INTERACTIVE VISUALISATION AS A POWERFUL DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

ABSTRACT Recent advances in evolutionary computation (EC) have made it possible for researchers to develop decision support tools that to some degree assist designers in decision making. Some of the difficulties with the EC are that they generate a population of alternative solutions to choose from and they are generated in a 'black box' mode, where there is little or no user interaction. The research presented in this paper is using an interactive visualisation tool that allows designers to conduct a human-led exploration of the solution space that has been generated by the EC. Multi-disciplinary design team members can interact independently with the system to explore and identify regions of the solution space which best meet their disciplinary objectives. The visualisation tools also allow them to find a common framework for multi-disciplinary design. This research then post-processes the data inside the region of the agreed framework, using a Pareto algorithm, to isolate non-dominated solutions for selection purposes

Modelling the Eddystone Lighthouse response to wave loading

The Eddystone Lighthouse is an imposing granite structure that has guided mariners through the treacherous waters off the Plymouth coast for nearly 150 years. The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the UK and Ireland, recognising the continuing importance of rock-mounted lighthouses as physical aids for navigation, funded a pilot project, commissioning Plymouth University to monitor the tower. The present study aims to provide more information on the structural behaviour of the Eddystone Lighthouse under the impacts from wave loading, through the utilisation of a 3D finite element model. Data from geophones, an offshore wave buoy and video cameras installed on the tower have been used to calibrate and validate the model; in particular, the wave that caused the maximum displacement during the winter 2013/2014 storms has been considered. The point of application of the wave load is important in the tower’s structural response; the lighthouse being especially vulnerable to larger displacements when the wave acts above its cylindrical base. Finite element analysis suggests that the lighthouse is stable with regard to material failure, and for failure mechanisms of overturning and sliding there are factors of safety of 6.3 and 8.0 respectively. A hypothetical unbroken wave of 17.5 m height would be required to overturn the lighthouse, and one of height 17 m would cause cracking at the base, but in such a location these waves would not be possible

Evolutionary Computation and Visualisation as Decision Support tools for Conceptual Building Design.” (Invited paper

The conceptual stage of the design is undoubtedly the most innovative stage of the design process during which most decisions that determine the future of the project are taken, and about 70 % to 80 % of resources are committed. Unfortunately, due to discrete, fuzzy and incomplete nature of information in this stage the design and decision making process is non-algorithmic which is difficult to be modelled in a computer program. In the past a number of attempts have been made, using knowledge based expert systems and classical optimisation tools to involve computers in decision making process, but none of these attempts have been totally successful. Applications of Evolutionary Computation in design opened up a new opportunity in this area. This paper introduces a novel approach and demonstrates that interactive use of evolutionary computation, assisted by visualisation tools, leads to a human-led search that could be the key for solving this deadlock. A system based on an interactive visualisation clustered genetic algorithm is introduced and its application on an example of a multi-disciplinary decision making process is demonstrated. Keywords: Evolutionary Computation, Visualisation. Conceptual Design.

Bat flies infected with Laboulbeniales at Reserve Natural Cerro Chucantí

<div>Overview of studied bat flies. Bat fly species sampled from Chucantí during this study, with the prevalence of Laboulbeniales infections and indication </div><div>of parasite species. </div