Monday, March 8, 2010

Your History of Parametrics?

As my research moves on, I would like to ask a new question to those of you who have been following. As we all know, parametrics is distributed in a wide array of softwares, technologies, theories, and scales of operation. One would be hard-pressed to give it a definitive identity. But what about its history? I would like to ask YOU about your history of parametrics.

Where/when/how does the history of parametrics begin? Who were the significant players in this history? What significant moments or projects would you place in the history of parametric design? If you have any thoughts, please comment.

And again, thanks to everyone who participated and facilitated my initial survey. With 60-80 responses, this is very very good. With this comment I am officially closing out the initial survey (unofficially it will remain open for any stragglers).

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Great Response!

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my survey thus far. In 3 days, I've got around 50 responses...so we're starting to get statistically significant and that's the goal! Could we get 100? that would be awesome! Thanks again to Andrea of DigitAG& as well as Urban Planning Blog for helping me out. But please keep voting and spread the word if you can.

In the mean time, I've started a thread at a really great forum for urban planning called Cyburbia. The thread can be found at: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40277 Here I've posted the survey, but I've also posed the question in a more open-ended format. So far, I've had some pretty interesting discussions about parametrics in planning relative to pragmatic and theoretical issues in planning, which is great...sort of proves the relevance of my inquiry. And I've been able to "spread the word" to some planners. Take a look!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Parametrics in Planning Launch

Phase 1: Survey
The beginning of my research will include this survey intended to gather a broad perspective from the design community on the relevance of parametric design and design tools to the profession of urban planning. You need not have a background in parametrics or planning or both, just the ability to answer a simple question.

Please mark an answer below. Be sure to click "vote" after each question. If you don't see an appropriate answer choice, then skip the question. If you would like to further discuss any of the questions, qualify your responses, or pose another question then please comment below.

How familiar are you with the term “Parametric?”

How familiar are you with the term “Parametric Urbanism?”

How familiar are you with the profession of Urban Planning?

How relevant do you think “Parametricism” or “Parametric Urbanism” is to the profession of Urban Planning?

How relevant do you think “Parametricism” or “Parametric Urbanism” is to the creation of city plans, planning documents, or planning policies?

How appropriate do you think it is for urban planners to be trained in the use of “Parametric design” tools or to study “Parametricism?”

Do you think the profession of Urban Planning could benefit from the use of Parametric design tools or from utilizing logics of Parametricism?

Do you think city plans, planning documents, or planning policies can be “Parametric?”

If you answered yes or maybe…. In what way could city plans, planning documents, or planning policies be parametric?

How significant do you think the role of “Digital Technology” is in the profession of Urban Planning?

How significant do you think the role of “Digital Technology” is in the creation of the built environment?

How much do you feel the profession of Urban Planning substantially contributes to the creation of the built environment?