Bakolas, R.;
(2007)
Virtual Urbanity: A parametric tool for the generation of virtual cities.
Masters thesis , UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Which are the underlying rules that govern urban growth and the structure of the street network? Which are the distinctive characteristics that define highways and the differentiation of the various street patterns? How can we combine the above information and incorporate them in a computer aided urban simulation in order to successfully model a virtual city in which people will be able to successfully orientate and navigate? This research aims to address and investigate the above issues and proposes the development of a parametrically adjustable computer program in order to conduct navigational and way-finding experiments. Virtual Urbanity is a simulation engine which is capable of procedurally generating a vast and diverse variety of virtual 3D urban configurations. It uses an operational grammar which consists of a local generative process which is based on a Lindenmayer system, and a prescriptive set of global parametric rules. This combination defines the topology, the geometry, the width, the length, the density and the spatial significance of the streets, ultimately setting an effective street hierarchy. The program engages in the methodological exploration of existing and theoretical urban configurations and the analysis of the human perception about the structure of the built environment, and builds towards a working algorithm (rule-set) for the on the fly generation of city structures in the next generation video games. In accordance, a trial experiment regarding the mental correlations of the roads’ width and their hierarchical significance and function within the street network was conducted and its findings were discussed.
| Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Virtual Urbanity: A parametric tool for the generation of virtual cities |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Approved for UCL Eprints by Mr. S. Hanna, Bartlett School of Graduate Studies |
| Keywords: | virtual city, urban growth, parametric, generative, procedural, simulation, L-systems, navigation, way-finding, cognition, legibility, hierarchy, patterns, road width |
| UCL classification: | |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/4983 |
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