school of architecture Towntology: relevant research Chris Tweed School of Architecture and Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)

school of architecture Overview  research into applications of ICTs to the built environment has been ongoing for the past 14 years  covers a range of topics and projects: –3d CAD models of buildings and the urban environment –argumentation systems –energy and environmental modelling of urban environment—Energy Environmental Prediction tool GIS –dynamic urban information systems –involvement in COST UCE C4: Management and information applications development in urban civil engineering

school of architecture Energy and Environmental Prediction (EEP)  collaborative research project with Cardiff, UCL and DeMontfort  aim was to provide a GIS-based tool to enable local authorities to predict environmental sustainability of entire city  QUB role was to apply model to Belfast and to determine end-user interaction with models in Belfast, Cardiff and London

school of architecture

Dynamic interfaces to 3d urban information

Overview of the Project Objects & processes Information types Data acquisition options Representation environment Display Applications Image (building) Terrain & spaces Buildings People &Vehicles Environment 2/2.5D Data 3D geometry 4D Data Camera Maps Others Photogram- metry Laser scanning GPS Sensors Database Image processing GIS CAD System Specialised software Predictive models VR Display Navigation & way-finding Visualization Tourism Citizen services Public participation Delivery points Info-kiosks Bus shelters Home Office Mobile devices

school of architecture Summary  technical expertise on modelling (geometry and energy), argumentation systems, image processing and digital communications  research interest in socio-technical issues— how systems work with (or against) users