IT in Architectural Competition - Essay Example

4.4.3. Senate Properties BIM requirements In 2001, Senate Properties as one of the largest Finnish building asset management companies, commenced working on a number of pilot projects to develop building information models. These models covered various aspects like design, costs, life cycle attributes etc. as applied on alternative choices. The data collected from these pilot studies helped it to assess the product model technology which was published in October 2007112 and its application in the regular projects113. In this exercise, Senate Properties attempted to conform the project objectives like scope of work, cost and practicality to the modeling process. This was achieved in phases. In the first phase, models were required in ordinary projects and for a limited number of design jobs only. Modeling was applied to new construction as well as renovation works. If a particular project did not reveal any specific advantage of modeling, such project was excluded from the exercise. On this basis, the first phase development covered a number of projects with estimated values at hundreds of millions of Euros 114. Modeling and visualisation of the starting scenario was made compulsory. Based on the models, architectural design as well as monitoring the scope and costs was performed. In the architectural design, modeling was applied throughout the process, starting with the presentation of alternatives based on space models and ending with the tender documents for the contracting stage. In the project planning stage, the main emphasis for modeling was on enabling investment decision by comparing alternatives’ scope, costs and lifecycle attributes. To facilitate cost control, typical data in conformity with the room schedule / spaces were added to the modeling technique. The quantity and scope data obtained from a model in the draft stage were being used to support the cost estimates. The modeling technique also permitted accurate estimation of the energy needs of a building, providing for appropriate budget and for monitoring the actual consumption during its occupation stage. Similarly, the HEPAC systems were being modeled in the detail design stage but only on a case-by-case basis. These developments led to the use and data content of the models as binding requirements in design agreements 115. Figures on the following page illustrate the Senate Properties view and demands of the BIM usage in early design state 116. 4.5. Computer simulations A computer simulation is an attempt to model a real-life or hypothetical situation on a computer. It helps the observer to feel at first hand the experience of reality even though he is only observing a virtual image. It is a tool for experimentation and training when they are prohibited in real life by both costs and practical considerations. For example, airline pilots are trained on simulators before being allowed to operate actual aircraft; an architect may present his designs in the simulation mode and explain his ideas for acceptance or rejection by customers. The advantage of simulation is that it provides for a number of variables, and even as images are projected on the screen, many critical aspects of a project under review can be simultaneously computed and displayed for each variable. Computer simulation has become a useful part of modeling many natural systems in physics, chemistry and biology, and human systems in economics and social science (the computational sociology) as well as in architecture to gain insight into the operation in hand. It is this versatility of simultaneous projection of alternatives with all the attendant changes in physical and financial aspects of a building project that makes simulation technique an astounding tool in architectural competitions – both for the competitors and for the jury. Traditionally physical scale models were being used in presentations at architectural competitions. Development of computers and CAD programs have opened new way to simulate real life designs and gain valuable information from the designs before they are physically built e.g. functionality, lightning, acoustics, traffic and evacuation situation behaviour etc. The process of evaluation of a design or idea during the course of competitions took a completely new turn with the advent of simulation on the scene. In the passing it must be said that creation of simulated designs is an expensive proposition for architects and to this extent, there is a tendency to restrict its application. On the other hand, the greater the application of technology the better the judgment process for entries in competitions. These aspects are dealt with in greater detail below. Energy simulation Energy simulations can be used to assess energy conservation measures early and throughout the design process. “Simulation is credited with speeding up the design process, increasing efficiency, enabling the comparison of a broader range of designs. Simulations thus provide a better understanding of the consequences of design decisions”117 . The design team generates alternative concepts for building form, envelope and landscaping, focusing on minimising peak energy loads, demand and consumption. Simulations are used to refine designs and ensure that energy conservation and capital cost goals are met and to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. Lighting and daylight simulation Lighting and daylight simulation is as important for public buildings as for private residences. Availability of natural light reduces the dependence on power consuming lighting and heating systems. The orientation of a building and the movement of shadows and reflections throughout the day have also an impact on the pleasantness of the environs