Results of data analysis

The use of graphical representation of data, in the form of diagrams and graphs, makes the results of the data analysis easy to understand.

Figure 4.1 shows the benefits that participants identified in relation to using digital media for design and communication. Connecting lines are drawn between each participant’s category and the benefits they value. The stakeholders all agreed on the following advantages:

- better design communication,

- availability of reference material and reviewing made easier.

The results also show that planners and clients identified ‘realistic simulation’ as being of a benefit to them, while architects and engineers agreed that ‘sharing information’ within the office and practice were considered beneficial. The remainder of the benefits identified by the stakeholders as a result of using digital media for design communication include:

- It can be a useful marketing tool.

- It can be used for editing work.

- It is portable.

- It is effective for solving logistical problems.

- It is good for showing context for urban proposals.

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Figure 4.1: Benefits of employing digital media in design communication

Figure 4.2 shows the number of participants that indicated each benefit of using digital media in the design process, as an advantage. It highlights that the most frequent benefit identified was ‘better design communication’, as 17

respondents (85%) had this point of view. This means that digital media aids participants to understand design. The next most frequent benefits were related to using digital tools for ‘sharing information’, ‘realistic simulation’ and

‘availability of reference material and reviewing made easier’. These benefits were identified by 20% of the respondents. Given their popularity, these factors should be considered for developing the collaborative design and

communication system. The least frequent benefits indicated, concerning the

‘portability’ and ‘solving logistical problems’ were highlighted by only 5% of interviewees.

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Figure 4.2: Participants’ indication of benefits of using digital media in design communication

Figure 4.3 shows the issues that each participant category encountered with using digital media for architectural representation in the design process. Most categories of participants report problems with opening media files. Beyond this, different participants seem to identify different issues that relate to their

respective use of such technologies. The lines connect participants’ categories and the problems they encounter. For example, architects, engineers and planners all report file transfer as a problem.

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Availbility of reference material and reviewing made easiler Good for urban proposal Realistic simulation Solving logistical problems Better design communication Portability Editing work Marketing tool Sharing information

Benefits

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Figure 4.3: Problems in communication in the design process

Figure 4.4: Participants’ indication of problems in communication in the design process

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Different view points Misunderstanding of bird eye's view Misunderstanding of 2D drawing Disappointing CG image Time consuming Over budget for 3D rendering Opening media file Expensive to source Too much details and information Difficulties in accessibility Clients could not understand 2D drawing Inaccuracy Misundersatndings due to shadow on flat elevation Inconsistantcy between images File transfer Translation of information from 3D to 2D

Problems

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Figure 4.4 shows the number of participants that highlighted each problem that they encountered in the design process. It reveals that the most frequent problems were ‘inaccuracy’ and ‘time consuming’, each indicated by seven respondents (35%). This means participants thought inaccuracy caused misunderstanding in design communication and that producing digital media delayed communication in the design process, resulting in stakeholders

sometimes misunderstanding the purpose of using digital media. The next most frequent problem identified was ‘opening media’, raised by 30% of the

respondents. This related to difficulties in using files, which require compatible software and appropriate versions. These problems have informed the

attributes required for the collaborative design and communication system that this research intends to develop. The least frequent problems were concerned with misunderstanding of architectural representations and the cost of digital media (suggested by only 5% of interviewees).

Answers from participants were categorised in response to the research questions. For example, in Figure 4.3, the responses are categorised as problems, while Figure 4.5 illustrates suggestions made by the participants to improve the design process. Some of these suggestions were unexpected.

Figure 4.5: Suggestions for improving communication in the design process

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Figure 4.6: Participants’ suggestions for improving communication in the design process

Figure 4.6 shows the number of participants that identified each suggestion made for improvement of the communication system. The most frequent of suggestions was ‘sharing information’, made by seven respondents (35%). This means participants thought the capacity to share information between

stakeholders was the most important attribute of a communication system. The next most frequent suggestions related to how to make digital media ‘easy to use and produce’ and to ensure that it ‘can connect to drawings’. These suggestions were made by 30% of the respondents. Given their popularity, these suggestions would inform the search for attributes of the collaborative design system in order to facilitate sharing and accessing information for all parties. The least frequent suggestions concerned technical modelling and the desire for instant results (suggested by only 5% of interviewees). Therefore, ideas about real-time modelling were discarded from this research. Most other suggestions from participants were considered in the design of the subsequent interactive communication system. This research considered the views of users of digital media in design and communication covering issues relating to the use of such media, including their benefits and suggestions for improving the current situation. This has adequately delivered the objective of this research, to put forward a design and communication system that better serves the users. In

