Urban design optimization: Generative approaches towards urban fabrics with improved transit accessibility and walkability: Generative approaches towards urban fabrics with improved transit accessibility and walkability

Fernando Lima, Nathan Brown, Jose Duarte

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper investigates computational optimization techniques at the urban design scale, aiming to improve the performance of urban fabric layouts according to predefined evaluation metrics. To this end, this work addresses the use of optimization tools in urban design by comparing various optimization algorithms for generating urban fabrics with improved walkability and by analyzing the outcomes of different urban design rules. These rules formulate orthogonal and non-orthogonal grids from the perspective of transit accessibility (TA), thereby minimizing automobile usage and improving the walkability of neighborhoods. Transit accessibility is also evaluated alongside estimated infrastructure cost to verify the suitability of applying optimization in urban design. Our results suggest that the RBFOpt algorithm performs best for generating urban fabrics according to our quantitative design objectives; more flexible and complex grids in terms of shape and dimensions tend to deliver greater TA than rectangular and uniform-oriented grids; different block patterns can lead to solutions more directed at TA or to infrastructure cost, outlining a trade-off; and multicriteria optimization helped in identifying designs that balanced transit accessibility and infrastructure cost.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProjections - Proceedings of the 26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2021
EditorsAnastasia Globa, Jeroen van Ameijde, Adam Fingrut, Nayeon Kim, Tian Tian Sky Lo
PublisherThe Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)
Pages719-728
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9789887891765
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia: Projections, CAADRIA 2021 - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Duration: Mar 29 2021Apr 1 2021

Publication series

NameProjections - Proceedings of the 26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2021
Volume2

Conference

Conference26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia: Projections, CAADRIA 2021
Country/TerritoryHong Kong
CityHong Kong
Period3/29/214/1/21

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Building and Construction

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