Program

Session I: Computational Models in Design and Decision Support

 

A Computer-Aided Decision-Making System for Sitting Capital Investment Projects

Neil N. Eldin and K. A. Eldrandaly

College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA

Site selection for capital investments is a crucial complex decision for ýowners and analysts. Difficulties are caused by the inclusion of the ýnumerous possible sites that may qualify, multiple objectives that could ýalso contradict each other, intangible objectives that are difficult to ýquantify, diversity of interest groups, uncertainties regarding external ýfactors such as government legislations, uncertainties regarding the timing ýrequired for permitting the sites in question, and unknown construction ýchallenges for the different sites. As such, these exercises are multi-ýfacetted and necessitate the employment of analysts who possess in-depth ýknowledge in a number of fields. More importantly, a solution must ýsatisfy a number of physical suitability criteria, as well as, meeting a ýnumber of social, economical, environmental and political requirements. ýConsequently, a number of specialized tools is frequently utilized to ýensure reaching an optimal decision. This paper presents a new system ýthat integrates Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) operations within a ýGeographic Information System (GIS) application to determine the ýoptimum site for a specified facility. The system was validated through a ýfacility for a selected metropolitan area.ý

 

Spirospaces in Architectural Design

Luis Barrionuevo, Roberto Gómez López and Robert Serpentino

University of Tucuman, Argentina

The proposal of this paper is to present "Spirospaces" and their utility in Architecture and ýDesign, exploring their relation with other geometrical disciplines such as knot theory, tiling ýand patterns generation. A spirospace is a geometrical entity generated from the ýtridimentional interpretation of a "Spirolateral", a well known bidimentional entity. The ýemerging spatial qualities of a spirospace are of a particularly interest from the architectural ýperspective. ý

A computer program is presented as the appropriate media to model configurations. The ýresults obtained from the program are analyzed to determine their possible use as ýarchitectural forms. Several graphics illustrations are presented showing steps going from the ýexploration of spatial alternatives to the selection of a specific configuration to be developed. ýBesides, a mathematical formula that allows to generate closed spirospaces with a number N ýof modules of segments has been settled down, with a quantity C of predetermined cycles.ý

Modeling with Gestures: Sketching 3D virtual Surfaces and Objects using Hands Formation and Movements

Edison Pratini

University of Brasilia, Brazil

The 3D SketchMaker project has developed two prototypes for a gestural 3D sketching system to ýbe used in the earliest phases of the design process. The goal of this ongoing research is to ýprovide architects, and other designers involved in object conception, with a 3D gestural ýinstrument that takes advantage of new virtual reality resources and is more natural than using the ýmouse, less difficult than learning complex software and less abstract than manipulating 2D ýentities on orthogonal projections.ý

The system was conceived to assist or replace the first 2D drawing steps in the design process, ýgenerating rough 3D sketches that can be refined later using any 3D package. It is, in essence, a ýý3D modeling system directed to do sketching with hand movements and gestures in a virtual ýreality environment.ý

Design Generation of the central Asian CARVANSERAI

Sumbul Ahmad and Scott C. Chase

University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom

The paper describes the development of a parametric shape grammar ýfor the design generation of the ground plans of an Islamic building ýtype—the caravanserai. The grammar is then used to generate a new ýdesign based on the same principles.ý

A Java Model Program for Design-Ideas Exploration in Three Dimensions

Wael Abdelhameed

South Valley University, Egypt

Visual Perception of depictions is the basis of the act of imagining ýemployed in visual design thinking of design process, and ýconsequently in design-idea exploration. Digital-media use plays a ýsignificantly important role in these exploration processes. The ýunderlying assumption of the research is that Visual Perception affects ýDesign-Idea Exploration processes. The research investigates and ýsheds more light on the processes of Visual Perception, which ýarchitects use in mass exploration of design ideas.ý

The research is a part of a series that presents a Java program based on ýcreating 3d shapes, in order for architects to explore initial shapes ýrelated to design ideas. The initial version of the program, which is a ýpart of another research, creates 3d shapes through controlling their ýdimensions and insertion point. Functions of painting, controlling the ýlight position, and shading are added to the program that is presented ýin this research. The research discusses Design-Idea Exploration and ýVisual Perception and their correlation. The added features of the ýprogram that is used as a design medium are also presented and linked ýto the investigated areas.ý

