Computing Urban Fabric of a Historical Town

Abstract

Traditional computer simulation is replaced by 3D scans of the temporary urban fabric in a Taiwan heritage site for the quantitative assessment of local evolvement. The transfer of as-built point cloud model to the vertical and horizontal sections enables the inspections of evolved openness types on an old street enclosed by building facades and remodeled building components. Temporary fabrics, which consist of the installations and components, are represented in terms of the modification ratio on facade. The ratio contributes to the balance between the maintenance of cultural identity and the development of supporting commercial facilities made by local efforts. The variation changes along the old street cross districts of preservation, commercial and residential areas. Result shows the highest ratio exist in commercial district, where the highest ground activity along the entire street has created a typology of T or enclosed section of open space, as shown in point cloud model which is so realistic that no former computer models can display.