Architectonic virtual library - a Web-based supported system for the architectural design development and education

摘要

This paper describes the implementation of a web-based system for the support of both architectural design development and design education, named Architectonic Virtual Library (AVL) The basic structure of the system allows the construction and increment of design knowledge databases extracted from users contributions and discussions. The main contribution is related to the results of its utilization in disciplines of Architecture and Civil Engineering courses at Brazilian universities. One can verity that the introduction of the digital support for design activities in the architectural environment can be seen as an irreversible process. There are profound transformations in the professional practice and in the teaching and learning processes of architectural design due to the resources represented by CAD technologies, Computer Graphics and Information Technology. However, there are some gaps or misleads in the actual graphics editors structures and digital support systems in a broad sense. The concept of Knowledge Aided Design (KAD) proposed by Green [1] reflects these issues and introduces the notion of the design process enhancement by the utilization of computers also as a tool to make knowledge available to the designer. In that sense, the web-based system in implementation as a research project of the Production Engineering Department of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, aims to fill some of these gaps, specifically at the early steps of the architectural design progression. One can verity that designer's uses CAD systems only after the major decisions have been made. The concept of KAD systems leads to its utilization at a much early step in the design process, when most of the more important and expensive decisions are made [1]. In this way, the mainly target of this research project is to articulate the diverse resources available nowadays for the architectural design development in a web based system that can make this resources more integrated and with the focus in the issues related to the teaching and learning processes of design.