Comparative urban performance simulation

Abstract

This research is concerned with applying environmental urban performance analysis methods to comparative urban master planning. Using bottom-up physics-based urban simulation algorithms, the author established a repeatable methodology for computationally analyzing and comparing urban environments. Conditions simulated included, individual building operational energy use, floor-by-floor spatial daylight autonomy, and site wide occupant mobility. The study area is the Interstate 195 redevelopment site in Providence, Rhode Island. Four historic master planning documents were sampled from 1992 to 2012. The predominate instrument for geometric modeling and simulation was the MIT Urban Modeling Interface(UMI). The methodology proposed in this study provides both, a specific framework of values for performance optimization in Providence as well as a more general framework for the automation of urban simulations in disparate regions. Results from this experiment were processed using custom instrumentation, built using web-based network architecture, to provide rapid result visualization and interactive urban data display. The research concludes by proposing a new architecture of urban system modeling.