The Use of 3d Design Tools With Game-Like Functionality and Physiological Information in Urban Planning and Architectural Design

摘要

Various visualization design tools such as CG and VR have been widely used in the process of architectural design and urban planning. The applications of these tools not only assist the designers but also make it possible to involve other relevant professionals and ordinary residents. For many years, we have been studying and experimenting the applications of design tools with good outcomes. In order to enable more convenient applications of the tools in the design process and instigate the interests of additional parties of relevance, we have added entertainment function to the design tools. In addition to the established functions of walk/fly through in VR space, and changes of shape and position of architecture by operation of a mouse, we supplement a 3-dimention database. In a process of design, the contents of the database, including 2-D figures and 3-D objects, can be deployed and used for reference, modification and comparison. These new functions promote users experience as if the user is playing some computer games. In order to test the results of game-like design tools, we examined the status of users during the design process when these tools were employed. Comparison of the results collected from questionnaire and physiological data indicated the unique effectiveness of game-like design tools. Physiological data was collected with a pulse detection at ear which was used to check the changes of blood supply for both left and right hemispheres. The data collected were then visualized by complex chaos analysis. Comparison of the processed data indicated the different brain status when a user applies these tools in the design and showed the effectiveness of the tools and their impact on the designer. Our results support the usefulness of game-like design tools and may lead to further developments of contents and methods to advance such tools.