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8/4/2019 Term Paper Major

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THE USE OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

A term paper written and compiled by

Nwafor Ifeoma .C

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE,

NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA.

COURSE TITLE:Computer Application In Architectural

Design Process.

COURSE CODE:Arc. 771

LECTURER: Arc. I.O Okereke

LEVEL: MSc.1

DATE:July 2011

[email protected], +234 08037911856
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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COMPUTER APPLICATION IN ARCHITECTURAL

DESIGN PROCESS.

Before we go into the application of computer in architectural design process,

it is necessary to first of all understand what architecture is and also have an

idea of what an architectural design process is all about.

What is architecture? Architecture is the art and science of building design.

From this definition, one can still ask what a building design is? To

understand the meaning of a building design, let us look at the individual

meaning of the two words: - building and design.

A building is an assemblage that is firmly attached to the ground and that

provides total or nearly total shelter for machines, processing equipment,

performance of human activities, storage of human possessions, or any

combination of these.

N/B- an assemblage is the fixing or putting together of two

or more components of an object.

Design is the process of formulating, creating and planning a functional

assemblage(e.g., a building) in order to satisfy specific objectives(e.g.,

shelter) and subject to constraints and restrictions(eg, the owners preferences)

and consisting of two or more components that are interrelated and

compatible, each component being essential to the required performance of

the assemblage/structure (building).

N/B- from the definition above, design is a process.

therefore, Building design is the process of providing all information

necessary for construction of a building that will meet its owners

requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety requirements.



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1.0 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS: - MEANING AND

INFERENCE

In the previous page, weve looked at the definition of architecture anddesign. So let us look at meaning ofa process in order for us to get the

full picture of what architectural design process is all about.

A process is a rational, orderly series of steps that leads to the best

decision for a given set of conditions.

Therefore, architectural design process is the art and science of

providing all necessary information in a rational orderly series of stepsfor the construction of a building that will meet its owners requirements

and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety requirements.

Concisely, architectural design process is a way of structuring the order

in which a vast number of architectural decision are made.

1.1 COMPUTER APPLICATION IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNPROCESS.

INTRODUCTION

A computer is an electronic and versatile machine that has the ability to

accept data (input), stores these data in memory, process these data

according to well defined set of finite sequence of logically related

instruction, and produce without human intervention, an intelligible

result (output) otherwise known as information.

Characteristics of computer Versatility:-the computer has proved to be versatile since it can be

programmed at different times to perform different functions. This

made possible by the use of programmed software.



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Speed:- computers are extremely fast. In amateur of minutes, thecomputer can carry out many tasks that can take human being a

lifetime to complete. It only requires to be given the right set of

instruction or procedure. Reliability and accuracy: - computer has advantage over humans

in terms of reliability and accuracy. If programmed or instructed

correctly, computers are extremely accurate and reliable devices

because they can be trusted to provide accurate results where

precision are required. They are not liable to fatigue like human

beings.

Computer application in architectural design process deals withways in which computers can be used to aid the design process

especially in terms of speed, accuracy, precision, e.t.c

So, one can ask:

How can computers help in architectural design process?

To understand how computers can help in the architectural design

process, we need to know the various phases/stages of Architecturaldesign process and simultaneously analyze how computers can help the

architect in each of these processes in terms of speed, accuracy,

reliability, cost, replication/repetition, communication, optimization,



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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

As stated earlier, architectural design process is a way of structuring the

order in which a vast number of architectural decision are made.

Architectural design processes can be grouped into six stages, these

includes

a. Conceptual stageb. Schematic synthesisc. Planning/ design developmentd. Presentation/communicatione. collaborationf. Working Drawingg. archiving

2.1 CONCEPTUAL STAGE:

The conceptual stage is the first stage of the design process. Here the

architect/designer is concerned with getting a clear picture or perception

of what he intends to design and also equips himself with soundknowledge of what it will take to achieve the best possible design for his

client. This stage can be further categorized into the following phases

Brief:the architect takes a list of the clients requirements, the cost

range for the project, the maximum duration for the design process, the

number of spaces that he wants e.t.c

Programming: after the collection of the brief, the architect goes

on to develop a detailed time budget and schedule for the project. The

schedule of program should be concise and straight to the point andshould be easily comprehended at quick glance.



