A Prototype Sketch-Based Architectural Design System with Behavior Mode

Widely used for architectural design, CAD systems such as AutoCAD, provide powerful modeling functionalities. However, they are often too complex for an architect to use, especially during the conceptual design stage involving primarily sketching of ideas. Also, interactions are typically driven by mouse and keyboard, but these devices cannot be used as freely as a pencil. For an architect, a tablet PC with stylus provides an ideal interface. In this paper, we study sketch-based architectural design and modeling and a prototype system which respects simplicity and human behavior mode (i.e., “our natural habits of doing things”) is described. Our system provides a seamlessly integrated design/draw environment with intuitive and focused interaction built in, both in an attempt to provide a design environment that closely conforms to the architects’ design habits. As a proof of concept, traditional PC is still used and the stylus is simulated by a mouse, which is responsible for all system operations.