A7CunninghamKellerSmith

A7CunninghamKellerSmith

To-Do

Please Document the Following Sections:

• title for your course project
• members of your team
• abstract
• expected final outcome
• brief description of work done so far on the project
• brief description of work to be done in the next few weeks (e.g.: before spring break)
• describe specific research emphasis of every member of your team
• list of relevant references investigated
• list any specific problems you have encountered and need feedback/guidance on

GerhardComments

Members

Dara Cunningham, Scott Keller, and Matt Smith

Title

Exploring User Centered Design Using 3D Architectural Modeling

Abstract

In this study, we would like to use simulated building models to provide a way to predict the actual use of the environment. We hope to find correlations between the way users evaluate building simulations and the way they evaluate buildings. The significance of this research could be a change in the way we approach the design of the environments we live in, allowing designers to apply user-centered design techniques to the built environment before the environment is built.

ExpectedOutcome

The expected final outcome will be research results that contribute to the body of knowledge accumulated for: 1) architectural model effectiveness at representing real environments; 2) human ability to experience a 3D simulated environment and extrapolate what the "real" environment will be like; and, 3) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) sustainable design initiative post occupancy evaluations.

WorkSoFar

In the previous class, we explored many directions for our project to take and by the end of the class we found a direction and a focus area we could pursue - the Buckley Air Force Base Aviation Support Facility. This semester, we spent time gaining access to the virtual walkthrough of the building which was created by Ed Pieterick of CH2MHill (the lead building designer and the main contact we have for this project). We determined our research path, which is to have one group that is not familiar with the building evaluate the virtual representation and to have people who work in the building evaluate the real building, then to compare the two surveys. We will use this data to analyze how people evaluate virtual models vs how people analyze the actual model and determine if there is a correlation. We hope this research will help lead to a more user active design approach to architecture design.

Update

In the month of March, we developed our user survey and interview questions for both the simulation group and the actual building group. We completed and submitted a request for exempt approval from the university's Human Subject Research Committee.

We are currently asking for student volunteers to complete a survey/interview for the building simulation. We have asked the building's designer for assistance with gathering a group of actual building users to complete a survey/interview session regarding the actual building.

Also, we have been looking at a way to convert models from the Google SketchUp format to render them in a 3D game engine and therefore be able to physically interact with them. Initially, the models were imported into Maya with the hope of conversion to Valve's Source Engine. The conversion to Source proved to be too cumbersome. We found that Python scripts were written for the open source modeling application, Blender, that allowed relativly accurate transfers of older SketchUp files. As Blender has a built in game engine, it seems to be a good venue for exploration into interaction.

WorkToBeDone

Over the next few weeks, we need to complete at least 12 interviews, six with student volunteers and six with actual building users. The interviews will culminate in the completion of a study comparing user opinion on the expected experience of the building, determined by viewing the building simulation, versus user opinion regarding the actual experience of the building. We will also continue developing a literature review.

A challenge has been the delay in getting approval back from the Human Subject Research Committee. The building designer has also been on an extended vacation in March so he has not been available to assist us with gathering actual building users to participate in the study.

In terms of the modeling aspect, work is to be done to retrofit the game engine in Blender to create a viewing and interaction environment for SketchUp models. Work could also be done to rewrite the Python importer script to more efficiently transfer newer SketchUp files. Also, work could be done to create a stand-alone viewer application for SketchUp

describe specific research emphasis of every member of your team

Dara's Interest:

Dara's PhD work is concentrated on applying information design methodologies to the design of buildings and other environments, focusing on usability and user-centered design, particularly concerning pervasive computing and innovative sustainable environments.

Matt's Interest:

Matt's interest involves the incorporation of user interactive design and feedback on user based applications and models vs the traditional top down design model of engineers creating what they assume is appropriate for users instead of gaining knowledge of what is really wanted and needed.

Scott's Interest:

Scott is interested in finding a technical means of experiencing simulations with little overhead and necessary experience or technical ability. He is looking into a way to interact with model repositories that is both consistent and has the ability to record input from users in a meaningful manner.

References

Bordass, Bill and Leaman, Adrian (2005) 'Making feedback and post-occupancy evaluation routine 1: A portfolio of feedback techniques', Building Research & Information, 33:4, 347 - 352

Bordass, Bill (2003) 'Learning more from our buildings - or just forgetting less?', Building Research & Information, 31:5, 406 - 411

Cooper, Ian (2001) 'Post-occupancy evaluation - where are you?', Building Research & Information, 29:2, 158 - 163

Gabriel, Richard (1998) "The Failure of Pattern Languages," The patterns handbook: Techniques, Strategies, and Applications, Edited By Linda Rising, Cambridge University Press, 333-344

Kolodner, I.L.; Pearce, M.; Goel, A.K.; Zimring, C.; Sentosa, L.; Billington, R., "Case-based design support: a case study in architectural design," IEEE Expert, vol.7, no.5, pp.14-20, Oct 1992

Satyanarayanan, M. (2001). Pervasive Computing: Vision and Challenges. IEEE Personal Communications, 1070-991(01), 10-17

Weiser, M. (1991). "The Computer for the 21st Century." Scientific American Special Issue on Communications, Computers, and Networks. September

list any specific problems you have encountered and need feedback/guidance on

We hope not to run into any problems! Our schedule will be tight and we have the challenge of wrangling two groups of survey participants. Any suggestions regarding gathering the group to evaluate the building simulation would be greatly appreciated.