Emerging Technologies in Architectural Visualization: Implementation Strategies for Practice

Representation has always been a critical component in architectural practice and representational techniques have been evolving over time. The relatively recent advent of the digital media is revolutionizing architectural representation. Digital representation techniques are proving to be a more effective means of communicating the design to the client and the collaborative project team. The techniques are advancing so rapidly that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep in pace with the digital acceleration and utilize these representation techniques in architectural practice. There is a wide difference between what is possible using digital architectural visualization and what is implemented in practice. The research explores the extent of utilization of these digital representation techniques and the challenges they pose in practical implementation. Employing a logical approach to selectively implement this digital procedural change in representation would help in realizing the strategic benefits of these rapidly progressing techniques

Developing a New Framework for Integration and Teaching of Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) in Nigerian Schools of Architecture

As a result of globalization of digital technology, intellectual discourse on what constitute the basic body of architectural knowledge to be imparted to future professionals has been on the increase. This digital revolution has brought to the fore the need to review the already overloaded architectural education curriculum of Nigerian schools of architecture to have substantial computing content. This paper seeks to propose a new framework of integrating teaching of CAAD into curriculum of schools of architecture in Nigeria. Covenant University, the best private university and the second best university in Nigeria according to the 2014 Webometrics ranking was selected for this study. Content analysis method was adopted for the purpose of this study. Best practice from a selected school of architecture was understudied and Covenant University architectural curriculum was used as a model for developing a new framework for integration and teaching of computer aided architectural design (CAAD) in schools of architecture in Nigeria. The study concludes that integration of the developed new framework into the curricula of schools of architecture in Nigeria will aid in effective teaching of CAAD and consequently lead to higher competency and global competitiveness rating of future professional graduates from the schools. Keywords: architectural education, curriculum, CAAD, digital technology, globalization, Nigeri

Integration of computer-aided design techniques into the mechanical product development process

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) has been called the most significant advance since the development of electricity. CAD is regarded as being the greatest breakthrough of modern times in the search for ways to improve the Product Development Process. This improvement is provided in terms of bringing to market better quality and higher performance products in a significantly shorter design/development cycle and at a lower cost. A survey of the various computer-aided design techniques is presented as they are currently being applied in the mechanical product development process. The research of these techniques includes the basic system operation from a user\u27s perspective, as well as discussion of the relative productivity improvements possible as compared with prior techniques and alternative approaches. The survey results are then enhanced through a case study of the more widely used CAD techniques available to a product design engineer. A typical benchmark part design of a thermoplastic clutch pawl was created and analyzed on some of the latest commercially available computer-aided design systems. This case study, conducted at Xerox Corporation, consisted of both wire frame, surface and solids geometry model creation, mass properties analysis, and finite element model structural analysis

Feasibility study of an Integrated Program for Aerospace vehicle Design (IPAD) Volume 7: IPAD benefits and impact

The potential benefits, impact and spinoff of IPAD technology are described. The benefits are projected from a flowtime and labor cost analysis of the design process and a study of the flowtime and labor cost savings being experienced with existing integrated systems. Benefits in terms of designer productivity, company effectiveness, and IPAD as a national resource are developed. A description is given of the potential impact of information handling as an IPAD technology, upon task and organization structure and people who use IPAD. Spinoff of IPAD technology to nonaerospace industries is discussed. The results of a personal survey made of aerospace, nonaerospace, government and university sources are given

Evaluation of interior designers\u27 and interior design students\u27 perceptions of CAD (computer aided design)

This research project used quantitative research method to evaluate interior designers\u27 and interior design students\u27 perceptions about CAD (computer aided design) in interior design. Survey method was used to collect data about demographics, perceptions regarding CAD use, difficulties with its use, and expectations of CAD in near future. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize data from self-administered questionnaires for students and interior designers. The outcome ofthe study provided an explanation for co-relation of the use of CAD among interior designers and students of interior design. It also provided understanding of practitioners\u27 and students\u27 expectations regarding the use of CAD in near future

Visual literacy and the integration of parametric modeling in the problem-based curriculum

