A reliable method for visibility analysis of tall buildings and skyline: a case study of tall buildings cluster in Jakarta

Abstract

ABSTRACT Visibility is an important factor for decision-making regarding the visual quality of the skyline of modern cities which dominated by tall buildings. The basic method of visibility is referred to the concept of targeted isovist that represents the visible portion of the target area of tall buildings. This paper presents a reliable method of visibility analysis for tall building clusters, examining all unobstructed views of those clusters from surrounding streets and their impact on the shape of skyline, using Jakarta as a case study. The visibility algorithm was developed with Grasshopper and building models were simultaneously simulated using Rhinoceros 3D. The results are presented with a color segment that represents the percentage of visible viewpoints and the visible area of a building’s facade. The results showed that building height configurations, the location of buildings, the relation to the street, and the distances of various viewpoints have a significant effect on the rate of visibility. Moreover, the level of visibility of tall building clusters determines the shape of the skyline. The proposed visibility analysis method is expected to be an essential tool in the planning and design of tall buildings in a clustered organization for shaping the city skyline of the future.