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Jose Beirao
Universidade de Lisboa, FA - Faculdade de Arquitectura, Faculty Member
- ArchitectUrban DesignerResearcher on CitiesInterested in tool development for supporting urban design and analysisedit
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3D-INFORMED CONVEX SPACES The Automated Generation of Convex Representation for Open Public Space Analysismore
by ljiljana cavic and Jose Beirao
Studies on open public spaces are based on representational models that can until some extent encompass their intrinsic complexity involving some simplification of reality based on tractability purposes and research interests. In order to... more
Studies on open public spaces are based on representational models that can until some extent encompass their intrinsic complexity involving some simplification of reality based on tractability purposes and research interests. In order to construct a representational model for analysis of open public spaces the paper proposes an automated method for space compartmentalization into unique convex non-overlapping spatial units aiming at preserving most of the available structural and semiotic data which could be further visualized and organised in more flexible manner. It addresses the representational issues of open public spaces starting by convex spaces representation, as defined by Space Syntax methodology, looking at its strengths and weaknesses regarding the robustness of rules, sensitivity to tri-dimensional context and importance of topography. Based on that, a 3D-informed algorithm for convex spaces' construction is divided in two main parts: (a) space triangulation; and (b) triangle aggregation for convex space generation. The first part encodes tri-dimensional urban limits, vertical, horizontal and topographical which are further used as the basis for triangulation. The second part allows for triangles' aggregation into convex spaces according to convexity thresholds and a function of space superiority or dominance. Finally, the analytical applicability of the model is demonstrated on the case study of riverside Lisbon whence some advantages of 3D-informed map in comparison to other representational models, such as VGA, RCL and Space Syntax's convex space model are pointed out. In addition, some applications of the new 3D-informed convex map are presented: a) the map makes part of a broader versatile data model; b) the proposed 3D-informed convex spaces are used as the basis for tri-dimensional representational models of Convex, Solid and Fragmented Voids whose generative algorithms are briefly presented.
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by ljiljana cavic and Jose Beirao
Urban environments are defined and modeled in a variety of ways depending on the scientific approach to analyze them. Even though a number of analysis could benefit from using a single model and re-using results of one for the sake of the... more
Urban environments are defined and modeled in a variety of ways depending on the scientific approach to analyze them. Even though a number of analysis could benefit from using a single model and re-using results of one for the sake of the other, so far no single data model is available. Moreover, the existing standardized models focus on describing objects in and around urban architectural void rather than the spaces themselves. Nevertheless, a number of phenomena such as heat, energy, pollution, also including social and mobility aspects would undoubtedly benefit from using a model that is explicitly focused on defining the urban architectural void and its characteristics as continuous field, interconnected network or series of spatial units. Therefore, this paper aims to suggest a versatile data model that would allow to separate, interpret, analyze and visualize the urban architectural void using a standardized automated procedure. The model relies on Gestalt theories for space compartmentalization. It allows performing various kinds of analysis and storing their results in a unified format using core concepts of GIS. The model can be rendered both as a 2D and 3D representation. Finally, user intervention and parameter calibration is allowed at every principal step of an automated procedure.
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Publisher: marhi.ru
Publication Date: 2009
Publication Name: Proceedings of the APDR …
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A shape grammar was developed for analyzing the evolution of Maputo´s slums with the strategic objective of capturing the evolution of house types and understanding the social agreements behind the spatial relations of their house... more
A shape grammar was developed for analyzing the evolution of Maputo´s slums with the strategic objective of capturing the evolution of house types and understanding the social agreements behind the spatial relations of their house elementary spaces in order to reuse such rules for the purpose of rehabilitation. This paper shows preliminary results of the research and aims at developing, based on the resulting grammars, a parametric tool able to execute morphological analyses, simulations and generate improved design solutions for the qualification of Maputo´s informal settlements.
Publication Date: Sep 2013
Publication Name: Computation and Performance – Proceedings of the 31st eCAADe Conference – Volume 2
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Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: Nexus Network Journal
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This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban... more
This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. The goal is to formulate urban program descriptions according to context conditions using a description grammar and generate alternative design solutions using a shape grammar. The generation is guided by several evaluation processes performed by an evaluation module. In this paper we are focusing on the definition of the generic shape grammar using an existent urban plan as a case study. The aim is to encode the design moves of the urban designer into generic grammar rules amenable for specific instantiations through the customization of rule parameters.
