20th International Workshop: Intelligent Computing in Engineering 2013
This research is built upon a previously established multidisciplinary design optimization framew... more This research is built upon a previously established multidisciplinary design optimization framework, entitle Evolutionary Energy Performance Feedback for Design (EEPFD). EEPFD enables flexible form with energy, financial and programing performance feedback for early design decision making where the building form has not been finalized. This research focuses on examining the applicability of EEPFD to early stage design by conducting a pedagogical benchmark experiment. The designed experiment has two subjects of observational interest. The first is to observe any measurable effects of the introduction of EEPFD sans the element of an automated searching algorithm. Secondly, to gauge students’ ability to translate their design intent into a parametric model as this ability is an essential component for the implementation of EEPFD. Results demonstrate that while EEPFD is able to deliver superior performing design solution spaces, students encountered difficulties in the translation of their design intent into a functioning parametric model.
Previous research has shown occupants’ behavior and interactions with building systems and compon... more Previous research has shown occupants’ behavior and interactions with building systems and components have a significant impact on the total energy consumption of buildings. Incorporating occupant requirements to the design process could result in better operations, and therefore, improve the total energy consumption of buildings. Currently, buildings are primarily designed based on several common assumptions about occupant requirements, which in many cases are incorrect and result in inefficiencies during the buildings’ operation phase. With the recent improvements in the fields of virtual and augmented reality, designers now have the opportunity to accurately collect and analyze occupants’ behavioral information. In this research, through the use of immer- sive virtual environments, the influence of different design features on end-user behavior (preferences and patterns) and performances are examined. A case study is presented, in which the authors measure the end-users’ lighting preferences to better understand the impact of preferences on end-users’ performances and lighting-related energy consumption.
AAMAS International Workshop on Coordination, Organisations, Institutions and Norms (COIN 2015)
Design imposes a novel social choice problem: using a team of voting agents, maximize the number ... more Design imposes a novel social choice problem: using a team of voting agents, maximize the number of optimal solutions; allowing a user to then take an aesthetical choice. In an open system of design agents, team formation is fundamental. We present the first model of agent teams for design. For maximum applicability, we envision agents that are queried for a single opinion, and multiple solutions are obtained by multiple iterations. We show that diverse teams composed of agents with different preferences maximize the number of optimal solutions, while uniform teams composed of multiple copies of the best agent are in general suboptimal. Our experiments study the model in bounded time; and we also study a real system, where agents vote to design buildings.
AAAI Workshop on Computational Sustainability (AAAI 2015)
Saving energy is a major concern. Hence, it is fundamental to design and construct buildings that... more Saving energy is a major concern. Hence, it is fundamental to design and construct buildings that are energy-efficient. It is known that the early stage of architectural design has a significant impact on this matter. However, it is complex to create designs that are optimally energy efficient, and at the same time balance other essential criterias such as economics, space, and safety. One state-of-the art approach is to create parametric designs, and use a genetic algorithm to optimize across different objectives. We further improve this method, by aggregating the solutions of multiple agents. We evaluate diverse teams, composed by different agents; and uniform teams, composed by multiple copies of a single agent. We test our approach across three design cases of increasing complexity, and show that the diverse team provides a significantly larger percentage of optimal solutions than single agents.
34th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)
NEW VIEW is a pavilion structure that explores how a swarm-driven and form-found tectonic system,... more NEW VIEW is a pavilion structure that explores how a swarm-driven and form-found tectonic system, applied to a non-uniform parametric reciprocal frame structure, can be combined with material properties, vernacular and fabrication techniques in order to design and construct novel spatial structures through a material swarm articulation.
The project explores a form finding computational framework of tension structures with integrated, curved plywood panels, based on their material properties and force distribution. The generated structures, in equilibrium, are analyzed further according to environ- mental parameters, and a bottom-up approach is integrated for enhancing the permeability and environmentally generative articulation of the structure. It is a study that builds upon research that focuses on the architectural transfer of agent-based design systems by means of novel computational design and simulation methods, along with computer-controlled manufacturing methods for further building implementation.
