Sustainable Approaches in Built Environment in Preparing for Global Environmental Change

No Abstrac

Design Creativity: Future Directions for Integrated Visualisation

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sectors are facing unprecedented challenges, not just with increased complexity of projects per se, but design-related integration. This requires stakeholders to radically re-think their existing business models (and thinking that underpins them), but also the technological challenges and skills required to deliver these projects. Whilst opponents will no doubt cite that this is nothing new as the sector as a whole has always had to respond to change; the counter to this is that design ‘creativity’ is now much more dependent on integration from day one. Given this, collaborative processes embedded in Building Information Modelling (BIM) models have been proffered as a panacea solution to embrace this change and deliver streamlined integration. The veracity of design teams’ “project data” is increasingly becoming paramount - not only for the coordination of design, processes, engineering services, fabrication, construction, and maintenance; but more importantly, facilitate ‘true’ project integration and interchange – the actualisation of which will require firm consensus and commitment. This Special Issue envisions some of these issues, challenges and opportunities (from a future landscape perspective), by highlighting a raft of concomitant factors, which include: technological challenges, design visualisation and integration, future digital tools, new and anticipated operating environments, and training requirements needed to deliver these aspirations. A fundamental part of this Special Issue’s ‘call’ was to capture best practice in order to demonstrate how design, visualisation and delivery processes (and technologies) affect the finished product viz: design outcome, design procedures, production methodologies and construction implementation. In this respect, the use of virtual environments are now particularly effective at supporting the design and delivery processes. In summary therefore, this Special Issue presents nine papers from leading scholars, industry and contemporaries. These papers provide an eclectic (but cognate) representation of AEC design visualisation and integration; which not only uncovers new insight and understanding of these challenges and solutions, but also provides new theoretical and practice signposts for future research

Book Review: Unified architectural theory: Form, language, complexity, Nikos A. Salingaros

Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity is a compendium of scientific knowledge and practical insight into architectural theory and how it is taught to students. In this guide, Nikos Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Texas, offers a succinct summary of his extensive course focusing on how to intelligently approach architectural design by aid of scientific evidence. Unified Architectural Theory seeks to establish a clear articulation of the perdurable framework behind “all of architecture” through centuries that is based on hard scientific facts rather than personal sentiments. The book contains 44 sections and is organised in two parts that respectively give an overview of the course lectures and assignments. The concise format of the sections as well as the apprehensible writing tailored to meet students’ needs make it a great companion for anyone who wants to learn

Cognitive Transformation Mediated By Digital 3D Sketching During Conceptual Architectural Design Process

To optimize the level of cognition and collaboration during conceptual architectural design phase, novice designers need to employ more flexible and intuitive digital media. This thesis studied the feasibility of using VR 3D sketching interface in order to replace current non-intuitive Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools. For this purpose a sequential mixed method research methodology including a qualitative case study research and a cognitive-based quantitative protocol analysis experiment was conducted. Foremost, it was pertinent to understand how novice designers make intuitive decisions. Hence, a case study research comprising of ethnography for data collection and artifact and protocol analysis for data analysis was employed. The purpose was to understand knowledge flow characteristics among mentors and apprentices in real-life architectural conception in studio projects. The ethnography study documented the failure of conventional sketching methods in articulating complicated design ideas. Whereas, it found that current conventional CAD tools do hinder novice designers’ creativity due to their limitation in intuitive ideation. Moreover, the subsequent artifact analysis affirmed established constructs about advantages and disadvantages of each medium in providing “solution quality” and also “certainty about correctness of solution”. The case study’s findings then became the theoretical foundations for the development of a VR 3D sketching interface for enhancing novice designers’ cognition and collaboration during the conceptual design process. This phase of study evaluated the designers’ spatial cognition at four different cognitive levels: “physical-actions”, “perceptual-actions”, “functional-actions”, and “conceptual-actions”. It also evaluated the designers’ spatial cognition in two different collaborative levels: “cognitive synchronizations” and “gestures”. The results and confirmed hypotheses showed that compared to traditional design interfaces, the utilized VR-based simple and tangible 3D sketching interface improved novice designers’ cognitive and collaborative design activities during conceptual architectural phase. In summary the thesis has evaluated inherent characteristics of the conceptual architectural design process and documented influences of current external representation tools on designers’ cognition and collaboration. It has developed the necessary theoretical foundations for cognitive and collaborative aspects of implementing VR 3D sketching interface for future implementation. Results of this thesis are limited to implementation of VR 3D sketching interface to improve cognition and collaboration during conceptual architectural design process at the novice level.In conclusion, this thesis contributes towards transforming conceptual architectural design phase from analogue to digital by proposing a new VR design interface. The author claims that this transformation can fill in the existing gap between analogue conceptual architectural design process and the remaining digital engineering parts of building design process hence enhancing the streamlining of digital design process. Finally, the author claims that the identification and documentation data on designers’ cognitive and collaborative conceptual design behaviors in the Malaysian context can be used as reference in future design studies. It is envisioned that the findings of this study can help the development of cutting-edge information technologies for design or education in the architectural field. Moreover, they will guide in the creation of future professional training programs to enhance capacity and capability of multidisciplinary professionals in using digital interfaces due to increasing global practice