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Data collection: after the development of schedule of program/ time

budget, the architect goes on to empower himself with knowledge as it

concerns the project at hand. The categories of information that the

architect needs to equip himself includes

Literature Review: the architect studies the variousliteratures that are available on the design at hand.

These literature can be in the form of textbooks,

magazines, and he expects to find information that can

lead him to achieving the ideal space size,

anthropometrics involved in the design, the central aim

of the design, design considerations for fire safety,

acoustics, lighting, ventilation, escape route e.t.c

Case study: here the architect goes on to research aboutexisting structures on the design project. He can ask theend users of the building about their perception of the

building, what they like most about the building and its

environs and what about the building they dislike most

or that makes them very uncomfortable.

Building code and covenant review: the architect at thispoint should enquire the from the local building

authority about the various codes governing the designand erection the particular building in question.

2.1.1 How Computers Aids Us In The Conceptual Stage

Of Design

Since the conceptual stage is the stage of data collection, data transfer,

and synthesis of the information gathered, the following computerized

tools can help the architect in this stage



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Sending data and receiving data:

Email: the electronic mail is the most popular internet service. Thearchitect and his client can actually send messages with one

another using the email. This includes Yahoo mail, Googlemail,Msn mail, Windows live mail, e.t.c. and can allow you to

send or retrieve information of up to10MB

Appraisals

The email is far cheaper than telephone conversation especially ifit is a long distance call.

The email is very fast as file transfer takes place within seconds.This makes it faster than letter writing, way bill or booking an

appointment to meet physically. It allows the transfer of other data types such as image, sound and

video.

It is able to deliver mail to a large number of people with just aclick.

Internet search: the internet is a global network of computers that

provides a variety of resources and data to the people that uses it. The

internet can help the architect hunt and gather information by using

World Wide Web: this is a global system of linked web pages containing

links to information and content.

-Search engines: search engines helps you find and access information

-News and mailing list: allows user to access and share current and

historical news.

-Chat application: allows the user to exchange messages in real time

-Conferencing: combines several communication methods for online

meeting

-File transfer protocols: this a system that allows sending and retrieving

data files over a network of computers



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2.2.1 How Computers Aids In The Schematic Synthesis

Of Design.

Since the schematic synthesis is the stage of translating requirements

into spaces, relating the spaces and making schematic sketches, the

following computer tools that can help him in this process include

Creating space requirement:

Microsoft office tools: a lot of Microsoft office tools can help thearchitect in developing his space requirement schedule and

accommodation schedule. Since this requires the use of graphic

tools like letters, tables, shapes, charts, pictures,e.t.c, Microsoft

tools like Microsoft power point, Microsoft words, Microsoftoffice publisher, e.t.c

Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft words, Microsoft office publisher are

very effective software that combines texts and statements with

interesting pictures, charts, tables, symbols and shapes which can help

the architect in creating his space analysis schedules.

Relating spaces:

The architect can use computer aided design software likeAutoCAD, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft words, and Microsoftoffice publisher to create his space zoning, bubble diagrams and

functional flow chart. This is because these programs can be

manipulated by an architect to give him the exact thing of what he

intends to design.

Making sketches

The architect make his sketch on paper and scan it into hiscomputer from which he can continue working on his design using

his [email protected], +234 08037911856


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Also, the use of stylus pen on digitizing tablets can enable the architect

in sketching his work. A Stylus pen is a pointing device used with a

graphics tablet To draw or point, the user touches the pen tip to the

surface of the tablet. Selections and commands can be controlledthrough pressing a button on the stylus or pressing the stylus against the

tablet's surface. The stylus is preferred by artists because its results most

closely resemble freehand illustration and because the stylus allows a

great deal of manual control. Graphics Tablet also called a digitizing

tablet is flat plastic rectangle with subsurface electronics, used in

conjunction with a pointing device in many engineering and design

applications as well as in illustration work. When the pointing device is

moved on the surface of the tablet, the location of the device istranslated to a specific on-screen cursor position. The pointing device

used with a graphics tablet is usually a pen (also called a stylus).

2.3 PLANNING/DESIGN DEVELOPMENT STAGE:

The planning stage is the same as the design development stage. Once

the concept of a design is finalized, the emerged design in its sketchy

form is developed to its standard form using a standard architectural

scale. The transferring of a sketchy plan into a standard drawing format

using a scale a known scale is called drafting.

