Implementation Strategy for an Architectural Design Environment Stefan Boeykens Dept. Architecture CAD-Lab K.U.Leuven (Belgium) Stefan Boeykens Dept. Architecture CAD-Lab K.U.Leuven (Belgium) Issues in the development of IDEA+

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 1 – Introduction  Ongoing transition from traditional to digital architectural practice  Most CAAD-tools focused on construction documentation  Lack of early-design phase evaluation tools

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 2 – What is IDEA+ Conceptual Model (1992) Design Phases Scale Levels Transitions Evaluation tests Core Object Model (2000) MERODE Entity Relationship Diagram Object-Event Table

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 3 – Data Structure 1.Abstraction, Interface & Independency 2.CAAD Entities 3.Representations 4.Commands & Events 5.Transitions 6.Tests/Evaluation

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 3 – Data Structure (part 2) 1.Abstraction, Interface & Independency 2.The CAAD Entities Physical Elements walls, floors, roofs, beams, columns, openings, stairs,... Spaces Masterplan Elements Activity

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 3 – Data Structure (part 3) 3.Representations  Connection between CAAD & Graphic  Amount of representations  Share graphical entities  Interface to the data 4.Commands & Events  Object Event Table (from Core Object Model)  Create, Remove, Modify, Select, Import/Export

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 3 – Data Structure (part 4) 5.Transitions  Between design phases  Between scale levels 6.Tests/Evaluations  Daylighting (IDEA- l )  Cost Estimation

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 4 – Prototype Application Platform-dependency Issues  Data structure = C++ only  Portability & vendor-independency  Some common program functionality (administration, commands, evaluation tools) is kept part of the data-structure  Prototype = Win32/MFC/OpenGL  Ease of developing an interface (GUI)  Diminish development time

Introduction What is IDEA+ Data Structure Prototype Application Conclusions 5 – Conclusions  IDEA+ is a work-in-progress  Data structure is not finalised yet  Prototype aims to be suitable for further development  Not the intention to make a commercial-class application END OF PRESENTATION