Optimization Techniques and Design Optimization

• Published in: Integrated CAD by Optimization pp. 245 - 325
• Main Author: Chakrabarty, B. K
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2022; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Algebraic formulas for optimization; Design optimization models; Geometric programming; Optimization techniques; Resource-efficiency; Social equity; Software
• ISBN: 9783030993054; 3030993051
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99306-1_7

Optimization, a human trait that is as old as antiquity (e.g. even ancients applied it making ancient cities’ circular to minimize the length of wall enclosing them) finds the best way to do things, and therefore has application in many fields. It is a three-step rational decision-making process, i.e. knowledge of the system, finding a measure of system effectiveness, and choosing those values of the system variables that yield optimum effectiveness. Tedious and voluminous computations involved have prevented the application of optimization techniques in the AEC sector in the past. The unparalleled development in information technology in recent times has made it possible to perform many planning and design functions integrating graphics with complex computations, design analysis, cost engineering, and optimization techniques making it feasible to apply integrated CAD by optimization. AEC professionals commit large resources (e.g. money, land, materials) in their planning-design-decisions while discharging planning function forming part of integrated urban management, enjoining on them an ethical responsibility to the society to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in resource use so committed by them, for a resource-efficient problem solution with social equity. Since AEC operations involve numerous variables, constraints, and many solutions, with large variations in efficiency indicators, search of optimal solution becomes quite complex making it difficult to achieve by conventional manual design methods, and use of CAD and optimization techniques becomes imperative to attain resource-efficient problem solution. This chapter presents some optimization techniques, including linear programming and geometric programming techniques, relevant to AEC operations, with a number of example problem solutions (including solution of urban built form posynomial design optimization model with inequality constraints deriving compact algebraic formulas, which can be used by AEC professionals, even not conversant with such techniques, to get optimal problem solutions) supported by C++ programs with source codes.