34th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)
This project is about the city and its relationship with its peripheral landscapes. When one look... more This project is about the city and its relationship with its peripheral landscapes. When one looks at Mexico City, one understands that the dominant urban model is one where landscape and city are separated. In this context, a relevant descriptor in the site is soil salinity (Figure 4); a condition that is promoting desertification of the former lakebed. This project tries to stimulate a conversation around the relationship of the city and its peripheral landscape by reconsidering the domains of nature, technology, and urban development.
The project is an urban development scheme (Figures 1 & 2) based on the implementation of an irrigation network (Figure 3). The design for the network is based on a con- text-aware L-System (Figure 5). This technique provides a viable technique for negotiating with highly specific design intentions and data sets with high resolution.
With improvements in computer modeling that allow AEC professionals to rapidly simulate trillions... more With improvements in computer modeling that allow AEC professionals to rapidly simulate trillions of design and construction alternatives, decision-makers need a way to efficiently and effectively interpret and explore the vast design space while building team and organizational consensus around a solution. Multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) and data visualization methods play an important role in successfully achieving these goals. However, while the prescriptive benefits of these methods are widely acknowledged, the precise impact that they have on design team performance and project quality has not been fully described. This paper presents the descriptive findings from four early-stage building design charrettes that implemented normative data visualization and MADM techniques. Key metrics considered are normalized solution quality, level of design exploration, and consensus among multiple decision- makers. Empirically, the results show that MADM is associated with higher rates of group consensus, and that a combination of MADM and visual aids generates the greatest improvement in solution quality over time.
8th AAAI Multidisciplinary Workshop on Advances in Preference Handling (M-PREF 2014)
In this research-in-progress paper we present a new real world domain for studying the aggregatio... more In this research-in-progress paper we present a new real world domain for studying the aggregation of different opinions: early stage architectural design of buildings. This is an important real world application, not only because building design and construction is one of the world’s largest industries measured by global expenditures, but also because the early stage design decision making has a significant impact on the energy consumption of buildings. We present a mapping between the do- main of architecture and engineering research and that of the agent models present in the literature. We study the importance of forming diverse teams when aggregating the opinions of different agents for architectural design, and also the effect of having agents optimizing for different factors of a multi-objective optimization design problem. We find that a diverse team of agents is able to provide a higher number of top ranked solutions for the early stage designer to choose from. Finally, we present the next steps for a deeper exploration of our questions.
Proceedings of the US-Israel Workshop on: Industrial Ecology in Multi Scale Design and Construction of Sustainable Built Environments
Making significant progress towards sustainable energy use requires a broad shift in how building... more Making significant progress towards sustainable energy use requires a broad shift in how buildings are designed, used and operated. Our research focuses on understanding and quantifying the impact of design on human’s energy related activities and behavior in buildings and using the acquired knowledge in building operations.
This research describes a Design Optioneering methodology that is intended to offer multidiscipli... more This research describes a Design Optioneering methodology that is intended to offer multidisciplinary design teams the ability to systematically explore a large number of design options much more rapidly than current conventional methods. Design Optioneering involves defining a range of design options using associative parametric design tools, coupling the model with integrated simulation-based analysis, and using computational design optimization methods to systematically search though the defined range of alternatives in search of design options that best achieve the problem objectives while satisfying any constraints. This research seeks to further develop, test, and validate a Design Optioneering method for use by students and practitioners. The performance of the proposed methodology will be discussed in terms of a designer’s ability to capture the design intent by integrating parametric modeling with expert analysis domains, which can then generate a large number of alternatives from which to choose. Finally, the potential of Design Optioneering to reduce latency, advance domain integration, and enable the evaluation of more design alternatives in practice will be further enumerated and related to cloud computing strategies for design.
The overall research is separated into two phases: the technical development phase and data generation and analysis phase. This report primarily focuses on documenting the technical development of the prototype, which includes the detailed technical development roadmap, questions and issues encountered, and the decision making process. The final product of the technical development period and limitations will also be explored and discussed.
Journal of Building Information Modeling, Dec 2009
While Building Information Modeling (BIM), sometimes more accurately described as virtual design ... more While Building Information Modeling (BIM), sometimes more accurately described as virtual design and construction (VDC), is rapidly gaining traction in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC). The industry is far from capturing the full value of BIM/VDC and the innovative practices emanating from BIM that will stimulate a much discussed industry transformation. Still lacking is:
• The integration of multiple domains and project stakeholders;
• Early access to information in support of the decision making process; and
• The ability to manage and mitigate project risks.
