Parametrizing the unmeasurable: Urban qualities as quantitative parameters for computer games

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning and Design
• Computational Design
• Gamification Studies

Background:

• Parametric design and gamification often rely on quantifiable data.
• Measuring and quantifying complex urban spatial qualities presents a significant challenge.
• Integrating nuanced urban characteristics into computational design frameworks is an ongoing research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a method for parametrizing and quantifying complex urban qualities.
• To address the challenge of incorporating intricate spatial qualities into parametric design.
• To facilitate the implementation of urban complexities in game development.

Main Methods:

• Extracting key spatial qualities from three primary sources.
• Developing a comprehensive, parametrizable list of urban qualities.
• Breaking down qualities into tangible parameters and assessing their interrelations within a system model.

Main Results:

• Urban qualities, though complex, are better defined and parametrized through investigation of their relations and origins.
• A classification system for urban qualities based on their interconnectedness was developed.
• Six categories emerged: Main Instigator, Mediating and Consequential, and Minimally, Moderately, and Highly connected qualities.

Conclusions:

• The research provides a novel method for parametrizing urban qualities.
• This method enhances the integration of complex urban characteristics into parametric design and gamification.
• Developers can now implement sophisticated urban qualities more effectively in game environments.