More Info: Authors: Beirão, José Nuno; Duarte, José Pinto; Stouffs, Rudi
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Publication Name: Computation: The New Realm of Architectural Design …
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Abstract. Traditional urban plans have defi nitive design systems, without the fl exibility required to deal with the complexity and change that characterise contemporary urban societies. To provide urban plans with increased fl... more
Abstract. Traditional urban plans have defi nitive design systems, without the fl exibility required to deal with the complexity and change that characterise contemporary urban societies. To provide urban plans with increased fl exibility, it is proposed a design methodology capable of producing various design solutions instead of a specifi c defi nitive design. The methodology uses shape grammars as a process for generating urban design. In this approach, design becomes a system of solutions rather than a specifi c one.
Through the analyses of a group of urban plans, a design methodology was
sketched in which rules are used to enable more fl exibility. These plans where chosen for their perceived qualities in terms of language, planning effi ciency, and latent fl exibility. As a result, a four-phased methodology was identifi ed and thus, proposed for designing urban plans. This methodology was then combined with shape grammars and tested in a design studio setting. Students were asked to use the methodology and shape grammars as auxiliary instruments in the design of a fl exible plan for a new town. In the following year, to simulate real-world conditions and oblige students to consider urban ordering and scale, work was structured differently. First, students were asked to develop a rule-based urban plan as in the previous year. Second, they were asked to conceive a detail plan for a sector of an urban plan defi ned by another group of students following its rules.
The plans were then analysed with the goal of refi ning the methodology.
Results show that shape grammars produce urban plans with non-defi nitive formal solutions, while keeping a consistent spatial language. They also provide plans with explicit and implicit fl exibility, thereby giving future designers a wider degree of freedom. Finally, they provide students with a concrete methodology for approaching urban design and foster the development of additional designing skills.
Keywords. Shape grammars, fl exible urban design.
Through the analyses of a group of urban plans, a design methodology was
sketched in which rules are used to enable more fl exibility. These plans where chosen for their perceived qualities in terms of language, planning effi ciency, and latent fl exibility. As a result, a four-phased methodology was identifi ed and thus, proposed for designing urban plans. This methodology was then combined with shape grammars and tested in a design studio setting. Students were asked to use the methodology and shape grammars as auxiliary instruments in the design of a fl exible plan for a new town. In the following year, to simulate real-world conditions and oblige students to consider urban ordering and scale, work was structured differently. First, students were asked to develop a rule-based urban plan as in the previous year. Second, they were asked to conceive a detail plan for a sector of an urban plan defi ned by another group of students following its rules.
The plans were then analysed with the goal of refi ning the methodology.
Results show that shape grammars produce urban plans with non-defi nitive formal solutions, while keeping a consistent spatial language. They also provide plans with explicit and implicit fl exibility, thereby giving future designers a wider degree of freedom. Finally, they provide students with a concrete methodology for approaching urban design and foster the development of additional designing skills.
Keywords. Shape grammars, fl exible urban design.
More Info: Authors: José N. Beirão, TU Lisbon José P. Duarte, TU Lisbon
Publisher: fa.utl.pt
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2005
Publication Name: Proc. 23rd Int. eCAADe Conf
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Abstract. Traditional urban plans use definitive design systems, without the flexibility required to deal with the complexity and change that characterize contemporary urban societies. To conceive urban plans with increased flexibility, a... more
Abstract. Traditional urban plans use definitive design systems, without the flexibility required to deal with the complexity and change that characterize contemporary urban societies. To conceive urban plans with increased flexibility, a shape grammar-based design methodology is proposed which is capable of producing various design solutions instead of a single rigid layout. In this approach the plan is a design system encoding a set of alternative solutions, rather than a single, specific solution. This methodology was developed on the basis of the analysis of existing plans and on a series of experiments undertaken within the controlled environment of design studios. Results show that shape grammars produce urban plans with nondefinitive formal solutions, while keeping a consistent design language. They also provide plans with explicit and implicit flexibility, thereby giving future designers a wider degree of freedom. As a result, they are particularly appropriate for dealing with complexity and change throughout the legal lifespan of the plan. Finally, they provide students with a concrete methodology for approaching urban design, fostering the development of additional design skills.
More Info: José P Duarte, José Beirão
Publisher: ideas.repec.org
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2011
Publication Name: Environment and Planning B: Planning and …
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This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban... more
This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. These three goals, formulation, generation and evaluation are integrated by connecting three modules developed individually for each goal. In this paper we focus on the implementation of the generation module showing a prototype developed on the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of AutoCAD Civil 3D. This implementation attempts to encode the design moves of the urban planner into design patterns supported on grammar formalisms which allow for design synthesis and design exploration in the field of urban design.
