Interactive feasibility-based CAAD system for infrastructure and open space planning in housing project design

Abstract

The decision support system developed in this research is aimed to the conceptual scheme of project focusing on infrastructure planning and open space design in the architectural context for housing project. Alternative design sets are provided within the limitations, and possibilities to be further evaluated appropriately. This system helps architects and developers to analyze relationships of physical environment, architectural requirements and the overall of project-related factors with real-time cost estimation. Factors for cost estimation derived from the beginning to the end of project will be manipulated simultaneously. Architects and developers can use this design simulation to address the physical data with real-time cost estimation, provide alternative results, and design evaluation for overall project's feasibility. The software of our research is not just a tool for design & planning automation in feasibility analysis. It will be an interactive decision support system for both developers and planners aspects. The system was developed by SketchUp Ruby Application Programming Interface. The results will be presented into two ways. Firstly, 2D and 3D modeling will be used for interactive visualization in design and planning of the beginning process. Subsequently, numbers and additional factors in details will be used to show relationship between architectural environment and feasibilitybased information to help architects and developers collaboratively analyze the land use planning and open space design for housing project. In evaluation process, the developed software is tested with the project preceding and the future project of Bangkok area under constraints and regulations of Building Control Act of Thailand. In conclusion, this system will make effectiveness in design process and management of the construction knowledge. The decision support systems should be designed to makes explicit use of both planning analysis aspect and knowledge-based decision making.