THE USE OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

A term paper written and compiled by

Nwafor Ifeoma .C
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA.
COURSE TITLE:

Computer Application In Architectural

Design Process.

COURSE CODE:

Arc. 771

LECTURER: LEVEL: DATE:

Arc. I.O Okereke

MSc.1 July 2011

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INTRODUCTION The advent of computer technology has impacted heavily on most professions and discipline without the exception of architecture profession. Whether we like it or not, this enigmatic technological master piece called computer has made a brazing trail in the architectural design process. No architectural office worth its salt and ingredients can claim completeness without the existence of computer and its applications in the architectural design process. With the underlying importance of computer application as stated in the paragraph above, one may be tempted to ask the following question: What is architecture and architectural design processes? How has the use of computer and its applications impacted the architectural design process? Are there any advantages of using computer application in architectural design process over the use of manual method? In this paper, the nitty- gritty of these questions were dealt with, all aspects thoroughly detailed and best possible answers provided. Thank you.

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COMPUTER APPLICATION DESIGN PROCESS.

IN

ARCHITECTURAL

Before we go into the application of computer in architectural design process, it is necessary to first of all understand what architecture is and also have an idea of what an architectural design process is all about. What is architecture? Architecture is the art and science of building design. From this definition, one can still ask what a building design is? To understand the meaning of a building design, let us look at the individual meaning of the two words: - building and design. A building is an assemblage that is firmly attached to the ground and that provides total or nearly total shelter for machines, processing equipment, performance of human activities, storage of human possessions, or any combination of these. N/B- an assemblage is the fixing or putting together of two or more components of an object. Design is the process of formulating, creating and planning a functional assemblage(e.g., a building) in order to satisfy specific objectives(e.g., shelter) and subject to constraints and restrictions(eg, the owners preferences) and consisting of two or more components that are interrelated and compatible, each component being essential to the required performance of the assemblage/structure (building). N/B- from the definition above, design is a process. therefore, Building design is the process of providing all information necessary for construction of a building that will meet its owners requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety requirements.
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1.0

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS: - MEANING AND INFERENCE

In the previous page, weve looked at the definition of architecture and design. So let us look at meaning of a process in order for us to get the full picture of what architectural design process is all about. A process is a rational, orderly series of steps that leads to the best decision for a given set of conditions. Therefore, architectural design process is the art and science of providing all necessary information in a rational orderly series of steps for the construction of a building that will meet its owners requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety requirements. Concisely, architectural design process is a way of structuring the order in which a vast number of architectural decision are made.
1.1 COMPUTER APPLICATION IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS.

INTRODUCTION

A computer is an electronic and versatile machine that has the ability to accept data (input), stores these data in memory, process these data according to well defined set of finite sequence of logically related instruction, and produce without human intervention, an intelligible result (output) otherwise known as information. Characteristics of computer Versatility:-the computer has proved to be versatile since it can be programmed at different times to perform different functions. This made possible by the use of programmed software.
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 Speed:- computers are extremely fast. In amateur of minutes, the computer can carry out many tasks that can take human being a lifetime to complete. It only requires to be given the right set of instruction or procedure. Reliability and accuracy: - computer has advantage over humans in terms of reliability and accuracy. If programmed or instructed correctly, computers are extremely accurate and reliable devices because they can be trusted to provide accurate results where precision are required. They are not liable to fatigue like human beings. Computer application in architectural design process deals with ways in which computers can be used to aid the design process especially in terms of speed, accuracy, precision, e.t.c So, one can ask: How can computers help in architectural design process? To understand how computers can help in the architectural design process, we need to know the various phases/stages of Architectural design process and simultaneously analyze how computers can help the architect in each of these processes in terms of speed, accuracy, reliability, cost, replication/repetition, communication, optimization,

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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

As stated earlier, architectural design process is a way of structuring the order in which a vast number of architectural decision are made. Architectural design processes can be grouped into six stages, these includes a. Conceptual stage b. Schematic synthesis c. Planning/ design development d. Presentation/communication e. collaboration f. Working Drawing g. archiving 2.1 CONCEPTUAL STAGE:

The conceptual stage is the first stage of the design process. Here the architect/designer is concerned with getting a clear picture or perception of what he intends to design and also equips himself with sound knowledge of what it will take to achieve the best possible design for his client. This stage can be further categorized into the following phases Brief: the architect takes a list of the clients requirements, the cost range for the project, the maximum duration for the design process, the number of spaces that he wants e.t.c Programming: after the collection of the brief, the architect goes on to develop a detailed time budget and schedule for the project. The schedule of program should be concise and straight to the point and should be easily comprehended at quick glance.
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Data collection: after the development of schedule of program/ time budget, the architect goes on to empower himself with knowledge as it concerns the project at hand. The categories of information that the architect needs to equip himself includes Literature Review: the architect studies the various literatures that are available on the design at hand. These literature can be in the form of textbooks, magazines, and he expects to find information that can lead him to achieving the ideal space size, anthropometrics involved in the design, the central aim of the design, design considerations for fire safety, acoustics, lighting, ventilation, escape route e.t.c Case study: here the architect goes on to research about existing structures on the design project. He can ask the end users of the building about their perception of the building, what they like most about the building and its environs and what about the building they dislike most or that makes them very uncomfortable. Building code and covenant review: the architect at this point should enquire the from the local building authority about the various codes governing the design and erection the particular building in question.

2.1.1

How Computers Aids Us In The Conceptual Stage Of Design

Since the conceptual stage is the stage of data collection, data transfer, and synthesis of the information gathered, the following computerized tools can help the architect in this stage

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Sending data and receiving data: Email: the electronic mail is the most popular internet service. The architect and his client can actually send messages with one another using the email. This includes Yahoo mail, Google mail,Msn mail, Windows live mail, e.t.c. and can allow you to send or retrieve information of up to10MB Appraisals The email is far cheaper than telephone conversation especially if it is a long distance call. The email is very fast as file transfer takes place within seconds. This makes it faster than letter writing, way bill or booking an appointment to meet physically. It allows the transfer of other data types such as image, sound and video. It is able to deliver mail to a large number of people with just a click. Internet search: the internet is a global network of computers that provides a variety of resources and data to the people that uses it. The internet can help the architect hunt and gather information by using World Wide Web: this is a global system of linked web pages containing links to information and content. -Search engines: search engines helps you find and access information -News and mailing list: allows user to access and share current and historical news. -Chat application: allows the user to exchange messages in real time -Conferencing: combines several communication methods for online meeting -File transfer protocols: this a system that allows sending and retrieving data files over a network of computers
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2.2

SCHEMATIC STAGE:

The schematic stage is the second phase of the design process. After the architect has synthesized the information gathered in the conceptual stage and with a clear picture of what he intends to design, the architect can now go ahead to translate requirements into spaces, relate the spaces and makes sketches, called schematics, to illustrate the concepts. This group of activities here is called the space analysis. To translate requirements into spaces, the architect needs to develop his space requirement schedule and accommodation schedule. In his space requirement schedule, he makes a listing of the necessary spaces that is needed, and determines their functions. Then, from there he goes on to make a list of the standard dimension the space is required to accommodate. After the translating the spaces, he then goes on to relate the spaces to one another. Here he makes use of space zoning, bubble diagram and functional flow chart to determine the effective functional relationship of one space to another. Sketches are made once the space translation and space relation is completed. The sketches are normally single line and freehand sketches. The sketch communicates the idea the architect has in mind, relating it to construction reality. Continual adjustment is made to the sketch until a balance is struck between the clients desires and what is realistic or possible. N/B: the schematic synthesis is a design phase in which sketches used to develop a concept that relates to the client desires, architectural, engineering and construction requirements. Design emerges by adjusting each of the aforementioned factors until a concept is finalized.
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2.2.1

How Computers Aids In The Schematic Synthesis Of Design.

Since the schematic synthesis is the stage of translating requirements into spaces, relating the spaces and making schematic sketches, the following computer tools that can help him in this process include Creating space requirement: Microsoft office tools: a lot of Microsoft office tools can help the architect in developing his space requirement schedule and accommodation schedule. Since this requires the use of graphic tools like letters, tables, shapes, charts, pictures,e.t.c, Microsoft tools like Microsoft power point, Microsoft words, Microsoft office publisher, e.t.c Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft words, Microsoft office publisher are very effective software that combines texts and statements with interesting pictures, charts, tables, symbols and shapes which can help the architect in creating his space analysis schedules. Relating spaces: The architect can use computer aided design software like AutoCAD, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft words, and Microsoft office publisher to create his space zoning, bubble diagrams and functional flow chart. This is because these programs can be manipulated by an architect to give him the exact thing of what he intends to design.