Session II: Design Data Management and Sustainable Buildings

Digital Building Surveying and Planning in Existing Buildings: Capturing and Structuring Survey Information ý

Frank Petzold and Dirk Donath

Bauhaus-Universitaet Weimar, Germany

For planning in existing built contexts, the building survey is the ýstarting point for initial planning proposals, for the diagnosis and ýdocumentation of building damages, for the creation of objectives ýcatalogues, for the detailed design of renovation and conversion ýmeasures and for ensuring fulfilment of building legislation, ýparticularly by change of use and refitting. ýAn examination of currently available IT-tools shows insufficient ýsupport for planning within existing contexts, most notably a deficit ýwith regard to information capture and administration.ý

In ongoing research at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (SFB524-ýCollaborative research center 524 “Materials and Structure in ýRevitalization of Buildings”) methods and techniques of revitalisation ýare being investigated (SFB 524, 2004). A special branch of SFB524-ýD2 entitled “Planning-Relevant Digital Building Surveying and ýInformation Systems” is investigating possibilities of computer-aided ýbuilding survey and communication platforms for architects and civil ýengineers.ý

This paper discusses the concept for a modular surveying system ýý(basic concept, structuring of collected data, separation of geometry ýfrom semantic data, and separation into sub-systems) and the ýprototypical realisation of a system for the complete support of the ýentire building surveying process for existing buildings. The project ýaims to contribute to the development of a planning system for existing ýbuildings.ý

 

Issues in the Integration of Building Codes in CAD

Hassan M. Satti and  Robert J. Krawczyk

Illinois Institute of Technology, USA

In this age of information revolution, design professionals are looking ýforward to exploring new methods and tools that could help them in ýdelivering better designs and particularly understanding and ýincorporating of code-compliant design provisions in their projects. ýAutomation of building code analysis is a vital factor in leveraging ýbuilding codes from what is as a textual legal document to more ýgraphical interactive source of building criteria. The argument of the ýpaper will be based on the International Building Code (IBC) which is ýissued by the International Code Council (ICC) and considered as the ýmost comprehensive and coordinated national model code in the US ýand is currently commonly used and enforced in 44 states. The paper ýwill also examine and report on the purpose, types, interpretation, ýunderstanding and use of building codes applied in the United States; ýevaluation of recent research activities on automation of building code ýanalysis; evaluation of current building code analysis tools; and a ýconceptual framework of a Computer-Aided Analysis of Design ýý(CAAnD) program for building codes that could assist design ýprofessionals during project design development.ý

 

A Case Based Architectural Design System for Residential Units

Dina Taha, Samir Hosni, Hisham Sueyllam, Bernd Streich and Michael Richter

Alexandria University, Egypt

Case Based Reasoning (CBR) is an AI approach that is widely used in ýmany fields.  When it’s applied in the design field, it is frequently ýcalled Case Based Design (CBD).  Its main idea resides in drawing ýanalogies between past cases and the new case to be solved so that the ýuser can make use of past experiences when solving a new problem.  ýThe work presented here describes a prototype application under ýdevelopment that makes use of CBR in the field of architectural ýdesign.  The application is to act as a helping tool for architects in the ýpre-design phase by supplying them with an adequate number of ýsimilar past architectural cases to the design problem they have at ýhand.  The different modules of the application will be presented and ýdiscussed, as well as the tools used to develop them.ý

Computer Aided Sustainable Design

Amar Bennadji and H. Ahriz, P. Alastair

The Robert Gordon University, UK

One of the most important aspects architects need to consider fairly early on is that of energy ýsaving, cost, thermal comfort and the effect on the environment in terms of CO2 ýemissions. At present, during the early design stage of a building, different options are ýassessed using simple tools (tables, graphs and software) that contain a large number of ýassumptions the very nature of which can bias choice or possibly lead to an inappropriate ýsolution.  It can be argued that the only way to provide a rational assessment of options is to ýuse calculation methods that represent in detail the physical processes involved; this usually ýinvolves the use of dynamic thermal models.  Furthermore if this tool is also used during ýdetailed design it would introduce a consistency that is normally absent from the analytical ýdesign process.  Many designers are of the opinion that, because not all details are known, ýthen such tools are not suitable for application at early stages in the design.  This view can be ýchallenged because, even at the concept stage, a great deal is known about a building. This ýpaper aims to show that a general description of a building can be used to generate sufficient ýdata to drive a valid analysis using a detailed thermal model at the early sketch stage of the ýdesign process.  The paper describes the philosophy, methodology and the interface ýdeveloped to achieve this aim. The interface guides the user through the input process using a ýseries of screens giving options for keywords used to describe the building; comprehensive ýdefault data built into the software are then attached to these keywords.  The resulting data ýfile is a building description that is the best possible interpretation of the design intent. This ýcan then be used to assess options and guide towards a final design.ý

