AI EDAM special issue: advances in implemented shape grammars: solutions and applications

Abstract

This paper introduces the special issue “Advances in Implemented Shape Grammars: Solutions and Applications” and frames the topic of computer implementations of shape grammars, both with a theoretical and an applied focus. This special issue focuses on the current state of the art regarding computer implementations of shape grammars and brings a discussion about how those systems can evolve in the coming years so that they can be used in real life design scenarios. This paper presents a brief state of the art of shape grammars implementation and an overview of the papers included in the current special issue categorized under technical design, interpreters and interface design, and uses cases. The paper ends with a comprehensive outlook into the future of shape grammars implementations.

Shapes, structures and shape grammar implementation

“…Each grammar includes an initial shape and a single shape rule, and the paper has focussed on identifying fixed part structures necessary to accommodate repeated application of the rule. Reducing shape representations to a set of fixed parts is a common strategy which can potentially simplify the difficulties inherent in implementing shape grammars [5,17]. However, this paper has shown that fixing the parts of shapes can make it impossible to fully implement shape computations, which includes recognition of emergent shapes.…”

“…Also, since X < ½Y the structure of X embedded in Y is analogous to the structures illustrated in Figure 7a, so Y = XVYXX = PPVYXPP. 5. When ⅟7(6 -2√2)Y < X < ½Y then √½Y < d < ⅟7(4 + √2)Y and ⅟7(3 -√2)Y < P < (1 -√½)Y.…”

“…Composed of shapes and shape rules, they are production systems where digital representations are manipulated as visual structures, and designs are generated via shape computations involving repeated application of rules. Research into interpreters that facilitate automated implementation of shape grammars spans many design disciplines, including engineering, architecture and product design; see [5] for a recent summary. But, despite some promising results, these implementations have not yet satisfactorily met the potential suggested by theoretical developments of the shape grammar formalism [1].…”

“…But, despite some promising results, these implementations have not yet satisfactorily met the potential suggested by theoretical developments of the shape grammar formalism [1]. The visual nature of shape grammars means they are particularly suited to the early stages of design, where ambiguity and emergence play an important role [5,6], but implementing the visual shape computations that result from applying shape rules has proven to be difficult within the logics of symbolic computation that underlie CAD and CACD systems [7,8].…”

“…However, the problem of shape recognition is difficult, and for parametric shapes is NP-hard [7]. Instead, shape rule application is often made tractable by assuming a fixed part structure which focusses recognition on known parts [5,17], and this paper investigates the consequences of such an assumption.…”