This process of developing a sketchy design (drafting) also is

simultaneous with the planning of the design. As scaled dimension is

being applied, the architect may notice one or more necessary

adjustment which may also alter part of the plan and a partial concurrent

planning may occur. In architectural design process, design developmentand planning encompasses the design of the floor plan, roof plan,

section, elevation, site plan, specifications, e.t.c



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The floor plan is a result of the architects synthesis of what internal and

external spaces the client needs, the sizes of these spaces, their relative

locations, and their interconnections.

The elevation is the drawing of the exterior appearance of the building.

The site plan is a drawing that shows the location and orientation of the

building.

The architect also prepares the specifications for the building. These

describe in detail the materials and equipment to be installed in the

structure.

2.3.1 How Computers Aids In Planning/DesignDevelopment Stage:

The planning stage is the same as the design development stage. There

are lots of computer aided design/drafting software that can be used in

making automated architectural drafting. CAD is software for making

precise architectural and engineering drawing. CAD software includes

the following:AutoCad

ArchiCad

Autodesk architectural desktop

Autocad architecture

Sketchup

Revit, e.t.c

One thing that is most common with CAD software is that they provide

partial automation that facilitates repetitive design. The use of mirror,

move, copy, rotate, helps the designer to repeat his drawing without

necessarily having to draw it all over again.



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The use of scale and stretch helps to scale down or scale up a drawing to

a given scale whereas in the manual drafting, the architect may have to

scale his drawings by measuring the dimension of point A to point B of

the existing plan,finding the dimension of point A to be point B on a scale rule, then,

drawing the line point A to point B with the new scale. By the time the

architect finish picking all this points one after the other, a great deal of

time would have passed him by but with CAD, he can simply scale the

whole drawing with just one click.

2.4 PRESENTATION/COMMUNICATION STAGE:

In this stage the architect is to represent the building with a model which

will enable him communicate to the client better on how the building

will look like. Also it enables him and other building professional to

analyze the design and evaluate its performance. The model should be

simple, consistent with the role for which it is selected, for practical

reasons.

The purpose of this presentation stage is to achieve optimization.

Optimization is known as the process of selecting a single best design

option for a given set of condition. The use of models enables us to

achieve this by reflecting a design decision in our models and see what it

looks like, we may continue with this until a best design solution is

achieved.

2.4.1 How Computers Aids In Presentation/CommunicationStage:

Simulation which can be defined as the reproduction of the essentialfeatures of something, e.g. as an aid to study or training, is another

method of achieving optimization in a design with large number of

variables which involves trial and error with a model that looks like the

actual building/design. In simulation, the properties of the system or


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model are adjusted with a specific input or range of inputs to the system,

and outputs or performance is measured until an optimum result is

obtained.

Virtual reality (VR) is a system that enables one or more users to move

and react in a computer-simulated environment. Various types of

devices allow users to sense and manipulate virtual objects much as they

would real objects. This natural style of interaction gives participants the

feeling of being immersed in the simulated world. Virtual worlds are

created by mathematical models and computer programs.

Virtual reality simulations differ from other computer simulations in that

they require special interface devices that transmit the sights, sounds,

and sensations of the simulated world to the user. These devices also

record and send the speech and movements of the participants to the

simulation program.



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To see in the virtual world, the user wears a head-mounted display

(HMD) with screens directed at each eye. The HMD also contains a

position tracker to monitor the location of the user's head and the

direction in which the user is looking.

Animation, is a series of motion pictures created by recording a series of

still imagesdrawings, objects, or people in various positions of

incremental movementthat when played back no longer appear

individually as static images but combine to produce the illusion of

unbroken motion. An architect can communicate to his design to his

client and other interested people with use of motion pictures called

animation. In most animated design, the basic communication that is

being relayed is the flow of movement. It informs the client on howmovement flows in his building without the architect having the

architect to do the explanation himself.

2d renderings, are two dimensional drawings which can also be used to

communicate information to the client.

Computer softwares that can aid us in developing these means of

communication includes but

Autocad ArchiCad Autodesk architectural desktop Autocad architecture Sketchup Revit,

Usually, after the modeling of the building, other real life elements are

added to the modeled building so as to create a real life effect. Trees,

skies, green grasses, vegetation e.t.c are incorporated into the model. A

times the software used in the modeling of the building can also be used

to introduce these real life elements and on the other hand basic

rendering software are used to the give the model a finishing touch.

