Parametric Form-Based Codes: Incorporation of land-use regulations into Building Information Models

Abstract

This project describes investigations into whether parametric modeling using a Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform can represent the provisions and constraints of Form-Based Codes (FBCs). BIM software environments couple 3D modeling with parametric form generation and rich semantics. Further capabilities of an Application Programming Interface that supports Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) results in a very powerful environment for expressing planning and design concepts. While these capabilities were developed under the intention of supporting building design, we hypothesize that they can support planning rules and regulations that are found in FBCs. If our approach is successful, future planning departments will be able to provide architects and urban designers with a FBC that is implemented as a BIM software toolkit, better integrating the planning phase of a project into the building design phase.