ARTHUR, the Augmented Round Table for arcHitectural design and URban planning developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany is the prototype of a tool for architects and city planners.

Instead of having to build and rebuild physical models, architects would be able to immediately modify their models. Computer-generated models can be displayed using semi-transparent head-mounted displays, and appear to be right on the planning table.

The virtual models are complemented by tangible interfaces: real objects are representing the virtual ones - as soon as a physical placeholder is moved, the virtual model is moved correspondingly. A pen or a finger may be used like a magic wand to manipulate a part of a virtual building.

A interesting feature is the integration of ARTHUR's virtual models with simulation models, e.g., of pedestrian movement patterns or dissipation of heat from sunlight: when a virtual model is relocated, the resulting changes in buyer streams or room temperatures can be evaluated immediately.

Videos.

Open Source cities, anyone? If planners virtually modelled a space and left goals for architects (price, energy-usage etc.) - then left them to it - it would be interesting to see what might emerge. I'm willing to bet WISDOM OF CROWDS-style that you'd get the best solution or close pretty cheaply!

Posted by: Daniel Johnston on April 14, 2005 3:32 AM

"City-wikis" would be very interesting. In my architecture work, I often find that clients have great ideas, but are hampered by lack of technical knowledge, or by an inability to keep many interacting factors in their minds at once. In this case, they need my experience. In an open-source setting, the wisdom and experience could become collective. Eventually, lessons would emerge that could be embodied as "Patterns" a la the "Pattern Language" of Chris Alexander and his colleagues.

I think you'll see interesting parallels to this idea in the work of Joachim Eble, an architect and city planner in Germany.

Posted by: David Foley on April 15, 2005 6:32 AM

I’ve been reading UTNE for many years and find its a
good way to keep current with new ideas in a variety
of fields of interest. Your name and contact info was
in a recent issue, and I think you may appreciate some
ideas I am promoting. Please take a look at my website
and send some feedback. www.resortcircle.com

Thank you

Ernest Vlahos

Posted by: ernest vlahos on April 21, 2005 7:04 AM

I’ve been reading UTNE for many years and find its a good way to keep current with new ideas in a variety of fields of interest. Your name and contact info was in a recent issue, and I think you may appreciate some ideas I am promoting. Please take a look at my website and send some feedback. www.resortcircle.com

Thank you

Ernest Vlahos

Posted by: ernest vlahos on April 21, 2005 7:05 AM