Dexen: A scalable and extensible platform for experimenting with population-based design exploration algorithms

Abstract

A platform for experimenting with population-based design exploration algorithms is presented, called Dexen. The platform has been developed in order to address the needs of two distinct groups of users loosely labeled as researchers and designers. Whereas the researchers group focuses on creating and testing customized toolkits, the designers group focuses on applying these toolkits in the design process. A platform is required that is scalable and extensible: scalable to allow computationally demanding population-based exploration algorithms to be executed on distributed hardware within reasonable time frames, and extensible to allow researchers to easily implement their own customized toolkits consisting of specialized algorithms and user interfaces. In order to address these requirements, a three-tier client–server system architecture has been used that separates data storage, domain logic, and presentation. This separation allows customized toolkits to be created for Dexen without requiring any changes to the data or logic tiers. In the logic tier, Dexen uses a programming model in which tasks only communicate through data objects stored in a key-value database. The paper ends with a case study experiment that uses a multicriteria evolutionary algorithm toolkit to explore alternative configurations for the massing and façade design of a large residential development. The parametric models for developing and evaluating design variants are described in detail. A population of design variants are evolved, a number of which are selected for further analysis. The case study demonstrates how evolutionary exploration methods can be applied to a complex design scenario without requiring any scripting.

Evolving a Psycho-Physical Distance Metric for Generative Design Exploration of Diverse Shapes

“…For an architectural application of generative design, Shea et al [13] introduced a performance-driven generative design method to lightweight cantilever roof structures while integrating two generative structural design systems, efiForm and Bentley's Generative Components. Other architectural generative design systems are ParaGen and Dexen for exploring parametric structures and façade designs were introduced by Turrin et al [14] and Patrick [15]. Moreover, different researchers have also developed generative design techniques to create building [16] and site [17] layouts and energy efficient building designs [18].…”

“…Fifteen designs were generated for the glass, chair, and rim models. Dissimilarity ranks between the 15 2 design pairs of the Euclidean and psycho-physical distance-based exploration were learned in this user study. Similar to the previous user study, the seven-point Likert scale was also utilized here, with anchor ranging from 1 ("Very Similar") to 7 ("Very Dissimilar").…”

Subtractive Building Massing for Performance-Based Architectural Design Exploration: A Case Study of Daylighting Optimization

“…Despite many successful applications in the literature, applying performance-based optimization for building massing design exploration is still challenging. While certain barriers have been identified by other researchers, such as the lack of easy-to-use optimization tools and the problematic integration of optimization with architectural design [13][14][15], another critical barrier is the lack of topological variability among the variants offered by these techniques in the design space.…”

A Computational Design Exploration Platform Supporting the Formulation of Design Concepts

“…Accordingly, a process integration platform is required that is suitable for multi-objective and multi-disciplinary design exploration and supports the decision-making on ideation. However, most of existing platforms integrating parametric modeling and simulation systems with a design exploration and optimization environment lack important features, like scalability, extensibility [9], ease in using advanced sampling techniques and post-processing tools etc. This largely limits their applications in conceptual architectural design.…”