of the inmates. It is a commonly observed fact that in many of the multistoried apartment blocks, the inner dwelling units hardly get any natural light or ventilation, making it essential to switch on lights all through the day. In terms of urban ambience, the shadows caused by the external façade of a building can have a magical effect on viewers. Simulation techniques help to predict such situations before it is too late to take corrective action. Such action can be in respect of orientation or for location of light admitting windows or both etc. for the occupants, and, the external design features of the building for the town planners. Architectural competitions aided by simulation techniques help to predict these crucial elements. Acoustic simulation Geometric acoustic modeling tools are commonly used for design and simulation of 3D architectural environments. For example, architects use CAD tools to evaluate the acoustic properties of proposed auditorium designs, factory planners predict the sound levels at different positions on factory floors, and audio engineers optimize arrangements of loudspeakers. Acoustic modeling can also be useful for providing spatial sound effects in interactive virtual environment systems [1,2] . Agent based simulators for urban planning, traffic and evacuation Fuzzy logic is the buzzword and explains the way people make on the spot decisions in everyday life situations. Behavioural scientists have recently discovered several natural constants and laws in pedestrian crowds and vehicle traffic, starting from propagation velocities of traffic jams and Mexican waves, scaling laws in traveller behaviour, interaction forces of car drivers, and up to recurrent congestion patterns. Some observed phenomena have very strange, even counter-intuitive properties, which can only be understood by means of non-linear interactions. Efficient transportation systems are essential for the functioning and success of modern societies. The days when freeways were free ways are over but scientists managed to solve many challenging questions like: why are vehicles sometimes stopped by ‘phantom traffic jams’ although they all like to drive fast? What are the mechanisms behind stop-and-go traffic? Why are there several different kinds of congestion, and how are they related? Why do most traffic jams occur considerably before the road capacity is reached? Can a temporary reduction of the traffic volume cause a lasting traffic jam? All of this is important to understand from the perspective of intelligent transportation systems. Surprisingly, speed limits can speed up traffic under certain conditions, and traffic lights at on-ramps can reduce the overall travel times. Driver assistance systems have a particularly high potential. Whether it is urban and highway traffic planning or emergency evacuation of a large building, there is a need for prediction of contingencies and to provide viable solutions. Simulation techniques afford such predictions to be made as close as possible to real-life situations. Thus, if a large public building is to be evacuated in case of a fire accident, the spread of smoke and fire in vomitaries like corridors, stairs and lifts can be judged using simulation models. 4.6. Environmental aspect It is not possible these days to ignore the environmental aspects of such an important area as architecture design and its approval in the competition process. These aspects impact the very process of physical construction work and the utilisation of the resultant building during occupation stage, confirming its long-term implications on the environment. To this extent, the judgment process must pay sufficient attention to environmental aspects during competitions. This is facilitated by simulation techniques discussed earlier. Sustainable architecture, also known as ‘Green building’ or ‘green architecture’, is a general term that describes environmentally-conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. In the broad context, sustainable architecture seeks to minimise the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and space development. Sustainable development is a key concept that has gained increasing international acceptance during the last two decades. A milestone in this process was the ‘Brundtland’ report, which defined sustainable development as ‘development that meets the needs of today’s generation without compromising those of future generations’. UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the Earth Summit, established a number of international agreements, declarations and commitments (see table below). Agenda 21, the global action plan for sustainable development, emphasises the importance of integrated environment and development decision-making and promotes the use of EIA and other policy instruments for this purpose. 4.6.1. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) EIA reports are compulsory these days for any major project. EIA is defined as: “The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.”118 It is a part of the decision making process, shown in the figure below. All projects involve negative environmental aspects to a lesser or greater extent and EIA helps in presenting the relevant data for making informed decisions. EIA thus helps to promote sustainable development by ensuring that proposals do not waste critical resources or adversely impact communities. Ecological sustenance is an important area of EIA studies and helps to protect our natural environment. EIA studies permit taking effective balancing actions to mitigate some unavoidable sacrifice of environment. Limitations of EIA It is not uncommon to face a situation where a decision on a particular project has already been taken in principle and EIA reports