4.209 Special Problems in Computation and Architecture
Agent—Based Virtual Architecture

This course covers the basics of computational agents, designer agents, and virtual architecture. The course has a theoretical component and a practical component. The theoretical component includes the models and theories associated with agents and agent societies as computational systems that focus on autonomy and interaction. The theoretical component alsos consider the design principles for 3D virtual worlds as virtual architecture. For the practical component of the course, the students combine agent models with designing virtual architecture. Each student will design and construct an interactive virtual place that provides a 3D virtual world experience supported by rational agents.

At the end of this course students should have a good understanding of computational agents and agent societies, and their application to design and virtual worlds. Students will also have competency in designing and constructing 3D virtual worlds that include agent behaviour. Students will learn to use and build in the Active Worlds platform, and will learn to write rule-based programs in Jess.

Submission Requirements:

1. Assignment 1: Personal office designed in the Active Worlds virtual world platform, due October 1.
2. Assignment 2: Agent rules for sensation, perception, conception, hypothesiser and action activation written in English, due October 29.
3. Assignment 3: Agent rules and knowledge base written in Jess and linked to Active Worlds, due November 26.
4. Assignment 4: Research report on agent-based virtual architecture, due December 14.

Additional Reading:

Gero, JS and Kannengiesser, U (2002) The situated function-behaviour-structure framework, in JS Gero (ed.), Artificial Intelligence in Design'02, Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 89-104. (pdf)

Gero, JS and Kulinski, J (2000) A situated approach to analogy in designing, in B-K. Tang, M. Tan and Y-C. Wong (eds), CAADRIA2000, CASA, Singapore, pp. 225-234.(pdf)

Novak, M (1990). Liquid architectures in Cyberspace, in Michael Benedikt (ed), Cyberspace: First Steps, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 225-254.

Wooldridge, M (2002) An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems, John Wiley, Chapters 2 and 10.

Schedule:

Week 1, September 10:
Seminar: Introduction to Virtual Architecture (MLM) slides
Workshop: Using Active Worlds (MLM)

Week 2, September 17:
Seminar: Introduction to Computational Agents (JSG) slides
Workshop: Q & A on Computational Agents in Active Worlds (JSG) discussion
Reading: Wooldridge, M (1999) Intelligent agents, in G. Weiss (ed.), Multiagent Systems, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Chapter 1 (pdf)

Week 3, September 24:
Seminar: Design Principles in Virtual Architecture (MLM)
Workshop: Office design in Active Worlds (MLM)

• Active Worlds Basics
• Office Design

Reading: Maher, ML and Gu, N (2002) Virtual Worlds = Architectural Design + Computational Elements, Proceedings of ANZAScA, Deakin University. (pdf)

Week 4, October 1:
Seminar: Situatedness (JSG)
Workshop: Computational Agents in Active Worlds (MLM)

• Hambot homepage for BuildBot
• BuildBot instructions for MIT world and Agent world

Reading:
1. Gero, JS (1998). Conceptual designing as a sequence of situated acts, in I. Smith (ed.), Artificial Intelligence in Structural Engineering, Springer, Berlin, pp. 165-177. (pdf)
2. Gero, JS (1998) Towards a model of designing which includes its situatedness, in H. Grabowski, S. Rude and G. Green (eds), Universal Design Theory, Shaker Verlag, Aachen, pp. 47-56. (pdf)

Week 5, October 8:
Seminar: Agent Models (JSG) slides
Workshop: Production Systems for Agent Models (JSG) slides
Reading:
1. Wooldridge, M (2000) Reasoning About Rational Agents, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Chapters 1 and 2.
2. Maher, ML and Gero, JS (2002) Agent Models of 3D Virtual Worlds, Proceedings of ACADIA 2002, Pamona, California. (pdf)

October 15: Columbus Day Vacation

Week 6, October 22:
Seminar: Production Systems for Rational Agents (MLM) slides
Workshop: Jess Production System Language (MLM) slides
Reading: Maher, ML and Gu, N (2002) Design agents in virtual worlds in JS Gero (ed) Workshop on Agents in Design, MIT, Cambridge, MA.(pdf)

Week 7: October 29:
Seminar: Situated Agents (JSG)
Workshop: Rational Agents in AW Using Jess (MLM)

• AW Agent Guide (updated Nov 5)
• Base files
• Demo files

Reading:
Gero, JS and Fujii, H (2000) A computational framework for concept formation in a situated design agent, Knowledge-Based Systems 13(6): 361-368. (pdf)

Week 8, November 5:
Seminar: Society of Agents (JSG) slides
Workshop: Situated Rules in Jess (MLM)

Week 9, November 12:
Project Development Time

Week 10, November 19:
Seminar: Agent-based Simulations (JSG)
Workshop: Project Development Time

Week 11, November 26
Project Completion Time

Week 12, December 3
Seminar: Dynamic Virtual Worlds Using Agents (MLM)
Workshop: Q & A on Research Report
Reading: Maher, ML, and Gu, N (2002) Designing Virtual Architecture: From Place to User Centred Design, International Journal of Design Computing 4: http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/journal/vol4.

Week 13: December 10
Final Presentations