Chapter 3
Architecture and Computing
Chapter 3 introduces digital concepts and terminologies related to computing and 3D modeling. The methods in which geometry is defined within 3D models builds upon historical methods of descriptive geometry and projection. This includes using the Cartesian coordinate system to define the locations of points in space, which can be utilized to define other geometric elements such as lines, curves, and surfaces. As computing technologies evolve, providing faster processing speeds and enhanced graphics, so do 3D modeling platforms and their capabilities.
This chapter provides an overview of early computer-aided design (CAD) models and graphics, the development of digital surface and solid modelers, advances in parametric and associative models, and the use of building information models (BIM) that contain blocks of parametric objects that store data and information. These advances in 3D modeling provide architects and designers with agency to create...