are tailored to support that decision. Such reports exaggerate the benefits and downplay the negative aspects. Political and business interests create such situations, defeating the very purpose of conducting an EIA study. EIA process provides advice to the decision-makers by presenting the costs and benefits of a project from environmental point of view. Hence it is also likely that some pressure groups may exploit EIA reports to stall progress in spite of balancing options. Tools for EIA Environmental impact assessment tools have been available for some years now and their function is predominantly to predict and assess the environmental impact of building projects. Model based CAD and integrated EIA tools are now available and they can be gainfully employed in architectural competitions. This would facilitate paying good attention to EIA at the initial design phase instead of doing so after a building has been constructed, as is the general practice now. 4.6.2. Life cycle assessment Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a concept that is an extension of environmental concerns. It measures the environmental impact of a product not just at the time of production but over the entire period of its utilisation and disposal as waste at the end of its useful life. Significant studies, particularly in the sphere of consumable packaging, were conducted since the sixties and the periodic energy crises of the mid-seventies onwards helped to realise the importance of LCA. It was not until the mid-eighties and early nineties that a real wave of interest in LCA swept over a much broader range of industries, design establishments and retailers taking many of them by surprise120. LCA evaluates all stages of a product’s life from the perspective that they are interdependent, meaning that one operation leads to the next. LCA enables the estimation of the cumulative environmental impacts resulting from all stages in the product life cycle, often including impacts not considered in more traditional analyses (e.g., raw material extraction, material transportation, ultimate product disposal, etc.)121. By including the impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of the product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product and process selection122. Figure 21 illustrates the possible life cycle stages that can be considered in an LCA and the typical inputs/outputs measured. The LCA process is a systematic, phased approach and consists of four components: goal definition and scoping, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation as illustrated in Figure 22. Some people find LCA useful as a conceptual framework; others as a set of practical tools. Both views are correct depending on the context123. Even scientists and engineers can find ‘life cycle thinking’, a tremendous spur to their creativity and ability to see the wider dimensions of a problem. For Architects and architectural competitions LCA could offer an interesting option to assess the competition designs differently than what has been customary. LCA offers direct view to ecological impact of a design, and that is something architects are not used to. [ 4.7 ] 4.8 Case Digitalo Digitalo (Digital House) was one of the first projects in Finland, which implemented VR/AR technologies throughout a construction project. It is the headquarters of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (later VTT). Prof. Charles Woodward guided the VTT’s teams in research work and applying the VR/AR methods for three-dimensional visualisation of Digitalo’s architectural plans. Funding for this technology development came partly from Senate Properties ( for LumePortti applications, ARonPDA and ARWebCam), and partly from Finnish construction companies and TEKES (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) during the project’s execution stage. This project, with a series of technology applications, was a pioneer in demonstrating the benefits of IT in architecture and construction engineering. Adactive Ltd., a visualisation company created the ‘3D Studio Max’ model and used it to create the first still image visualisations of the building (Figure 45) before the construction work began in 2003. The model was then ported to VTT’s proprietary CAVE system ‘LumePortti’ (i.e., Virtual Gate) for immersive VR visualisation to facilitate user interaction by means of data gloves and space mouse (Figure 47) as well as live experience of a virtual walk through, as the visuals are projected on a screen. Further, another technology development viz., ‘ARonPDA’ made it possible to display the virtual building outdoors at the construction site (Figure 48). This was followed by the application of ‘ARWebCam’ enabling access through the Internet as well. Thus, the planning committee, the end users and virtually anyone on the Internet were enabled to see the construction progress in real time and space (Figure 50). Using the PTZ camera and clipping planes enabled by the system, users could also see close up views of their future office spaces. As the project neared completion in 2005, ‘ARScaleModel’ was implemented for viewing the virtual building on a conference table with data glasses (Figures 49, 51 & 52) and enabling interaction on the finishing stages of a project like interiors of rooms, furniture and furnishing, greenery around the Otaniemi campus area etc. Technologies employed included ‘3Dterrain’, ‘3D geographic maps, “LumePortti’ detailed room models, ‘ARInteriors’ and digital cameras. Based on the experience gained on Digitalo, VTT’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Team is now exploiting mobile technologies to develop ‘ARMobile’, ‘AROnSite’ and ‘ARPhone’ programmes that do away with the need for servers. Read More