These rendering softwares [email protected], +234 08037911856


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Vray 3d max Atlantis studio Adobe Photoshop

2.5 WORKING DRAWINGS

Once the architect has achieved an optimum design with the aid of

inputs and advice of the other consultants, and with the approval of the

client, he can now proceed with the working drawing.

The working drawings are contractual document and a given set of

instruction to the structural engineer, service engineers, the quantity andcost estimator and the builder, e.t.c

The working drawing annotates the dimension for the various

component of the design and also annotates the overall dimension of the

entire design. It includes details and sections of a particular area of the

building and shows the horizontal and vertical dimension of the

building, drawn according to a known scale.

Without it, it will be very difficult for other professionals in the buildingindustry to contribute their own professional input in the design process.

2.5.1 How Computers Aids In Working Drawing Stage:

The major use of cad is in the production of working drawings. Most cad

software contains command tools like dimension, dimension edit, AEC

dimension, dimension text, text, mirror text e.t.c

The use of Cad software has gone to an advanced stage in the production

of working drawings in the sense that at one click all the dimensions of a

side of the building will instantly be given and the architect can now edit

the unwanted [email protected], +234 08037911856


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One area that the use of computers in architecture excels exceedingly is

in the provision of building information models.

Building Information Models (BIM)

2.6 COLLABORATION:

At this stage, the architect gives out the drawing to the various

consultants involved in the project, liases with them in any case

conflicting issues and then collects and collates the entire drawings fromother professionals together with the architectural drawing which now

form a legal contract document, ready for bidding by building

contractors.

2.6.1 How Computers Aids In Collaboration Stage:

A lot of computers application that can help us in collaborating with

other building professions and consultants includesEmail: Email can be used to send messages across and also

drawing files can attached to these email messages. file attachment

allows people to share essentially any file in any format using an email.

Chat application: chat application like yahoo messenger, facebook

chat, 2go,Microsoft messenger, e.tc allows users to share messages in

real time.

Conferencing: conferencing combines several communication

methods (calls, messaging, chat, e.t.c) for online meeting. The meeting

can take place using varieties of tools like audio, video, chat, whiteboard

presentation, file sharing, desktop sharing, e.t.c

File transfer protocols: this a system for sending and retrieving

data files over a network of [email protected], +234 08037911856


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2.7 ARCHIVING/STORAGE:

Part of good office management is document control and record keeping.

Much information is received, disseminated, and collated in the courseof architectural design. The data should be maintained in an organized

manner for future reference and archival purposes. The architect should

establish an office procedure for document control, record keeping, and

document storage beyond the life of the project to ensure easy retrieval.

There are many computerized systems that can aid the architect in

catalog filing and information retrieval.

For project documentation, it can be further categorized into class ofbuilding, number of rooms, number of storey, number of ensuite room,

location, client name, date of design,

2.7.1 How to search for a drawing document with hidden

details

For the architect to search for a drawing which he has forgotten thedetails of the drawing, he needs to first solve this problem in the early

stage of the archiving process by first of all organizing the drawing in a

set of predefined, orderly and standard format. Storage without

organization is useless.

There are some application software with which he can take a cursory

look from and arrange his own storage format. This include

TEXPROS: (Text Processing System) is an automatic documentprocessing system which supports text-based information representation

and manipulation, conveying meanings from stored information within

office document texts. A dual modeling approach is employed to

describe office documents and support document search and [email protected], +234 08037911856


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The frame templates for representing document classes are organized to

form a document type hierarchy. Based on its document type, the

synopsis of a document is extracted to form its corresponding frame

instance. According to the user predefined criteria, these frame instancesare stored in different folders, which are organized as a folder

organization (i.e., repository of frame instances associated with their

documents). The concept of linking folders establishes filing paths for

automatically filing documents in the folder organization. By integrating

document type hierarchy and folder organization, the dual modeling

approach provides efficient frame instant access by limiting the searches

to those frame instances of a document type within those folders which

appear to be the most similar to the corresponding queries.This paper presents an agent-based document filing system using folder

organization. Storage architecture is presented to incorporate the

document type hierarchy, folder organization and original document

storage into a three-level storage system. This folder organization

supports effective filing strategy and allows rapid frame instance

searches by confining the search to the actual predicate-driven retrieval

method. A predicate specification is proposed for specifying criteria on

filing paths in terms of user predefined predicates for governing the

document filing.

