Video-Computer Imaging Techniques: the Effect of Presentation by Animation and Multiple Views on Comnnunicative Effectiveness of an Architectural Design

In an attempt to enhance the communication between architect and client, research was conducted in the use of computer modelling and video imaging techniques for the final architectural presentation process. By superimposing the painted building design from the computer-aided design (CAD) system onto a digitized image of the intended location, a composite image was achieved. These techniques have advantages in creating realistic composite images of proposed building designs in their intended location within a short period of time. In order to provide more visual clues, a multiple view presentation was examined. In addition, the research attempted to present the video-computer in an animation sequence. This was done by creating a series of sequential composite images, and recording them frame by frame onto the video tape. Then, the animation presentation was played back in real time. The animation presentations were evaluated by comparing them with the multiple view presentations. Manual rendering and single viewpoint displays were also included in the comparisons in order to aid in interpretation of the results. Questionnaires were used to measure the capability of each presentation format in communicating the building design information to non-architecturally trained persons. The results indicate that video-computer presentations were equal to or better than manual rendering. The video-computer presentations, with their short production time, were more practical to use in the architectural process than the conventional presentations. The results of the comparisons revealed that video-computer presentations in animation format were superior to those of multiple view format in the depth cue category. On the other hand, video-computer presentations by multiple view format was found to be superior to animation format in communicating both size and scale. These results occurred under the different complexity levels of the buildings used.   

The Use of Video-Computer Presentation Techniques to Aid in Communication Between Architect and Client

In an attempt to enhance the communication between architect and client, research was conducted in the use of computer modelling and video imaging techniques for the final architectural presentation process. By superimposing the painted building design from the CAD system onto a digitized image of the intended location, a composite image was achieved. These techniques have advantages in creating a realistic composite image of a proposed building design in its intended location within a short period of time. In order to provide more visual clues, a multiple view presentation format using a series of selected views (multiple views) was used. In addition, the research had further attempted to present the video-computer presentation in an animation sequence. The animation presentations were evaluated by comparing them with the multiple view presentations. Manual rendering and single viewpoint displays were also included in the comparisons in order to validate the results. Questionnaires were used to measure the capability of each presentation format to communicate the intended information to the audiences. The experiments were conducted with non-architecture subject groups in the local Bryan/College Station area

Novel Strategy for the Development of Antibacterial TiO2 Thin Film onto Polymer Substrate at Room Temperature

This work demonstrates a novel method to deposit an antibacterial TiO2 thin film on a polymer substrate at room temperature. A combination of sol–gel and photon assistance was used in the experiment in order to avoid any thermal processes of thin film crystallization. The morphological photograph of samples indicated that the TiO2 thin film was perfectly coated on the PVC substrate without any cracks or pinholes. Chemical analysis by EDS and XPS reported that the thin film consisted of titanium (Ti), oxygen (O), and carbon (C). The Raman spectrum proved that the thin film was the anatase phase of TiO2 and, furthermore, that it was contaminated with carbon remaining from the photon assistance process. In addition, the optical band gap of the thin film was 3.35 eV, suggesting that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 should occur under UV-A radiation. The bacteria viability assay was examined using E. coli and S. typhimurium as indicator strains under UV-A irradiation (365 nm) at different times. The data from OD and CFU count revealed that >97% of bacteria were killed after 60 min of irradiation, and the bacteria were completely killed at 120 min for E. coli and 180 min for S. typhimurium