Design and validation of dynamic hierarchies and adaptive layouts using spatial graph grammars

Abstract

With the thinking paradigm shifting on the evolution of complex adaptive systems, a pattern-based design approach is reviewed and reinterpreted. Although a variety of long-term and lasting explorations on patterns in geographical analysis, environmental planning, and design exist, in-depth investigations into a formalized framework, the process and mechanics of pattern formation, and pattern-based planning and design methodologies are still absent. To face this challenge, our research focuses on spatial cognition-based pattern design (for an intelligent and adaptive/interactive environment in planning and design), inspired by the information theory of complex systems and formal semantics of spatial information. A computational analysis method and design methodology is presented using the spatial graph grammars (SGG) formalism, for the structural complexity of two-dimensional spatial layouts. The proposed model consists of abstract syntax, together with the consistent rules of spatial-semantic compositionality, within a unified and formalized framework. In our model, pattern formation results from dynamic hierarchies and adaptive layouts (driven by complex dynamics and controlled by relevant spatial-semantic specifications) within multiple cognitive levels. Our work demonstrates the application potential of incorporating a novel computational tool (in the field of software engineering, data mining, and information visualization/visual analytics) into environmental planning and design.