Parameterize urban design codes with BIM and Object-Oriented Programming

Abstract

There has been a significant need for the new urban design apparatus that carries out performance analyses of the urban models, since the code reform movements focused on the sustainable urban developments. This research explores the use of parametric Building Information Modeling to enable stakeholders to intuitively understand the implications and consequences of urban design codes. We investigate whether key regulations can be captured as algorithms and ontologies in parametric BIM and Object-Oriented Programming. Then we present our prototype of parametric urban models in a BIM platform that explains (1) the extent which urban design code information can be parameterized in BIM and (2) the methods how parametric models can hold code information. The results show that our prototype enables real-time manipulations of code requirements and interactive visualization of code allowances. © 2013, The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong, and Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture (CASA), Department of Architecture-NUS, Singapore.