The broader value of BIM will require collaboration among all project stakeholders, early and continuous management of project risks and value planning, and engineering. This article describes value planning, coupled with an ongoing Risk Management Program at The Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center (LMCCC). It involves the use and implementation of BIM/VDC to facilitate risk modeling and management on the reconstruction at the World Trade Center (WTC) site, and is an example of the extension of BIM into a truly integrated practice.
It is a revealing case of the potential applications of BIM that will collectively result in broad industry change.
Material Swarm Articulations, is an experiment in developing a multi-objective optimization syste... more Material Swarm Articulations, is an experiment in developing a multi-objective optimization system that incorporates bottom up approaches for informing architectural design. The paper presents an initial built project that demonstrates the combination of a structural form finding method, with an agent based design system through the digital fabrication processes. The objective of this research is to develop a workflow combined with material and construction constraints that has the potential to increase performance objectives while enabling geometric complexity and design driven articulation of a traditional tectonic system. The emphasis of the research at this stage is to take advantage of material properties and assembly methods applied to a digital design and simulation workflow that enables emergent patterns to influence the performance of the space.The paper illustrates the research through a prototype of a self standing canopy structure in 1:1 scale. It presents results of the form finding, generative patterning, digital fabrication affordances and sets and agenda for next steps in the use of multi-agent systems for design purposes.
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efficiency in commercial buildings through technological means (e.g., efficient HVAC systems, sensors and sensing systems). However, most studies underestimate the impact of occupants’ behavioural choices. Lighting systems account for approximately a fifth of the total electricity consumption in the US; commercial buildings account for 71 percent of such consumption. This paper focuses on human behaviour related energy consumption by investigating the impact of personal control on lighting use in office environments. To effectively examine human energy consumption behaviour, alternative 3D design models of an office are created using an immersive virtual environment to visualize different lighting control features. Participants are brought into these immersive virtual environments by wearing Head-Mounted Displays and are asked to interact within these environments and perform a defined task. Participants were then allowed to control and change the room’s lighting settings based on their preferences in order to perform their assigned task. Unique to our experimental design is the use of immersive virtual environments, enabling measurement and control of a series of design feature isolations and combinations. The work presents the impact of decisions made both during design and operation of buildings on occupants’ energy related behaviour. The experiment demonstrated that when participants are provided with personal controls for the blinds and the artificial light, there is no significant difference in their preferences between natural and artificial lighting; however participants are significantly more likely to open the blinds remotely if they are only provided with a personal control for the blinds.
The project explores a form finding computational framework of tension structures with integrated, curved plywood panels, based on their material properties and force distribution. The generated structures, in equilibrium, are analyzed further according to environ- mental parameters, and a bottom-up approach is integrated for enhancing the permeability and environmentally generative articulation of the structure. It is a study that builds upon research that focuses on the architectural transfer of agent-based design systems by means of novel computational design and simulation methods, along with computer-controlled manufacturing methods for further building implementation.
The project is an urban development scheme (Figures 1 & 2) based on the implementation of an irrigation network (Figure 3). The design for the network is based on a con- text-aware L-System (Figure 5). This technique provides a viable technique for negotiating with highly specific design intentions and data sets with high resolution.
The overall research is separated into two phases: the technical development phase and data generation and analysis phase. This report primarily focuses on documenting the technical development of the prototype, which includes the detailed technical development roadmap, questions and issues encountered, and the decision making process. The final product of the technical development period and limitations will also be explored and discussed.
• The integration of multiple domains and project stakeholders;
• Early access to information in support of the decision making process; and
• The ability to manage and mitigate project risks.
The broader value of BIM will require collaboration among all project stakeholders, early and continuous management of project risks and value planning, and engineering. This article describes value planning, coupled with an ongoing Risk Management Program at The Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center (LMCCC). It involves the use and implementation of BIM/VDC to facilitate risk modeling and management on the reconstruction at the World Trade Center (WTC) site, and is an example of the extension of BIM into a truly integrated practice.
It is a revealing case of the potential applications of BIM that will collectively result in broad industry change.