Making sketches The architect make his sketch on paper and scan it into his computer from which he can continue working on his design using his computer.
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Also, the use of stylus pen on digitizing tablets can enable the architect in sketching his work. A Stylus pen is a pointing device used with a graphics tablet To draw or point, the user touches the pen tip to the surface of the tablet. Selections and commands can be controlled through pressing a button on the stylus or pressing the stylus against the tablet's surface. The stylus is preferred by artists because its results most closely resemble freehand illustration and because the stylus allows a great deal of manual control. Graphics Tablet also called a digitizing tablet is flat plastic rectangle with subsurface electronics, used in conjunction with a pointing device in many engineering and design applications as well as in illustration work. When the pointing device is moved on the surface of the tablet, the location of the device is translated to a specific on-screen cursor position. The pointing device used with a graphics tablet is usually a pen (also called a stylus).

2.3

PLANNING/DESIGN DEVELOPMENT STAGE:

The planning stage is the same as the design development stage. Once the concept of a design is finalized, the emerged design in its sketchy form is developed to its standard form using a standard architectural scale. The transferring of a sketchy plan into a standard drawing format using a scale a known scale is called drafting. This process of developing a sketchy design (drafting) also is simultaneous with the planning of the design. As scaled dimension is being applied, the architect may notice one or more necessary adjustment which may also alter part of the plan and a partial concurrent planning may occur. In architectural design process, design development and planning encompasses the design of the floor plan, roof plan, section, elevation, site plan, specifications, e.t.c
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The floor plan is a result of the architects synthesis of what internal and external spaces the client needs, the sizes of these spaces, their relative locations, and their interconnections. The elevation is the drawing of the exterior appearance of the building. The site plan is a drawing that shows the location and orientation of the building. The architect also prepares the specifications for the building. These describe in detail the materials and equipment to be installed in the structure.

2.3.1

How Computers Aids In Planning/Design

Development Stage:

The planning stage is the same as the design development stage. There are lots of computer aided design/drafting software that can be used in making automated architectural drafting. CAD is software for making precise architectural and engineering drawing. CAD software includes the following: AutoCad ArchiCad Autodesk architectural desktop Autocad architecture Sketchup Revit, e.t.c One thing that is most common with CAD software is that they provide partial automation that facilitates repetitive design. The use of mirror, move, copy, rotate, helps the designer to repeat his drawing without necessarily having to draw it all over again.
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The use of scale and stretch helps to scale down or scale up a drawing to a given scale whereas in the manual drafting, the architect may have to scale his drawings by measuring the dimension of point A to point B of the existing plan, finding the dimension of point A to be point B on a scale rule, then, drawing the line point A to point B with the new scale. By the time the architect finish picking all this points one after the other, a great deal of time would have passed him by but with CAD, he can simply scale the whole drawing with just one click. 2.4 PRESENTATION/COMMUNICATION STAGE:

In this stage the architect is to represent the building with a model which will enable him communicate to the client better on how the building will look like. Also it enables him and other building professional to analyze the design and evaluate its performance. The model should be simple, consistent with the role for which it is selected, for practical reasons. The purpose of this presentation stage is to achieve optimization. Optimization is known as the process of selecting a single best design option for a given set of condition. The use of models enables us to achieve this by reflecting a design decision in our models and see what it looks like, we may continue with this until a best design solution is achieved.

2.4.1

How Computers Aids In Presentation/Communication

Stage:

Simulation which can be defined as the reproduction of the essential features of something, e.g. as an aid to study or training, is another method of achieving optimization in a design with large number of variables which involves trial and error with a model that looks like the actual building/design. In simulation, the properties of the system or

model are adjusted with a specific input or range of inputs to the system, and outputs or performance is measured until an optimum result is obtained. Virtual reality (VR) is a system that enables one or more users to move and react in a computer-simulated environment. Various types of devices allow users to sense and manipulate virtual objects much as they would real objects. This natural style of interaction gives participants the feeling of being immersed in the simulated world. Virtual worlds are created by mathematical models and computer programs. Virtual reality simulations differ from other computer simulations in that they require special interface devices that transmit the sights, sounds, and sensations of the simulated world to the user. These devices also record and send the speech and movements of the participants to the simulation program.