 

Overview of Intelligent Architecture

Khaled A Sherbini and Robert J. Krawczyk

KFUPM, Saudi Arabia

The concept of intelligent architecture started as an interest in the latest ýintegrated building systems operating a single building or facility, so that systems ýcan communicate and exchange information. The communication among these ýsystems allows the appropriate responses and decisions to operate buildings in a ýproductive, economical and convenient way. Communication and information ýsharing prevents decisions from interfering with other systems’ responses or ýoperation. Systems’ decisions and responses form the responsive architecture that is ýrepresented by systems outputs. ý

If intelligent buildings need to receive, analyze, and react according to such ýprocesses of one input parameter. Technology and communication systems make it ýpossible to combine several parameters by using system integration and ýcomputerization. Technology and computerized systems have enhanced and changed ýthe manner of responses and provided a variety of decisions according to different ýsources of information. ý

Receiving, analyzing, and reacting are the key criteria of an intelligent building ýthat this paper will explore. This paper will survey the forms of responses to ýdetermine whether or not the kinetic response is a viable choice. The paper will also ýdiscuss if these three criteria are the only criteria creating intelligent building or if ýthere are others. The survey portion of the paper will discuss intelligent buildings ýand architectural elements, explain their operation systems, and whether these ýsystems promote intelligent architecture. In addition, this paper will draw ýdistinctions among the definitions of intelligent, responsive and kinetic architecture ýand organize them within a hierarchical and logical relationship.ý

 

Session III: Electronic Architectural Education and Future Architecture

 

Electronic Architecture and Architectural Education

Hesham Khairy Abdelfttah and  Ali A. Raouf

Cairo University, Egypt

Operating electronic and Internet worked tools for Architectural education is an ýimportant, but merely prerequisite step toward creating powerful tele-collabortion and tele-ýresearch in our Architectural studios. The design studio, as physical place and pedagogical ýmethod, is the core of architectural education. The Carnegie Endowment report on ýarchitectural education, published in 1996, identified a comparably central role for studios in ýschools today. ý

Advances in CAD and visualization, combined with technologies to communicate ýimages, data, and “live” action, now enable virtual dimensions of studio experience. Students ýno longer need gather at the same time and place to tackle the same design problem. Critics ýcan comment over the network or by e-mail, and distinguished jurors can make virtual visits ýwithout being in the same room as the pin-up—if there is a pin-up (or a room).ý

Virtual design studios (VDS) have the potential to support collaboration over ýcompetition, diversify student experiences, and redistribute the intellectual resources of ýarchitectural education across geographic and socioeconomic divisions. The catch is ýpredicting whether VDS will isolate students from a sense of place and materiality, or if it will ýprovide future architects the tools to reconcile communication environments and physical ýspace.ý

 

Reflections on E-Design: The E-Studio Experience

Jamal Al-Qawasmi

KFUPM, Saudi Arabia

For two academic years I have been involved in teaching what has been called the e-studio.  ýThe e-studio is part of an effort to integrate digital media in the design studio and to raise the ýquality of studio instruction at Department of Architecture, Jordan University of Science & ýTechnology.  The primary goal of the e-studio is to teach students how to think and design ýusing mainly digital media.  This paper reports on the e-studio experiments and discusses the ýpedagogical implications of the studio.  It contributes to the understanding of the relationship ýbetween digital media, and design practices and education.  Observations revealed that digital ýmedia as used in the e-studio bring dramatic changes to the architectural design process, the ýdesign studio praxis, the design outcome, and the position of the designer in these processes.  ýThe e-studio also showed the need to reconsider our traditional understanding of the design ýstudio culture.ý

From Hard Architecture to Soft Architecture: ýArchitecture Form in the 21st Centuryý     

Mohamed Alaa