Complexity Measures of Design Drawings and Their Applications

This paper describes an algorithm that is developed to quantify the connectivity of a graph. This connectivity is one of three aspects of complexity (connectivity, solvability, size) that has been identified in previous research. The complexity measures are applied against three components of design: the design problem, the design process, and the design artifact. This algorithm is illustrated step by step through an example.

The aim of the research presented in this paper is to provide an additional method and tool for architects and designers as well as students and scholars to analyze the degree of complexity of a design. Fractal analysis (box counting) e.g. is one of these methods already used in architecture to measure the degree of complexity of an architectural design, for example of the elevation of a building. The method of semi-automated gradient-analysis described here focuses on the repetition of gradients and thus of proportion-repetition in a given design as one of several aspects of complexity reduction by redundancy.

2004

DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers. Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal. If the publication is distributed under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the "Taverne" license above, please follow below link for the End User Agreement:

Architectural Science Review, 2019

The wide application of digital design, the advances of digital fabrication and robotic processes have facilitated the materialization of bespoke geometries. In turn it has raised the issue of how architects can reduce design complexity using computational techniques. This paper presents a survey on complexity theory inclusive of work from the disciplines which range from cybernetics to systems and information theory. We synthesize a taxonomy of different definitions of complexity and ways of managing design complexity by decomposing its different levels as they relate to the fields of architecture, engineering and construction. Our hypothesis is that by reviewing the literature on complexity theory which appears to be highly fragmented, we can aid designers build a better understanding of the underlying principles. Thus designers can develop a more system approach towards the use of digital design tools and make use of concepts coming from the field of complexity theory such as abstraction, adaptation and self-organization in order to come up with novel computational design methods. Such methods can enable designers to deal with design problems holistically and manage design complexity in the contemporary digital design context.

2008

In this paper, two measures are proposed for valuation of size and coupling complexities of design products as abstracted by three distinct representations. The proposed size complexity measure is based on the information theoretic definition of complexity that connects the complexity of a design to the level of entropy, or uncertainty, inherent in the design product. The proposed coupling complexity measure evaluates the decomposability of the graph-based representation of design products. To validate the proposed measures, an experiment is conducted to calculate the complexities of three consumer products based on three product representations, namely, function structure, connectivity graph, and parametric associativity graph. The findings indicate that coupling and size are independent measures of a product’s complexity. Thus, it is recommended that both measures should be used. Further, the complexity of a product is not independent of the choice of representation model used to describe the product. This suggests that the complexity of a product will vary with the selected view. Finally, it is shown that the two approaches for measuring complexity of a product are generalizable and can be applied to different representations.

e-Activities in Design and Design Education, Europia, Paris, 2003

Abstract: A computational model of the visual complexity of solids is presented. It is based on using a qualitative representation for 3-dimensional objects as semantic graphs. Then information-theoretic measures are constructed for these graphs. This measure of visual complexity allows for the comparison of different architectural forms. An example of the application of this model is presented. Keywords: visual reasoning; complexity; 3D modelling

IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans, 1998

The complexity of a design process or a design artifact substantially influences their performance. When evaluation of terms such as "design complexity" and its "quality" is addressed in studies, it is often performed in an ad hoc manner. This paper attempts to remedy this situation by articulating two definitions of design complexity (structural complexity versus functional complexity), their associated value measures, and the relationships between them. The structural definition states that a design complexity is a function of its representation. Defining design complexity in the structural way provides quantitative techniques for evaluating vague terms such as "abstraction level," "design form's size," and "designing effort." The functional definition states that a design complexity is a function of its probability of successfully achieving the required specifications (functional requirements and constraints). The proposed measurable metrics provide a proper basis for evaluating each step of the design process, and accordingly recommends the direction to follow for design modification and enhancement. It also provides a framework for comparing competing artifacts (the output of a design process). The paper concludes by discussing the scope of the measures.

2008 12th International Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design, 2008

Design is a complex process often described as a collaboration between a designer and herself. In architectural design, a designer must consider the selection of a subset of actions from a set of possible actions while accounting for consequences on the overall design. Computer-based design tools enable humans to operate more efficiently in this process. We present CoSyCAD, a program that can be used to assist architects in the layout of a floor plan and to simultaneously analyze the cognitive complexity of routes through an indoor environment, thereby enabling direct feedback on a layout's usability. We provide a scenario that utilizes the program.

The way in which humans perceive complexity has an important effect on the development of computerised information systems, particularly because many of these systems are in some respects modelled on comparative human processes. Simplification of complex matter can lead to a better understanding of the inherent information and the development of simpler systems. One aspect in this information domain is how people perceive their world in terms of visual complexity and whether this can be modelled mathematically and/or computationally. Using subcomponents called "SymGeons" (Symmetrical Geometric Icons) a prototype model of visual complexity has been derived and subsequently tested. SymGeons are geometric primitives which can be combined to form foreground objects. This paper outlines the derivation and development of the model and how it compares with the human perception of visual complexity. Experiments conducted thus far have shown that the model correlates with the human...

The problem of complexity underlies all design problems. With the advent of CAD however, our ability to truly represent complexity has increased considerably. Following the four waves of design methodology as distinguished by , we see changing architectural design attitudes with respect to complexity. Rather than viewing it as problematic issue, architects such as Koolhaas, van Berkel, Lynn, and Franke embrace complexity and make it a focus in their design work. The computer is an indispensable instrument in this approach. The paper discusses the current state of the art in architectural design positions on complexity and CAAD, and reflects in particular on the role of design representations in this discussion. It is advanced that a number of recent developments are based on an intensified use of design representations such as schema's, diagrams, and interactive modelling techniques. Within the field of possibilities in this area, the authors discuss Feature-Based Modelling (FBM) as a formalism to represent knowledge of the design. It is demonstrated how the FBM approach can be used to describe graphic representations as used in design, and how other levels and kinds of design knowledge can be incorporated, in particular the less definite qualitative information in the early design phase. The discussion section concludes with an extrapolation of the current role of design representation in the design process, and advances a few positions on the advantage and disadvantage of this role in architectural design.