HBIM and AI, a perspective on new technologies for Heritage architecture
Brief Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is a process for managing and conserving historical structures. Despite its potential and the European Directive 2014/24/EU, HBIM remains underutilized due to complex processes. AI-based technology can streamline HBIM processes at reduced costs, making heritage conservation more feasible. Technologies like LIDAR, TLS, photogrammetry (including UAVs), and SLAM, initially tested … Read more
Hobby Turned Startup: How Snaptrude is Reshaping BIM Workflows
Abstract In this interview of the BIM Theory Podcast, we sit down with Altaf Ganihar, founder and CEO of Snaptrude, to explore how a simple hobby project evolved into a cutting-edge cloud-based design tool. Starting as a SketchUp plugin, Snaptrude has grown into a platform that integrates AI, automation, and BIM to streamline workflows and … Read more
AI-powered Computational Design for Sustainability in Early-Design Stages
Introduction In this episode of the MaCAD Theory podcast, we explore with our guest Mr. Alessandro Grossi the growing importance of sustainable practices in the AEC sector, driven by climate change and resource scarcity. We dive into how integrating sustainability principles early in the design process can impact lifecycle costs and environmental outcomes.Listen to how … Read more
AI Weather Assistant
As part of a collaborative exploration into creative automation and human-AI interaction, our team developed an AI-powered weather assistant that integrates live data, generative visuals, and contextual language processing into a single, responsive system. The assistant operates via a Telegram bot and delivers three core outputs: current weather information, clothing recommendations, and an AI-generated image … Read more
Design Automation for Architectural Design in Small Steps
BRIEF PROBLEM: Architectural design is a complex process that often involves repetitive tasks, human errors, and inefficiencies that can slow down workflows. While Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools like Autodesk Revit have significantly improved design and documentation processes, the absence of structured automation continues to limit optimization, particularly for architectural design firms. Many firms struggle … Read more
Literary Landscapes &AI-Driven Urban Design
A speculative approach to Design through data, literature, and participatory AI in Sant Antoni Our urban issue: The Lack of Narrative-Driven Urban Design in a Data-Driven City Contemporary urban design increasingly relies on AI and big data, often sidelining human stories, cultural narratives, and historical context in shaping urban spaces. While data-driven design optimizes efficiency, … Read more
Sounds of Gràcia
An alternative ways of exploring the sounds that make up Gràcia This project investigates alternative ways of engaging with the sounds of Gràcia and how they can empower communities by fostering a deeper connection to place, memory, and identity. Sound functions as both a sensory experience and a cultural artifact, carrying layers of emotion, history, … Read more
Insite BCN
In different metropolitans all around the world finding suitable flat with properties you wish, is one of the most challenging tasks you may have ahead of you.what we suggest and develop in this course is visualizing a platform where you can talk to an LLM and eases this challenging process by visualizing the results. Bellow … Read more
Lumos
We live in an age of constant information, where news spreads rapidly and surrounds us at all times. Social media notifications, breaking news alerts, and endless headlines create an overwhelming cycle. Unfortunately, negativity often dominates this flow, increasing stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue. Why Are People Avoiding the News? According to Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, … Read more
Agent-Based Collaborative Design
Designing an Inclusive and Functional Bench Through the Lens of Iconic Visionaries Urban design has always required balancing complex social, cultural, and environmental factors. In this project, we explored the potential of AI in shaping public spaces. Specifically, designing a bench that serves the needs of both homeless individuals and daily users. We developed a … Read more
Questioning ‘Mixed-Use’ Space
What defines a mixed-use space? How do we visually recognise the coexistence of residential, commercial, and public spaces in a city? Can AI perceive these complex urban conditions as we do? This workshop explores how Visual Language Models (VLMs) interact with urban imagery, using street view images to assess land-use patterns. By comparing Barcelona and … Read more
AI for Urban Safety
How can we interpret and analyze urban safety and users’ perception of safety through images of public space? During the DataTHINK Workshop, we delved into a critical analysis of the role of AI in addressing this issue, trying to recreate the processes and algorithmic thinking that take place behind Vision and Large Language Models. First, … Read more
Robotics Solutions for 3D Space Analysis
Github : https://github.com/j-albo/robotic-3d-space-analysis INTRODUCTION Scanning irregular terrains with today’s scanning technology is crucial for obtaining precise environmental models, optimizing planning and execution in architectural projects. Its high-resolution capture capability allows for mapping complex surfaces and detecting floor level variations imperceptible to the human eye, improving efficiency and reducing errors in design and construction. WHY USING A MOBILE … Read more
Stolen River
Unmasking Nile’s Land Grabbed Territories The advanced political economies have shape a world where complexity too often tends to produce elementary brutalities under complex modes of expulsion. Most of the time those dynamics operate at a more subterranean level. The tools driving this phenomenon range from basic policies to complex institutions, systems, and techniques that demand … Read more
Apps4Citizens
Barcelona, like many modern cities, experiences the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where built-up areas retain more heat than surrounding natural landscapes. This interactive map visualizes temperature variations across the city, highlighting areas most affected by heat buildup. 🛰️ What This Map Shows: 📍 Heat Hotspots – Areas with high surface temperatures due to dense construction and limited … Read more
