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SQUIRREL: Balancing design automation and user interaction in a computational tool for designing segmented concrete
Eduardo Costa1, Robin Oval2, John Orr3
1School of Architecture and Environment, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
The Automating Concrete Construction (ACORN) project developed the SQUIRREL tool for designing segmented concrete shells. This digital workflow enhances efficiency and reduces carbon emissions in construction.
Area of Science:
- Construction Engineering
- Computational Design
- Sustainable Building
Background:
- Traditional reinforced concrete construction faces challenges in efficiency and carbon footprint.
- Digital workflows offer potential for optimizing design and construction processes.
- The Automating Concrete Construction (ACORN) project aimed to address these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the design and implementation of the SQUIRREL digital tool.
- To detail the core functionalities for designing segmented reinforced concrete shells.
- To explore the integration of construction-aware requirements into computational design.
Main Methods:
- Development of the SQUIRREL tool with parametric design capabilities.
- Focus on formfinding and segmentation layout definition for concrete shells.
- Implementation of a Design Space Visualisation module for parametric studies.
Main Results:
- SQUIRREL enables interactive design of prefabricated concrete shell segments.
- The tool integrates architectural, structural, and construction requirements.
- Design Space Visualisation streamlined decision-making for modelling and implementation.
Conclusions:
- The SQUIRREL tool demonstrates a viable digital workflow for concrete construction.
- Balancing automation and user interaction is crucial for future computational design tools.
- The ACORN project highlights advancements in efficient and sustainable building processes.
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