This study will utilize three study procedures for data collection. First, the researcher will conduct an open survey of respondents from a variety of backgrounds through a weblog entitled Parametrics in Planning. Depending on the number of enrolled participants, the intent is to generate responses from at least 20-40 participants. The survey will ask both closed and open-ended questions in an attempt to evaluate the level of familiarity of this group of design professionals with Parametricism and gather opinions as to Parametricism’s role in the profession of urban planning and urban design. Phase 1 will consist of a close-ended survey for rapid completion. Phase 2 will consist of open-ended questions to be answered via post comments.
Second, the researcher will conduct a number of interviews of experts in the field of Parametricism. These interviews will be conducted on the phone, via email, and in person. The questions will be structured similarly to those in the survey, but will seek a deeper understanding of Parametricism’s role in urban planning from experts that are currently practicing it at various scales. The questions may also deal with the professional work of the subject, referring to projects they have carried out using Parametricist techniques. The number of interview participants will be roughly 5-10.
Third, the researcher will conduct non-human subject research on publicly available documents containing information on parametricist projects. This research will be formatted as comparative case studies where parametricist projects will be compared to one another but also to non-parametricist projects. The intention is to evaluate through analysis of graphic and textual description, the degree of urban planning factors present in the projects and their documention.
