ITA PhD course

Computational research with COMPAS

Description

The PhD-level course (primarily for A&T PhDs) will introduce computational methods for architecture engineering, fabrication & construction, incentivising computational literacy. Students learn the theoretical background and basic implementation details of fundamental data structures and algorithms, and to solve real-world problems using the COMPAS framework and other open-source libraries.

Learning objectives

• understand the scope and relevance of computational methods for architecture and engineering research and practice,
• the theoretical background of fundamental data structures,
• the basic principles of algorithmic design;
• implement basic versions of prevalent algorithms related to architectural geometry, structural design, robotic assembly, volumetric modeling & 3D-printing, high-performance computation;
• use sophisticated algorithms available through open-source libraries to solve real-world problems; and,
• use common CAD tools as interfaces to self-implemented solutions.

Overview

Course will consist of a few lectures, several tutorials and project-based exercises.

Topics will include:

• Intro Python programming
• Intro COMPAS open-source framework (https://compas-dev.github.io/)
• Intro to geometry processing, data structures, topology, numerical computation
• Domain-specific case studies (e.g. on architectural geometry, structural design, robotic assembly, volumetric modeling and 3D printing, high performance computation)

Schedule

Week	Date	Lead	Title	Description	Links
1	Oct 2	BRG	Introduction	Course overview, COMPAS intro	Slides
2	Oct 9	GKR	Getting Started	Development Tools 101 Python 101 COMPAS 101	Slides, Assignment
3	Oct 23	BRG	Data structures and Geometry	Basic theory and examples	Slides, Assignment
4	Oct 30	BRG	Module 1: Structural Design	Theory: Form Finding methods	Slides, Assignment
5	Nov 6	BRG	Module 1: Structural Design	Case study: The HiLo cablenet formwork system	Slides
6	Nov 13	GKR	Module 2: Robotic Assembly	Theory: Robotic fabrication planning and executing	Slides, Jupyter Notebook, Assignment
7	Nov 20	GKR	Module 2: Robotic Assembly	Case study: Robotic assembly of a brick wall	Slides, Assignment
8	Nov 27	DBT	Module 3: Volumetric Modeling	Theory: Modelling with signed distance functions	Slides, Notebooks, Assignment
9	Dec 4	DBT	Module 3: Volumetric Modeling	Case study: Modelling of a node	Slides, Notebooks, Assignment
10	Dec 11	BRG	Next Steps	Using COMPAS in your own work

Join us on slack

https://tinyurl.com/yxse82a7

Jupyter and extensions

Make sure you install jupyter and extensions in the environment you are using:

conda install jupyter jupyter_contrib_nbextensions jupyter_nbextensions_configurator rise pythreejs --yes

To run the jupyter notebook, you simply have to type:

jupyter notebook

in your command line.

Activating extensions

From the Nbextensions tab in the notebook, install the following extensions:

1. Split Cells Notebook: Enable split cells in Jupyter notebooks
2. RISE: allows you to instantly turn your Jupyter Notebooks into a slideshow.

Configure workspace

To configure the workspace, type

jupyter notebook --generate-config

This writes a default configuration file into:

%HOMEPATH%\.jupyter\jupyter_notebook_config.py (on windows)

or

~/.jupyter/jupyter_notebook_config.py (on mac)

If you want jupyter to open in a different directory, then change the following line:

c.NotebookApp.notebook_dir = 'YOUR_PREFERRED_PATH'