Kensuke Yasufuku

Scalable Evacuation Simulation and Visualization Using GPU Computing

In this paper, we will describe our novel approach to real-time visualization of crowd flow using a scalable agent-based evacuation simulation that is suitable for execution on GPUs. To simulate the crowd behavior, we used the social force model in which each individual is represented by a self-driven particle subject to social and physical forces. The social force calculations were executed using CUDA technology, a parallel-processing architecture for many-core GPUs. As a result, the GPU version was shown to have better scalability than the CPU version. In a case study of an evacuation scenario of a large underground shopping mall, the GPU version is approximately seven times faster than the CPU version and was capable of sustaining an interactive frame rate when visualizing the evacuation.

Interactive Visualization for Analysis of Air Traffic Model

This study attempts to develop an agent-based model to simulate aircraft movement considering an air traffic control system and to provide a simulation method for designing an optimum flight schedule. In this paper, we examined interactive visualization methods to compare simulation results with actual flight data, analyze the causes of air traffic congestion, and find clues to optimize the operation plan. Air traffic congestion is a complex phenomenon in which the macro behavior depends on the interaction of individual aircraft. In order to simulate this behavior, we used a cell automaton (CA) model, which was said to be capable of reproducing such phenomena with simple local rule settings. We developed two types of programs to visualize both the simulation results and the actual flight data. The first is a fly-through program to verify aircraft movements in a three-dimensional space from any viewpoint. This program enables instantaneous search and playback of time-series trajectory data. The second is a flight route analysis program to draw two-dimensional tracks based on flight data as well as display additional information, including time, distance, waypoint, and airport. As a result, we herein propose a three-dimensional visualization method to facilitate the intuitive understanding of macro air traffic phenomena by 3D-CG animation of aircraft movement at a high frame rate and provide a visualization system for comparing and analyzing flight routes by graphically displaying numerical data such as flight distance and current position of aircraft.

The Study of “Deconstructivism” in the Field of Architecture

This paper aims to identify the application of the theory of “Deconstruction” to the architectural field. For that purpose, we make a comparative study through an investigation of the definition by the philosopher Jacques Derrida and the architect Bernard Tschumi. First, this study investigates the descriptions written by two curators, P. Johnson and M. Wigley, in the catalog of an exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in order to clarify the definition of “De-constructivism”. Next, this research reveals what Jacques Derrida meant by “deconstruction” by investigating the descriptions written in the book “De la grammatologie” published in 1967. Furthermore, this research clarifies Bernard Tschumi’s architectural theory by investigating the descriptions written in his book “Architecture and Disjunction”, which was published in 1994. In addition, we clarify the influence of Derrida’s deconstruction theory on Tschumi’s building theory through a comparative study. Finally, we clarify the architectural theory that appears in his work by investigating the drawings that were designed by Tschumi in the “Parc de la Villette” project.

A Study on Site Planning of Mountain Temples Through Scene Transition Along the Visiting Route by MOTATION: Case Study of Muroji, Hasedera, and Kinpusenji Temples in Japan

In the 9th century, a new religion that combined Buddhism with mountain worship appeared in Japan, and many mountain temples inspired by this religion were built in Nara Prefecture. The unique site planning of these temples seems to have been devised to encourage faith in visitors. This study aims to identify the characteristics of site planning by analyzing the scenes along the visiting route of each temple, as they change from moment to moment. MOTATION, which was proposed by Lawrence Halprin, is a method for graphically representing the changing appearance of a landscape as a person moves through it. In this research, MOTATION was applied to three mountain temples: Muroji, Hasedera, and Kinpusenji. The visiting route of each temple was described by MOTATION based on videos and pictures. In addition, we graphed and analyzed the relationship between distance, height, and surrounding facilities along the visiting routes. We found that the relationship creates a characteristic scene transition by site-specific planning at each temple. This suggests that such scene transitions were intended to give a spatial impression to visitors.