Integrating generative growth and evolutionary computation for form exploration

  • Authors:
  • Una-May O'Reilly;Martin Hemberg

  • Affiliations:
  • Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA;Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK SW7 2AZ and Emergent Design and Technologies, Architectural Association, London, UK WC1B 3ES

  • Venue:
  • Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

We present an algorithmic growth process that is an extension of Lindenmayer's Map L-systems. This growth process relies upon a set of rewrite rules, a map axiom and a geometric interpreter which is integrated with a 3D simulated environment. The outcome of the growth process is a digital surface in 3D space which has "grown" within and in response to its environment. We have developed a complementary evolutionary algorithm that is able to take over the task of generating the rewrite rules set for a growth process. Using a quantitative multi-objective fitness function that evaluates a variety of surface properties, the integrated system (evolutionary algorithm and growth process) can explore and generate diverse and interesting surfaces with a resemblance of organic form. The algorithms have been implemented to create a design tool for architects called Genr8.