The backbone of a City Information Model (CIM): Implementing a spatial data model for urban design

We have been witnessing an increased interest in a more holistic approach to urban design practice and education. In this paper we present a spatial data model for urban design that proposes the combination of urban environment feature classes with design process feature classes. This data model is implemented in a spatial database that becomes the backbone of a City Information Model (CIM), integrating urban neighbourhood formulation, design, and evaluation methods into a comprehensive urban design support system. We demonstrate its application to urban design analysis and evaluation through the development of a tool for AutoCAD Map 3D that is integrated with the PostGIS spatial database.UrbanismArchitectur

The Language of Mozambican Slums

A shape grammar was developed for analyzing the evolution of Maputo´s slums with the strategic objective of capturing the evolution of house types and understanding the social agreements behind the spatial relations of their house elementary spaces in order to reuse such rules for the purpose of rehabilitation. This paper shows preliminary results of the research and aims at developing, based on the resulting grammars, a parametric tool able to execute morphological analyses, simulations and generate improved design solutions for the qualification of Maputo´s informal settlements

Public space patterns: Modelling the language of urban space

This paper describes the “Public Space Patterns” ontology including its related rule-based model, used as a basic structure of a “City Information Modelling” (CIM). This model was developed within a larger research project aimed at developing a tool for urban planning and design. The main purpose is to provide computer-readable descriptions of Patterns for planning urban space, to make available programming strategies and design options to the participants of the urban development process. The paper shows an ontology implementation of concepts describing the public space and the relationships established by means of transitive properties which allows the system to infer new relations amongst other patterns. The inference mechanism makes available relations that were not previously evident fostering the awareness of underlying implicit patterns.Building TechnologyArchitectur

Tableware Shape Grammar

Mass customization is pointed as a means of improving a company\u92s competitiveness, which is an essential trait in Europe\u92s economic situation of today. This paper reports a mockup implementation of the mass customization paradigm to ceramic tableware design, through the use of shape grammars, parametric modelling and rapid prototyping. Focus is emphasized on the initial development of a parametric shape grammar as a design system, operating on curved surfaces and solids. Mapping operations are suggested for dealing with the formal complexity of these shapes. This initial academic experiment poses as a first step into the development of a mass customization system that is expected to meet industry standards