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Sharing information Interactive view point changing Carrying digital media replaces physical model Digital media can connect to drawing Showing isometric model Real time communication Faster accessibility Easy to use and produce Friendly interface Faster turn around of design alteration File converter Ease of progress tracking through a reference/archive Combining physical and digital tools Deliver real time cost information Produce more image for human eye's view

Suggestions

20 Participants

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using suggestions from participants, users are considered as central and a design and communication system can be put forward, informed by the

participants’ views. Such views have helped identify some guiding principles to create a concept for the interactive communication system design: interaction, accessibility and inclusivity. These principles are considered when designing a communication system to respond to participants’ requirements. Figure 4.7 shows the groupings of suggestions under these guiding principles.

Figure 4.7: Three guiding principles used to develop an interactive design and communication system

A number of important factors were identified as a result of the analysis of interviewees’ responses in relation to the three categories. The first involves the use of 2D drawings and 3D modelling such as plans, elevations, sections and 3D rendering models to present architectural work. Participants are of the view that stakeholders are still using these media and likely to keep doing so. The second factor is the need for innovation in architectural communication,

modelling, accessing, networking and real-time communication. The third factor is to provide the opportunities of interactive media in the design process,

including walk-through 3D models and virtual environments. Different

participants experience architectural representation media in different ways.

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Sharing information Interactive view point changing Carrying digital media replaces physical model Digital media can connect to drawing Showing isometric model Real time communication Faster accessibility Easy to use and produce Friendly interface Faster turn around of design alteration File converter Ease of progress tracking through a reference/archive Combining physical and digital tools Deliver real time cost information Produce more image for human eye's view

Suggestions 20 Participants

Inclusivity Accessibility Interaction

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Some clients do not quite understand 2D drawings; they prefer 3D perspectives, as these enable them to imagine the real space and understand the design. The engineers and architects usually work in both 2D and 3D. Nevertheless, the planners always require 2D drawings, as they make decisions based on these.

The data shows that using 3D modelling is a concern for stakeholders; similarly, the engineers and planners offer similar opinions and suggest a focus on

understanding graphics and content. This was different from the architects’

points of view that are focussed on cost, time and computer skills. Other issues raised include the following:

- Solving Logistical problems – One of the engineers said he used 3D animation to identify problems with the flow of people and luggage in a public project, such as an airport. 3D animation needs to be accurate in this case, as it affects the design of volume and circulation of people and luggage around the space.

- Too much detail – This matter was explained by clients and planners as occurring when the architect puts too much work into producing

shadows, which can obscure details of the building and make it difficult to understand its depth.

- Realistic visualisation – Clients do not think that realistic visualisation is necessary and worth the extra cost in the design process; they can understand unrealistic 3D. However, they thought that realistic

visualisation could be useful if an architect does not charge too much for its production.

The data analysis reveals that the idea of using interactive digital media to improve communication in the design process, in terms of architectural

representation and connection, is agreed upon by most participants. Only one participant does not agree, because he does not use digital media much in his own practice as he finds it difficult to access and use. This participant

challenges the research to develop an interactive system for design

communication, which would also be easy to use and easily available through an open source.

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The finding that participants are interested in having interactive media in the communication process supports the objectives of this research. However, participants are still concerned with technological skills and equipment for using interactive media. As a result, the researcher has decided to design a system based on currently familiar and available communication tools, adding dynamic dimensions of interactive media capabilities to form a collaborative design and communication platform. In addition, the results make it clear that the system should be easy to use by all stakeholders.

Most participants indicate that interactive media would be very useful, both now and in the future. Computing technology and Internet-based networks enable people to produce tools for real-time communication. Some participants agree that real-time 3D models would help to clarify design communication if they were able to edit them. This would be an ideal feature for the future, and a way in which interactive media could contribute to design communication. Today, although editable 3D real-time modelling exists in various 3D modelling software, only specialists can use it. This research does not investigate such editable modelling, as many applications have already been developed in this field. In addition, to include real-time modelling for stakeholders in the

communication system to be proposed here, would demand a much higher technology level and budget. Hence, this research emphasises the idea of real-time communication rather than real-real-time modelling. This view seems to be supported by the evidence that some practices have already considered

employing interactive media such as blogs in their offices. However, up to now, these tools have been considered only for communication within their own practice, i.e., internally. This research focuses on both external and internal communication between stakeholders, hence highlighting the need for real-time communication. Stakeholders using an interactive communication system are enabled to share information during the design process.

The following section puts forward a number of suggestions to develop a more effective communication system for the design process by considering

interactive media as tools.

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