Slide 1 COST Action TU 1002 – Edinburgh, 14-15 October 2011 THE EFFECTS OF DECISION-MAKING ON URBAN FORM, A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING PLANNING PROCESSES Matteo

Slide 1COST Action TU 1002 – Edinburgh, 14-15 October 2011

THE EFFECTS OF DECISION-MAKING ONURBAN FORM, A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING

PLANNING PROCESSESMatteo Tabasso, Elisa Vitale, Stefano Pensa

IN.VI.TO.INteractive VIsualization TOol


Task

Large scale planning and decision making processes supported by interactive tool. Assumption

ICT provides nowadays a large amount and typologies of tools which offer the possibility to visualize numerous data and relate them to specific features.

Thus in this instrument, no new software has been created. Existing software have been investigated in order to find the best fitting to multidisciplinary processes.

CONCEPT


Rhinoceros® (Rhino) is a stand-alone, commercial NURBS-based 3-D modeling tool, developed by Robert McNeel & Associates. The software is commonly used for industrial design and architecture.

Grasshopper™ is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3-D modeling tools. Shapes are created using generative algorithms that can contain different types of input including numeric, textual, audio-visual applications.

HUNTER'S POINT SOUTH

WATERFRONT PARK PAVILION

WEISS/MANFREDI ARCHITECTS

2011

HANGZHOU STADIUM

NBBJ and CCDI2009

VESSEL CHAIRMANI MANI

2011

Usually Rhinoceros and its plug-in Grasshopper are used for industrial and architectural design at the building or furniture scale.

CONCEPT


Definition of the elements affecting the localization of different urban functions.

Example for the residential function:

NORMATIVE CONSTRAINTS• buffer zones of rivers• buffer zones of power lines• buffer zones of cemeteries• ...

ATTRACTIVE AND REPULSIVE ELEMENTS (indicators)• bus stops• subway stops• railway stations• green areas• public services• motorway exits• main streets• railway and motorway tracks• industrial sites

INDICATORS USED


In order to satisfy the requests of the Municipality, the model was set up to work on the interaction among the different urban functions, such as:

• residence

• commerce

• large distribution

• public services

• industry

INDICATORS USED


To define the behaviour of elements that affect the localization of urban functions, two different surveys are realized:

One for identifying the behaviour of each indicator on the basis of distance.

The second for defining the relative weight of each indicator through the discrete choice method.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS


RATING OF DISTANCES

Each element has an attractive or repulsive effect on considered typology of settlement.

This influence is represented through a mathematical function

f(d)

d = distance

describing the positive and negative influence of each indicator.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS


THE WEIGHT OF INDICATORS

The discrete choice survey is used to establish how much each indicator contributes to define the COMPATIBILITY of an area in relation to a specific urban function.

The Compatibility (C) of an area is described “point by point” by the distance from each indicator:

C= ∑ βi * fi (d)

β = weight of each indicator (i)

d = distance

This function combines the effect of all the indicators considered.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS


• A script allows the model to import geo-referenced data in real-time in order to generate specific shapes for each indicator.

• Then, each feature is associated with one or more functions that describe its behaviour and reproduce the dynamics resulting from the surveys.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS


• Outputs can be displayed in real-time in Rhino environment or on a virtual globe such as Google Earth.

• The tools can generate multidimensional maps according to input data and actor choices.

• In order to facilitate the comprehension of the outputs, different kinds of visualization are possible.

Gradient Maps Volume Graph Maps Symbolic Comparative Maps Quantitative Maps

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS


The interaction with the model allows to generate outputs in real-time.

The interaction regards the management of:

• the number and type of indicators;

• the mathematical functions that describe the behaviour of indicators;

• the weights of each indicator;

• the project options for development areas and infrastructures;

• the type of visualization.

USEFULNESS IN PRACTICE


Thank you!

For further information: [email protected] - [email protected]


Generative: grasshopper plug-in allows to generate shapes without standard CAD environment modelling. Shapes are described by a sequence of processing steps.

Parametric: mathematical functions and relationships among them define shapes and their behaviours.

Dynamic: outputs change in real time according to user choices following the rules of assessment method.

Easy to customize: using common scripting languages (Python, C# or VisualBasic).

WHY RHINOCEROS AND GRASSHOPPER?


Scale factor: a software, commonly used at building scale (or lower), are adapted to a large area planning process. GIS: potentiality offered by script codes are used to combine Grasshopper with ESRI GIS shapes and data.

Assessment Methods: the dynamics of various assessment models such as multi-criteria analysis, surveys, conjoint analysis are visually reproduced.

Participatory Processes: the instrument represents a useful tool for participatory planning.

WHAT’S NEW WITH RHINO AND GH?

Documents

Slide 1 COST Action TU 1002 – Edinburgh, 14-15 October 2011 THE EFFECTS OF DECISION-MAKING ON URBAN FORM, A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING PLANNING PROCESSES Matteo