Advanced virtual reality applications and intelligent agents for construction process optimisation and defect prevention

Defects and errors in new or recently completed construction work continually pervade the industry. Whilst inspection and monitoring processes are established vehicles for their 'control', the procedures involved are often process driven, time consuming, and resource intensive. Paradoxically therefore, they can impinge upon the broader aspects of project time, cost and quality outcomes. Acknowledging this means appreciating concatenation effects such as the potential for litigation, impact on other processes and influence on stakeholders' perceptions—that in turn, can impede progress and stifle opportunities for process optimisation or innovation. That is, opportunities relating to for example, logistics, carbon reduction, health and safety, efficiency, asset underutilisation and efficient labour distribution. This study evaluates these kinds of challenge from a time, cost and quality perspective, with a focus on identifying opportunities for process innovation and optimisation. It reviews—within the construction domain—state of the art technologies that support optimal use of artificial intelligence, cybernetics and complex adaptive systems. From this, conceptual framework is proposed for development of real-time intelligent observational platform supported by advanced intelligent agents, presented for discussion. This platform actively, autonomously and seamlessly manages intelligent agents (Virtual Reality cameras, Radio-Frequency Identification RFID scanners, remote sensors, etc.) in order to identify, report and document 'high risk' defects. Findings underpin a new ontological model that supports ongoing development of a dynamic, self-organised sensor (agent) network, for capturing and reporting real-time construction site data. The model is a 'stepping stone' for advancement of independent intelligent agents, embracing sensory and computational support, able to perform complicated (previously manual) tasks that provide optimal, dynamic, and autonomous management functions

Transformability in Post-Earthquake Houses in Iran: with Special Focus on Lar City

Earthquake is considered as one of the most catastrophic disasters in Iran, in terms of both short-term and longterm hazards. Due to the particular financial and time constraints in Iran, quickly constructed post-earthquake houses (PEHs) do not fulfill the minimum requirements to be considered as comfortable dwellings for people. Consequently, people often transform PEHs after they start to reside. However, lack of understanding about process, motivation, and results of housing transformation leads to construction of some houses not suitable for future transformations, hence resulting in eventually demolished or abandoned PEHs. This study investigated housing transformations in a natural bed of postearthquake Lar. This paper reports results of the conducted survey for comparing normal condition housing transformation with postearthquake housing transformation in order to reveal the factors that affect post-earthquake housing transformation in Iran. The findings proposed the use of a combination of ‘Temporary’ and ‘Permanent’ housing reconstruction models in Iran to provide victims with basic but permanent post-disaster dwellings. It is also suggested that needs for future transformation should be predicted and addressed during early stages of design and development. This study contributes to both research and practice regarding post-earthquake housing reconstruction in Iran by proposing new design approaches and guidelines

Are computers agents? Considering the implication of classifying computers as occupants on energy consumption and proximity-as-utility equipment scheduling

Non-ancillary equipment makes significant contribution to building energy demand, consuming as much as half of total energy consumption and three quarters of consumption during inoccupancy. Current proximity-as-utility equipment scheduling does not reflect physical or social complexities of mediating equipment, failing to suitably represent equipment and seemingly incompatible with inoccupancy scheduling. This paper draws comparison between computers and conventional occupants attempting to identify the extent which it is applicable to energy modelling. It concludes with the concession of its lack of relevance in inoccupancy equipment scheduling, though inherently convenient and suggests partial decoupling of agents and non-ancillary equipment during occupancy. Proximity-as-utility is herein defined as equipment scheduling defining utility as a Boolean-state power density necessitating the presence of a proximal agent, accommodating short periods where equipment and agent do not cohabit a discrete space

CONSTRUCTION PARTNERING: MOVING TOWARDS THE RATIONALISATION FOR A DOMINANT PARADIGM

This paper critically reviews seminal literature on ‘traditional’ and non-market partnering exchanges, in order to identify core congruent issues, drivers and agents of change. It draws out a number of key themes to better understand why the construction industry has remained relatively unchanged; even though successive reports have tried to rectify the industry’s challenges. Acknowledging that there is no one clear definition, strategy or template for the effective implementation of partnering, findings from extant literature highlight eight dominant drivers deemed integral to augmenting project performance and profitability. So, whilst the construction industry invariably conducts its business with a smaller ratio of strategic partnerships than commonly believed, and accepting buyer dominance has predominantly remained, it is advocated that there is an exigent need to disentangle the project partnering initiative through some form of deterministic model. The case for this is presented through a relationship schema that maps the fabric, reliance and drivers for partnering success