Publisher: books.google.com
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
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Assessing Computational Tools for Urban Design Towards a city information model Jorge Gil1, José Beirão 2, Nuno Montenegro 3, José Duarte4 1 ... However, the urban model needs expanding to incorporate a wider range of urban patterns and... more
Assessing Computational Tools for Urban Design Towards a city information model Jorge Gil1, José Beirão 2, Nuno Montenegro 3, José Duarte4 1 ... However, the urban model needs expanding to incorporate a wider range of urban patterns and it still needs analysis and evalua ...
Publication Date: 2010
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Abstract. Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating,... more
Abstract. Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. This chapter describes the theoretical foundations of a research project, called City Induction, aimed at the creation of a model for the development of such an instrument, departing from existing theories, which are integrated through a discursive grammar. The proposed model is composed of three sub-models: (1) a model for formulating urban programs from the analysis and interpretation of the context, based on Alexander’s pattern language; (2) a model for generating urban plans that match the program, based on Stiny’s shape and description grammars; and (3) a model for evaluating urban plans, that can be used for analyzing, comparing and ranking alternative solutions, departing from Hillier’s space syntax. A common urban space ontology guarantees the syntactic and semantic interoperability among the three sub-models. This ontology will be used to structure and codify information into a Geographic Information System (GIS), which will be the kernel for the computer implementation of the larger model. A CAD system is used to construct 3D models from contextual information stored in the GIS. In short, following Stiny and March’s design machines concept, the goal is to create an urban design machine that is able to produce flexible urban plans at the site planning level.
Keywords: urban design, ontology, pattern language, shape grammars, space syntax, GIS, CAD
Keywords: urban design, ontology, pattern language, shape grammars, space syntax, GIS, CAD
More Info: Authors: José P. Duarte1, José N. Beirão1,2, Nuno Montenegro1, Jorge Gil2 1, Technical University of Lisbon, Faculty of Architecture, Rua Sá Nogueira, Pólo Universitário, Alto da Ajuda, 1349-055 Lisboa, Portugal {jduarte, jnb, nmontenegro}@fa.utl.pt 2 Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, PO Box 5043, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands {J.N.Beirao, j.a.lopesgil}@tudelft.nl
Publisher: mendeley.com
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
Publication Name: Transportation
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Publication Date: 2009
Publication Name: Proceedings of 27th Conference on Education of Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe, Istanbul, Turkey
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This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban... more
This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. These three goals, formulation, generation and evaluation are integrated by connecting three modules developed individually for each goal. In this paper we focus on the implementation of the generation module showing a prototype developed on the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of AutoCAD Civil 3D. This implementation attempts to encode the design moves of the urban planner into design patterns supported on grammar formalisms which allow for design synthesis and design exploration in the field of urban design.
Publication Date: 2010
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Abstract: This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and... more
Abstract: This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces
intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation
will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. The goal is to formulate urban program descriptions according to context conditions using a description grammar and generate alternative design solutions using a shape grammar. The generation is guided by several evaluation processes performed by an evaluation module. In this paper we are focusing on the definition of the generic shape grammar using an existent urban plan as a case study. The aim is to encode the design moves of the urban designer into generic grammar rules amenable for specific instantiations through the customization of rule parameters.
Keywords: Shape grammars; patterns; generative urban design.
intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation
will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. The goal is to formulate urban program descriptions according to context conditions using a description grammar and generate alternative design solutions using a shape grammar. The generation is guided by several evaluation processes performed by an evaluation module. In this paper we are focusing on the definition of the generic shape grammar using an existent urban plan as a case study. The aim is to encode the design moves of the urban designer into generic grammar rules amenable for specific instantiations through the customization of rule parameters.
Keywords: Shape grammars; patterns; generative urban design.
More Info: José Beirão1, José Duarte2, Rudi Stouffs3 1,2Faculty of Architecture, TU Lisboa, Portugal, 1,3Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft, Netherlands 1J.N.Beirao@tudelft.nl, jnb@fa.utl.pt, 2jduarte@fa.utl.pt, 3R.M.F.Stouffs@tudelft.nl
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Publication Date: 2011
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One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a system tool to describe and guide the planning of... more
One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate
guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a
system tool to describe and guide the planning of such components of the urban space. This
research explores the problems related to the description and the location of public open
spaces, and defines a system that integrates three distinct and complementary phases –
appraisal, description, and location of public open spaces – each involving a specific
methodology and associated tools. The main purpose is to provide computer-readable
descriptions of patterns for planning urban space, to make available programmatic strategies
and design options to the participants of the urban development process.
