ARCT41310

In today's designed environment, we are confronted with complex and significant spatial challenges that demand multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches. This module introduces students to the geodesign approach, which is particularly valuable in orchestrating the efforts of diverse professionals and engaging with local communities. By employing co-creation methods, we can address multifaceted problems like climate change more effectively.

The introductory part of this module aims to equip students with the fundamental technological and scientific knowledge and skills necessary to implement various software workflows supporting the design process. While computer-based tools, whether cloud- or desktop-based, often focus on specific design tasks, it is crucial to integrate them seamlessly across the entire process when dealing with real-world issues. We recognise contemporary and emerging technology as a powerful means to foster collaboration and bridge the gap between climate and design at urban and building scales.

In the second part of this skill-based module, we explore the synergies and interoperability among different digital tools and approaches at various spatial scales. Examples include cloud-based platforms for consensus building, co-creation, and community participation in urban planning and design (such as ArcGIS Survey123, Geodesignhub, participatory mapping platforms, ArcGIS Storymaps, Minecraft). We also delve into GIS software for conducting suitability at the urban and neighborhood level (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online).

As part of this module, students have the opportunity to engage in a geodesign study within the Common ground: Campus, Community and Climate - led by our second-year Architecture design studio. Working in parallel, with opportunities to engage with undergraduate students, we will will investigate areas where the UCD campus borders meet the internal users and surrounding communities, and examine how these boundaries operate. The study will focus on the South Dublin suburb encompassing the UCD campus, its edges, and the neighborhoods sharing the campus boundaries, providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.
Importantly, this module is not solely dedicated to digital collaboration or the promotion of specific software products. Instead, it aims to cultivate critical thinking skills in students, enabling them to evaluate evolving digital technologies and their potential utilisation throughout the design process. By working in teams, students from MSc Arch,Urban&Climate and MScGlobalChange Landscape recreate a collaborative research environment where individual tasks are coordinated, and outputs from one tool serve as inputs for other platforms. Each student will contribute unique knowledge and skills, and technology will serve as the shared language facilitating effective collaboration.