From the above paragraph, the following deduction can be made and

applied to the process of archiving of architectural drawings:-

TextPros makes use of text to represent and convey meaning from stored

information within an office document.

It involves a dual approach of

Describing office document using text

Supporting search and retrieval



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Framed templates are used to represent document classes to form a

document type hierarchy. For example, document classes can be applied

to the storage of architectural drawing by grouping them into the various

building classes like residential building, commercial buildings,educational and research building, healthcare buildings, transport

facilities e.t.c

Document type hierarchy can be formed by further subdivision of each

document class. For example, residential building can further be

categorized according to the type of residential building which could be

duplex, bungalows, apartment buildings, hostels, housing estate.

The synopsis of a document type is extracted to form its corresponding

frame instances. For example, after classifying the building into duplex,

bungalows, apartment buildings, e.t.c, the synopsis of each project that

belongs to a particular type of building is adopted to form its frame

instances. E.g., under bungalows, we can have folders with frame

instances like: 3 bedrooms bungalows, 2 bedroom bungalows, one

roomapartment, e.t.c

According to the user predefined criteria, these frame instances are

stored in different folders, which are organized as a folder organization

(i.e., repository of frame instances associated with their documents

types). For example, the architect can have about ten drawings (original

document) with similar synoptic frame instances, what he has to do is to

store these individual drawing files with detailed heading like date, name

of client, location of the project, e.t.c. for example, under the frame

instance(folder) for the three bedroom bungalow, he can store eachclients drawings in this manner, 3 bedroom bungalow for mr Eze with

ensuite master bedroom at ufuma (RB3B001), ensuite 3bedroom

bungalow for Mr. Okafor at Ogbunike (RB3B002),e.t.c



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To prevent a situation where the searcher has forgotten the details of the

drawing and cannot trace it, it will be wise that at the frame instance

stage to have a spread sheet in which details of every drawing done by

the architect is listed and given a code e.g RB3B001 .

R B 3B 001Residential. Bungalow. 3bedroom serial number

In this manner drawing with forgotten details can be looked up for at the

spread sheet and the details gotten at a glance.

In summary, when the principle of text pros is applied in the storing of

architectural drawing the concept of linking folders establishes filing

paths for automatically filing documents in the folder organization. By

integrating document type hierarchy and folder organization, the dualmodeling approach provides efficient frame instant access by limiting he

searches to those frame instances of a document type within those

folders which appear to be the most similar to the corresponding queries.

This strategy is represented as follows



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A.DOCUMENT CLASS

B.DOCUMENT YYPE

C. FRAME INSTANCE/FOLDER ORGANIZATION

D.ORIGINAL DOCUMENT REPOSITORY


RESIDENTIAL

DUPLEX/MANSIONETTE

BUNGALOWS APARTMENTS/FLAT

COMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL

3BEDROOM TWO BEDROOM ONE ROOM APARTMENT

ENSUITE RMS FOR MR EZE AT UFUMA JAN 2011 FOR MR OKAFOR AT OGBUNIKE MAY 2011


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3.

ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN OVER

MANUAL MEANS OF DESIGN PRODUCTION.

A.Lowers cost of production: the use of computers is cheaper in thesense that it reduces the number of labour to be employed in the

design of a project and also increases output.

B.provides a partial automation that facilitates repetitive design: thecan architect can use repetitive designs to make building

prototypes and can also use command like mirror, rotate, copy,

e.t.c to repeat design, edit design to make alternatives withoutnecessarily having to redraw the drawings.

C.3d has facilitated the communication between the client and thearchitect by providing vivid renderings and animations.

D.It is considered mainstream practice because cheap to acquire andis accepted by most design firms.

E.It communication among design participants for linking toprevious projects and for incorporating engineering and financial

analysis as early in the project as possible.

F.Improves quality by leading to a better design and by improvingrepresentation that results to better communication,

G.Computer based concurrent design has been identified as a way toincrease design interaction. Concurrent design suggests that several

designers from different discipline work simultaneously on the

same data base by processing data and adding information that is

constantly represented in a visual form.


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References

a.Building design and construction handbook, sixth edition,frederick f meritandjonathan t ricketts

b.Computing in the building process database information.www. gsd.harvard.edu/people/faculty/pollalis/boss.pdf

c. Design in architecture bypeter drucker.d.Encarta Encyclopediae. Wikipedia Encyclopedia



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