Information Communication Technologies in Architectural Education

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Information Communication Technologies in
Architectural Education

• Modris Dobelis
• Riga Technical University
• Riga, Latvia

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Topics

• Computer Aided Architectural Design
• What is Concurrent Engineering and BIM?
• Is CAAD just a tool or a media?
• Architectural Education
• Which comes first - hand-drawing or CAAD?
• CAAD teaching as a separated technology tool or
  integrated into project design?
• Teaching, training, tutoring or what else ?
• What software, how extensive, how to teach?
• Prior experience and training time
• Conclusion

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Computer Aided Architectural Design

• Computer Aided Drafting
• Computer Aided Design
• Computer Aided Engineering

Picture is worth a thousand words Prototype is
worth a thousand pictures
Rapid Prototyping Architectural Models
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Concurrent Engineering

• Synonyms for Concurrent
• Parallel
• Integrated
• Interfaced
• Networked
• Collaborative
• Rapid
• Synonym for Engineering
• Product Development

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Building Information Modelling
Architects are First in a Raw
Rendering, Animation, VR
Conceptual Design
Design Documentation
3D Model
Initial Idea
Structural Analysis
Cost Estimate
Facility Management
Construction Management
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Is CAD a Tool or Creative Media ?
Tools / Media ? Information Technologies (IT)
IT literacy is more than just anyCAD literacy !
CAAD systems

• Provide
• better design productivity
• effective collaboration possibilities
• rapid product development
• But these technologies
• can do more than the average user might expect
• develop faster than the users can implement them
  successfully
• often fail to meet the expected result because of
  ineffective IT use

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3 Ts of Concurrent Engineering

• Tools material resources
• Training human aspect, education
• Time realistic targets and expectations

Are equally important both in industry and in
education
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Tools in Universities
In Europe 180 architectural schools 120 000
architectural students 500 full-time teachers
Data byHannu Penttila, 2002Helsinki University
of Technology
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Training Time in Universities

• The Situation Before IT
• Small student groups
• Enough contact hours for subjects
• The Reality Now Is
• Large students groups
• Contact hours are decreasing all the time
• Possible Solutions
• Contemporary computer class with multimedia
  tutorials
• Shift from lecturing to tutoring

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Trouble
ToolsTrainingTime

• What kind of changes the digital media has
  effected to the architectural working and
  educational environments ?
• Are we ready to accept that ?
• Are there even defined strategies to use digital
  tools/media in the architectural education ?
• How the modern media is integrated into the
  architectural education ?

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CAD or PAD?
Two dominating approachesin education

• Hand-drawing first, CAD later
• Develop expression skills through PAD - Pencil
  Aided Design (Free-hand Sketching)
• Both are taught parallel on equal basis
• Exaggeration of CAAD role should be avoided !

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Separate Technology Tool

• Typically an architectural teaching staff
  requires CADD knowledge setup
• Regular software and hardware update and upgrade
  is a common issue
• Training industrial clients to use contemporary
  collaboration technology and methodologies
• Re-engineering of organizational practices
  involves considerable resources

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Graphic Literacy Education in RTU
2 CP 2 Acad. Contact Hours x 16 week 48 Hours
Independent Work

• Bachelor studies 4.5 years
• 1st study year
• Descriptive Geometry, 4 CP, Compulsory
• Computer Literacy, 2CP, Compulsory (nothing about
  CAD)
• 3rd study year
• CAD Applications in Architecture, 2 CP,
  Compulsory
• Advanced CAD, 2CP, Optional (some students
  select)
• Professional Studies 1.5 years
• Not specified
• Master Studies (2 years)
• Computer Aided Design, 2 CP, Compulsory

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2D CAD Skills Acquired
Before University
Total Number Students Questioned - 46
CAAD is Allowed in Projects
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Intersection Exercise from Descriptive Geometry
Course
The same assignment exercise is suggested to be
solved using 4 different CAD methods reporting
the time required to complete it and discussing
the emotions
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2D anyCAD Exercise
?
Beginner
Students Reported(Self Evaluation)
Professional
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3D ArchiCAD Exercise
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SketchUp

• Fills the existing gap in Computer Aided
  Conceptual Design stage
• Expands the ability to explore design through the
  use of 3D modelling
• Provides fast feedback during conceptual design
  study
• Demonstrates the power of emerging technologies

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3D SketchUp Exercise
Wrong Self Evaluation ?
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GDL code
The result is achieved through I do and I
understandrather than I hear and I forget
or I see and I remember

• MODEL SOLID
• MATERIAL c
• PYRAMID 4, 3.4, 63,
• 0, -2.8, 0,
• 2.8, 1.6, 0,
• -2.8, 1.6, 0,
• 0, -2.8, -1
• ADD .4, 1.75, 1.65
• ROTz 90
• ROTy -90
• MATERIAL d
• PRISM 4, 4.15,
• 0, 0,
• 1.1, 0,
• 1.1, .65,
• 0, 1.6
• DEL 3
• ADD 2.6, -2.3, 0
• ROTz 60

The programming is not that complex as many might
believe it is!
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3D GDL Exercise
Wrong Self Evaluation ? I guess so!
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Conclusion
CAAD education experience in RTU

• More impact on IT tutoring rather than teaching
• No 2D drafting with AutoCAD for architects
• If you learn any3D-CAD primary concepts, the
  next one will come much faster
• Preference to How to Design rather than What to
  Design

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BALTGRAF-2006

• The Eighth International Baltic Conference on
  Geometry and Engineering Graphics
• June 9-10, 2006.
• Tallinn, Estonia

Follow the information on the Web
http//bf.rtu.lv/grafika/BALTGRAF.htm
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Thank you