Keywords: public space, data mining, urban ontologies, eco-problem solving, patterns
guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a
system tool to describe and guide the planning of such components of the urban space. This
research explores the problems related to the description and the location of public open
spaces, and defines a system that integrates three distinct and complementary phases –
appraisal, description, and location of public open spaces – each involving a specific
methodology and associated tools. The main purpose is to provide computer-readable
descriptions of patterns for planning urban space, to make available programmatic strategies
and design options to the participants of the urban development process.
Keywords: public space, data mining, urban ontologies, eco-problem solving, patterns
More Info: Nuno Montenegro*, José Beirão** and José Duarte*** * Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. Email: research@montenegroandpartners.com ** Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. Email: J.N.Beirao@tudelft.nl *** Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. Email: jduarte@fa.utl.pt
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Abstract Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support... more
Abstract Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities.
Journal Name: ARCHITECTURE
Publication Date: 2010
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We develop a model for an urban design tool based on discursive grammars. The proposed design synthesis process is consistent with a reflective design process. The generative formalism, called urban grammars, is formally defined and a... more
We develop a model for an urban design tool based on discursive grammars. The proposed design synthesis process is consistent with a reflective design process. The generative formalism, called urban grammars, is formally defined and a design methodology for urban design based on urban grammars is proposed and discussed. An urban design is obtained from the application of an arrangement of design patterns called urban induction patterns, each one of them encoded as a discursive grammar replicating a typical recurrent design move. The defined structure is shown to be compatible with the principles of design machines while keeping the reflective structure of the design process.
Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Beirão J, Duarte J, Stouffs R, Bekkering H, 2012, "Designing with urban induction patterns: a methodological approach" Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 39(4) 665 – 682
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Publication Date: 2013
Publication Name: Proceedings of the XVII Conference of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics - SIGraDi: Knowledge-based Design
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This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban... more
This paper presents a shape grammar for planned urban spaces
intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. The goal is to formulate urban program descriptions according to context conditions using a description grammar and generate alternative design solutions using a shape grammar. The generation is guided by several evaluation processes performed by an evaluation module. In this paper we are focusing on the definition of the generic shape grammar using an existent urban plan as a case study. The aim is to encode the design moves of the urban designer into generic grammar rules amenable for specific instantiations through the customization of rule parameters.
intending an implementation for generative urban design. This implementation will form part of an urban design support tool defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. The goal is to formulate urban program descriptions according to context conditions using a description grammar and generate alternative design solutions using a shape grammar. The generation is guided by several evaluation processes performed by an evaluation module. In this paper we are focusing on the definition of the generic shape grammar using an existent urban plan as a case study. The aim is to encode the design moves of the urban designer into generic grammar rules amenable for specific instantiations through the customization of rule parameters.
Publisher: marhi.ru
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Publication Name: Proceedings of the APDR …
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This paper describes public space patterns (PSP) used as basic elements of the City Information Modelling (CIM) model proposed within a larger research project that aims to develop an urban design support tool.
More Info: Authors: Montenegro, Nuno; Beirão, José N.; Duarte, José P.
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This paper presents an assessment of a selection software tools for urban design confronting their capabilities with the goals of the CityInduction research project. The goal of this paper is the assessment of existing platforms for... more
This paper presents an assessment of a selection software tools for urban design confronting their capabilities with the goals of the CityInduction research project. The goal of this paper is the assessment of existing platforms for computer aided urban design to select one as the basis for implementing the urban design model proposed in the CityInduction project. This model includes three sub-models that support the formulation of design programs from contextual information, the exploration of designs solutions through a grammarbased generative approach, and the validation of designs against the program through the use of evaluation tools. To each of these sub-models corresponds a module in the envisioned platform and so, existing platforms are assessed in terms of their ability to support the implementation of each module. The current goal is a proof-of-concept implementation, but the final goal is the development of a complete platform for supporting urban design.
Publisher: books.google.com
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
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Abstract. The street system is an important component of the city ontology created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents may... more
Abstract. The street system is an important component of the city ontology
created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the
many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents
may have about streets. This paper describes several characteristics of the
street system, with its components organized into object classes which are the
shape sets of algebras used by a generation module to generate street network
representations that can be assessed by a GIS platform.
