"Вестник МГСУ"

The contribution of architectural sketching skills into the classical architectural education is unusually valuable, as this is the way future architects articulate and communicate their ideas to others.The author discusses the features of architectural sketching. He also analyzes methods of finding architectural forms, their crystallization and formation. Basic methods of contemporary architectural sketching include graphics, model-based and virtual techniques.Graphics is simple and widely used; it has numerous strengths and weaknesses. This method employs the whole range of graphic and pictorial techniques. This article contains a classification of graphic methods of sketching. The classification is built around the sketching instrument (a slate pencil, a brush, etc.).Model sketching provides a sense of touch and generates certain textures. Therefore, model sketching is a highly intuitive and convenient tool employed at initial stages of design.A virtual method integrates the notions of “lines” and “volumes” into shapes having real physical properties.Each sketching method is self-contained. Skillful application of all the above methods of architectural sketching is the keystone to further successful design.

The author tackles the problem of realistic rendering associated with the share of scattered light in the overall illumination. Methods of reflected light rendering, implemented in AutoCAD, are described in the article. Methods of suppression of visualization defects are also provided. A brief description of the algorithm of photon tracing, influence of parameters and settings of the photon tracing on the quality and reliability of lighting are provided. The author also describes alternative methods of simulating lighting patterns in the AutoCAD environment.

The article describes the issue of increasing the visibility of technological solutions in organizational-technological design. The ability to visualize the main stages of building process technology contributes to organic integration of all the requirements. A special role for the harmonious perception is played by correct display of the lighting facilities, shadowing. Realistic shadows help to analyze the rooms’ insolation of the designed fa- cility and the surrounding areas. We give a justification for the use of AutoCAD in order to automate the process of visualizing the results of organizational-technological design. The author describes the methods of obtaining realistic natural lighting in AutoCAD without significantly increasing the complexity of the process. Engineering companies in 46 % of cases use the software AutoCAD in order to create construction plans. AutoCAD has a variety of possibilities and is constantly evolving. Continuation is one of the benefits of this program. AutoCAD is unique in terms of customization, because, apart from instruction languages, it has two built-in programming languages: AutoLISP and VisualBasic. Because of these specific features AutoCAD allows to create any applications related to graphics implementation. Constant monitoring of lightning changes allows finding the appropriate in terms of aesthetics, ergonomics and insolation decisions on planning and associating a building or structure to the environment. Solar lighting is simulated by a combination of several directional lightning point sources. The author offers a brief description of the program algorithm, which allows automatically managing lighting settings and creating a file with a realistic visualization of the design solutions.

The authors present the main properties of the planar configuration of Desargues, which open the possibility of its widespread use in architectural design and the design of complex volumes, consisting of a series of simple overlapping forms. However, the computer implementation of Desargues configuration construction is associated with certain difficulties caused by the fact that the monitor can only discretely represent the graphical information. In this article we identified and analyzed the properties of Desargues configuration, the use of which allows overcoming these difficulties and solving the problem of the limited capacity of monitors in the development of complex architectural forms with the help of computer graphics. Along with this, the use of the allocated properties allows predicting complex effects of the perception of architectural forms, for example, the difference of perception of architectural objects near and afar with account for perspective distortion, and they are also the basis for the development of the algorithm of construction sequence during design.

The article presents the results of the analysis to assess the multi-variant approaches to constructing the Desargues configuration which is the fundamental to projective geometry and projective graphics. From the practical point it is the basis for the theory of perspective and is widely used to solve various tasks, such as constructing shadows in perspective, a direct, incidentally out of the rich within the drawing of the vanishing point, etc. The authors present the algorithm of the possible variants of construction of the Desargues configuration using computer technologies. The computer implementation of theoretical provisions of separate aspects of projective geometry and graphics has previously been considered as applied to Johnson polyhedrons. As any other figure the configuration of Desargues may be constructed by different methods. The authors consider the choice of points and directs included into the configuration and different interpretations of the relations of the point. The considered algorithm of the possible variants of the Desargues configuration construction will allow widely using the configuration in design of complex architectural and design volumes, consisting of a series of simple overlapping forms, by means of modern computer technology.

Peculiarities of teaching computer graphics as part of the course of engineering graphics aimed at the mastering of AutoCAD graphic editor are considered by the authors. The objective of the course is to develop the competencies of future professionals, inlcuding their structural design skills.
The authors recommend incorporation of mini-lectures and computer workshops into the training process. Computer quizzes are to be held at the beginning of each class to consolidate the material, to ensure preparedness for mastering new information and to stimulate the process of learning.
Department of descriptive geometry and engineering graphics developed a special methodology to ensure efficient presentation of theoretical material that incorporates special computer techniques and an original structure and succession of computer slides to improve the information intensity of the computer graphics course that enjoys a small number of lecturing hours allocated within training programmes offered by the University.
Well-balanced tests to be performed by students in the course of their computer workshops facilitate their mastering computer graphics techniques that help them make high-quality error-free working drawings.