Shape grammars overview and assessment for transport and urban design: Review, terminology, assessment, and application

Abstract

Shape grammars for urban design have attracted much interest in research and practice. Transport and urban planners increasingly deploy shape grammars, especially in simulations and procedural models. Shape grammars have multiple advantages due to their interdisciplinary and straightforward approach and low computational requirements. In addition, a rulebased design method and underlying fundamental research knowledge can potentially support future planning and design guidelines for handbooks and norms. However, little is known about the effectiveness of shape grammars in transport networks and urban environments. e proposed methodology aims at a future development of a robust and effective language for sustainable urban development. e theory of different fields is consolidated for a general grammar definition. Grammars require specified and corresponding objectives and application specifications for enhanced implementation. e proposed methodology for grammar rule assessment is based on elasticities to gain more insights in the effect of the rules. Elasticities allow comprehensive comparisons and verification between grammar rules. e paper reviews and highlights the key achievements and applications of shape grammars in cognate fields of science. Terminology sheds light on the definitions of most relevant terms including a general definition for grammar rules embedded in the language context. e paper differentiates methodological approaches in grammar design assessment and emphasizes a standardized approach for shape grammar definitions. e paper concludes with a detailed example for grammar rule assessment and potential future research.

Cellular automata: Towards possible applications in urban design education and practice | Autômatos celulares: visando possíveis aplicações no ensino e na prática do urbanismo

“…The possibility of using shape grammars as an approach to generate rules for CA is also addressed in a number of the reviewed papers (ANZALONE & CLARKE, 2003;SPELLER, WHITNEY, CRAWLEY, 2007;SINGH & GU, 2012;VITINS & AXHAUSEN, 2016) and presents itself as an important strategy to deal with the difficulty of defining transition rules for the application of CA in the design process. To generate variety parametric design, L-systems, genetic and flocking algorithms can be integrated with CA-based models.…”

Towards Urban Densification: Parametric Modeling of Possible Scenarios for Urban Mobility

“…Across the procedural models surveyed, grammars were studied and developed to generate networks and buildings and to simulate urban growth (Weber Et Al., 2009;Aschwanden Et Al.,2011;Koltsova, Kunze & Schmitt, 2012;Garcia-Dorado, Aliaga & Ukkusuri, 2013). Vitins & Axhausen (2016 show the development of a method for extracting and evaluating grammars by comparing their performance through traffic modeling.…”

Extraction and evaluation of transportation network grammars for efficient planning applications

“…Many formal definitions exist for syntax in different disciplines; please refer to Vitins & Axhausen (2016) for additional references. The following definition utilizes major components of an early instance (Chomsky 1956, 1959), adapted for planning purposes.…”

“…2017). Vitins & Axhausen (2016) summarized and compared major grammar-related contributions from different disciplines and perspectives.…”