Landschaftsentwurf vor Ort - Entwicklung von digitalen in-situ Modellierungswerkzeugen für robotische Landschaftsfabrikation


Author / Producer

Date

2023

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

This dissertation grew out of the question of whether the traditional approach to on-site landscape design, as practiced into the 19th century, could experience a renaissance through the use of modern digital tools and autonomous machines for earthmoving. While research on autonomous excavators is moving toward market readiness, there are a few design methods and tools in landscape architecture that address the potential of on-site digital landscape modeling and robotic execution. To address this gap, this work developed several digital tools for designing on and with the site, refined them over several case studies, and finally tested them with a robotically fabricated topographic prototype. The work is based on the premises that on-site design strengthens the sitespecificity of the outcome, that design with a digital, three-dimensional model is superior to current two-dimensional design methods, and that on-site landscape design requires new, contemporary tools. After analyzing historical precedents and building on state-of-the-art modeling and visualization methods, as well as integrating pointcloud technology and satellite-based geolocation, three distinct digital design tools were developed: A drawing stick for recording geolocated design inputs directly in the field, a virtual reality application that simulates the functionality of the drawing stick in a full-scale virtual point cloud environment, and an augmented reality application that enables the creation, modification, and visualization of digital models in the field. The use of the tools during the case studies that were undertaken throughout this work revealed their potential for precisely interconnecting site, digital model, and design inputs. While the tools allowed for the direct transfer of design inputs recorded on site into a digital model, the subsequent use of an autonomous excavator to translate a digital landscape model back into built reality closed the loop back to the site. This work argues for a stronger link between the site and the design within a holistic design approach and the integration of the factor human in digital design methods. The main objective of using digital tools in design should not be for its own sake, but rather to strengthen the role of the designer and promote diverse, site-specific architectures. This work is part of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication (DFAB) and the Construction Robotics research stream.

Publication status

published

Editor

Contributors

Examiner : Girot, Christophe
Examiner : Hutter, Marco
Examiner : Fricker, Pia

Book title

Journal / series

Volume

Pages / Article No.

Publisher

ETH Zürich

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Robotische Fabrikation; Landscape Architecture; Digitale Fabrikation; Digital Twin; On site robotics

Organisational unit

03578 - Girot, Christophe (emeritus) / Girot, Christophe (emeritus) check_circle
02284 - NFS Digitale Fabrikation / NCCR Digital Fabrication
02667 - Institut Landschaft und Urbane Studien / Institute Urban and Landscape Studies
02655 - Netzwerk Stadt u. Landschaft ARCH u BAUG / Network City and Landscape ARCH and BAUG

Notes

Funding

-- - NCCR Digital Fabrication (SNF)

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