Conference Proceedings – distributing knowledge in building International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction CIB w78 conference 2002 Aarhus School of Architecture, 12 – 14 June 2002 1 Theme: Title: From design information management to virtual design prototyping Author(s): Alexander Koutamanis Institution(s): Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands E-mail(s): a.koutamanis@bk.tudelft.nl Abstract: Architectural practice is currently characterized by intensive (if not always intelligent or efficient) use of computerized tools for rather strictly defined tasks. Especially in areas like representation computerization is rapidly becoming the obvious solution, even though the efficiency and effectiveness of existing tools has yet to match the requirements of current architectural problems or the performance of related disciplines. Attempts to improve on existing representations fall under two main approaches. The first is the bottom-up development of structure and meaning in the representations used for each application area and bilateral correlation of these representations. The second is institutional classification and standardization of design information for all application areas. Both approaches aim at design information management using a central representation that integrates partial descriptions. The true potential of this representation is virtual design prototyping. The demands and possibilities of virtual design prototyping generate specific expectations for the evolution of design information management. A promising solution is the derivation of entity standardization and correlation not from conventional (apparent) domain knowledge and current computer practices but from the cognitive principles which provide a comprehensive yet compact basis for a radical re-consideration of architectural representation. Keywords: representation, design information management, virtual prototyping Computerization in architecture Architectural applications have attracted significant attention in computational theory and technology from early on. Nevertheless, architectural practice is a relatively late arrival to computerization following the electronic revolution of the 1990s –or more precisely, the democratization and popularization of ICT in that period. The democratization of ICT has proved a deeper and more lasting influence on architectural computerization than the numerous methods and techniques that had been proposed by academic research into computer-aided architectural design (CAAD). Consequently, current computerization in architectural practice is characterized by intensive use of commercial tools for rather strictly defined tasks. These tools derive from either general-purpose software (text processing, spreadsheets, database management) or from software developed for related disciplines (geometric modelling, visualization, simulation). The relatively weak influence of CAAD on the application of such software means that computerization in practice may not be as intelligent or efficient as advertized. This is accentuated by the hasty introduction of new tools by commercial developers who are more interested in an early market share and rely on future adaptation in response to user feedback. Moreover, practice is exercising a disproportionate influence on CAAD research and teaching, which are increasingly preoccupied with commercial software as applied in practice rather than the improvement of performance in the corresponding tasks by means of computational methods and techniques. Despite the comparatively poor performance of current approaches and techniques, computerization is generally accepted as the undeniable solution in crucial areas such as representation and communication. Activities without the computer in such areas are becoming unthinkable. The dominance of computational techniques in these areas is not impeded by the generally acknowledged fact that efficiency and effectiveness of existing tools have yet to match the requirements of current architectural problems. What makes this even worse is that the performance of tools for architectural design and building are clearly inferior to what is already achieved in related areas. Investment in architectural computerization is apparently justified more by the modernity of ICT than measurable improvements in efficiency, quality or other aspects of design and building performance. Construction Informatics Digital Library http://itc.scix.net/ paper w78-2002-52.content