iPARK: A Participatory Design Tool of Neighborhood Parks Using Visual Programming Language

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
AHMED KHAIRADEEN ALI 1
AWAR NAAMAN SALEEM 1
HANEEN HASHIM MOHAMMED ALI 2
1 Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Iraq
2 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Forestry University of Mosul, Iraq
10.24271/psr.2024.188547
Abstract
Participatory design and community engagement in the neighborhood parks guide the landscape architect to create a successful and fitting park to community needs. However, the community members are limited to visual, writing, and descriptive tools to explain their vision of the neighbourhood park to the landscape designer. Therefore, this paper proposes iPARK, a platform that helps non-landscape majors visualise their ideas and vision of park design configurations, activities, materials, and needs using simplified design tools. The iPARK platform consists of two modules: iPARK-Design module utilises visual programming to automate and aid the design drawings of the neighbourhood park; the iPARK-Simulate module uses multi-agent-based simulation to fit the best parameters of the community needs and propose alternatives for the proposed design. The Case study depicted successful results and the platform delivered high-quality results and easy use. It is expected that iPARK will encourage the community to participate in the design decisions, lay out their visions, and communicate with the landscape architect more clearly. 
Keywords
Inclusive design
Participatory design
Landscape architecture
Neighborhood park
VIsual programming
Crossmark
Subjects
Passer Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences
Volume 6, Special Issue
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Recent Innovation in Engineering ICRIE 2023, University of Duhok, College of Engineering, 13th – 14th September 2023
January 2024
Pages 145-172