A Fuzzy-Based Approach for Evaluating Existing Spatial Layout Configurations

Abstract

This paper proposes a fuzzy-based approach for the automated evaluation of spatial layout configurations. Our objective is to evaluate soft and interdependent design qualities (such as connectedness, enclosure, spaciousness, continuity, adjacency, etc.), to satisfy multiple and mutually inclusive criteria, and to account for all potential and logical solutions without discarding preferable, likely or even less likely possible solutions. Using fuzzyTECH, a fuzzy logic software development tool, we devise all possible spatial relation inputs affecting physical and non-physical outputs for a given space using descriptive rule blocks. We implement this fuzzy logic system on an existing residential space to evaluate different layout alternatives. We define all linguistic input variables, output variables, and fuzzy sets, and present space-space relations using membership functions. We use the resulting database of fuzzy agents to evaluate the design of the existing residential spaces.