Blog 2 - Artificial Intelligence + Dynamo (Residential Building)

20 SEP 2020

This video demonstrates the ability of Artificial Intelligence (ai) in generating residential-type structures. The ai adopts a "Wall-Beam" configuration without internal columns, where the core walls are used as the only vertical elements within the building boundary; otherwise, selected locations at the building edges are used as structural walls. In the video, Red, Purple and Blue areas allows for the use of structural walls. Green areas are balconies using cantilever structures as support.

In the video, the steel reinforcement for all structural elements are modeled by the ai. This includes the pile caps, walls, columns, beams and slabs. UBP steel piles are chosen for the foundation, appropriate for the loading in this demonstration.

The entire structure is calculated by the ai in less than 5 minutes, which includes the development of the structural framing from the floor plan, the sizing of the structural elements, the foundation design and the reinforced concrete design.

For developers and contractors, the ai can easily obtain the material quantity for cost estimation. This is a very powerful tool to have for initial development of the design, especially if engineers need to quickly adapt to changes in the floor plan.

This video is proof that the ai technology does indeed enable engineers (like myself) to design the structure holistically, from concept to analysis to design. All of the information is managed by the ai algorithm, therefore mistakes and biases are minimised as long as the ai is taught the proper engineering principles.

This demo project showcases a building with 8 levels, with the foundation at G/F and 2 core walls.