New algorithms for generating isovist field and isovist measurements

Abstract

Isovist fields are powerful tools for expressing and analyzing spatial configurations. There is also useful software that allows one to calculate the isovist field variables. However, the complexity and the speed of the isovist field production algorithms have limited the diverse uses of isovist fields as a spatial configuration expressive model. In this paper, we present an algorithm for generating the isovist field which is simpler than the rivals. This algorithm relies on calculating the isovist for the corner points before generating the isovist fields. A complementary algorithm is also proposed which quickly updates isovist field calculations after limited changes in the environment take place. The speeds of these two algorithms are also checked here in real cases and are compared to the well-known fast algorithms. In addition, more efficient methods are proposed to calculate variables related to distance-to-the-walls metrics within an isovist. This method, which is fast and accurate, uses slices of isovist as a base to calculate these variables with the help of integral calculations. We hope these methods accelerate the evolution of isovist field models and help make algorithmic design based on isovist fields a more convenient technique.