Development of Urban Planning Process Using Associative Parametric Approach for Optimising Urban Morphology

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Correspondent: Eng. Sherif M. El Adawy, Teaching Assistant and MSc Candidate, Architectural Engineering and Environmental Planning Department, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transpor

Abstract

Regarding the complexity of parameters such as (block size, building heights, streets width, land uses, ... etc.) controlling the aspects of urban planning (UP), traditional tools don‟t give optimum solutions in reasonable time. These tools are considered static ones, as they depend on coordinate-based systems to link planning elements with each other. Urban planners are now in constant search for new approaches and methodologies to generate multiple parameters of UP projects to overcome timing problem. Among new methodologies is the parametric approach in planning, which offers flexibility to planning variations and explorations of conceptual planning ideas. When disciplines of various science fields merge, and develop, new approaches arise. This paper focuses on merging UP process with an associative parametric approach to address the limitations of existing systems. The associative parametric approach deduces several solutions for the urban planners through utilising computational techniques. This paper reviews the basic concepts of UP regarding its aspects and theories. It illustrates parametric design (PD), its definitions, and techniques. The paper shows how merging the associative parametric approach with the conceptual planning phase of the UP process will lead to the creation of Parameterized Conceptual Planning phase, which can facilitate using several parameters during the UP process. Some examples are also demonstrated to show how applying this new computational technique through its guidelines shown before, hence applied to a case study.

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