CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (PASSED)

We invite international researchers and academics to explore and discuss with us the development of open structures to address current societal challenges.

Please send your abstract (max. 300 words) and a short CV (max. 50 words) by June 01st 2023 June 15th 2023 (extended!) to: 

conference@open-structures.com

After a positive response authors are asked to extend the reviewed abstract to a presentation draft (max. 2000 words). These submissions are meant to illustrate the argumentative thrift of the presentation and engage the question of the respective session. There are plans to publish a well-edited selection of papers, performances and discussions from the proceedings.

The conference will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices, and offer opportunities for networking and collaboration. Participants are invited to hold a 20 minutes presentation on their work. We look forward to your participation and contributions to this exciting event!

SESSION 1: PROCESS CHAINS, DATA & STANDARDS
session with Tobias Schwinn / ICD Uni Stuttgart, Andreas Noback / TU Darmstadt

In the era of digitalization, data has become a crucial component for conducting research on the built environment. Therefore, data is collected from numerous sources, generated and stored in different softwares and formats, and often needs to be unified and integrated for processing to develop new methods and create insights. At the same time, the value of data is subjective and can vary in its relevance over time, needed standards evolve at different rates depending on who is driving the processes and how dynamically the field is developing. Therefore, the session asks:

  1. What are current challenges in creating, collecting, integrating, analyzing and publishing data in research on the built environment? What data models and tools are being developed to overcome these challenges?
  2. Which research fields benefit from data collections, and what are the advantages and barriers in research to publish data? How can the potential benefits be balanced against concerns related to data privacy, ownership, and access? How can we ensure that data is used in an ethical and responsible way in research on the built environment?
  3. What are the potential biases and limitations of using data to generate new knowledge, and how can these be minimized or addressed? How can researchers ensure the accuracy, reliability and transparency for data that is collected from various sources and used in research?

SESSION 2: SHARED TOOLS, PROCESSES & INFRASTRUCTURE
session with Andrea Rossi / EDEK Uni Kassel, Roger Winkler / TU Darmstadt

Software tools play a vital role in research, as they are essential for analyzing, processing, and creating data and matter. The sharing of such tools as open-source packages is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure research transparency and reproducibility. However, their value is often overlooked as they are not conventionally recognized as research output, highlighting a need to establish standards for sharing, publishing, and collaborating on open-source tools. Therefore, this session addresses the following questions:

  1. How can best practices in the development and collaboration for open-source tools within research projects be shared and explored?
  2. What are the challenges and opportunities in democratizing access to research through open-source software tools, and how can sustainability and funding be addressed?
  3. What are the ethical considerations surrounding intellectual property, authorship, and ownership in research? How do software-sided modular platforms (f.e. Grasshopper3D) and alternative open platforms (f.e. Blender) contribute to the development and distribution of open-source tools?

SESSION 3: DIGITAL CULTURE, RESEARCH & SOCIETY
session with Dennis Pohl / The New Open TU Delft, Chris Dähne / Goethe-Uni Frankfurt a.M. and TU Darmstadt

Digital technologies themselves are in a state of flux, and so are the ways in which practical and theoretical knowledge is generated and used. Knowledge in design, research or professional discourse is thus constantly being reconfigured, and with it our everyday practices of reflection, exchange and communication. These transformative processes, constituted in the field of tension between people, technology and society, shape our digital culture. This session will discuss the questions: 

  1. How has the ubiquity of digital data and technologies impacted theoretical and practical knowledge on architectural design?
  2. What is the history and theory behind the integration of informatics in architecture, civil engineering, and urbanism? What techniques and processes are involved in digital design and construction, analysis, and simulation?
  3. How do digital cultures manifest, reflect, share, and communicate knowledge in the context of an open society, and how does this impact the fields of architecture and the built environment?