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To see in the virtual world, the user wears a head-mounted display (HMD) with screens directed at each eye. The HMD also contains a position tracker to monitor the location of the user's head and the direction in which the user is looking. Animation, is a series of motion pictures created by recording a series of still imagesdrawings, objects, or people in various positions of incremental movementthat when played back no longer appear individually as static images but combine to produce the illusion of unbroken motion. An architect can communicate to his design to his client and other interested people with use of motion pictures called animation. In most animated design, the basic communication that is being relayed is the flow of movement. It informs the client on how movement flows in his building without the architect having the architect to do the explanation himself. 2d renderings, are two dimensional drawings which can also be used to communicate information to the client. Computer softwares that can aid us in developing these means of communication includes but Autocad ArchiCad Autodesk architectural desktop Autocad architecture Sketchup Revit, Usually, after the modeling of the building, other real life elements are added to the modeled building so as to create a real life effect. Trees, skies, green grasses, vegetation e.t.c are incorporated into the model. A times the software used in the modeling of the building can also be used to introduce these real life elements and on the other hand basic rendering software are used to the give the model a finishing touch. These rendering softwares includes
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 2.5

Vray 3d max Atlantis studio Adobe Photoshop WORKING DRAWINGS

Once the architect has achieved an optimum design with the aid of inputs and advice of the other consultants, and with the approval of the client, he can now proceed with the working drawing. The working drawings are contractual document and a given set of instruction to the structural engineer, service engineers, the quantity and cost estimator and the builder, e.t.c The working drawing annotates the dimension for the various component of the design and also annotates the overall dimension of the entire design. It includes details and sections of a particular area of the building and shows the horizontal and vertical dimension of the building, drawn according to a known scale. Without it, it will be very difficult for other professionals in the building industry to contribute their own professional input in the design process.

2.5.1

How Computers Aids In Working Drawing Stage:

The major use of cad is in the production of working drawings. Most cad software contains command tools like dimension, dimension edit, AEC dimension, dimension text, text, mirror text e.t.c The use of Cad software has gone to an advanced stage in the production of working drawings in the sense that at one click all the dimensions of a side of the building will instantly be given and the architect can now edit the unwanted dimensions.
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One area that the use of computers in architecture excels exceedingly is in the provision of building information models. Building Information Models (BIM)

2.6

COLLABORATION:

At this stage, the architect gives out the drawing to the various consultants involved in the project, liases with them in any case conflicting issues and then collects and collates the entire drawings from other professionals together with the architectural drawing which now form a legal contract document, ready for bidding by building contractors.

2.6.1 How Computers Aids In Collaboration Stage:

A lot of computers application that can help us in collaborating with other building professions and consultants includes Email: Email can be used to send messages across and also drawing files can attached to these email messages. file attachment allows people to share essentially any file in any format using an email. Chat application: chat application like yahoo messenger, facebook chat, 2go,Microsoft messenger, [Link] allows users to share messages in real time. Conferencing: conferencing combines several communication methods (calls, messaging, chat, e.t.c) for online meeting. The meeting can take place using varieties of tools like audio, video, chat, whiteboard presentation, file sharing, desktop sharing, e.t.c File transfer protocols: this a system for sending and retrieving data files over a network of computers.
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2.7

ARCHIVING/STORAGE:

Part of good office management is document control and record keeping. Much information is received, disseminated, and collated in the course of architectural design. The data should be maintained in an organized manner for future reference and archival purposes. The architect should establish an office procedure for document control, record keeping, and document storage beyond the life of the project to ensure easy retrieval. There are many computerized systems that can aid the architect in catalog filing and information retrieval. For project documentation, it can be further categorized into class of building, number of rooms, number of storey, number of ensuite room, location, client name, date of design,

