The conceptual design of commercial buildings using a genetic algorithm

A decision support system for the conceptual design of commercial office ty pe buildings is described. The system, called BGRID employs a genetic algor ithm (GA) to search for viable design options and is intended to be used no t just by structural engineers but also by architects, building services en gineers and even clients. BGRID incorporates a high level of understanding about structural design and its constraints. The design process is currentl y focussed on the floor plan and determining the layout of columns based on a large number of criteria, including fighting requirements, ventilation s trategies, limitations introduced by the available sizes of typical buildin g materials and the available structural systems. The system uses the GA mo re as a search engine rather than as an optimisation tool. The development of the BGRID has involved extensive collaboration with architects, structur al and building services engineers. (C) 2001 Published by Civil-Comp Ltd. a nd Elsevier Science Ltd.