Keywords. Ontology, urban design, shape grammars, planning
created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the
many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents
may have about streets. This paper describes several characteristics of the
street system, with its components organized into object classes which are the
shape sets of algebras used by a generation module to generate street network
representations that can be assessed by a GIS platform.
Keywords. Ontology, urban design, shape grammars, planning
More Info: José Beirão. Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft, The Netherlands / TU Lisboa, Portugal. J.N.Beirao@tudelft.nl / jnb@fa.utl.pt. Nuno Montenegro. Faculty of Architecture, TU Lisboa, Portugal. montenegroarquitectos@hotmail.com Jorge Gil. Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft, The Netherlands / TU Lisboa, Portugal. j.a.lopesgil@tudelft.nl. José Duarte. Faculty of Architecture, TU Lisboa, Portugal. jduarte@fa.utl.pt. Rudi Stouffs. Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft, The Netherlands. R.M.F.Stouffs@tudelft.nl.
Publisher: cumincades.scix.net
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Publication Name: … 2009-Proceedings of …
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Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
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Research Interests: Urban Geography, Ontology, Spatial Analysis, Architecture, Data Mining, and 36 moreShape Grammar (Architecture), Space and Place, Urban History, Urban Planning, Pattern Recognition, Computer Aided Design, Gentrification, Urban Studies, Networks, Participation, Urbanism, Housing, Transportation, Urban Sociology, Semantic Web technology - Ontologies, Urban And Regional Planning, Landscape, Public Space, Cities, Urban Design, City and Regional Planning, Land Use Planning, Environmental Criminology, Infrastructure, Landscape Planning, Public spaces, Pattern languages, Architecture and Public Spaces, Nuno Montenegro, Nuno Montenegro Architect, Nuno Montenegro Arquitecto, Nuno Montenegro Arquiteto, Neighbourhood Service, Redevelopment of Open Spaces, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Water In the City
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""When pursuing a more sustainable and integrative urban development, the first stage of the urban design process should consist of a pre-design phase where the context of the site is analysed... more
""When pursuing a more sustainable and integrative urban development, the first stage of the urban design process should consist of a pre-design phase where the context of the site is analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. This information provides a base line for the contextualisation of the urban programme, of the design solutions and of the evaluation benchmarks proposed for the site. Our research project aims to develop an urban design system using an urban ontology that can be applied to the formulation, generation and evaluation of urban plans. The purpose of this urban design system is: (1) formulation - to read data from the site context on a GIS platform and then generate adequate program descriptions, given the contextual conditions; (2) generation - to generate alternative design solutions that match the program, and (3) evaluation - to evaluate evolving design solutions against the program to obtain satisfactory results. In this paper we present a methodology for data mining an urban Geographic Information System (GIS) data set, consisting of three main phases: representation, analysis and description. The process reveals a series of block and street typologies that highlight the different character of two neighbourhoods. This methodology is demanding in the preparation phase and requires a high level of GIS and statistics expertise in the analysis phase. However, it successfully addresses the complex multi-scale and multi- level nature of cities in a systematic way, providing a tool for systematic profiling of neighbourhoods, which is site and problem specific.""
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This paper presents the analysis of a bottom-up design system using shape grammars. This research is part of a larger study that proposes the development of a generic grammar to improve the quality of site development in social housing... more
This paper presents the analysis of a bottom-up design system using shape grammars. This research is part of a larger study that proposes the development of a generic grammar to improve the quality of site development in social housing plans, including the improvement of their public spaces. We show the use of shape grammars as an analytical method to study the design of Belapur social housing development, designed by Charles Correa, in 1983.