2.7.1

How to search for a drawing document with hidden details

For the architect to search for a drawing which he has forgotten the details of the drawing, he needs to first solve this problem in the early stage of the archiving process by first of all organizing the drawing in a set of predefined, orderly and standard format. Storage without organization is useless. There are some application software with which he can take a cursory look from and arrange his own storage format. This include TEXPROS: (Text Processing System) is an automatic document processing system which supports text-based information representation and manipulation, conveying meanings from stored information within office document texts. A dual modeling approach is employed to describe office documents and support document search and retrieval.
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The frame templates for representing document classes are organized to form a document type hierarchy. Based on its document type, the synopsis of a document is extracted to form its corresponding frame instance. According to the user predefined criteria, these frame instances are stored in different folders, which are organized as a folder organization (i.e., repository of frame instances associated with their documents). The concept of linking folders establishes filing paths for automatically filing documents in the folder organization. By integrating document type hierarchy and folder organization, the dual modeling approach provides efficient frame instant access by limiting the searches to those frame instances of a document type within those folders which appear to be the most similar to the corresponding queries. This paper presents an agent-based document filing system using folder organization. Storage architecture is presented to incorporate the document type hierarchy, folder organization and original document storage into a three-level storage system. This folder organization supports effective filing strategy and allows rapid frame instance searches by confining the search to the actual predicate-driven retrieval method. A predicate specification is proposed for specifying criteria on filing paths in terms of user predefined predicates for governing the document filing. From the above paragraph, the following deduction can be made and applied to the process of archiving of architectural drawings:TextPros makes use of text to represent and convey meaning from stored information within an office document. It involves a dual approach of Describing office document using text Supporting search and retrieval
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Framed templates are used to represent document classes to form a document type hierarchy. For example, document classes can be applied to the storage of architectural drawing by grouping them into the various building classes like residential building, commercial buildings, educational and research building, healthcare buildings, transport facilities e.t.c Document type hierarchy can be formed by further subdivision of each document class. For example, residential building can further be categorized according to the type of residential building which could be duplex, bungalows, apartment buildings, hostels, housing estate. The synopsis of a document type is extracted to form its corresponding frame instances. For example, after classifying the building into duplex, bungalows, apartment buildings, e.t.c, the synopsis of each project that belongs to a particular type of building is adopted to form its frame instances. E.g., under bungalows, we can have folders with frame instances like: 3 bedrooms bungalows, 2 bedroom bungalows, one roomapartment, e.t.c According to the user predefined criteria, these frame instances are stored in different folders, which are organized as a folder organization (i.e., repository of frame instances associated with their documents types). For example, the architect can have about ten drawings (original document) with similar synoptic frame instances, what he has to do is to store these individual drawing files with detailed heading like date, name of client, location of the project, e.t.c. for example, under the frame instance(folder) for the three bedroom bungalow, he can store each clients drawings in this manner, 3 bedroom bungalow for mr Eze with ensuite master bedroom at ufuma (RB3B001), ensuite 3bedroom bungalow for Mr. Okafor at Ogbunike (RB3B002),e.t.c
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To prevent a situation where the searcher has forgotten the details of the drawing and cannot trace it, it will be wise that at the frame instance stage to have a spread sheet in which details of every drawing done by the architect is listed and given a code e.g RB3B001 . R B 3B 001 Residential. Bungalow. 3bedroom serial number In this manner drawing with forgotten details can be looked up for at the spread sheet and the details gotten at a glance. In summary, when the principle of text pros is applied in the storing of architectural drawing the concept of linking folders establishes filing paths for automatically filing documents in the folder organization. By integrating document type hierarchy and folder organization, the dual modeling approach provides efficient frame instant access by limiting he searches to those frame instances of a document type within those folders which appear to be the most similar to the corresponding queries. This strategy is represented as follows

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A. DOCUMENT CLASS

COMMERCIAL

RESIDENTIAL

EDUCATIONAL

B. DOCUMENT YYPE

DUPLEX/MANSIONETTE TTE

C.

FRAME INSTANCE/FOLDER ORGANIZATION

BUNGALOWS CLASS:RESIDENTIAL

APARTMENTS/FLAT S

3BEDROOM

TWO BEDROOM

ONE ROOM APARTMENT

D. ORIGINAL DOCUMENT REPOSITORY

ENSUITE RMS FOR MR EZE AT UFUMA JAN 2011 FOR MR OKAFOR AT OGBUNIKE, MAY 2011

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3. ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN OVER MANUAL MEANS OF DESIGN PRODUCTION. A. Lowers cost of production: the use of computers is cheaper in the sense that it reduces the number of labour to be employed in the design of a project and also increases output. B. provides a partial automation that facilitates repetitive design: the can architect can use repetitive designs to make building prototypes and can also use command like mirror, rotate, copy, e.t.c to repeat design, edit design to make alternatives without necessarily having to redraw the drawings. C. 3d has facilitated the communication between the client and the architect by providing vivid renderings and animations. D. It is considered mainstream practice because cheap to acquire and is accepted by most design firms. E. It communication among design participants for linking to previous projects and for incorporating engineering and financial analysis as early in the project as possible. F. Improves quality by leading to a better design and by improving representation that results to better communication, G. Computer based concurrent design has been identified as a way to increase design interaction. Concurrent design suggests that several designers from different discipline work simultaneously on the same data base by processing data and adding information that is constantly represented in a visual form.

References
a. Building design and construction handbook, sixth edition, frederick f merit and jonathan t ricketts b. Computing in the building process database information. www. [Link]/people/faculty/pollalis/[Link] c. Design in architecture by peter drucker. d. Encarta Encyclopedia e. Wikipedia Encyclopedia

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