*. Mesh Parameterization and Optimization. Currently I am collaborating with my (previous) advisor Prof. Jung Hong Chuang at NCTU on projects related to shape correspondence. I am responsible for solving problems related to mesh parameterization and hence, using packages to solve optimization problems.
- CirclePatterns, http://www.multires.caltech.edu/software/CircleParam/html/index.html. The source code demonstrates Circle Pattern, an algorithm for finding discrete conformal (angle-preserving) parameterization. Wonderfully, it also demonstrate how to use MOSEK, a powerful optimization software that is capable of solving linear, quadratic (convex), conic and even general non-linear convex problems.
- Following the author's instructions, I have implemented the spherical parameterization part. The task requires solving a general non-linear problem (minimizing the energy term). I have implemented C++ codes to use MOSEK to solve the problem, which involves providing functional, gradient and Hessian evaluations to MOSEK's interior-point solver. While the problem is solved for some simple models, unfortunately the problem seems to become non-convex for some complex models; MOSEK simply halts when it detects the Hessian to become not positive semidefinite, ending up with suboptimal solution.
1. Techniques on generating/extruding architectural drawings (e.g. floor plans) into 3D models.
- Convex Optimization, Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe / http://www.stanford.edu/~boyd/cvxbook/ (70% up to chap9: Unconstrained Minimization)
- Procedural House Generation: A method for dynamically generating floor plans, J. Martin UNC, i3D2006 (100%)
- Generating 3D Building Models from Architectural Drawings: A Survery / http://www.public.asu.edu/~pwonka/Publications/publications.html (40%)
- MIT "BUILD" system: A tool for maintaining consistency in modular systems. Said to be utilized as a tool of generating floor plans to for specific purposes (e.g. hospitals). / http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/6909 (10%)
- ArchiDNA(a fractal-like design CAAD system) http://dmg.caup.washington.edu/xmlSiteEngine/browsers/static/project72.html
2. Crowd / traffic simulation techniques. Exploit their applications into urban model synthesis.
- Virtualized Traffic / http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/TRAFFIC_RECON/ (100%)
- Dense Crowd Simulation / http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/DenseCrowds/ (25%)
- City-Scale Urban Environment Synthesis http://wiki.cs.purdue.edu/cgvlab/doku.php?id=projects:urban (100%)
- Procedural Street Modeling / http://www.public.asu.edu/~pwonka/Publications/publications.html (20%)
3. Computational Geometry for Architecture
- Prof. Potmann's research / http://www.geometrie.tuwien.ac.at/pottmann/ (25%)
- "Architectural Geometry" / http://www.architecturalgeometry.at/ (10%)
- "Discovering Structural Regularity in 3D Geometry", http://www.geometrie.tuwien.ac.at/pottmann/2008/discovering08/discovering.html (10%)
- "Algorithmic Architecture" by Harvard Architecture Prof. Kostas Terzidis / http://www.amazon.com/Algorithmic-Architecture-Kostas-Terzidis/dp/0750667257/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1 (100% - very interesting!)
- "Expressive Form: A Conceptual Approach to Computational Design " by Prof. Kostas Terzidis / http://www.amazon.com/Expressive-Form-Conceptual-Approach-Computational/dp/0415317444/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3 (90%)
- Model Synthesis (a good, general-purpose procedural modeling algorithm) / http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/synthesis/ (80% Implementing this by Pymel in Maya)
- Pamphlet Architecture 27: Tooling by Benjamin Aranda and Chris Lasch / http://www.amazon.com/Pamphlet-Architecture-27-Benjamin-Aranda/dp/1568985479 (80% -some innovative, experimental ways to apply basic computing techniques, e.g. fractal and crowd simulation into architectural modeling)
4. Global Illumination (hopefully it can be applied in solving lighting analysis problems in architecture)
- VRay introduction (and some information on GI algorithms) in Chinese: http://hammerbchen.blogspot.com/2008/05/vrays-global-illumination-gi-methods.html (90%)
- Some excellent research on lighting analysis by a Computer Graphics professor: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/~cutler/ (80%)
- Study lectures on GI: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/~cutler/classes/advancedgraphics/S09/lectures/ (10%)
- DIALux / http://www.dialux.com/ (80%)
5. Cool Architecture Stuff
- A movable, multi-purpose architecture project by Architecture Prof. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcTRFlhMlhk (100%)
- A New Zealand based architecture firm evolving architecture through computation http://www.nzarchitecture.com/blog/ (lots of links to "Generative Design" materials, great!)
- "De architectura libri decem" (中文版: 建築十書), Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_architectura (40%, to book 4)
- Digital Urban Blog http://www.digitalurban.blogspot.com/ , a blog hosted by Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, UCL. Also contains information about CAAD studies in ETH in Zurich. Emphasizing on applications of procedural modeling of cities. And some easy (from the perspective of a CS student) but interesting stuffs.
- "Cities for a small planet", Richard Rogers.
