Summary of the impact

This case study presents research of the Virtual Reality and Visualisation (VRV) Group, particularly its lead project, the Virtual NewcastleGateshead (VNG) agreement and city model. This work has influenced and harmonised the planning processes and assessment methodologies of the two municipalities and has enhanced professional practice, enabling the proposals of developers and architects of 12 major urban development projects to be more accurate, efficient and profitable. The model has also informed the business decisions of Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Metro operator and impacted upon public awareness (e.g. in creating a virtual e-mobility route linking North Sea Region countries). Its cultural and artistic impact includes a virtual reconstruction of Medieval Newcastle and its role in supporting public exhibitions and artistic endeavours.

Summary of the impact

The Digital Architectonics group in the Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture (CASA) in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath has had continuous engagement with leading architectural and engineering practitioners since its foundation by the internationally renowned civil engineer Professor Sir Edmund Happold in the late 1970s. Its unorthodox digital methods have been fundamental to the recent establishment of architectural geometry as a new specialism in both professions. One feature of this work is the ability to addresses the common problem of how to cover large spaces (such as courtyards and stadium roofs) without relying on intermediate supports (such as columns). The novel structural analysis techniques developed at Bath have led to significant consultancy on major landmark buildings. In particular, the reductions in complexity, risk, and carbon footprint resulting from such an approach have led to a re-emergence of the timber gridshell as a cost-effective and spectacularly low-carbon building solution. The impact has thus been both economic and environmental.

Summary of the impact

The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) is recognised internationally for its research in developing advanced computational numerical models for simulating the energy and environmental performance of the built environment. These models have been used by leading design practices in the design of major buildings and urban developments. This impact case study presents three models from this research activity that have been widely taken up by industry worldwide, namely, the `building energy' model HTB2, the urban scale `energy and environment prediction' framework EEP and the `building environment' model ECOTECT.

• HTB2 has been used by leading international practices in the design of over 100 exemplary low energy buildings, including Dubai's award-winning Lighthouse tower, and EMPA, the first zero energy office building in Switzerland.
• EEP modelling framework for urban simulation has been used to assess the energy performance of existing large estates, for example, for use in housing retrofit programmes, and, to plan low-carbon developments, such as the Gateway City in Ras al Khaimer. It is now accessible through Google SketchUp, a common design tool used by architects.
• Ecotect underwent significant development at the WSA before its sale to Autodesk in 2008, and by 2010 had over 2000 licenced users globally.

Application of the models, often linked (e.g. HTB2 is the numerical engine for EEP and is accessible within the ECOTECT framework), has resulted in extensive environmental benefits, through reductions in global CO₂ emissions. Additionally, there has been a marked impact on practitioners and professional practices, through new guidelines for major international developments (e.g. Pearl Island Qatar and the Chongqing Ba'nan Low Carbon Development).