Computational Measure & Evaluation Of Visual Information In Communication Artefacts In Urban Design

Abstract

Design visualisations do not often convey information efficiently to stakeholders in urban design. While visual artefacts are intended to convey key aspects of a project, the process of tailoring them to support efficient collaboration and decision-making, particularly in the early phase of urban design, remains largely underexplored. A visual communication artefact is an object containing graphical information used in design for visual communication. This can be plans, sections, 2D, 3D or higher dimensional graphical information. Artefacts are constructed and manipulated graphical data. However, there is no universally accepted standard for the appropriate level of detail, leading to continued reliance on traditional formats. This results in a mismatch between information and needs of stakeholders. Despite ongoing advancements in information and communication technology, artefacts are often treated as standard one-size-fits-all tools. Without a deliberate process for calibrating the level and types of detail suitable for different stakeholders, these artefacts may present excessive or irrelevant data, delaying shared understanding, particularly when priorities, technical expertise or perspectives vary widely. As such, this research presents an algorithmic system for measuring visual information and evaluating this based on its fitness to meet the specific information requirements of individual stakeholders. The research highlights inefficiencies in current practice and aims to reduce these by exploring how graphical information can be more aligned with stakeholder needs. Additionally, the research contributes to emerging areas of inquiry focused on measuring aesthetics, and analysing and evaluating graphical data using computation. Aesthetics in this research leans on George Stiny and James Gips’ definition in Algorithmic Aesthetics to describe how a piece of work can be descried, interpreted and evaluated and with questions about how new works can be created.