An edge-weighted graph triumvirate to represent modular building layouts

Abstract

<p><a href="https://doi-org.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105140" title="Persistent link using digital object identifier"></a>Representing <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/engineering/building-layout" title="Learn more about building layouts from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">building layouts</a> as graphs can extract critical design patterns that would facilitate space syntax analyses as well as design mining and automation but traditional approaches (e.g., non-weighted adjacent graphs) encountered problems in modular buildings, as they are largely shaped under the principle of ‘modularity’ rather than freeform cast in-situ elements. This paper attempts to develop a novel analytical tool called ModularGraph to represent modular building layouts (MBLs) as graphs considering their unique adjacency, connectivity, and conjoint relationships in a triumvirate. It does so by developing a prototype then applying it to 36 modular buildings for iteration, finetuning, and finalizing. It is found that ModularGraph can effectively translate heterogeneous forms of MBLs into unified graph-based representations with rich graphic and semantic information. This study not only contributes an innovative graph analytic tool for design pattern mining, but also lays a stepping stone towards generative AI for modular <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/engineering/architectural-design" title="Learn more about building design from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">building design</a>.</p><p><a href="https://doi-org.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105140" title="Persistent link using digital object identifier"></a></p>