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by Jose Beirao and Anastasia Koltsova
ABSTRACT The relation of building entrances with the public space and entrance density is determinant regarding how everyday street life emerges within the street space. The paper proposes a methodology for capturing the liveliness or... more
ABSTRACT The relation of building entrances with the public space and entrance density is determinant regarding how everyday street life emerges within the street space. The paper proposes a methodology for capturing the liveliness or liveliness potential of streets from their configuration by considering the territorial depth of building entrances. The analytical model is built from a relational graph describing building access seen from the street towards building entrances considering the many levels of territorial depth, or in other words, the many levels between the public core space and the private entrance.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication Name: Nexus Network Journal
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Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Communications in Computer and Information Science
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by Jose Beirao and Rudi Stouffs
ABSTRACT Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain... more
ABSTRACT Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain definitions and characteristics. Building on these commonalities, we consider a component-based approach for building grammar systems, utilizing a uniform characterization of grammars. Sortal representations constitute the components for this approach. They implement a model for representations, termed sorts, that defines formal operations on sorts and recognizes formal relationships between sorts. Each sort defines an algebra over its elements; formal compositions of sorts derive their algebraic properties from their component sorts. This algebraic framework makes sortal representations particularly suited for defining grammar formalisms considering a variety of algebra, and match relations (or interpretative mechanisms). For urban design and simulation, sortal grammars may include, among others, descriptive grammars, shape grammars, GIS-based grammars and any combination thereof.
Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Communications in Computer and Information Science
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Publication Date: 2013
Publication Name: Proceedings of the XVII Conference of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics - SIGraDi: Knowledge-based Design
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Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges... more
Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges from the multiple relations between the many components and actors in cities, whereas on a macro level it stems from
Publication Date: 2013
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by Jose Beirao and Jose P Duarte
This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban... more
This paper shows the first results of a prototype implementation of a generative urban design tool. This implementation will form part of a design support tool for a GIS based platform defined to formulate, generate and evaluate urban designs. These three goals, formulation, generation and evaluation are integrated by connecting three modules developed individually for each goal. In this paper we focus on the implementation of the generation module showing a prototype developed on the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of AutoCAD Civil 3D. This implementation attempts to encode the design moves of the urban planner into design patterns supported on grammar formalisms which allow for design synthesis and design exploration in the field of urban design.
Publication Date: 2010
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Cities are non-linear systems quite difficult to manage and even more so to design. They are complex open systems involving unpredictable behaviour generated by local and global agents. Suggestions found in expert literature for dealing... more
Cities are non-linear systems quite difficult to manage and even more so to design. They are complex open systems involving unpredictable behaviour generated by local and global agents. Suggestions found in expert literature for dealing with this complexity point towards developing design tools and methods structured under the concept of flexibility. They demand a design practice for dealing with change. Flexibility is the ability of a system of adapting or responding to changes in the environment. Ascher (2001) proposes as a strategy for new urbanism the development of an urbanism of devices for negotiating and elaborating solutions instead of designing fixed layouts.
Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: Business Strategy and The Environment
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by Jose Beirao and Jose P Duarte
Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: Nexus Network Journal
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by Jose Beirao
In this paper we show the structure of an urban design parametric system. The system is dynamic and builds an interactive relation with the designer updating the layout and related data at each input change. The responsiveness of the... more
In this paper we show the structure of an urban design parametric system. The system is dynamic and builds an interactive relation with the designer updating the layout and related data at each input change. The responsiveness of the system allows the designer to gain awareness on the qualitative consequences of each design move by comparing a design state with a set of urban indicators and density measures which are automatically calculated along with the geometrical updates.
Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: IEEE Photonics Technology Letters - IEEE PHOTONIC TECHNOL LETT
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Parametric 'route structure' generation and analysis: An interactive design system application for urban designmore
by Jose Beirao
Marshall (2005) developed the concept of characteristic structure of a street network as a characteristic set of indicators extracted from the street network through a process which he called “route structure analysis”. In this paper we... more
Marshall (2005) developed the concept of characteristic structure of a street network as a characteristic set of indicators extracted from the street network through a process which he called “route structure analysis”. In this paper we propose an integrated process for street network generation and route structure analysis embedded in a parametric urban design process. The street generator is compatible with a larger system aiming at the production of parametric urban designs. The system has been built in a parametric CAD environment and encompasses a method for interactive urban design allowing for dynamic visual responsiveness to morphological change and data change. The street network generator, presented in this paper, is based on a recursive rule which subdivides rectangles within the bounding box of a site area. For each set of goal inputs a street network is generated and “complexity” and “relative connectivity” are calculated through a semiautomatic procedure.
Publication Date: 2011
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Towards a methodology for flexible urban design: designing with urban patterns and shape grammarsmore
by Jose P Duarte and Jose Beirao
Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
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Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
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Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this... more
Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities. It is focused on the generation ...
Publication Date: 2010
Publication Name: ARCHITECTURE
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Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this... more
Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities. It is focused on the generation module which relies on the encoding of Urban Induction Patterns (UIP) using shape grammars. A grammar for the extension plan of the city of Praia is presented as one of the case studies used to support UIP definition and illustrate its application. The paper also discusses how the proposed tool can be used for developing and monitoring urban plans.
