Parametric floor plan progression

At the moment the script allows only plans that are available to show up and have an analysis done on it. Next step will be to cross the data received from GECO to make the changes to the floor plan automatically, this will require a further in depth use of galapagos.

Glimmer of light with Contamination!!!!

After hours of testing....i have found an interesting node to use to test for overlap...Contamination basically has 3 outputs it tests for, A: coincident B:Outside and C:Inside.

What this means is that i can separate the plans that overlap and only show ones that touch each other.

Hoopsnake vs Galapagos

Hoopsnake and Galapagos are 2 very unique tools that can be used in Grasshopper. They both are able to create a floorplan but work very differently to one another.

The use of Hoopsnake focuses on the idea of "packing". For example, if you had a box called A and you had smaller boxes called B, the idea of packing will be to see how many B's can go into A. The iterations will be various combinations that B has formed to fit into A.

Galapagos is a fairly complex evolutionary solver that i have not been able to grasp the concept of it just yet. However the outcome of Galapagos is that i can create floor plans that do not alter depending on the boundary, but is able to be positioned in terms of its relevance. For example, a master bedroom, will always have a bathroom connecting to it, while using hoopsnake, will not take into account room types.

At the moment i think i'll use Hoopsnake, and build my system from there, i do want to be able to use Galapagos though.

Floor Plans_the trouble with spaces

I was thinking that if i can get a parametric room implemented and the user is able to specify room dimensions...there is still a problem with trying pinpoint the location if it represents a current floor plan.

ahhh having such an agonizing experience with trying to figure this floor plan out! I might need to go into using galapagos!

Week 6 Tasks

This week i will be concentrating on developing a parametric floor plan

For Caroline, i need to get an update with Justin about the progress with the import and export

Finding a compatitable database!!!

I've been looking through Ecotect to find a compatible export, so that i can import a file into Grasshopper to be used.

I can open an Ecotect export in excel, however it won't allow me to import into grasshopper.


Grasshopper imports:
Text file (.txt)
Comma separated value files (.csv)
data files (.dat)
xyz file (.xyz)
Database text file (.dbt)
Log files (.log)

Experiment_02_Streaming content into grasshopper

I've been testing how to stream content from files into grasshopper, the tests are listed below. From the experiment, i have concluded that i will be using the first 2 tests together so that i can stream content to and from a text file while also visually seeing the file path in Grasshopper.

Streaming Content directly to text file
Using the panel tool i streamed the content directly to a text file. Which means that when either the text file, or panel is changed they will both update one another. This option is good if i want to be able to allow Grasshopper to create changes and update a singular database.

Using File Path node with Text file
The file path node updates information directly from a file. However if i only use this option i won't be able to send information back into the text file.

Using Excel document
I thought that i can use an Excel spreadsheet, however it comes up with unwanted information.

Week 5 Tasks

-Have completed/started a table of the comparisons using Ecotect and Geco
-Meeting with Ehsan at the Learning and Teaching Centre for writing assistance
-Create a system in grasshopper for a parametric floor plan

For Caroline
-Setup meeting to detail progress so far
-Complete a Revit Model of the Rose Bay House
-Complete a Revit model of the next house

Draft Research Report_Thoughts

Have you completed the raw research?


What kinds of research have you undertaken?


What data have they yielded?


Can you identify problems/ gaps/ inconsistencies?


What is left to complete?


Can you foresee problems with the analysis (the next assignment)?

Experiment_01_GECO

Aim: The experiment is to test GECO plugin and the information that can be extracted into grasshopper.

Discussion: One problems that i see so far is that, each change in grasshopper requires a new analysis to be completed in Ecotect which can cause some lag with each program.

Outcomes:
A simple surface was created in Grasshopper, and GECO was used to find the total incident energy on the surface.

Position 1

Position 2

Sun Path and Direction


List Distribution
Distributed the list of panels to find the value of each single energy incident.


Example file taken from: http://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/geco/forum/topics/example-files-geco

Note: Wh/m2 = watts per hour square

Thoughts_01

The two experiments that i want to test before the Week 4 update is:

-Test the use of Geco and how it can be used in Grasshopper

-Creating objects that have a relationship with one another. For example, the kitchen must always have a dining area next to it.

Stage Development

Stage 1
Undergo a theoretical study of a potential system that enables the use of energy analysis tools to cater for the best internal floor plan for the structure in the particular environment.

Stage 2
Develop the system in grasshopper, using Geko and Kangaroo plugins.

Stage 3
If Stage 2 is completed by week 6: Create a computer interface that will be usable by clients with no prior design knowledge of the system and then test to see if it works. The system allows the client to select their climatic region, which will then result in the generation of possible floor plan layouts.

Stage 4
If Stage 3 is completed. Step away from computer interfaces and implement physical prototyping. The physical prototype will enable the user to use physical wireless motes that can be placed in the vicinity of the area. The motes will translate data to the computer and generate results autonomously.

Final Outcome_Thoughts

Thoughts:
It becomes quite interesting when you are asked to think about what you want to achieve by the end of the semester for a project that you have been working on since the beginning of the year. So while sitting here gazing upon this view of the park beside central station i am left to think about my final outcome...

What I want is a system that enables a client to assess their space visually with the use of generative modeling to find the optimal spaces that will benefit from the surrounding environment. The client will be able to make use of the ability to generate a range of optimal designs that will focus on various different areas of interest in terms of solar, noise and ...

Interfacing is a big issue that i need to think about because "how do i want to present this work to the client?". There are options that are located in grasshopper to allow me to connect to a web portal, however i have not tested the function as of yet, so i don't know how effective it is. The other option is to create an interface through Processing, though that will require coding which will increase my own workload.

The last step that i want to discuss is the use of a physical prototype. Whilst the software side is difficult and creating an interface for the client would be useful, a physical prototype would be beneficial to make the process of using the system easier for the client. What i am thinking of building are wireless motes that translate their real world position into the computer, so that rooms are able to be visualized by the various position of the motes. What this will achieve is the ability for users to have mockups of their proposed space with real time analysis of the surrounding environment. This is only an idea and will be implemented if there is time in the end.

Software:
Rhino
Revit
Ecotect
Dreamweaver

Plugins:
Rhino-Grasshopper
Grasshopper-Geko
Grasshopper-Kangaroo

Hardware:
Sound Sensors
Light/solar sensors
Wireless Motes