This quasi-experimental study investigated the application of visual literacy skills in the form of parametric modeling software in relation to traditional forms of sketching. The study included two groups of high school technical design students. The control and experimental groups involved in the study consisted of two randomly selected groups of students. The participants were exposed to eight weeks of technical drawing and parametric modeling instruction prior to the start of the study. The potential applications of emerging technologies for the purpose of integrating visual literacy into the curriculum are not fully understood. Society is moving towards a more immediate form of communication (Galante, 2011). Visual forms of communication are becoming more prevalent methods for sending and receiving information. Research suggests that visual literacy skills have a correlation to the ability to problem solve, which ultimately can be beneficial to student learning (Matusitz, 2005). The application of visual literacy skills through the use of parametric modeling software may provide students with better learning experiences in visualization, conceptualization, and communication of images that will allow them to become better problem-solvers. Through this study, the researcher focused on the relationships between the independent and dependent variables in order to perform a statistical analysis of the data. The participants of the study were presented with a pre-test, a treatment, and a post-test relating to visual literacy. The treatment was presented to the participants in the form of a technical design problem that required the participants to apply problem-solving skills in order to devise a solution through the use of either traditional forms of sketching or through the use of parametric modeling. Data were collected and recorded in order to assess the outcome and effects of the variable. Although the research suggests that there is a correlation between visual literacy skills and the ability to solve problems, this particular study failed to show this correlation. Struggling learners showed no improvement in visualization skills after using parametric modeling software. The two methods used to create the technical design problem showed no statistical significance between the success of the design and the method that was used to create the design. No statistical differences were found between the visualization skills of any of the participants regardless of the methods used in the study. In addition, gender seemed not to be a significant factor in the study when comparing the visualization skills of the participants. There are recommendations, based on the results of this study, for future investigation in this area. Increasing the duration of the study over the course of a school term, could produce different results that were difficult to determine by the limited time constraints of this particular study. Other testing methods could be investigated for future studies that could produce additional information that was not produced in this study. Limiting the prior knowledge of the participants could also produce different results in the outcome of visualization skills. Investigating specific demographics that were not included in this study would also be of interest to be the academic community

The Importance of Computer-aided Courses in Architectural Education

AbstractIntensive technology usage in education has been increasing in every field recently. Because computer based visual technology has been developing and becoming the most popular trend in the recent years. In addition to these decreasing prices of the computer based systems make this trend more attractive. Architectural education is one of the most difficult and expensive education and based on visual material. That's why computers and complicated software usage in architectural education has increased dramatically. Using these software, an architecture student can perform his/her project design spending less energy-time but more realistic. But the disadvantage of these systems is to make students computer addicted and design their project without creativity. This paper aims to study advantages and disadvantages of this trend and to find a balance level. According to this concept, courses in architectural design are investigated. What kind of computer systems and software use in education is searched? Based on response of students, the advantages and disadvantages of this trend are studied

Efficacy of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) Certifications

This research investigated the perceived effect of industry recognized Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) certifications among community college drafting instructors and employers. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) Do community college drafting instructors believe that certified drafters perform better on the job than non-certified drafters? (2) Do employers believe that certified drafters perform better on the job than non-certified drafters? (3) Do employers seek CAD certified individuals to fill drafting positions? (4) Is there a difference between the perceptions of community college drafting instructors and employers of community college drafting program graduates regarding the importance of drafting certification? (5) What qualifications do employers look for when hiring new drafters? Drafting instructors from a community college system in one southeastern U.S. state were surveyed to determine their awareness of and perceptions about industry recognized CAD certifications. Employers of drafters within the same state were also surveyed using the same instrument. This study found that drafting instructors and employers of drafters do not believe that certified drafters perform better than their non-certified counterparts. There is little difference in the perceptions of the two groups. Employers of CAD drafters do not seek certified individuals to fill drafting positions. They look for applicants with experience, education, CAD proficiency, and people skills when hiring drafters. Currently there is no single industry recognized credential for drafters. Almost every software manufacturer offers their own product specific certification, likely as a knee jerk reaction to Perkins funding, as one participant stated. The value and validity of such certification is questionable and needs further research. Momentum and awareness of American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) certification appears to be growing, and it may emerge as the industry leader in years to come. Intuitively, certification appears to be perceived as having some value, though not enough value to warrant the time and expense required to attain it. Does having an industry recognized CAD certification benefit the community college CAD graduate? Based on the research in one southeastern U.S. state the researcher has concluded that there is no significant benefit to attaining such certification