Incremental Housing

Supporting Technology

Computer rule‐based model for housing and urban design
Sustainable, affordable, and participatory mass customized housing and urban planning
- José P. Duarte, Associate Professor, TU Lisbon, jduarte@fa.utl.pt
The traditional approach to the design of a large housing estate is to design a limited number of types and then to repeat these based on market analysis. This approach led to uniform housing and rigid urban plans. Contemporary rule‐based computer‐aided design and manufacturing processes can overcome such flaws and produce, following a participatory process, customized houses and diverse urban environments that are sustainable and affordable. The goal is to give mass‐produced houses some of the qualities associated with individually designed ones and to endow planned environments with the qualities associated with traditional settlements. (Read More)
mSurvey mSurvey™ streamlines research through mobile technology and rapid, large scale surveys. Through contacts with local phone subscribers, wireless providers, and community organizations, mSurvey™ offers unparalleled service to NGOs and other companies that need rapid feedback. mSurvey™ gets reports directly from the source: local communities and local beneficiaries. mSurvey™ employs beneficiaries to help alleviate poverty while getting data to make a significant impact. (Read More)