Digital Participation and Collaboration in Architectural Design

The emergence of new digital and visualisation technologies in recent years has led to rapid changes in the field of architecture. Current drives to incorporate building information modelling as a part of architectural design are giving way to the increased use of IT and visualisation in architectural design, user participation and group collaboration.

As digital methods become more mainstream, Digital Participation and Collaboration in Architectural Design provides an accessible and engaging introduction to this emerging subject. Supported by selected examples from research and practice, the book offers an overview of theories, techniques and approaches which readers can apply in their own work. In doing so, it shows how these techniques can influence communication, debate and understanding and encourages readers to see familiar buildings from original and unusual perspectives.

An ideal starting point for anyone interested in the application of digital techniques, the book will help students and professionals in architectural design and digital architecture to understand and embrace new technologies.

1. Introduction 2. Digital Technologies in Architectural Design. 3. Digital Visualisation in Practice 4. Democratic Visualisation 5. Collaboration and Participation 6. Future Directions 7. Final Remarks

Richard Laing (PhD MRICS) is Professor of Built Environment Visualisation at Robert Gordon University, where his research has concerned the use and effects of visualisation within architecture, construction and public engagement. His work has included numerous projects with colleagues from across Europe, as well as the supervision of research students in fields such as collaborative design, environmental economics and built heritage conservation. He was born in Vancouver and grew up in Scotland.