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The street system is an important component of the city ontology created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents may have about... more
The street system is an important component of the city ontology created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents may have about streets. This paper describes several characteristics of the street system, with its components organized into object classes which are the shape sets of algebras used by a generation module to generate street network representations that can be assessed by a GIS platform.
More Info: Cite: Beirão, J. N., Montenegro, N., Gil, J., Duarte, J. P., & Stouffs, R. (2009). The city as a street system: A street description for a city ontology. SIGraDi 2009 - Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics, (pp. 132-134). Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Publication Date: 2009
Publication Name: SIGraDi 2009 - Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics, (pp. 132-134). Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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by Nuno Montenegro and Jose Beirao
"This paper describes the “Public Space Patterns” ontology including itsrelated rule-based model, used as a basic structure of a “City InformationModelling” (CIM). This model was developed within a larger research projectaimed at... more
"This paper describes the “Public Space Patterns” ontology including itsrelated rule-based model, used as a basic structure of a “City InformationModelling” (CIM). This model was developed within a larger research projectaimed at developing a tool for urban planning and design. The main purpose is toprovide computer-readable descriptions of Patterns for planning urban space, tomake available programming strategies and design options to the participants of the urban development process. The paper shows an ontology implementation of concepts describing the public space and the relationships established by meansof transitive properties which allows the system to infer new relations amongstother patterns. The inference mechanism makes available relations that were notpreviously evident fostering the awareness of underlying implicit patterns.
Cite: Montenegro, Nuno, Beirão, J.N. & Duarte, J.P., (2011c). Public Space Patterns: Towards a CIM standard for urban public space. In RESPECTING FRAGILE PLACES [29th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-9-4912070-1-3], University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture (Slovenia) 21-24 September 2011. 29th eCAADe Conference. Ljubljana, pp. 79–86. "
Cite: Montenegro, Nuno, Beirão, J.N. & Duarte, J.P., (2011c). Public Space Patterns: Towards a CIM standard for urban public space. In RESPECTING FRAGILE PLACES [29th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-9-4912070-1-3], University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture (Slovenia) 21-24 September 2011. 29th eCAADe Conference. Ljubljana, pp. 79–86. "
Location: Ljubljana
More Info: pp. 79-86
Organization: Respecting Fragile Places 29th eCAADe
Publication Date: 2011
Publication Name: eCAADe Conference Proceedings
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Cite: Gil, J., Montenegro, N., Beirão, J. N., & Duarte, J. P. (2010). On the Discovery of Urban Typologies. In Bringing City Form Back Into Planning, Proceedings of the CITTA 3rd Annual Conference on Planning Research, pp. 163-176.... more
Cite: Gil, J., Montenegro, N., Beirão, J. N., & Duarte, J. P. (2010). On the Discovery of Urban Typologies. In Bringing City Form Back Into Planning, Proceedings of the CITTA 3rd Annual Conference on Planning Research, pp. 163-176. Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Location: Porto, Portugal
More Info: Please refer to the more recent publication in 'Urban Morphology'
Publication Date: 2009
Publication Name: Proceedings of the CITTA 3rd Annual Conference on Planning Research
Research Interests:
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"Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating,... more
"Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. This chapter describes the theoretical foundations of a research project, called City Induction, aimed at the creation of a model for the development of such an instrument, departing from existing theories, which are integrated through a discursive grammar. The proposed model is composed of three sub-models: (1) a model for formulating urban programs from the analysis and interpretation of the context, based on Alexander’s pattern language; (2) a model for generating urban plans that match the program, based on Stiny’s shape and description grammars; and (3) a model for evaluating urban plans, that can be used for analyzing, comparing and ranking alternative solutions, departing from Hillier’s space syntax. A common urban space ontology guarantees the syntactic and semantic interoperability among the three sub-models. This ontology will be used to structure and codify information into a Geographic Information System (GIS), which will be the kernel for the computer implementation of the larger model. A CAD system is used to construct 3D models from contextual information stored in the GIS. In short, following Stiny and March’s design machines concept, the goal is to create an urban design machine that is able to produce flexible urban plans at the site planning level.
