Diagrammatic Sketches as a Means of Design Interaction
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Architecture
Abstract
DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS FOR PARTICICIPATORY URBAN DESIGN
This research deals with the development of innovative tools for participation in urban design and planning. It mainly focuses on the development of methodologies that encourage active engagement of stakeholders in definition of concepts of urban and landscape form. These are methods that facilitate the use of graphical gestures, drawn sketches and physical models which are then captured via different scanning techniques, analysed and brought back into to the design concepts or further consultation processes. They underlying hypothesis is that these methods due to their "hands on" approach combined with precise data analytics can produce better and more informed consultation processes.
CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGRAMMATIC SKETCHES
The research is currently focusing on one type of tools for participatory processes, namely the usage of freehand sketching in the development of landscape and urban design. While this would fall into a specific category of urban participation called sketch planning, this research looks at specific types of drawings and data analytics which can help this discipline better address issues related with landscape and urban character.
The use of sketches in participatory process is mostly based on the use of certain types of drawings, namely sketch maps and concept maps which are inherently suited to discuss issues of spatial problem solving, land use location and geographical data gathering. However questions of landscape and urban appearance, style and more nuanced discussions on connectivity (what we shall call urban and landscape character) are not addressed properly through these means. Another type of drawings, which we call diagrammatic sketches, can be used to fill this gap. These are typically plan based line drawings of connecting paths, desire lines and landscape components such as planting, artificial topographies or water features. They tend to be simpler than sketch maps drawings (for example they may represent centre line of roads as opposed to both edges) and more abstract than conventionally used sketch/concept maps (for example, lines can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways). Their use in design practice is more closely related to the discussion on issues of character and can bring new perspectives to the participatory processes if adequately used. However, their level of abstraction can potentially make them hard to adopt or understand by different user groups in the participation process, posing questions on its usability as well as ease of interpretation by non-experts.
This study tries to understand the applicability of diagrammatic sketching in public participatory processes. It assumes that questions of urban and landscape character can be collectively discussed with stakeholders by a combination of sketch development and further round table discussions following statistical analysis of the sketches. This in turn should help enrich planning discussion and help stakeholders express concerns and issues which do not emerge through other means. It is currently developing a technique called network characterization, which should help both interpret diagrammatic sketches and link their results to discussion on urban character during participatory processes. The study shall carry out network characterization of existing pieces of urban fabric and compare its results with ground truth of their character based on analysis of existing historical background. Equally, it shall carry out characterization studies of hand drawn sketches of different user groups and ascertain its efficiently in capturing design intent. One test has been carried out so far with 10 year old children.
This research deals with the development of innovative tools for participation in urban design and planning. It mainly focuses on the development of methodologies that encourage active engagement of stakeholders in definition of concepts of urban and landscape form. These are methods that facilitate the use of graphical gestures, drawn sketches and physical models which are then captured via different scanning techniques, analysed and brought back into to the design concepts or further consultation processes. They underlying hypothesis is that these methods due to their "hands on" approach combined with precise data analytics can produce better and more informed consultation processes.
CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGRAMMATIC SKETCHES
The research is currently focusing on one type of tools for participatory processes, namely the usage of freehand sketching in the development of landscape and urban design. While this would fall into a specific category of urban participation called sketch planning, this research looks at specific types of drawings and data analytics which can help this discipline better address issues related with landscape and urban character.
The use of sketches in participatory process is mostly based on the use of certain types of drawings, namely sketch maps and concept maps which are inherently suited to discuss issues of spatial problem solving, land use location and geographical data gathering. However questions of landscape and urban appearance, style and more nuanced discussions on connectivity (what we shall call urban and landscape character) are not addressed properly through these means. Another type of drawings, which we call diagrammatic sketches, can be used to fill this gap. These are typically plan based line drawings of connecting paths, desire lines and landscape components such as planting, artificial topographies or water features. They tend to be simpler than sketch maps drawings (for example they may represent centre line of roads as opposed to both edges) and more abstract than conventionally used sketch/concept maps (for example, lines can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways). Their use in design practice is more closely related to the discussion on issues of character and can bring new perspectives to the participatory processes if adequately used. However, their level of abstraction can potentially make them hard to adopt or understand by different user groups in the participation process, posing questions on its usability as well as ease of interpretation by non-experts.
This study tries to understand the applicability of diagrammatic sketching in public participatory processes. It assumes that questions of urban and landscape character can be collectively discussed with stakeholders by a combination of sketch development and further round table discussions following statistical analysis of the sketches. This in turn should help enrich planning discussion and help stakeholders express concerns and issues which do not emerge through other means. It is currently developing a technique called network characterization, which should help both interpret diagrammatic sketches and link their results to discussion on urban character during participatory processes. The study shall carry out network characterization of existing pieces of urban fabric and compare its results with ground truth of their character based on analysis of existing historical background. Equally, it shall carry out characterization studies of hand drawn sketches of different user groups and ascertain its efficiently in capturing design intent. One test has been carried out so far with 10 year old children.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Kayvan Karimi (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Eduardo Rico (Student) |
| Description | I am interested in crowdsourcing information about public participation in the form of diagrammatic sketches. These drawings are likely to be simplified version of connective paths or routes as opposed to detailed drawings of objects. Participants are asked to sketch their ideas for an urban or landscape project instead of answering questionnaires. I have currently found the how likely are participants to develop adequate diagrammatic sketches and how does training and medium (online tools) influence the outcome. Tests have been carried out with university students as well as primary school students. I have developed an online drawing application that guides users to the generation of drawings that easily fit the category requested. I have identified two forms of processing the diagrammatic sketches produced by the participants and present the outcomes in a form that can be easily digested by designers interested in the overall results. These are graph based as well as image processing based approaches which now need to be combined and tested in conjunction. |
| Exploitation Route | I am currently working on the development of planning support system with my sponsor Space Syntax Limited (SSL). The work I have carried out has helped both in the advancement of their work and sharpening of the approach and tools being offered. Some of the graph based and cluster based analytical processes used in my Phd have been instrumental also for the development of some of new project based ideas for SSL. Part of the tests of my tool were carried out in primary schools. These experiments helped discover the extent to which 10-11 year old children are likely to use this type of diagrammatic sketch tools. The experience itself proved to be a good learning opportunity for the students. Moreover it also helped to reveal inherent characteristics of the quality of education with which the children arrived to the experiment. This can help to open up research avenues of the use of these tools in educational environments. |
| Sectors | Construction,Education |
| Description | I am currently working on the development of planning support system with my sponsor Space Syntax Limited (SSL). The work I have carried out has helped both in the advancement of their work and sharpening of the approach and tools being offered. Some of the graph based and cluster based analytical processes used in my Phd have been instrumental also for the development of some of new project based ideas for SSL. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Construction |
| Impact Types | Economic |