Urban Systems: How Can a Parametric Building Information Model Serve to Democratize, Optimize and Challenge the Master Planning Process at Carleton University?

Building Information Model (BIM) of the Carleton University campus embedded with information on infrastructure, people and energy consumption. A parametric BIM of Carleton University campus can exist as a detailed resource of information and statistics that parallel the operation and development of its physical counterpart.The project explores the potential for parametric virtual representations of datasets to narrow the distance between the digital and the material world. It questions the implications of built assets on campus, results of which can be used as input parameters to create a feedback loop that further improves the datasets. Furthermore, the parametric masterplan can be used to compare simulated results with proposed real-world scenarios to help predict positive or negative impacts on Carleton campus. The goal of this parametric visualization is to democratize a variety of real-time datasets to the community at large so that they may establish quality proposals for the campus.