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Special Issue Articles
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
Computerized design support
Building design within the field of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) is defined in this article as a process in which designers and engineers of many disciplines (e.g., architecture, structural design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, and construction) cooperatively develop a description of a building to be constructed (the design solution) based on the project brief (the design requirements). In the past, this description was often a set of drawings, but it has evolved into three-dimensional (3-D) computer models as part of building information modeling (Eastman et al., 2011). Building design can be regarded as coevolutionary, which means that both the design requirements and the design solution evolve cyclically (Maher, 2000). Due to this coevolutionary character and the many disciplines involved, research has been carried out to investigate the applicability of computer tools that support the design team, for example, by providing design alternatives, including their predicted performance, and to study the design process itself. Related research that is relevant to this article will be presented in the following sections.
1.2.
Data models
Data management is a very important aspect during a design process, and therefore data models have been developed for the spatial aspects of a building (Björk, 1992; Borrmann & Rank, 2009a , 2009 b), the structural design aspects (Weise et al., 2000), and for the relation between spatial and structural design (Matthews et al., 1998). Although many research studies remain theoretically oriented, data models have also been implemented in computer design support tools (e.g., Scherer & Gehre, 2000; Mora et al., 2008).
1.3.
Automated facilities layout
Besides research on data models, many achievements have been made regarding computer programs, procedures, or concepts that generate solutions for spatial and structural design problems. Regarding spatial design, from the advent of computer-assisted design, space allocation, also known as automated facilities layout, has been a very important field of application. With space allocation, a building brief is transformed into a two-dimensional plan of the building (Ligget, 2000; Regateiro et al., 2012), or more recently, into 3-D computer models. In addition, shape grammars, which use rules to transform geometrical elements into differently shaped elements, may be applied to develop spatial designs (Stiny, 2006; Turrin et al.,...