A New Perspective of Transforming the Use of CAAD in Designing the Built Environment

This paper introduces a new perspective of transforming the use of Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) in designing the built environment. This perspective conceives the design process of the built environment to be an integration of technical and social processes. Virtual Design Environments (VDEs) open exciting new territory and have the potential to advantage the design of the built environment. The technical dimension of this perspective can be accomplished by developing an intelligent and interactive VDE for architectural design through providing interactive counterparts (virtual observers, e.g. intelligent design agents) to the designer to offer useful assistance in designing by supporting behaviour and semantic-based concepts within VDEs. The social dimension is provided by offering a conduit between multiple human opinions and information sources to offer instructive, constructive design suggestions. This is reflected in the interactions within the VDE between the designers, clients, community and planners. This paper introduces a framework of intelligent and collaborative 3D virtual environment that has the potential to transform the use of CAAD in designing the built environment at the conceptual stage of designing.