Gallery

Benjamin Strobel, Boris Plotnikov, David Schattel M.Sc.
Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Schubert (Head of the CDP Research Group)

Technical University of Munich
Chair for Architectural Informatics
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Petzold

MIXED REALITY URBAN DESIGN: INTERACTIVE AUGMENTED VISUALIZATION OF DIGITAL SIMULATIONS IN PHYSICAL WORKING MODELS

The implications of architectural design decisions are in many cases hard to predict and envisage. As architectural tasks grow more complex and the design of architecture shifts away from the design of end products towards the steering of dynamic processes, new ways of coping with complexity in the design and planning process are needed. Taking this as its starting point, as well as the need for architects to use familiar, established design tools, the aim of the research project described here is to find ways of supporting the design decision-making process with objective information so that designers are better able to manage these complexities. The focus of the project lies on directly coupling interactive simulations and analyses with established design tools as well as in the question: how to present complex calculation results directly within a three-dimensional physical model.

The show research result is an interactive mixed-augmented reality (AR) application that was developed and implemented to improve the integrity of the digital authenticity in the physical model. By means of a tablet or see-through glasses, the setup allows users to view interactive simulation results such as shadows cast over the course of the year, wind currents or even statutory regulations (interbuilding distances and areas or construction volumes) in three-dimensions that augment the physical working model in real time. The approach described, as evidenced by the realized prototype, shows clearly that directly coupling real (physical model) and digital information (simulations and analyses) using interactive augmented visualization presents immense possibilities for managing the complexity of planning processes. The prototype described enables by this simulations to be presented in 3D and within a physical 3D- model content, which expands the usefulness of analyses and simulations considerably. The system helps the user to see and understand complex, 3D- relationships and their implications. This is especially relevant in the context of ever more complex construction tasks, and the nature of architectural projects as dynamic processes rather than the production of final products.