Marianthi Leon

Cloud and Computer Mediated Collaboration in the Early Architectural Design Stages: A Study of Early Design Stage Collaboration Related to BIM and the Cloud

Efficient collaborative design during the early design stages in architecture is a condition for effective overall design and construction and visual and tactile interfaces can facilitate and support collaborative design leading to promoting communication and effective information exchange. The collaborative design process is captured nowadays within shared Building Information Models (BIMs) that bridge spatial, temporal and conceptual barriers, and the technological means for sharing that information are based on cloud technologies. Nevertheless, BIM models tend to be focused on detailed and construction design stages while the current paradigm on early stages conceptual design tends towards still using analogue means of communication. The focus of this paper is about bridging the conceptual design stage with the later detailed design BIM ones by using tactile and tangible interfaces and digital and cloud technologies. As a result, the information and initial ideas are effectively transferred between the different design stages. A specific case study is presented to illustrate the conceptual design process of a multidisciplinary focus group using both analogue means and tactile and tangible user interfaces (TUIs).

Towards a computer mediated methodology for collaborative design during the early architectural design stages

Effective design collaboration during the early design stages in architecture is a condition for effective overall design and construction. This can be facilitated, supported and promoted through visual technological means. Collaborative design protocols implemented within the engineering fields (electrical and mechanical) can be adapted to the built environment design with emerging augmented reality technologies being the enablers for that shift. Architectural design requires a strongly visual approach to communication and means through which multiple disciples can collaborate effectively. Therefore, the aim of the research is to investigate principles and protocols to assist early design stage collaborative design among multidisciplinary teams, through visual and tactile user interfaces. This paper explores the current paradigm in AEC (architecture, engineering and construction), design collaboration and multidisciplinary group dynamics during the early design and conceptual stages in architecture. Afterwards, a design protocol is suggested, literature review regarding collaborative design and design protocols is summarized and further research is proposed on optimization and standardization of early design collaborative design in AEC.

Scan To BIM: The Development Of A Clear Workflow For The Incorporation Of Point Clouds Within A BIM Environment

The emergence in recent years of technology to support the use of data rich models within architecture has significantly aided the uptake of building information modelling. Simultaneously, there has been a rapid expansion in the capabilities and widespread use of 3D high definition laser scanning technology. Although laser scanning has often been associated with industries outside of architecture and building (including heavy engineering and oil and gas installations), the potential to record the existing built environment is clear. Indeed, well-established concepts within building and materials conservation concerning the importance of being able to accurately monitor and recognise the importance of surface characteristics are well suited to the use of scanning to capture geometrical idiosyncrasies as well as designed detail. Likewise, the ability to capture structures which are well outside the physical reach of the expert makes the accurate recording of large scale buildings and streetscapes possible, and at a speed and level of accuracy which was not feasible even 15 years ago. This paper concerns a series of workflow stages which are required to incorporate the output of laser scan data within a BIM environment. Although it is possible to import point clouds within industry standard BIM software, in order to make best use of the highly accurate and often massive data files a certain amount of post-processing and modelling is required. We describe a process whereby cloud data can be transformed to produce representative surface meshes, and explore how the resultant models can be linked with meta data within the BIM environment. The development of methods to help the incorporation of already existing environments within BIM will be of great value within FM, building conservation and new design alike. Therefore, the refinement and adoption of clear methods to support such work is a vital step towards BIM maturation. Item was a conference paper presented at the conference of same name held in Bristol, 9-11 September 2015.

Analysis Of Collaborative Design And Decision Making Through Argumentation Applied For Pre-BIM Stages

The early design stages are the most vital for the development of the design of a building project and the decisions taken during these steps are significant for the further progress of the project, regarding aspects like cost, performance, reliability and sustainability. Being able to trace backwards the thoughts that led to these decisions at any point of the design process provides clarity and transparency during the decision making process. Additionally, monitoring the design steps and decisions can lead to further observations on the effects of the design decisions during the early design stage, thus leading to a more sustainable and holistic design approach. This paper claims that efficient monitoring of the decision steps can be achieved employing a computational model of argumentation. Argumentation-based reasoning helps identify the rationale for a decision (i.e. arguments) and the relationships (i.e. attacks and preferences) between conflicting issues involved in making decisions. Our approach provides a method to rigorously trace the resolution of conflicts by extracting the set of acceptable arguments that led to a decision, and may eventually assist designers in analysing complex collaborative decisions within a pre-Building Information Modelling context. This paper was presented at the International Conference on Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Design, Construction and Operations, held in Bristol, 9-11 September 2015.

Making collaboration work: application of a conceptual design stages protocol for pre-BIM stages.

This paper presents the application of a Conceptual Design Stages Protocol during feasibility stages within a multidisciplinary design team, for the purpose of bridging the gap between ideas generation and their representation in later and more advanced design stages. Increased effort during the early and conceptual design is a prerequisite for effective and sustainable overall design and construction. Consequently, shift of the effort towards feasibility stages aims to tackle problems with workflow, education and organisation of design teams at the very beginning of a project. Furthermore, the application of an organised process during conceptual design could further support a multi-party agreement, hence enhancing the potentials of collaboration and coordination for the entirety of a project. This paper demonstrates the Conceptual Design Stages Protocol as an organised process encompassing different professionals, technologies and means for communication that has been tested in a conceptual stage study and the outcomes have been incorporated within BIM. The impact of this Protocol on designers cognitive, physical, perceptual and collaborative actions is presented and the first pre-BIM Protocol is established. This was a paper presented at the International Conference on Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Design, Construction and Operations, held in Bristol, 9-11 September 2015.

Dialogue Types for Collaborative Design: A Front-End BIM Application

Collaborative design is an iterative process of selecting and evaluating solutions in the presence of several potentially conflicting requirements dictated by different professional expertise and preferences, a concept central to Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation. In previous research, we showed that the core decision process can be better understood using argumentation-based models of practical reasoning. This allows the identification of the rationale and the relationships between conflicting issues, thus providing clarity and transparency for decisions achieved. This paper aims to take one step further in modelling this process, and suggests a novel methodological approach that translates collaborative, conceptual and perceptual activities related to design processes undertaken by design and construction professionals to correspondent argumentative dialogue types such as information seeking, deliberation and negotiation. Computational models of dialogue identify protocols for collaboration establishing reasons and evidence of claims made and joint identification of goals and solutions. Therefore, the proposed argumentative dialogue permits the formalisation of collaboration analysis, design decision steps can be monitored and the dependency relationships between professionals involved and decisions taken can be traced. Future research would develop a computational model to be employed by intelligent software agents to assist professionals in analysing complex collaborative decisions.

Development of a Computational Design Application for Interactive Surfaces

This paper presents the development and testing of a computational design tool applicable on a Tangible User Interface for conceptual design stages. Drawing and sketching are spatial and hap tic processes for conceptualizing and communicating ideas especially within design teams of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry. Therefore, the application of interactive surfaces within co-located collaborative design teams provides an integration of different sensory modalities, including visual and hap tic, thus resulting into a richer and more coherent design experience. The paper explores the evolution of technology related to design systems and describes the development of a conceptual design application for a M.S. Pixel Sense. This development was part of an action-based research and the evolution of the software during a number of tests with design professionals is presented accordingly. Eventually, the paper concludes with suggestions for further research on augmented reality applications for design processes within the built environment.