Multi-Disciplinary Design Optimization of Mixed-Use Structure and Energy Performance

Abstract Multi-Disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) is a research methodology that has been applied in engineering fields to design and evaluate decisions from multiple professions using objective function. However, the application of the MDO model to the field of Urban Design is rare. This paper addresses problems of energy performance of varying Mixed Land Use structures in the context of aspatial distribution. Through the identification of objective factors, which allow for quantification of the multi-layered problem of land use distribution, MDO can be used to derive a Pareto front that can be used to limit the design decision space or choices of future designs. The data needs for the MDO process are intensive and require a high level of contextualization for the best outcomes. The MDO models test options of design decisions through constructing the relationship between the mixed-use ratio and building energy performance at the urban scale. Preliminary findings of mixed-use optimization using aspatial parameters are discussed to better understand this relationship.