Cite: V. Duarte, J. P., Beirão, J. N., Montenegro, N., & Gil, J. (2012). City Induction: formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. In S. Müller Arisona, P. Wonka, G. Aschwanden, & J. Halatsch (Eds.), Digital Urban Modeling and Simulation. Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) (Vol. 242). Springer Berlin Heidelberg"
Cite: V. Duarte, J. P., Beirão, J. N., Montenegro, N., & Gil, J. (2012). City Induction: formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. In S. Müller Arisona, P. Wonka, G. Aschwanden, & J. Halatsch (Eds.), Digital Urban Modeling and Simulation. Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) (Vol. 242). Springer Berlin Heidelberg"
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Journal Name: Communications in Computer and Information Science, Volume 242, Part II, 73-98
Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Digital Urban Modeling and Simulation
Research Interests:
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One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a system tool to describe and guide the planning of... more
One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a system tool to describe and guide the planning of such components of the urban space. This research explores the problems related to the description and the location of public open spaces, and defines a system that integrates three distinct and complementary phases – appraisal, description, and location of public open spaces – each involving a specific methodology and associated tools. The main purpose is to provide computer-readable descriptions of patterns for planning urban space, to make available programmatic strategies and design options to the participants of the urban development process.
More Info: Cite: Montenegro, N., Beirão, J. N., & Duarte, J. P. (2012). Describing and Locating public open spaces in urban planning, in International Journal of Design Sciences and Technology, Volume 19 Number 2 ISSN 1630-7267 . Europia Productions, Paris. France.
Journal Name: International Journal of Design Sciences and Technology
Publication Date: 2012
Publication Name: Volume 19 Number 2. Editor-in-Chief: Reza Beheshti, TUDelft,, NL Khaldoun Zreik, University Paris 8, FR
Research Interests: Urban Geography, Ontology, Spatial Analysis, Architecture, Data Mining, and 38 moreShape Grammar (Architecture), Space and Place, Urban History, Urban Planning, Pattern Recognition, Computer Aided Design, Gentrification, Urban Studies, Networks, Participation, Urbanism, Housing, Transportation, Urban Sociology, Semantic Web technology - Ontologies, Urban And Regional Planning, Land-use planning, Landscape, Public Space, Debates on public space and public life, urban design theory, urban culture and history, Cities, Urban Design, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Criminology, Infrastructure, Landscape Planning, Public spaces, Pattern languages, Understanding the Publicness of Public Places, Urban Regeneration and The Future of Cities, Cultural Spaces in The Contemporary Urban Landscape, Architecture and Public Spaces, Nuno Montenegro, Nuno Montenegro Architect, Nuno Montenegro Arquitecto, Nuno Montenegro Arquiteto, Neighbourhood Service, Redevelopment of Open Spaces, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Water In the City
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""Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this... more
""Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities. It is focused on the generation module which relies on the encoding of Urban Induction Patterns (UIP) using shape grammars. A grammar for the extension plan of the city of Praia is presented as one of the case studies used to support UIP definition and illustrate its application. The paper also discusses how the proposed tool can be used for developing and monitoring urban plans.
Keywords: Urban Design, Patterns, Shape Grammars, Generative Design""
Keywords: Urban Design, Patterns, Shape Grammars, Generative Design""
More Info: Cite: Beirão, J., Duarte, J., Montenegro, N., & Gil, J. (2010). Monitoring urban design through generative design support tools: a generative grammar for praia, in M. Matalasov (Ed.) AMIT - Architecture and Modern Information Technologies, vol, 2 (11), May 2010.
Publication Date: 2010
Publication Name: International Electronic Scientific
Research Interests: Robotics, Architecture, Shape Grammar (Architecture), Digital Fabrication, Urban Planning, and 10 moreGenerative design, Additive Manufacturing, Formal grammars, Urban Design, Generative Architectural Design, Computer Aided Architectural Design, Shape Grammars, Parametric Design, Ontologies, Knowledge representation, Semantic web, Cloud computing, Ontology based data access, Knowlede management, and Fabbers
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Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain... more
Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain definitions and characteristics. Building on these commonalities, we consider a component-based approach for building grammar systems, utilizing a uniform characterization of grammars. Sortal representations constitute the components for this approach. They implement a model for representations, termed sorts, that defines formal operations on sorts and recognizes formal relationships between sorts. Each sort defines an algebra over its elements; formal compositions of sorts derive their algebraic properties from their component sorts. This algebraic framework makes sortal representations particularly suited for defining grammar formalisms considering a variety of algebra, and match relations (or interpretative mechanisms). For urban design and simulation, sortal grammars may include, among others, descriptive grammars, shape grammars, GIS-based grammars and any combination thereof.
