Sleiman Azar

TOWNSCOPE II - A computer system to support solar access decision-making

Abstract TOWNSCOPE II is a computer system devoted to support solar access decision-making in a sustainable urban design perspective. The software consists of a three-dimensional urban information system coupled with solar evaluation tools. We’ve paid particular attention to the fact that numerical results interpretation proves to be all but trivial in complex built environments. It is nevertheless a crucial aspect in decision-making, especially for current negotiated urban design practices. Therefore it is important to develop visual instruments in order to unveil the geometrical mechanisms lying behind the final results. Various spherical projections were thereby developed, each of them presenting specific advantages and disadvantages for solar access visualisation and/or evaluation purposes.

A freehand-sketch environment for architectural design supported by a multi-agent system

This paper presents an on-line system for capturing and interpreting architectural sketches. The prototype is based on a multi-agent system, which enables real-time management of recognition scenarios. We describe the different types of agents, their characteristics, the basic mechanisms involved in interpreting freehand architectural drawings and the collaboration modes between agents. Finally, we illustrate the general operations of the system by a short example.

A multi-agent system for the interpretation of architectural sketches

Architects widely resort to sketch during their early phase of design, because sketching appears to be the most adapted mean to express and to manipulate creative ideas. In order to assist the designers during this inventive phase of work we have developed EsQUIsE-SMA, an on-line system for capturing and interpreting architectural sketches. This prototype is based on a MAS, MultiAgent System, which enables real time management of recognition scenarios. This paper describes the basic mechanisms involved by EsQUIsE-SMA to interpret free hand architectural drawings : the sketch as an evolutive environment, the agent types for stroke analysis and the collaboration modes between agents. The conclusions deduce the salient characteristics for a MAS dedicated to sketch analysis.

Multicriteria and Multiple Actors Tool Aiding to Optimise Building Envelope at the Architectural Sketch Design

The PC software AMCE is proposing building actors (owner, project authors ...) a Mul- tiple Criteria Decision Aid procedure (MCDA) to optimise the building envelope about cost and energy performances, during the sketch design. Two main modules are linked, where the user interactively goes: - the first one manages parameters describing the project requirements; - the graphic pen-based module allows to draw the sketch; it calculates geometric parameter values and put them back in the first module. Permanently informed on forseeable performances, the user can any time search for optimal sce- nario giving best satisfaction (monoactor optimisation) or most preferred compromise (muliactors optimisation).