Interdisciplinary: Ph.D. Program In The Built Environment
Computational Design and Research
Demonstrably, there is an increasing and seemingly unquenchable demand for computational skills and tools in built environment research and practice. This includes, of course, activities in planning and construction management and profound issues of cognition and visualization. Moving beyond the fist generation of computer applications, two trends are notable. First, the varieties of computation employed in built environment research and practice are rapidly expanding through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), intelligent computer-aided design, and simulation, to full-scale virtual reality visualization and web-enabled support for interactive team processes. This raises intriguing research issues of the relation of digital and traditional (paper-based) techniques. Second, it is no longer satisfactory to work within the limitations of pre-packaged software; demands for creative "control" over computational processes have led to the need to educate users who can create their own programs and protocols.
A survey of recent advertisements in the newsletter of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture reflects the burgeoning market for graduates with computational education and experience. 21 of 27 advertised positions in the November, 2000 issue and 18 of the 33 positions in the January 2001 issue indicated "digital media/computer applications," "computational tools," "digital technology," "graphic and digital communication," "information technology," "computing and design knowledge," "computing and imaging," "electronic architectural design," "digital technology integration," or "digital media/design" either as the specialization sought or as a preferred skill to be used with another specialty (such as architectural history or interior design). Nor is the market for computational skills limited to the obvious professions. For the last several years, an increasing number of architecture and design graduates have chosen to work on building virtual environments, employed by the entertainment and arts industries (electronic game companies, film studios, Disney enterprises, etc.). Demand will not decline.
The College has broad experience in this area. The Design Machine Group is emerging as an internationally known center of excellence, developing computational methods and tools for built environment research and practice. The Urban Ecology Group uses computational tools for mapping and simulating natural and human systems; construction management employs computer applications for materials and resource planning; and urban planning faculty use remote sensing and GIS applications as well for transportation and land use simulation.