Discrete Optimization in Architecture

This book presents three projects that demonstrate the
fundamental problems of architectural design and urban composition – the layout
design, evaluation and optimization. Part I describes the functional layout
design of a residential building, and an evaluation of the quality of a town
square (plaza).

The algorithm for the functional layout design is based on
backtracking using a constraint satisfaction approach combined with coarse grid
discretization. The algorithm for the town square evaluation is based on
geometrical properties derived directly from its plan.

Part II introduces a crowd-simulation application for the
analysis of escape routes on floor plans, and optimization of a floor plan for
smooth crowd flow. The algorithms presented employ agent-based modeling and
cellular automata.