Urban Network Analysis Toolbox for ArcGIS
The City Form Lab has released a state-of-the-art toolbox for urban network analysis. As the first of its kind, the centrality tools this ArcGIS toolbox can be used to compute five types of graph analysis measures on spatial networks: reach; gravity; betweenness; closeness; and straightness. Redundancy tools additionally calculate the redundancy index, redundant paths, and the wayfinding index. The tools incorporate three important features that make them particularly suited for spatial analysis on urban street networks. First, they can account for both geometry and topology in the input networks, using either metric distance (e.g. meters) or topological distance (e.g. turns) as impedance factors in the analysis. Second, unlike previous software tools that operate with two network elements (nodes and edges), the UNA tools include a third network element, buildings, which are used as the spatial units of analysis for all measures.
Learn more
Modelur
Modelur brings architects, urban designers, and planners all the essential tools needed to easily test multiple urban massing options in your favorite 3D modeling environment. Without having to manually recalculate areas and other parameters in Excel! Enter the area’s zoning regulations such as max. FAR, site coverage, green areas, max. building height and more, and create custom land-use types for greater flexibility and calculation precision. Use the urban massing generator to see how zoning rules perform in space and set maximum geometrical building values for the generator to get you started with a basic draft or simply import your dwg floor plans. Use the power of parametric modeling and automated data calculations to start designing and iterating your ideas. Say no more to manually transferring your model data to spreadsheets. Our Excel LiveSync functionality synchronizes all your model data to Excel spreadsheets in real-time.
Learn more
Spacemaker
Spacemaker is an intuitive, collaborative, cloud-based AI software that empowers architects, urban planners, and real estate developers to design high-quality site proposals. It enables users to create 3D massing models of their site and its surroundings using automatic data sets, test site proposals, and receive accurate analyses for over 100 criteria such as noise, wind, sun, and microclimate. Spacemaker streamlines early-stage planning and design workflows with intuitive tools and generative design, allowing for comprehensive feasibility studies and concept design. It offers ready-to-use data sets, smart design tools for fluid 2D and 3D drawing with real-time floor area tallying, and analyses for noise, wind, solar panels, sun, and parking design. Additional features include import and export capabilities with IFC and OBJ formats, automatic area calculations, microclimate analysis, visualization of differences between proposals, apartment generation, view analysis, etc.
Learn more
Orbital Stack
Orbital Stack is an AI and CFD web-based software that provides earlier qualitative guidance, comparing a large number of design options while highlighting any potential wind and thermal comfort red flags. It allows for the realization of a variety of climate-conscious, high-performance developments not previously feasible due to cost and/or time constraints associated with traditional studies.
Orbital Stack is the first digital climate-analysis tool built by global leaders in wind and microclimate engineering using real wind tunnel data. It is truly a game-changer for the architecture and building design sector, offering our clients direct access to wind comfort and safety analysis, thermal comfort and shadowing analysis, and cladding pressure simulations. This means architects can run their own wind simulations and quickly understand the climate impacts of their proposed building designs from the start, making decisions that result in higher performing and more resilient projects.
Learn more