ITcon Vol. 11, pg. 325-341, http://www.itcon.org/2006/24

CLP a technology for the interactive resolution of spatial configuration tasks in a virtual environment

submitted:July 2005
revised:November 2005
published:May 2006
editor(s):Kamara J M
authors:Carlos Calderón
School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Newcastle, UK
email: carlos.calderon@newcastle.ac.uk

Marc Cavazza
School of Computing, University of Teesside, UK
email: m.o.cavazza@tees.ac.uk

Daniel Diaz
University of Paris, France
email: Daniel.diaz@univ-paris1.fr
summary:In this paper, we present a new framework for the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in engineering design for configuration applications that, while preserving the natural interaction of traditional VR Systems, support the expression of design knowledge in the Virtual Environment (VE) and the visualisation of the user’s interactions with the configuration. Traditional VR systems support the visual exploration of a design solution but do not assist the user in exploring alternative solutions based on domain knowledge. Extending previous work in the area of Intelligent Virtual Environments (IVEs), we propose an intelligent configuration system based on constraint logic programming (CLP), integrated in a real-time 3D graphic environment. This type of integration facilitates the expression of design knowledge in the VE and enables the user to interactively solve and/or refine a spatial configuration problem. Consequently and in order to demonstrate the viability of our approach, we have implemented an intelligent configuration system in which the user can visually explore configurations, but his interaction with objects of the configuration problem triggers new cycles of constraint propagation from the modified configuration to produce a new compatible solution.
keywords:virtual environments, artificial intelligence, constraint logic programming, spatial configuration tasks.
full text: (PDF file, 2.557 MB)
citation:Calderón C, Cavazza M and Diaz D (2006). CLP a technology for the interactive resolution of spatial configuration tasks in a virtual environment, ITcon Vol. 11, Special issue Architectural informatics, pg. 325-341, https://www.itcon.org/2006/24