Generative Design Primer
  • Welcome
  • Introduction to Generative Design
    • Computational Design
    • Generative Design
      • What is Generative Design?
      • Why should I use Generative Design?
      • What goes into a Generative Design Process?
        • Anatomy of each stage
      • Examples of Generative Design
        • MaRs Innovation District of Toronto
        • Furniture Design
        • A Further Analogy
      • Anatomy of a Good Generative Design Process
    • Visual Programming
    • Dynamo
    • Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo
  • Deeper Dive to Generative Design
    • Algorithms
      • What are Algorithms?
      • Generators
      • Evaluators
      • Solvers
    • Optioneering
    • Optimization
      • What is Optimization?
      • Objective Function
      • Constraints
      • Data
      • Defining Goals
    • Genetic Algorithms
      • What is a Genetic Algorithm?
      • Initialization phase
      • Evaluation Phase
      • Selection Phase
      • Crossover Phase
      • Mutation Phase
    • Other Techniques
    • Genetic Algorithm Q&A
  • Hello Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo!
    • Installing Generative Design
    • Setting up a Graph for Generative Design
    • Running Generative Design
    • Visualizing Results in Generative Design
    • Refinery Toolkit
      • Installing the Refinery Toolkit from the Dynamo Package Manager
      • Using the Refinery Toolkit
    • Space Analysis for Dynamo
      • Installing the Space Analysis for Dynamo package from the Dynamo Package Manager
      • Using the Space Analysis Package
    • Using Revit alongside Generative Design
      • Using Data from Revit
      • Remember Node Inputs
      • How to Test Revit Data Capture
      • Detailed Example Workflow
      • Sharing Logic and Results
      • Current Limitations
      • Accessing Generative Design Directly From Revit
  • Sample Workflows
    • Getting Started Workflows
      • Highest Point of a Surface
      • Minimum Volume and Maximum Surface
    • Architectural Workflows
      • Building Mass Generator
      • Building Positioning based on Solar Analysis
      • Office Layout
      • Grid Object Placement in a Room
      • Entourage Placement Exploration
    • MEP Workflows
      • Distributing Spotlights in an Office Space
    • Structural Workflows
    • BIM Workflows
      • Placement of views on sheets
    • Community Examples
      • Guidelines
      • List Of Examples
  • Generative Design in Your Office
    • What Generative Design Can Be Used For?
    • What Generative Design Can’t Be Used For?
    • How to Convince Senior Stakeholders of Using Generative Design?
    • The Role of a Generative Designer
    • Hiring a Generative Designer
  • Next Steps
    • Machine Learning
      • What is Machine Learning?
      • Is Generative Design Machine Learning?
      • Can Machine Learning and Generative Design Work Together?
  • Appendix
    • Glossary
    • Reference Material
    • Need Professional Help?
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On this page
  • Package Structure
  • Defining a Space Lattice with Core Nodes
  • Inputs:
  • Acoustics
  • Additional Resources for Acoustics:
  • Path Finding
  • Simple Two Point Path Finding
  • Additional Resources for Pathfinding:
  • Visibility
  • Single Point Analysis
  • Multi-Point Analysis
  • View Cone Analysis

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  1. Hello Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo!
  2. Space Analysis for Dynamo

Using the Space Analysis Package

PreviousInstalling the Space Analysis for Dynamo package from the Dynamo Package ManagerNextUsing Revit alongside Generative Design

Last updated 8 months ago

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The package comes with a number of sample files provided to help you get started with each of the supported workflows.

It is highly recommended to start with the samples as they contain detailed notes and instructions on how to use each of the nodes.

Package Structure

The space analysis package is organizes into 5 main categories in the Dynamo library.

  • Core : Core provides the framework for all space analysis workflows. This category contains the common object that is utilized in all space analysis workflows.

  • Acoustics : This category contains nodes that support approximate acoustic analysis workflows.

  • Pathfinding : Support for path finding workflows. This utilizes . The pathfinding algorithms in this toolkit work on a grid (space lattice), with the size and resolution defined by the graph creator.

  • Visibility : Support for visibility analysis using a , or a .

  • Utils : Miscellaneous utilities for use within the package.


Defining a Space Lattice with Core Nodes

The Space lattice object is the base object for space analysis workflows. It is essentially a 2d grid with diagonal connections.

Inputs:

  • boundingBox - The Dynamo bounding box to generate a space lattice object for.

  • barriers - A list of lines that represent areas where there would be no lattice present

  • resolution - Space between two adjacent points of the lattice. (This uses your project units, so be sure to verify what those are prior to running) default value = 0.2

Simple Space Lattice with Barriers

Be sure to peek at the sample files in the extra folder for use-cases of the space lattice object.


Acoustics

Space analysis supports general acoustic analysis which are very useful for Generative Design applications. While these analyses are not necessarily validated. They can be very useful to use for constraints. (These nodes can be used towards a design goal of "buzz factor").

Additional Resources for Acoustics:


Path Finding

A difference between space analysis path finding and the Path Finding in Autodesk Revit is, Space Analysis has no dependency on the Revit API - making it a perfect companion to Dynamo sandbox.

Simple Two Point Path Finding

Probably the simplest example of this would be to use a start point and end point with a barrier in-between.

In the space analysis samples, this is demonstrated in: spaceanalysis-pathfinding-01-one-path.dyn

Additional Resources for Pathfinding:


Visibility

Single Point Analysis

Related Sample File: spaceanalysis-visibility-01-one-point-local-visibility.dyn

More information regarding single point analysis is available in the sample files within the tool kit.

Multi-Point Analysis

Related Sample File: spaceanalysis-visibility-03-two-points-union-vs-intersection.dyn

View Cone Analysis

View cone analysis works similarly to Refinery Toolkit. With Space Analysis View Cone analysis your results will report "possible view range" within the analysis zone. While Refinery Toolkit will report if a given viewpoint is visible.

Related Sample File: spaceanalysis-visibility-04-one-point-view-cone.dyn

All samples for Space Analysis are available in the extra folder in the install directory.

Typically this is, C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Dynamo\Dynamo Core\2.10\packages\SpaceAnalysis\extra

Sample File:

2D Path finding algorithms are included in space analysis. These are achieved using and implementation of .

Space Analysis offers a few different ways of analyzing visibility. While there are a few overlapping pieces between Space Analysis' visibility tools and , they can both compliment each other or simply give us other criteria to perform generative workflows on.

Given a object, a view point and boundaries. We are able to define a view field and perform an analysis.

Given a object, multiple view points and boundaries. We are able to define a view field and perform an analysis.

SpaceLattice
Djikstra’s shortest path algorithm
view cone
view point
spaceAnalysis-CreateSimpleSpaceLattice.dyn
Introducing Acoustics in Space Analysis
Multiple Source Acoustics
Djikstra’s shortest path algorithm
Using Space Analysis for Pathfinding
A Nice Introduction to Dynamaps and Space Analysis by ThatBIMGirl
Comparing Space Analysis Path of Travel to Revit 2020's Version
Refinery Toolkit's
SpaceLattice
SpaceLattice