The task:

The task of the project is to find the right location and shape of a courtyard of a Barcelonan block in a way that it optimized the sun gain in the courtyard.

The genomes:

A void is created in the middle of the block. Every parameter such as the height of each wall of the block as well as the shape of the courtyard is set adjustable to be able to be fiddled by Galapagos.

The solution space:

The sun gain of the floor surface of the block will be shown in colour to give an instant result.

All the results are arrayed with the value of their sun exposure labelled.

Suggestion:

By adding more materials to the building, the solar exposure of the same options would be different, for instance by adding reflective elements the gain of sun exposure would be more holistic.

Stalking

The track shown reveals the footprint of an average student during a few days of normal school period.

Data Mining

A GPS tracking smartphone application (GPS kit free) was used to record the data of the footprint in terms of latitude, longitude, altitude, and speed.

Data Visualization

Using the data harvested from the application in GPX file type, the data has been filtered to just get the information of the longitude and latitude:

With a map captured from google earth, it is then pinned with actual coordinates in order to locate each coordinate of the track. With the correct coordinates the track has been extruded and coloured in order to be visualized:

Plan view of track:

Special thanks to Juhi Patel

Speculation

The location of the investigation area is Sant Adria de Besos. In order to analyse the users of the site for a facade design for the river el Besos, I have chosen to investigate the registered unemployment rate of the residents living in the area.

Data Mining

I have combined the data of registered unemployment and population of the area in Excel:

Data Visualization

Managing data on Grasshopper:

Putting data on graphs with labels:

Reference:

1. “Població per sexe Metodologia Sant Adrià de Besòs. Sèrie temporal,” Idescat, accessed February 9, 2014.
2. “Atur registrat. Per sexe i edat Metodologia Sant Adrià de Besòs. Any 2012,” Idescat, accessed February 9, 2014.